HTML editor is a tool that helps you to edit and create HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) code. The tool includes built-in validation to help produce standards-compliant code. It also includes formatting tools for easier editing and management of the code.
Table of Contents
Html Web Design Software Free Download
1. CMS Hub: Best All-in-One Web Design Software for Beginners
Free Trial
OS: Any (web-based)
CMS 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
2. WordPress: Best Free Blog Design Software for Beginners
Free
OS: Any (web-based)
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
3. Figma: Best Free Collaborative Wireframing Tool for Beginners
Free
OS: Any (web-based)
Best 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
4. Sketch: Best User Interface Design Tool for Mac Users
Free Trial
OS: macOS
Sketch 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
5. Lunacy: Best Free User Interface Design Tool for Windows Users
Free
OS: Windows, macOS, Linux
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
6. Adobe XD: Best Prototyping Software for Adobe CC Users
Free Trial
OS: Windows, macOS, iOS, Android (web version also available)
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’
7. Origami: Best Free Web Design Tool for Animations
Free
OS: macOS
Origami 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
8. InVision Studio: Best Free Mobile Responsive Prototyping Software
Free
OS: Windows, macOS, iOS, Android (web version also available)
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
9. FluidUI: Best Simple Web Design Tool for Prototyping
Free
OS: Any (web-based)
FluidUI 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
10. Vectr: Best Simple Web Design Tool for Vector Drawing
Free
OS: Any (web-based)
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
11. GIMP: Best Simple Web Design Tool for Photo Editing
Free
OS: Windows, macOS, Linux
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
12. Marvel: Best Simple Web Design Tool for User Testing
Free
OS: Any (web-based)
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
13. Wix: Best Simple Website Builder
OS: Any (web-based)
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
14. Framer X: Best Simple Design Tool for Web Apps and Products
Free
OS: Any (web-based)
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
best html designer
1 – Atom Review – The Best for Advanced Customization
Atom is a free, open-source code editor developed by the GitHub team and maintained by the GitHub community. It comes with enough packages and theme collections, runs light, and loads super fast, making this HTML editor one of the best you can find.
It’s a modernized WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) HTML editor available for Windows, Mac, and Linux and is built for collaboration. Whether you’re a newbie or an experienced professional, Atom is everyone’s favorite with its premium feel and customization flexibility.
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Think of it as an advanced text editor that has several features commonly limited to high-level coding programs.
It also comes with a hackable text editor! It’s a feature that enables developers to edit, extend, change, and share the program source code and design their own packages to improve Atom.
Multiple pane support is another feature I like. You can split the interface into as many windows as you need to compare and write code side-by-side.
Other features include syntax correction and highlighting, autocompletion, project management, and Teletype (users can collaborate with other developers in real-time).
Atom is entirely free of charge! So you don’t have to shell out any money to use this excellent editor.
#2 – Notepad + + Review – The Best for Front-End Developers and Web Designers
Fast working, time-tested, and foolproof, Notepad + + is one of the most popular HTML editors used by millions worldwide. It’s an open-code editor that offers multi-language support, which isn’t restricted to only HTML and CSS.
One of the primary reasons for Notepad + +‘s popularity is its feature-rich interface.
You get syntax folding, syntax highlighting, multi-view, document map, multi-document interface, auto-completion, bookmarks, and a fully customizable GUI. And even after this long list, there’s still more.
Notepad + + was developed for Windows-based machines, but Linux users can use it via Wine. As the name suggests, this editor is like an upgraded version of the Notepad software, which is already available in Windows by default. You also get its repository on GitHub.
A mobile version is also available, so you can work no matter when and where you find a problem.
Environmentalists would love Notepad + + as well. It has programs that run on less CPU power in a bid to reduce carbon emissions.
Notepad + + is free for all! So no extra money or hidden costs for you to worry about.
#3 – Brackets Review – The Best for Beginners
Brackets is another widely popular HTML editor for programmers compatible with different operating systems like Windows, Mac, and Linux. It comes with a built-in package manager that allows users to search and install any supported package they like.
I highly recommend this open-source HTML editor for beginners due to its smart auto-completion feature that makes coding incredibly fast and accurate.
Bracket’s coding UI can be split into multiple panes, making writing and comparing codes between different files easy and precise. Its integrated file system browser enables you to access files within your PC.
Plus, it has a find and replace feature that allows developers to fine-tune the code when appropriate. This can be useful for novices and experienced professionals to ensure their website stays up-to-date.
Styling and customization are super easy and simple, so coding won’t ever get boring with Brackets.
The pre-installed syntax themes feature dark and flashy bright colors. With no shortage of packages on the platform, you can add as many features as you want, based on your use-case and preference.
Brackets is completely free! You can download it directly from the official website
Note: Support for Brackets ends in September 2021. You’ll be able to fork projects on GitHub or migrate to Visual Studio Code, a free code editor from Microsoft.
#4 – Sublime Text Review – The Best for Multi-Language Support
Sublime Text is the advanced version of Notepad + +. It comes with the standard features of Notepad + +, along with more modern ones to suit the sophisticated needs of the more experienced users.
You get cross-platform support, split editing, multiple-selection editing, proprietary command palette, and syntax editing to make web development simpler. The editor is incredibly powerful and promises high performance. However, you have a steeper learning curve ahead of you in exchange for this flexibility and power.
One of the more advanced features of Sublime Text is “Goto Anything.” Using this, you can find and replace the code within a considerably shorter period. The distraction-free mode is another great feature that displays only the code by hiding other elements.
You can use keyboard shortcuts to execute tasks quickly–provided you can remember them. Everything is easily customizable in the editor as well, whether you want to personalize key bindings to snippets to menus.
Accessible on Windows, Mac, and Linux, Sublime Text also supports different languages like C, HTML, C++, C#, Java, CSS, JavaScript, PHP, Python, Ruby, and many more.
Sublime Text has a free version available that’s enough for beginners, but if you want access to all its features, you have to pay a one-time cost of $80.
#5 – Adobe Dreamweaver CC Review – The Best for Web Developers
Most of the other options work great for front-end development, but having an HTML editor that facilitates back-end development is also necessary, which is where Adobe Dreamweaver CC comes in.
Made by renowned company Adobe, this editor is hands down one of the most famous and influential options on the market. You get all sorts of plugins and premium features that you wouldn’t normally have access to with other HTML editors.
Whether it’s creating more responsive sites or editing the website code, Dreamweaver makes everything possible.
This editor is a closed source software, designed to work within the Adobe ecosystem. It supports both the textual and WYSIWYG methods, allowing you to choose between coding with a live visual presentation or take the traditional route. You can write code in any major programming language and enjoy access to creative cloud libraries.
Web developers would particularly love Adobe Dreamweaver CC. It automatically confirms the code and page accessibility, making it easier for developers to follow Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), and even reviews the end product.
Plus, the direct access to an abundant supply of assets in the Adobe ecosystem like graphics, layers, colors, words, characters, and much more, is another advantage.
Dreamweaver has a free version, but you can opt for premium plans as well. You have three options:
- Annual Plan, Payable Monthly – $25.99 per month
- Monthly Plan – $31.49 per month
- Annual Plan, Prepaid – $239.88 per year
What I Looked at to Find the Best HTML Editor
HTML editors—both free and paid—come with several cosmetic features. Based on your business needs, you’ll find some to be absolutely necessary, while others you may not need at all.
I’ve compiled a list of features that I think a good HTML editor should have. You may not need all of them, but here is what you should be looking for when choosing an HTML editor.
Color-Coding or Syntax Highlighting
HTML has a tag-based markup language. You need an HTML editor with syntax highlighting or color-coding features to light up these tags.
Doing this will help you identify the tags quickly, which, in turn, will make working with blocks of code easier.
Autocomplete and Suggestions
The autocomplete and suggestions feature helps to quickly fill in longer code at the press of a button.
The editor gives you pop up suggestions based on your work–all you have to do is click on it, and the code will autocomplete. Think of how you type text messages on your phone or when you do a quick Google search.
You can also automate creating closing tabs through this feature.
Find and Replace
I highly recommend looking for code editors with the find and replace feature, as it allows you to locate certain strings and replace them with something else very quickly.
Plus, HTML is constantly changing and updating standards and deprecation of inefficient tags. So, you’ll definitely find yourself wanting this feature sometime in the future to update your website.
Version Control
Editors with version control enable you to see the previous versions of your code and rollback when needed.
As a result, you can store all the copies without making separate documents, and I know how crucial this is when you’re working with other developers.
Multi-Cursor Functionality
The role of multi-cursors is simple: It allows you to write code in multiple places at once. In other words, you can edit code simultaneously.
This is especially useful when you want to add duplicates of the same tag.
FTP Support and Error Detection
Getting HTML editors with FTP support lets you connect to WordPress and upload changes you want to make without any hassle. As a result, you won’t find yourself logging into FileZilla or your preferred FTP client every time you want to update anything.
Live error detection is equally important.
HTML is a markup language and not a programming language, which is why it doesn’t compile. It also means you can’t test your code. With live error detection, though, you’ll know immediately whenever you write something incorrectly.
In addition to these, there are several other features like code folding and autosave that can increase productivity and accuracy.
Note: If you’re looking for a code editor with advanced features and platform integration, you‘ll need an integrated development environment or IDE rather than a text editor. While IDEs are similar to HTML editors, they are more beefed up designed for advanced developers.
Conclusion
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