Is there a step by step guide available for exporting the HTML of a Webflow site to be hosted on platforms like GoDaddy or Amazon?
TL;DR
- Upgrade to a paid Webflow plan to enable code export.
- Export your site via the Webflow Designer, download, and extract the ZIP file.
- Upload all extracted files to GoDaddy via cPanel or to Amazon S3 with static hosting and public read access enabled.
- Ensure index.html is set as the homepage and configure domain/DNS settings accordingly.
Exporting your Webflow site’s HTML to host it on platforms like GoDaddy or Amazon requires a few key steps. Webflow allows full code export for paid users, and this code can be used on external hosts.
1. Ensure You Have a Paid Webflow Plan
- Code export is only available on paid Site or Workspace plans.
- If your project is on the free Starter site plan, upgrade it before attempting to export.
2. Export Your Webflow Project
- Open your Webflow project in the Designer.
- Click the Export icon (top right, looks like an upward-pointing arrow inside a box).
- Click Prepare ZIP to export the full front-end code (HTML, CSS, JS, assets).
- Download the ZIP file to your computer.
3. Unpack and Review the Exported Code
- Extract the downloaded ZIP file locally.
- You'll see:
- One or more .html files (e.g., index.html)
- A CSS folder with styles
- A JS folder with scripts
- An assets folder with images and videos
- Do not modify folder structure unless you understand web file paths.
4. Upload Files to GoDaddy (Shared Hosting)
- Log into your GoDaddy Hosting Dashboard.
- Open cPanel and go to the File Manager.
- Navigate to the public_html folder (root of your site).
- Use Upload to send all contents of the unzipped Webflow export (HTML files, CSS, JS, assets).
- If your homepage is named something other than index.html, rename it accordingly.
5. Upload Files to Amazon S3 (Static Hosting)
- Go to AWS S3 console, and create a new bucket.
- Enable the option to host a static website.
- In permissions, set bucket policy to allow public read access (for static sites).
- Upload all files from your local Webflow export folder.
- Set index.html as the default document in static hosting settings.
6. Configure Custom Domain (Optional)
- On GoDaddy: use the Domains section to attach your domain to your hosting account.
- On AWS: update Route 53 DNS settings (if applicable) to point your domain to the S3 bucket’s static hosting endpoint.
Summary
To host your Webflow site on GoDaddy or Amazon S3, export the full site code via Webflow’s Export feature, then upload the unzipped files to your chosen platform. Make sure appropriate settings are in place such as index.html recognition and public file access.