When you're working as a freelance Webflow designer, the question of where to find new clients is often on the mind. Contra has marketed itself as a helpful platform for freelancers, particularly those in the creative industry. But if you’re considering paying for Contra Pro with the hope of landing more Webflow projects, you might want to think again.
While Contra offers some interesting features for freelancers, like service listings and portfolio templates, my experience shows that its Pro account is unlikely to pay off for Webflow designers. Here’s a closer look at why Contra Pro might not be the right investment if your goal is to grow your Webflow client base.
Webflow Certified 'Experts' Rise to the Top
Contra’s structure gives a clear advantage to Webflow certified 'Experts'. The platform heavily favours profiles with official certifications and a history of reviews, which puts non-certified designers at a distinct disadvantage. Without that certification, it’s incredibly challenging to get visibility, even if you pay for Contra Pro.
Why Certification Matters
Currently, there are 229 Certified Webflow Partners on Contra. These professionals have been accepted onto Webflow’s partner programme, which requires specific achievements, like three live client projects hosted on Webflow. Meeting these criteria often means they’re highly visible on Contra, ranking above those who are uncertified.
As a designer who hasn’t yet applied for that certification, I’ve noticed that even the best profile optimisations can’t make up for the visibility gap. Contra’s algorithm prioritises these Certified Experts, meaning paying for Pro won’t push your profile above theirs in search results.
The Reality of the 'Job Network'
One of the main features of Contra Pro is the Job Network, a job board where clients post work opportunities specifically for freelancers. While this feature sounds promising, it’s not exactly bustling with Webflow projects.
Few Webflow Jobs Available
Based on my experience, I’d say that maybe one or two Webflow-related jobs come up each week. For a platform aiming to connect freelancers with quality opportunities, this is a disappointingly low volume. Interestingly, Framer jobs appear far more frequently, which suggests that Framer designers may find more success on Contra. The demand for Webflow designers, however, doesn’t seem high enough to warrant a paid membership for job-seekers.
If you’re a Webflow designer specifically, the Job Network likely won’t justify the monthly subscription fee. It’s worth noting that for the few Webflow jobs that do appear, there’s fierce competition among applicants.
Low-Paying Gigs for High Expectations
Another issue with the Job Network is the quality of the roles posted. Many clients seem to want extensive work at a low cost, which contradicts Contra’s messaging about attracting quality clients. Even though Contra promotes itself as a platform for professionals who appreciate good work, many of the jobs posted simply don’t align with that ideal. For instance, roles that demand intensive design or development work but offer only minimal compensation are sadly more common than not.
Intense Competition with Limited Rewards
If you decide to apply for the rare Webflow roles that appear, be prepared for some stiff competition. With so few opportunities, it’s common for a large number of designers to apply to each post. From my experience, even after putting a great deal of effort into applications, they often go unnoticed. The chances of being shortlisted seem incredibly low, and none of my applications have been viewed to date.
This experience can be frustrating, especially for freelancers who are committed to producing high-quality work and building solid client relationships. Contra’s job network may not be the best place to seek serious, sustainable freelance opportunities for Webflow designers.
Disappointing Analytics with Limited Value
Contra Pro also includes access to Advanced Analytics, which promises insights into your profile's performance. While the idea of detailed analytics might sound appealing, my experience with it has been lacklustre.
What the Analytics Actually Reveal
Unfortunately, the Advanced Analytics feature primarily reveals how few people are visiting your profile. In most cases, those who do visit are fellow designers or developers rather than potential clients. This insight, while accurate, isn’t particularly helpful. Knowing that my profile has a limited reach and attracts mainly other freelancers only reinforces the reality that Contra isn’t bringing in the client visibility I’d hoped for.
If you’re hoping for detailed insights that will help you improve your profile’s reach, Contra’s analytics might fall short. It can feel a bit like paying for data that simply confirms the lack of results.
Not Much Need for Portfolio Templates
One of the other features Contra promotes heavily is its portfolio templates. For Webflow designers, however, these templates may not offer much added value.
Webflow Designers Don’t Need a Second Portfolio
Most Webflow designers I know, myself included, already have a dedicated portfolio hosted on their own domain. Using Contra’s portfolio template, while visually decent, doesn’t allow for the same level of customisation or control as a standalone site. In my case, I always prefer directing people to my own website, Eight Pixel, where I can control the entire experience and showcase my work exactly how I want.
Contra’s templates may be useful for freelancers in other fields who lack a portfolio website, but for a Webflow designer, they’re unlikely to offer much advantage. If you’re serious about your work, having a personalised portfolio site is often more effective than using a templated solution.
Final Thoughts
After exploring all that Contra Pro has to offer, my conclusion is that it’s unlikely to be worth the investment if your primary goal is to find Webflow clients. Contra may be useful as a networking tool or a place to share your work, but when it comes to securing new projects, it simply doesn’t deliver. The combination of low visibility for uncertified designers, limited Webflow jobs, and lacklustre analytics makes it hard to justify the Pro subscription.
If you’re weighing up whether to invest in Contra Pro, consider your goals carefully. For freelancers looking to grow their Webflow client base, it might be more effective to focus on other platforms, like building out your own website, or using more established freelance job boards where there’s a consistent demand for Webflow designers.
At the end of the day, while Contra may suit some freelancers, the Pro account doesn’t seem to offer enough for Webflow designers to make it worth the cost.