Web design tools designed to make your life easier, while embracing your individuality. Our goal is to help you build the site you want to build, by developing a package of reusable templates and design assets that work together seamlessly. With the right tools, anyone can create a beautiful website.
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Microsoft Web Design Tools
The best web design software makes it simple and easy to build a website, either by offering a coding platform, or a drag-and-drop interface.
It used to be the case that the only option was to code a website directing, using HTML & CSS and even JavaScript. However, these days drag-and-drop editors have become much more commonplace, making it a breeze for anyone to customize or even build their own website.
Whichever option you prefer, all of them make it easier to build in the elements you require on your website, and can work with additional tools such as form builders, image hosting, and even content delivery networks (CDN).
In this guide we have focused on the best web design tools currently available on the market. Similar to the best website builder services, when weighing up which to include, we focus on ease of use, supported web languages, cost, and how easy the tools make it to upload the finished project once you are done.
These are the best web design software services of 2022
1. Wix
The best web design software for beginnersTODAY’S BEST DEALSWix ProUS$23/mthWix Connect DomainUS$3.54/mthVISIT SITEat Wix
REASONS TO BUY
+Very easy to use+No coding required+Huge range of powerful features+Yet still highly user-friendly
Wix is more of a website builder than a coding platform, but it is one of the most popular online website creators, offering a range of plans and products. The free version has Wix branding, limited storage space and bandwidth, but move up to the most popular plan (unlimited) and there’s no Wix ads.
An excellent collection of 500 plus templates gets the design process off to a quick start. The drag-and-drop editor gives you all kinds of tools and features to explore – an image editor, video backgrounds, animations, social buttons, an integrated site blog – and just about everything can be tweaked, tuned and restyled. Furthermore, as of recently, Wix introduced Wix Turbo, which increases the speed and performance of websites substantially.
All the core editing functions are really smartly designed, and operate more like a native app than your average website builder. Wix does have some weaknesses, with tech support seeming a little sluggish and limited in some respects. But there’s no denying that the superb editor and range of top-notch templates make it easy for web building novices to create something impressive.
2. Adobe Dreamweaver
The best web design software for professionals
REASONS TO BUY
+Customize your design+Build a responsive design+HTML5 support
REASONS TO AVOID
-Not cheap
Adobe Dreamweaver is a long-established app that allows you to code your website design directly, without having to know too much about programming. The software works through a mix of visual editing and HTML editing, which means it shouldn’t have too steep a learning curve for most users.
Additionally, while coding your own website design requires you to put in more effort than simply using an existing ready made template, at least you have the chance to ensure you get the look you actually want, rather than trying to work around someone else’s design specifications.
A particularly good feature of Dreamweaver is that it allows you to produce a responsive design, which means your website can be optimized to display on desktops as well as mobile devices, without limiting the user experience.
However, if you are a more advanced user you may be pleased to note that Dreamweaver provides multi-monitor support for Windows. It also supports the Chromium Embedded Framework (CEF) to work with HTML5 elements and CSS grids. Additionally, there’s also support for Git to allow you to edit source code directly from within Dreamweaver.
Dreamweaver is available as part of Adobe’s mid-range packaged app subscription service, Creative Cloud, which also includes Photoshop.
3. WordPress
The best custom option for beginnersTODAY’S BEST DEALS
REASONS TO BUY
+Easy to install and use+Many available features+Pre-built website templates
REASONS TO AVOID
-Watch out for spamAdvertisementhttps://8590ca7c8e8b37ce0a1d64fbbea94c58.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html
WordPress is an alternative way to set up and design your website, being rather different to the other offerings we’ve highlighted here because it’s actually a content management system (CMS). The power here is that it is a simple matter to set up a website in minutes. Indeed, many web hosting packages include a one-click install of WordPress from their Control Panel, but even without that, WordPress is relatively easy to install.
Once installed, the backend for administration and management is very user-friendly. You can use the existing WordPress design templates for your website, but more likely you will want to download and install an existing free or premium WordPress template – all of which can be done with just a few clicks.
Even if you would prefer to work with your own design, you can often do so using drag-and-drop functions, usually from a downloaded design with an in-built framework. This can allow you to create a professional-looking website without having to learn programming or coding at all.
Better still, there are so many free add-ons available to download and install, often requiring nothing more than a few clicks. This makes the whole process of customizing your website very simple, and it does not require any professional skills.
Overall, WordPress is a very easy CMS to use, and can provide a very quick way to get any form of website online fast. The huge variety of template designs and additional community supported features mean that getting something which is near the mark of what you want isn’t hard at all. Just ensure that in the settings you select to turn off comments so as to avoid spam.
4. Weebly
The DIY e-commerce websiteTODAY’S BEST DEALSWeebly StarterUS$5/mthWeebly ProUS$12/mthWeebly BusinessUS$25/mthVISIT SITEat Weebly
REASONS TO BUY
+Professional look+Mobile-friendly+Easy to personalizeAdvertisement
Weebly is another online CMS, this time targeted at people with little or no coding experience, by providing easy to use drag and drop tools for creating a website. Weebly also provides the ability for users to create online stores using existing templates to work with their simply website-building framework.
The number of themes available for Weebly is somewhat limited, but the designs are clean and professional-looking, plus there are options to personalize accordingly. Additionally, the themes are responsive, which means they are optimized to work with mobile devices, plus they have in built SEO, analytics, and even a feature for posting ads directly to Facebook.
There’s a free tier available for basic use, and allows you to get used to the service. However, to use your own domain and get rid of ads, you’ll need the Professional plan.
5. Webflow
Cloud-based offering that needs no coding knowledge
REASONS TO BUY
+Drag and drop GUI+Truly cross-platform
REASONS TO AVOID
-Interface takes time to master
Webflow is a cloud-based service which has been created specifically to allow people with no coding knowledge to get started with web design.Advertisementhttps://8590ca7c8e8b37ce0a1d64fbbea94c58.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html
Aside from being truly cross-platform, as it’s web-based, Webflow emphasizes the concept of ‘smart codelessness’. In the first instance this means a crisp drag and drop interface allowing you to drop elements such as text and images seamlessly onto a page using one of the freely available templates.
Unlike many WYSIWYG editors, the code produced is very clean and well-written even if you choose the ‘I have no coding experience’ option during setup. Webflow’s automation tool will create the necessary HTML/CSS code for you. You can make granular changes to individual elements using the panels on the right.
Webflow offers a free demonstration of its features via the website, and you can also subscribe for a free Starter package which allows you to create up to two projects.
6. Bluefish
Lightweight and easy to use web coding platform
REASONS TO BUY
+Lightweight and quick+Use advanced code via wizards
REASONS TO AVOID
-No visual interface
Bluefish is among the smallest web design tools available today. The tiny installer takes only a few moments to setup. While the interface is text-only, it’s clearly designed with novices in mind as it employs clear-cut toolbars, user customizable menus and syntax highlighting.Advertisementhttps://8590ca7c8e8b37ce0a1d64fbbea94c58.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html
While the main focus is on HTML, Bluefish supports a huge range of other languages including PHP, Java, JavaScript, SQL, XML and CSS. Unlike visual WYSIWYG web design tools, the text interface makes for much cleaner code.
Bluefish has an excellent search function, allowing you to find text across multiple projects. The tool also has no trouble juggling hundreds of documents at the same time. Although Bluefish supports working with remote files, the varied and useful dialogs and wizards don’t currently support direct upload of web pages via FTP.
Despite the best efforts of the developers, Bluefish may take some time to get used to. The tool is available free of charge, however, so you have nothing to lose by giving it a try.
7. Visual Studio Code
A text editor from Microsoft
REASONS TO BUY
+Customizable+Loads of integrations+Source control tools
Visual Studio Code (or VScode) has become popular among developers – the ones who aren’t put off by the fact that it’s a Microsoft product, anyway. It offers a variety of packages and free extensions that can be downloaded from its marketplace to add additional features – and the code editor itself can be customized.
While a lot of people may be intimated by the idea of coding if they have no programming experience, at some point in the web design process it can be important to be able to edit code directly. This is particularly helpful if you want to customize code for existing software add-ons in order to get the features you want for your website. Visual Studio Code can help make the process less painful by providing a dedicated platform for coding.Advertisementhttps://8590ca7c8e8b37ce0a1d64fbbea94c58.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html
Visual Studio Code sports its own terminal and debugger, supports linting, and has integration with all manner of source control tools. It especially offers good support for Javascript and Python, making it potentially useful not just for coding the frontend of a website but also potentially some backend functions as well.
Other web design tools you might find useful
If you’re involved in web design, the chances are you’ll also need some graphic design skills and assets. Here we’ll look at a couple of other resources and assets you’ll properly need to help with your website design process:
1. Graphics program
You don’t need anything too expensive or fancy unless you’re chasing a career in graphic design or illustration. However, you’ll probably find yourself wanting to create simple logos, headings, text features, as well as manipulate photos, all as part of your website design.
There are a lot of different packages out there, from GIMP which is a completely free software platform, to older software such as Jasc’s Paint Shop Pro which remains a competent program that can be bought on the cheap at Amazon.
2. Stock photos
On top of creating your own graphics, there’s also a good chance you’ll want to use stock photos to really give your website a professional look.
Stock photos are available on almost any subject matter, and on top of that there are also an increasing number of stock video websites, in case you want to add video media.
Even better is that there are a number of free stock image and video websites, but be advised that these tend to be much more limited than paid-for stock image sites.
Here you can check out some of our features on these, to help you choose the best ones:
Wix ProUS$23/mthVIEW
Weebly StarterUS$5/mthVIEWWe check over 250 million products every day for the best pricesPOWERED BY
microsoft tools
Microsoft Office Word
Probably the most widely used text application in the world today. Everywhere you see, people are using the Word to create, format, illustrate or edit text for various purpose. This extremely user friendly tool has multiple applications that you can use to create text any way you want.
Microsoft Word is one of the very basic tools to use when connecting with people through computers. Whether you are writing a personal letter, creating content, connecting with your associates; Word is the application to use.
Advanced users of Word also know how to create and edit tables, insert pictures and edit them, review and share documents, insert comments, insert page numbers and header and footer and so on. In short, Word allows you to create and edit any document just the way you want to.
Microsoft Office Excel
Every commercial establishment uses Microsoft Office Excel in some way or the other. It is the layman’s best friend to compute data and use formula for basic calculations. Even without specific accounting software, you can input data and create sheets for basic accounting purpose with the help of Excel.
The Excel has some really effective options to edit data the way you want. No matter how simple or complex your data is, you can create a comprehensive report using various formula provided in Excel.
With Excel, you can not only enter data and calculate them; you can edit; filter or format them the way you want. The tool has infinite spreadsheets to accommodate extensive data base so that you arrange all your data in specific individual files.
Excel files can be as large or small as per your need and you can insert additional sheets if required.
Microsoft Office PowerPoint
When you want to create the best presentations in the easiest way, Microsoft Office PowerPoint is the tool to use. You can create just the perfect presentation to impress your audience without any fancy applications just by using Microsoft PowerPoint.
The Microsoft PowerPoint is indeed a powerful application that allows you to add drama and highlights to your presentation. You can use the application to enhance your presentations by adding picture, text and even videos. Your presentations thus become more engaging and interactive and audience can relate to it better.
Advanced uses of PowerPoint allows you to create master slides as templates, inserting other Office documents, inserting and editing text boxes, cross-linking and much more.
Microsoft Publisher
The Publisher is a desktop publishing programme that is ideal for creating different types of publications. With the various tools in the Publisher, you can create fantastic greeting cards, business cards, newsletters, calendars and so much more.
With basic training in the Publisher, you don’t have to depend on expensive designers to create your publications. You can do it yourself by using the different menus, frames, templates that are part of the tool. With these you can insert variety of objects such as tables, text or graphics into your publications. You can manipulate them the way you want to create the perfect look you desire.
Microsoft Lync
The Lync is a cloud-based software from the Microsoft Office bouquet that allows instant online messaging and communication. It allows you to link and share your presentations, text and data and so on with others using the Lync Online scheduler.
You can collaborate with your colleagues and engage them more meaningfully through the Lync whiteboard, conduct virtual meetings using audio / video tools and do much more with the Lync.
Microsoft Outlook
The Outlook is one of the best applications to manage and send emails. It allows you to collaborate, communicate and manage your mails in an efficient manner.
With the Outlook, you can customize your user profile, merge and manage data in mails, create calendars to schedule your tasks and perform more advanced tasks through your mails.
Microsoft SharePoint
Microsoft SharePoint is a tool that allows you to organize, store and share information across different platforms. You can also create your own website with this tool. The SharePoint allows you to organize and manage information for effective and efficient dissemination.
Whether your project is small or large, you can collaborate with co-workers anytime, anywhere with the SharePoint.
A thorough knowledge of SharePoint allows you to create lists, manage calendars, coordinate libraries and edit documents and much more.
Microsoft OneNote
Having the basic knowledge of Microsoft OneNote allows you to create and synchronize your notes perfectly. You can easily transfer data, add or delete items, format content, insert objects and apply other textual effects with the various applications that are part of the OneNote.
It is a highly dynamic Microsoft Office tool that aids in efficient coordination of projects irrespective of where people are based.
Microsoft Visio
This tool is used to create flow charts, vector graphics and diagrams. It has various chart building tools that include tools for creating diagrams and other graphics. With the Vision, you can work on multiple pages; customize them as you want and format them for preparing the perfect report.
The Visio helps you to create simple or complex flowcharts, diagram networks, organization charts and many other things that are essential to prepare a comprehensive report.
The Microsoft Office Project
The Microsoft Project offers several features that are essential for preparing projects for a particular assignment. It allows for easy sharing of multiple projects between users with its task tracing facilities and in-built Lync features.
Conclusion
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