If you’re picking a website platform for your startup, you’ve probably heard this:
“Everyone uses Next.js now. Webflow is dead.”
Is it true or just hype?
I took a deep dive into the data on YC startup websites:
only 2% of the 2026 batch uses Webflow, compared with 29% of the 2021 batch.
That doesn’t prove those companies left Webflow. But it raises a question: why are newer startups choosing differently?
My take: speed and flexibility matter. With a solid design system and the right guidance, AI can help teams build and update Next.js or Astro websites faster, with more control over their code.
Don’t get me wrong: I love Webflow. I’ve built 100+ websites with it, and it’s still a strong choice for visually managed marketing sites with advanced interactions.
But it’s no longer my default recommendation for every startup.
The question is: which setup will help your team move faster after launch?