Do you want to learn how to create a website from scratch?
If so, you have come to the right place! This article will show you the best web design software for Mac that will help you create a professional website.
Whether you are just starting out or have some experience with web design, these programs can be used by anyone. All of them are easy to use and will allow you to create professional websites without any problems.
What makes this software so great is that it allows users to create their own websites without any prior knowledge of coding or design skills. So if you are looking for a way to start your own business or just want to build up your portfolio then this is definitely something worth looking into.
Good Web Design Software For Mac
No matter what type of website you would like to establish, these tools will speed up the process rapidly.
Whether a page for a blog, a portfolio, a corporate business, an online store, a restaurant, a wedding, you name it, these web development and design software are ready and set to realize them all.
It is crucial to understand that you only need your Mac, and you are good to go. Well, an internet connection would be good, too. Nope, prior experience is not necessary. Even if you lack coding and design skills, you can still win the website building game without hassle.
All website builders for Mac follow every latest web and tech trend, ensuring that the end page works smoothly and flawlessly. Predominantly, all tools also take care of web hosting and domain name registrations, keeping managing and maintaining your page from one account a small breeze.
You can now kick off your online presence with ease and confidence, knowing you cannot mess things up. And you have it all under complete control without ever needing to hire a pricey developer or designer to make corrections and whatnot.
Top Website Builders For Mac
Wix
wix website builder for mac
Wix is one of the most promising, easy-to-use, yet advanced website builders for Mac users. It is multi-purpose software that gives you a chance to create the exact page you want. Out of the box, Wix comes with a countless collection of ready-to-use templates, which you can also customize and fine-tune to match your branding regulations. You will need to undergo barely any work because the layouts are already outstandingly remarkable.
It all depends on the technical levels you are at which to choose. Moreover, Wix has three main characteristics that will get you going. They are Wix Editor, Corvid, and Wix ADI. The latter, artificial design intelligence, does the most work for you and creates the most fitting web design for your needs and requirements.
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Shopify
shopify website builder for mac
Would you like to start your own eCommerce business but do not want to spend your entire budget just on building the page? If that is the case, then get your hands on Shopify. This website builder for Mac has it all and more for hammering out the most advanced online stores. On the flip side, you can also keep things as simple as possible and create a minimal yet high converting webshop. In brief, whatever comes to mind, you can make it happen with Shopify. Rules and boundaries are none.
With impressive customization features, predefined templates, and an endless collection of apps and extensions, making a page with Shopify is not complicated. Shopify also covers marketing, management, domain names, web hosting, and the initial website building. Start pushing items online with Shopify and experience epic success.
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Zyro Website Builder
zyro website builder
Zyro is an all-around website builder that you can use with any platform or operating system. With so much material at your disposal, you can start, customize and put your website for the world to enjoy quickly. You need to know that Zyro works for many different industries and niches. And if you are down to perform additional customization tweaks, you can also go entirely against the grain and do your thing.
Moreover, Zyro can launch powerful eCommerce websites, too (without transaction fees). Some other treats are web hosting, domain registration, business name generator, and logo maker, to name a few. Pick the plan that suits your needs best and enjoy the smooth process of establishing an attention-grabbing website with Zyro.
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Webflow
webflow website builder for mac
Instead of changing the dull code to make edits and improvements with Webflow, you code visually. This website builder for Mac is an excellent tool that never asks for any prior experience with web development and design. You can be a complete beginner and still hammer out the most professional and sophisticated page. With Webflow, all becomes a piece of cake. While you can choose a template, you can also start with a blank canvas and craft the ideal page for your project.
Webflow is great for someone who would like to create a full-blown website and a professional who would like to utilize it for prototyping purposes only. You can build everything custom with Webflow, making the final look fit your meticulous taste to the very last and smallest detail.
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Weebly
weebly website builder for mac
Right off the bat, Weebly gives you an option to either create a website or an online store with it. Pick accordingly and get things moving forward with this cracking website builder for Mac. No limits and no boundaries, approach creating web spaces with an open mind, as Weebly brings to the table a ton of handy material that will get you going in close to no time. In short, Weebly is an all-in-one tool for freelancers, entrepreneurs, and everyone else in between.
Whether you plan to sell products or push your services and portfolio, make it huge with Weebly. When working with Weebly, you will go through a step-by-step guide on creating your page, making the platform very beginner-friendly. Once you get its gist, modify the layout, enhance it with your creative touches, and you are ready to go online.
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Squarespace
squarespace website builder for mac
Blogging, marketing, selling goods and promoting brands and companies, Squarespace has you covered from start to finish. Let Squarespace take care of it from having no idea how to make a page to successfully running a high-end online presence. You don’t need to worry about any technical stuff, like web hosting, domain names, responsiveness, high loading speed, and cross-browser compatibility. Squarespace takes care of it all.
Squarespace comes with many designer-made templates that will help you get started sooner rather than later. Thanks to Squarespace’s intuitive editor, editing and improving the default settings is also kids’ stuff. But if you dig the lookout of the box, feel free to employ it exactly as is. In the kit, you will also find tools for email marketing, appointments, logos, and more. The sky is the limit with Squarespace.
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1&1 IONOS
1-1 ionos website builder for mac
Bring your idea online with 1&1 IONOS. This easy-to-use, yet professional website builder for Mac is perfect for classic pages and eCommerce websites. You only need a computer and imagination, and you can start building, designing, and establishing with 1&1 IONOS. No prior knowledge is necessary to start making moves on the Internet with the one and only, 1&1 IONOS. With a broad selection of ready-made templates, you can quick-start your project and make it yours swiftly. It is a guarantee that you will hammer out a page without a hitch.
Once you get on board, 1&1 IONOS gives you access to way more than “just” the drag and drop page editor. It also comes with an SSL certificate, search engine optimization, email marketing, social media integration, backups, and restoring, to name a few. And to make things even more simple, there are just two plans available; one for websites and the other for online stores.
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Site123 Website Builder
site123 website builder for mac
When you gain yourself access to Site123, a website builder for Mac, you will immediately understand the situation. When this all-inclusive software hits you with various features and functionalities, you only need to take charge, and you will be live pretty quickly. What’s best, with Site123, you can start on the internet free of charge. Can you imagine that you can build a page in as quickly as saying 1 2 3 today? That’s correct. Without spending a single penny, you can activate your own online space and start driving traffic to it.
But why exactly Site123? Because the entire process only requires three simple steps. You select the template, edit it and publish it. Yes, it truly is that simple. And your website will also be mobile-ready, flexible, optimized for search engines and high performing.
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Weblium
weblium website builder for mac
If you are a loyal Mac user, the time has come to hook you up with the right website builder for your needs. Weblium is a solution that will get you on board in close to no time. Instead of hiring yourself a professional, you can now make it happen with Weblium in no time. Everything is set up for you, and once you would like to bring things together, let Weblium’s artificial intelligence do the trick.
Of course, you can get creative and modify the default settings of a Weblium template so it matches your style precisely. Other than that, Weblium has you sorted out in full. Indeed, domain name, hosting, site security, responsiveness, you name it, Weblium covers it.
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GoDaddy
godaddy website builder for mac
GoDaddy is a giant web host and domain registrar which also comes with a convenient website builder. Of course, the tool adapts to all users without a hassle. Thus, we can easily call GoDaddy a website builder for Mac. Moreover, this remarkable page-building alternative comes with everything necessary to get you online as fast as possible. With the predefined designs and various practical features, you can take GoDaddy to your advantage and shine online. In short, manage your thriving business website from one location with ease.
With four different plans, you have enough options to get on the internet and make a difference. Not just that, but each package comes with a free test period that offers you to try it out and see all the perks that come with GoDaddy.
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Jimdo
jimdo website builder for mac
On your initial approach to building a website, you might not be that confident that you will succeed at launching a decent one. However, as soon as you pick up a website builder for Mac, you are certain that you will. With Jimdo, you know that a dope page is just around a corner. And this corner is no more than three minutes away. As wizardry as all this might sound, Jimdo’s artificial intelligence will do the trick. Jimdo AI unlocks a whole new specter of options to realize your plans in a snap of a finger.
Instead of starting from scratch, Jimdo provides a personalized template right off the bat. All you need to do is update it with your content and details, fine-tune it, and you are ready for the launch.
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Webnode
webnode website builder for mac
With a whopping fanbase of thirty million users, you know that Webnode is a serious deal. Do you know why the number of folks that use this website builder for Mac is so vast? It is simple; because Webnode offers you to bring into being a website entirely free of charge. You can pick the right premium plan later, after you get the full gist of Webnode.
And the features? Webnode sure has many to ensure the creation of the specific page you need. From templates, domain names, and hosting to form builder, statistics, online store support, and Google Analytics integration, Webnode has all the mandatory and more. For any additional questions and concerns, Webnode’s team of experts is always at your service.
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Sparkle
sparkle website builder for mac
If you would like to enhance the process of building a page on your Mac, you better do it with Sparkle. This excellent, newbie-friendly and full of handy amenities website builder for Mac users is perfect for anyone. It does not matter what your prior experience is, as well as in what industry you operate, Sparkle will make things happen without a struggle. With the visual editing tool, you can develop a nifty and tidy page to push your products and services to new heights.
You have the freedom to design and make the best online presence you can think of. Sparkle’s websites are also fully optimized for speed and desirable performance. Your page will also be pixel-perfect, responsive, optimized for search engines and ready for social sharing. One tool, a bit of creative power and a Mac is all you need to proceed.
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uKit
ukit website builder for mac
Out of the box, uKit comes with a striking collection of over 350 predefined templates in 38 different categories. It surely is a magnificent website builder for Mac, perfect for blogs, online portfolios, eCommerce pages and business sites. With uKit in combination with your signature style, you can go after making things a reality almost instantly. You also do not need to have even the slightest knowledge about web development and still reach fantastic results with uKit.
uKit ensures the freedom you deserve when setting up a page for your project. Edit colors, fonts, grids, add custom content and make things your way. The drag-and-drop technology makes performing tweaks and changes a breeze, indeed. Bear in mind, uKit also has a set of tools for marketing that will boost your potential through the roof.
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Blocs Website Builder For Mac
blocs website builder for mac
Blocs; when web design and development becomes as easy as pie. This website builder for Mac is a killer software that makes you build pages without the need to touch a single string of code. It all comes down to the fantastic visual editing, designing, and creating process. With that in mind, Blocs is a great solution for beginners, yet an excellent opportunity for quick prototyping for experts. And to get a full background of how things work over at Blocs’ end, make sure you first watch the video presentation.
Numerous predefined blocks are available to use, reuse, stack, and alter to match your project’s regulations. You can also add animations and other customized elements and components to spice up the overall experience. With Blocs, you will have an active page complete within minutes.
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EverWeb Website Builder For Mac
everweb website builder for mac
EverWeb is a Mac-specific website builder for establishing mobile-ready, flexible and browser compatible pages. You can have a custom web design up and running with little time and effort, quickly attracting new visitors. You can now comfortably and strategically avoid technical work, doing only the fun stuff. More or less, it only takes some dragging and dropping to form the website for your business.
There is a lot more to EverWeb than the goodies mentioned. Core features of EverWeb are responsiveness, search engine optimization, drop-down menus, hove effects, over one hundred free templates, and powerful hyperlinking. If you are an advanced user, you can add custom HTML, CSS, and Javascript and create a one-of-a-kind online presence. Last but not least, EverWeb is compatible with different widgets and add-ons that will elevate your page’s performance.
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uCraft
ucraft website builder for mac
Crafting with uCraft will surely be a fun and rewarding experience. This website builder for Mac users is a kit full of features and functions that will kick-start your page right away. You can choose from a wide variety of ready-to-use web designs which you can modify to your heart’s content. However, in many cases, you will want to use the template out of the box — yes, they are just that stunning and adaptive. If this happens to be the case for you, attach your information, details, and content and welcome new visitors and potential clients on board.
Instead of paying a hefty fee, when working with uCraft, you actually won’t need to spend a thing. You can kick it off for free and only later upgrade to a premium plan if you wish to. Even if you choose the free plan, you will still create a page that surely will not be half-baked. SSL security, SEO app, Google Analytics, and different customization tweaks are still available.
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Mobirise
mobirise website builder for mac
If you are looking for more free website builders for Mac alternatives, you came to the right place! Mobirise is another spectacular component that will unlock a broad horizon of opportunities for you. While most software on this list offers in-browser editing, Mobirise is an offline app. You download it to your Mac gadget and start using it right away. There is no need to feel intimidated by the idea of downloading new software to your computer. Mobirise is easy to use, perfect for beginners, but works great for experts.
Mobirise comes with over 50 themes, more than 150 demo pages, and a banging collection of 1,500 blocks. All pages are automatically responsive, cross-browser-compatible, and optimized for loading speeds. Drag and drop blocks, edit text, add media, and set block parameters, with Mobirise, anything happens so quickly you will have a hard time sticking with it.
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RapidWeaver Website Builder For Mac
rapidweaver website builder for mac
While you can always rely on a web developer and designer to sort out your web platform, you are here for a reason. You would like to do it yourself! Not only that, but you would also like to be in full control over your online presence at all times. And that is the whole idea behind RapidWeaver, a website builder for Mac.
RapidWeaver comes with many features that you can take to your full advantage. From Unsplash integration, device simulator and social media tags to GDPR compliance, beautiful pre-built themes and dark mode feature, RapidWeaver has all the must-haves and more. Make it yours by implementing your unique touch and shine online with a remarkable page.
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IM Creator
im creator website builder for mac
Nothing should be holding you back once you unlock your access to IM Creator. It is a website builder for Mac that has already helped build millions and millions of pages across the web. Would you like to join the massive fan base and see rewarding results for yourself? We all know the answer. With IM Creator, you can start this very moment by simply creating an account. Nope, you do not need to know how to do the programming work, and you also do not need to open your wallet. Is IM Creator free? Yes.
IM Creator also comes with simple editing tools and ensures that your final product fits any device and browser like a dream. As a beginner, starting with a simple page that you can later expand according to your needs is advisable. Indeed, IM Creator is very flexible, perfect for single- and multi-page websites.
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UXWeb
uxweb website builder for mac
You are your boss when it comes to website builders for Mac. In other words, once you have in possession of the software’s features, you are in total control of your website. Thanks to the simplicity the tool offers, you can now manage and maintain it without a sweat. And UXWeb is no different. This drag-and-drop website builder is fully compatible with iOS and macOS, ensuring smooth operation and ease of use. You can download the app right away and start experiencing its powerful features that will put you right on top.
No doubt, the page you are about to bring into being with UXWeb will follow all the latest web and tech trends. It will be responsive, fluently adapting to all devices, from handheld and up to desktop. Moreover, UXWeb also gives you a chance to modify the layout to your likings and make it match your taste precisely.
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Pinegrow Website Builder
pinegrow website builder for mac
Pinegrow is a website builder for Mac that allows you to forge the right page for your business or project. If an idea for a business arises, you can now realize it insanely fast. You need Pinegrow, and you are ready to rock and roll. Create a one- or multi-page website that will present your idea on the web in the best possible light. The insanely newbie-friendly web editing tool that Pinegrow delivers makes the realization of any thought a possibility. Thoughts are things, as they say, so make the most out of them.
While drag-and-drop editing will cover the major part of web creation, you can still take the extra mile and go behind the scenes. In other words, change the core and add unique features to your Pinegrow-powered site.
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Adobe Website Builder
adobe website builder for mac
Adobe might be known for something entirely different, but you can also use its website builder for Mac extension, which will surely do you well. It is a dynamic and intuitive tool that covers the creation of both simple and complex pages. If you already have an idea of how you would like your website to look, grab Adobe Website Builder now and start making an authentic version. They sometimes say, “It is easier said than done.” Well, this saying does not apply to Adobe.
The features of Adobe’s very own website builder include, but are not limited to, preset themes, free fonts, searchable content, web hosting, and custom content support. You are just a few short moments away from sharing your idea with the whole world; now, make it a reality with Adobe.
best free web design software
There are over 1.8 billion websites on the web today. That’s a lot of competition. Because of that, it’s important to think hard about how you can make your website stand out and attract visitors, especially if you can do it for free. Here’s where free web design software comes in handy.
It’s safe to assume that on and offline, people prefer to see something that’s beautifully designed over something simple and plain. That’s especially true for business sites and ecommerce stores.
Luckily, you can use free software to create a stunning website. Below, we’ll look at the top free tools that you can use to create an amazing design or improve your existing one.
Get Started on HubSpot’s CMS Software for $25/month
Free Web Design Software: Features to Look For
What critical features does website design software need to offer? When you’re considering tools, look for the following capabilities and features.
Visual Editor
Web design primarily focuses on the visual aspect of websites as opposed to the content management side. As such, good web design software should include a visual editor that allows you to design visually — no need to touch actual code unless you want to.
Compatibility with Current Systems
Whether you’re using CMS Hub or WordPress, your chosen web design software should be compatible with your current website builder or content management system (CMS). For instance, after using Sketch, you should be able to export the prototype’s CSS code and import it into your chosen CMS.
Templates
A piece of great web design software will offer you a point to work off of. Because this type of software is meant to be beginner-friendly, you shouldn’t have to start from scratch. That’s where templates come in. The software should offer various templates for you to create a site that looks and feels the way you envision it.
Fonts and Graphics
You shouldn’t feel short-changed when trying to use a free web design tool. Instead, you should have access to the fonts and graphics you need to create a stunning prototype or wireframe. It’s important that a web design tool offers you plenty of options for fonts and graphics.
Some web design tools will also include hosting services, SSL certificates, content management tools, and domain names. Others will only offer tools for wireframing and visual design. Others still are only designed for writing code. Whether you’re looking for an all-in-one solution or a standalone design tool, we’ve got you covered with this list of top web design software.
Best Free Web Design Software
CMS Hub: Best All-in-One Web Design Software for Beginners
WordPress: Best Free Blog Design Software for Beginners
Figma: Best Free Collaborative Wireframing Tool for Beginners
Sketch: Best User Interface Design Tool for Mac Users
Lunacy: Best Free User Interface Design Tool for Windows Users
Adobe XD: Best Prototyping Software for Adobe CC Users
Origami: Best Free Web Design Tool for Animations
InVision Studio: Best Free Mobile Responsive Prototyping Software
FluidUI: Best Simple Web Design Tool for Prototyping
Vectr: Best Simple Web Design Tool for Vector Drawing
GIMP: Best Simple Web Design Tool for Photo Editing
Marvel: Best Simple Web Design Tool for User Testing
Wix: Best Simple Website Builder
Framer: Best Simple Design Tool for Web Apps and Products
Bootstrap: Best Prebuilt Web Design Framework
Sublime Text: Best Free Code Editor for Mac
Visual Studio Code: Best Free Code Editor for Windows
With hundreds of tools available, it can be confusing and overwhelming to decide which to use. That’s why we’ve curated a list of some of the best design tools that you can use for free.
The list will be divided into three:
Best Free Web Design Software for Beginners
Simple Free Web Design Software
Code Free Web Design Software
Let’s get started.
Best Free Web Design Software for Beginners
- CMS Hub: Best All-in-One Web Design Software for Beginners
Free Trial
OS: Any (web-based)
CMS Hub web design softwareCMS Hub is a website builder and content management system that includes a visual drag-and-drop editor, a collection of templates, and an SSL certificate. Because it requires zero coding and includes everything you need to launch a website, it comes out on top as the best all-in-one design software for beginners.
CMS Hub is also integrated with all other products in the HubSpot platform, including our CRM, marketing software, sales software, and service software.
CMS Hub Core Functionalities
Web Design
Collaboration
Wireframing
Content Management
Website Structure
URL Mapping
Analytics Reporting
Security
CMS Hub Pros
Comprehensive content management system
No coding required with an easy drag-and-drop page builder
Healthy selection of templates
Seamless integration with the rest of the HubSpot CRM platform
Hosting is include
CMS Hub Cons
Free trial only
Plans are priced higher than other options listed that offer paid plans (though this includes hosting costs)
Rich functionality may be under-utilized by beginner website owners
- WordPress: Best Free Blog Design Software for Beginners
Free
OS: Any (web-based)
free web design tool wordpress and block editor
WordPress is an open-source content management system that makes it easy to set up a website in minutes. There are thousands of free plugins available to download and install so that you can extend the functionality of your site. This simplifies the entire customization process and means you don’t need coding skills to design your site.
It’s important to note that WordPress is free to use, but there are other costs associated with building and running a site on the platform. We break down the cost of building and launching a website here.
WordPress Core Functionalities
Content Management
Blog Design
Website Structure
WordPress Pros
Most popular CMS on the web
Highly customizable and configurable thanks to its open-source build
Thousands of themes and plugins to customize and optimize your site
WordPress Cons
The WordPress CMS is free, but you’ll still have to pay for good hosting
Can feel too hands-on for those who want a more streamlined site-building experience
WordPress has known security vulnerabilities that leave your site at risk if not addressed
- Figma: Best Free Collaborative Wireframing Tool for Beginners
Free
OS: Any (web-based)
Figma web design softwareBest defined as an interface design tool, Figma enables multiple designers to collaborate in real time. As such, it’s ideal if you have various project stakeholders involved in the design process. Figma is a web application, so you won’t need to download a tool to your desktop.
The free version includes unlimited drafts, unlimited commenters, and unlimited editors. You can have up to 1 team project, so if you’re all working together on one website only, this is a great choice for your team. The one limitation is that it only includes up to 30 days of historical changes.
If you upgrade to the Professional tier, you’ll get unlimited projects and unlimited history, while the Organization tier gives you access to advanced security and analytics.
Figma Core Functionalities
User Interface Design
Collaboration
Wireframing
Prototyping
Figma Pros
An excellent piece of web design freeware for wireframing, mockups, and prototyping
Unlimited drafts, commenters, and editors allowed on the free version (however, projects are limited)
Real-time collaboration with team members
Figma Cons
Free version is limited in collaboration features
Only tracks 30 days of changes
Can experience performance issues, especially over weaker connections
- Sketch: Best User Interface Design Tool for Mac Users
Free Trial
OS: macOS
free web design tool sketch editor with comments overlaidSketch is one of the most (if not the most) well-known and used tools for web designing. It comes with an advanced vector tool, which aids in a collaborative development of interfaces and prototypes. This tool was built particularly for making websites and web apps.
Its prominence among the designer community is at least partially due to its clean interface and high performance; however, it only works on Mac. Since many designers work on Windows, you might be better off with a web-based option such as CMS Hub or a Windows-based option such as Lunacy.
Sketch Core Functionalities
User Interface Design
Collaboration
Wireframing
Prototyping
Sketch Pros
Intuitive, easy-to-use, and popular design tool
Clean, simple displays for users who hate page clutter
Handles all phases of the design process from wireframes to prototypes and developer handoff
Sketch Cons
Free trial only
macOS only
Weaker collaboration features than other options on this list
- Lunacy: Best Free User Interface Design Tool for Windows Users
Free
OS: Windows, macOS, Linux
Free web design tool Lunacy editor
Launched as a free alternative to Sketch for Windows, Lunacy is now a fully functional graphic design software that’s rich in features. A couple of years ago, all it could do was open Sketch files on Windows. Today, it offers all the standard features of a UI and screen design tool and a library of free, high-quality graphic assets.
It includes full support for Sketch files, so if you ever switch from Windows to Mac or vice versa, you can edit your Sketch design without a problem.
Lunacy Core Functionalities
User Interface Design
Collaboration
Wireframing
Prototyping
Lunacy Pros
Built-in graphic assets to quickly add content to your screens
Compatible with Sketch files, letting you edit them on a Windows device
Allows for offline editing, unlike web-based competitors
Lunacy Cons
Still a relatively new product with some minor bugs being resolved
Performance issues have been reported, especially dealing with large files
Lacks prototyping features
- Adobe XD: Best Prototyping Software for Adobe CC Users
Free Trial
OS: Windows, macOS, iOS, Android (web version also available)
Free web design tool Adobe XD editor
Though it’s one of the newer tools on this list, Adobe XD quickly became the go-to tool for many in the web design community. Adobe Photoshop, Adobe InDesign, and Adobe Illustrator hold the first three spots in the graphics software market share. For that reason, Adobe XD became the natural choice for graphic and web designers.
Even if you’re not familiar with Adobe’s products, Adobe XD is a top-of-the-line web design tool worth trying. The tool offers a repeat grids feature, which allows you to easily create grids and populate them with images, text, and other one-of-a-kind content. It’s also handy for creating and testing variations in the spacing between UI elements.
Adobe XD Core Functionalities
User Interface Design
Collaboration
Wireframing
Prototyping
Adobe XD Pros
Great reputation as an end-to-end UX design tools
Seamless integration with other products in the Adobe suite like Illustrator, InDesign, and Photoshop
Good performance when handling large files
Handy UI kits from top tech brands to build out interfaces more quickly
Adobe XD Cons
Free trial only
Lacks real-time collaboration ability
While there is an extensions library, it is not as rich as some competitors’
- Origami: Best Free Web Design Tool for Animations
Free
OS: macOS
Origami web design softwareOrigami is an interface design tool created by the designers of Facebook. It’s everything you wish that Sketch had when it comes to making high-fidelity UIs and prototypes. It’s tailored to building mobile prototypes, which support all popular mobile interactions and gestures.
Origami truly shines in terms of adding screen interactivity. Most UI design tools offer limited micro-interactions settings, but this tool enables you to fine-tune spacing, timings, triggers, animation types, and more.
The best part is that it allows you to use it in conjunction with Figma and Sketch, so if you’re using those web design tools, you can switch back and forth without losing your work.
Origami Core Functionalities
User Interface Design
Animation
Wireframing
Prototyping
Origami Pros
Easy prototyping, animations, and micro-interactions
Specializes in mobile prototyping
Compatibility with Sketch and Figma
Origami Cons
Lacking in collaboration features
More difficult to learn than other options
Less support and community if you run into problems using the tool
- InVision Studio: Best Free Mobile Responsive Prototyping Software
Free
OS: Windows, macOS, iOS, Android (web version also available)
Free web design tool invision studio editor
Offering versions that work on PC and Mac desktops, InVision Studio offers an advanced mobile responsive feature that allows you to design for different screen sizes. Since its very first release, this tool has focused on providing a collaborative design experience. Moreover, it’s now on par with AdobeXD in terms of built-in functionality.
You can further extend its functionality by downloading apps from its AppStore. Many of these offer the same functionality as AdobeXD’s repeat grids feature. There are also UI Kits you can download and use to build screens immediately. The extensions and UI kits are all free.
InVision Studio Core Functionalities
User Interface Design
Animation
Wireframing
Responsive Prototyping
InVision Studio Pros
One of the best high-fidelity mockup and prototyping tools available
Advanced collaboration capabilities
Intuitive animation controls for more realistic prototypes
Many free extensions and UI kits
InVision Studio Cons
Collaboration tools exist but are not as convenient as competitors’
Users have experienced response issues with support
Occasional issues with tracking changes and saving files
Simple Free Web Design Software
- FluidUI: Best Simple Web Design Tool for Prototyping
Free
OS: Any (web-based)
FluidUI web design softwareFluidUI is a free online tool that is ideal for prototyping and building UIs quickly. This tool, combined with the library of standard Apple and Google material assets, enables direct editing in your browser. You can also share prototypes via email and share links so that others can review and leave comments on the page.
FluidUI Core Functionalities
Quick Prototyping
User Interface Design
Wireframing
FluidUI Pros
Quick, easy web design freeware for prototypes and wireframing
Accommodates both high-fidelity and low-fidelity prototyping
Real-time collaboration and easy sharing
FluidUI Cons
Free version is limited — you’re allowed one project with 10 pages and one user
Less ideal for higher-fidelity designs, as it’s meant for fast iterative prototypes
Paid plans are more expensive than other options here, but necessary for collaborative projects
- Vectr: Best Simple Web Design Tool for Vector Drawing
Free
OS: Any (web-based)
Free web design tool vector editor
A cloud-based, free illustration tool with similar features to Adobe Illustrator and Sketch. Vector offers everything you need to get started building complex illustrations, or designing a site or mobile application.
Learning how to use the drag-and-drop editor is easy, and because it’s cloud-based, sharing designs is exceedingly simple. That means your team will be able to collaborate and gather feedback without the headache.
Vectr Core Functionalities
Vector Drawing
Prototyping
Wireframing
Vectr Pros
A solid Adobe Illustrator/Sketch alternative for vector graphics
Easy cloud-based collaboration
Simple, intuitive interface and features
Vectr Cons
Requires an internet connection to use
Importing and exporting have been reported as occasionally difficult
The tool displays ads
- GIMP: Best Simple Web Design Tool for Photo Editing
Free
OS: Windows, macOS, Linux
GIMP web design software
The GNU Image Manipulation Program (GIMP) is an open-source, popular photo editor supported by Linux, macOS, and Windows. Although the interface looks a bit outdated, it packs quite a bit of power and is capable of almost everything Photoshop can do.
It’s a wonderful choice for designers who have limited budgets and need to design UIs or edit photos.
GIMP Core Functionalities
Photo Editing
Prototyping
Wireframing
GIMP Pros
A powerful alternative to Photoshop for designers on a budget
Feature-rich and sufficient for rudimentary and advanced photo editing
Large community of users for support
GIMP Cons
Outdated interface
Tools and icons are not always intuitive for non-experts, resulting in a steeper learning curve
Primarily intended for photo editing and lacks out-of-the-box prototyping and wireframing features
- Marvel: Best Simple Web Design Tool for User Testing
Free
OS: Any (web-based)
marvel-web-design-software
Marvel is ideal for producing and refining an interface exactly how you want it to appear and for creating prototypes. It offers a truly innovative way for creating pages and enables you to simulate the design via a prototype.
There are several integrations available that enable you to insert your designs into the project workflow. There is also an integrated user testing feature, which is still rare in the web design space.
Marvel Core Functionalities
Prototyping
User Testing
Collaboration
Marvel Pros
Fast and efficient creation and user testing
Integrated user testing features
Simple, user-friendly interface
Includes a handoff option that translates prototypes into CSS
Marvel Cons
Free version limits you to one project and required Marvel branding on projects
Performance issues have been experienced with larger projects
Handoff does not include HTML, just CSS
- Wix: Best Simple Website Builder
OS: Any (web-based)
Free web design tool wix editor
An affordable, easy-to-use WordPress alternative, Wix is a website builder offering free and premium plans. Like WordPress, Wix makes it possible to build all kinds of sites, including stores and blogs, in just a few minutes. But the experience of managing a Wix site will be very different from WordPress.
If you opt for one of the premium plans, you’ll get a fully-managed subscription service. Meaning, Wix takes care of all the technical details around site hosting, back-ups, and security. You can also choose the free ad-sponsored plan, which comes with hundreds of options and templates to choose from.
Wix Core Functionalities
Web Design
Collaboration
Content Management
Wix Pros
Simple website builder aimed at helping anyone build a high-quality online presence
All-in-one option, including codeless building tools, hosting, and security
Ad-sponsored options available
Wix Cons
Wix’s free offering is pretty bare-bones and requires Wix branding in your site’s URL
Less flexible than WordPress — for example, you’re unable to twitch site template once you’ve started building
Limits in terms of page layouts, as well as color and text styling that make it less suited for visually complex sites
- Framer X: Best Simple Design Tool for Web Apps and Products
Free
OS: Any (web-based)
Free web design tool framer X editor
Originally, Framer was simply a library of JavaScript and a prototyping tool set. It has since evolved into one of the most powerful tools for creating responsive designs. Now called Framer X, this fast prototyping tool enables designers at every skill level to create complex animations and generate code for React components. This sets it apart from Sketch, although their vector-based interface looks similar.
Framer X Core Functionalities
Web App Prototyping
Wireframing
Collaboration
Framer Pros
Powerful all-in-one design alternative to tools like Figma and Adobe XD
Tight control over interactive components and animations
Compatibility with react components
Framer Cons
The free version of framer limits you to two editors and three projects
Steep learning curve due to intimidating interface and complex workflow
Having JavaScript knowledge is key to using the tool to its full potential
Code Free Web Design Software
- Bootstrap: Best Prebuilt Web Design Framework
Free
OS: Any
free web design tool bootstrap getting started pageBuilt originally by the Twitter engineering team, Bootstrap is now the most popular framework in the world for building mobile-first, responsive websites. It’s basically a free library of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, which helps streamline the process of building a site from scratch. There are dozens of features — including a grid system, a series of responsive breakpoints, and a rich components library — that make coding easier and faster.
The component library has buttons, navigation bars, forms, headers, alerts, and so forth. You can simply download the current version of Bootstrap, or load it locally with BootstrapCDN, copy one of the sample templates, and begin customizing.
Bootstrap Core Functionalities
Front-End Web Design
User Interface Design
Bootstrap Pros
A must-know for mobile-first web development
Allows you to build websites for both desktop and mobile without creating two different sites
Dozens of responsive interface options, each with multiple easy style customization
Extensive documentation that’s clear for beginners
Bootstrap Cons
Coding knowledge is required (as it’s a CSS framework)
As far as styling goes, Bootstrap has native options for its components, but they’re not extensive, which can make Bootstrap-powered websites look homogenous
Minimal backward compatibility with older versions of the framework
- Sublime Text: Best Free Code Editor for Mac
Free
OS: macOS
Sublime Text web design softwareSublime Text is a free web design tool that’s optimal for coding a website from the ground up. It allows you to keep HTML, CSS, and JavaScript code all in one unified file, and it color-codes different tags and attributes for easier reading and editing. If you pair Bootstrap with Sublime Text, you’ll be able to easily build a high performing website.
Sublime Text Core Functionalities
Coding
Text Editing
Sublime Text Pros
Among the most popular and well-reviewed free code editors available
Customizable interface
Essential code editing features like color coding, search functionality
Many plugins to try with the tool
Lightweight
Sublime Text Cons
Sublime Text is free to use, but sometimes displays pop ups asking to upgrade to the paid version
Coding knowledge is required (as it’s a text editor)
Some users have complained that Sublime is light on native features compared to its plugin offerings
- Visual Studio Code: Best Free Code Editor for Windows
Free
OS: Windows, macOS, Linux
Visual Studio Code web design software
Visual Studio Code is to Windows what Sublime Text is to macOS. Use it to intuitively write and edit HTML and CSS code. You can also use it to build a Bootstrap website. Visual Studio Code gives you access to a wealth of extensions to expand the functionality of the tool. For instance, you can download GitLive to collaborate with other developers and designers.
Visual Studio Code Core Functionalities
Coding
Text Editing
Visual Studio Code Pros
Lightweight and efficient
Large extension library to improve the editor, including a GitHub integration
Extensive documentation for beginner users
Visual Studio Code Cons
Coding knowledge is required (as it’s a text editor)
A steep learning curve compared to sublime, but still manageable for beginners
Why is using web design software important?
Website redesigns require a serious investment of time and resources, so it makes sense to consider why you should redesign your website.
Without web design software, though, you can easily build a website that won’t perform as expected. That’s why wireframing, prototyping, and coding is important — and you can use the tools above to get that done.
Here’s why using web design software is important:
- Your web design sets the first impression.
Your website is often the first impression consumers have of the business. You want to make it a good one, and fast. An outdated or poorly designed website could sour a visitor’s first impression of your brand, and deter them from staying on your site or returning. - Good web design impacts your SEO.
Web design practices and elements not only impact the visitor experience — they also impact how search engine bots crawl and then index your website.
You can learn web design best practices through diligent research and practice. To simplify the process and save time, you can also work with a website development company that knows what they’re doing.
- A good design sets the tone for your customer service.
By simply looking at your website, visitors can glean insights into how you would treat them as customers. If you thoughtfully include web design elements that make it easier for them to navigate your website, learn about your products, and more, then that indicates they can expect the same thought and care from your customer service.
On the other hand, if no effort was put into your web design, then that indicates to visitors that your business would not put effort into helping them as customers either.
- A good design fosters trust with your audience.
If your site is outdated or poorly designed, consumers will be less likely to trust your brand and more likely to view you as less credible and professional than your competitors.
By updating your design, you can build audience trust. This is critical. If you gain their trust, visitors will be more likely to stay on your website longer and give their personal information, which means you’ll have more opportunity to convert them into leads.
- Good web design builds consistency.
When you are attempting to gain new business leads, you want to generate brand awareness. If your audience is familiar with your business, then they will be more likely to choose you when they are ready to purchase.
Web design plays a huge part in brand consistency. Considering its importance, you might want to work with a web design company to help you create a beautiful design across your site.
Use Web Design Software to Build a Stellar Website
The right web design software can empower you to prototype, wireframe, and design a website that delights your visitors. Luckily, many tools are free. Be sure to try your hand at the tools listed above to code your site from the ground up or revamp it entirely.
Conclusion
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