How to Host a Webflow Export: 3 Simple Steps
Webflow is a powerful visual website builder, but their hosting plans start at $14/month and go up from there. If you have a static site that does not need Webflow's CMS or form processing, you can export the HTML and host it yourself for a fraction of the cost — or free.
Step 1: Export from Webflow
1. Open your Webflow project 2. Go to the Designer 3. Click the export icon (top right) 4. Download the ZIP file
The export contains all your HTML, CSS, JavaScript, images, and fonts in a folder structure with index.html at the root.
Step 2: Prepare the ZIP
Webflow exports as a ZIP already, but check that:
index.htmlis at the root level (not in a subfolder)- All asset paths are relative (they should be by default)
- The file size is under your plan's upload limit (Hostupa free plan: 3 MB, Starter: 25 MB, Solo: 75 MB)
If the export is too large, check for large images or unused assets and remove them before zipping.
Step 3: Upload to Hostupa
1. Log in to your Hostupa dashboard
2. Click "Upload file" and drag in the ZIP
3. Hostupa detects it as a ZIP website, extracts the files, and serves them on a CDN
4. Your site is live at hostupa.com/p/your-slug
What you get vs Webflow hosting
| Feature | Webflow Hosting | Hostupa |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost | From $14/mo | From $0 (free plan) |
| CDN | Yes | Yes |
| SSL | Yes | Yes |
| Custom domain | Yes (from $14/mo) | Yes (from $9/mo) |
| Analytics | Limited | Built-in |
| Password protection | No | Yes (Solo+) |
| QR codes | No | Yes (Starter+) |
| Code editor | No | Yes (Solo+) |
| Form processing | Yes | No (use a form service) |
| CMS | Yes | No |
When to keep Webflow hosting
If your site uses Webflow's CMS collections, form processing, or dynamic content, you need Webflow's hosting. Hostupa is for static exports only.
If your site is a landing page, portfolio, or marketing page with no dynamic content, exporting and hosting on Hostupa can save you $168+ per year.
Combining with other tools
- Forms: Use Formspree, Getform, or Basin for form handling
- CMS: Use a headless CMS like Sanity or Contentful if you need content management
- Analytics: Hostupa's built-in analytics cover the basics, or add Google Analytics