Dec 30, 2019 However, finding a good open source WYSIWYG HTML editor can be a chore. This is where we come in. Also Read: 50+ Open Source Android Apps When You Want to Ditch Google. Best WYSIWYG HTML Editor Open Source 1. Pell is probably the smallest and simplest WYSIWYG editor that you will ever come across. It is literally 1.38 kb in size! A simple, light weight, extensible WYSIWYG HTML Editor built on top of jQuery. This component allows you to easily display a WYSIWYG HTML Editor in place of any TextArea DOM Elements on the page. The minified script alone is 9.17kb; CSS and Images it’s a total of 25.9kb. The best web text editor for everyone. Wysiwyg Mac Web Builder; Wysiwyg Software For Mac; Wysiwyg Html Editor For Mac; Wysiwyg App For Mac; Komodo Edit is a cross platform free HTML editor macOS 10.14that makes writing. Brackets is an open-source free text editor for Mac OS. It is maintained on GitHub, and is. CoffeeCup HTML Editor. A coffee cup is a WYSIWYG HTML editor, which helps.
Formerly owned by Macromedia, but now part of the Adobe Creative Cloud, millions of developers have used Dreamweaver to develop basic sites, while others have used it to create some of the most complex sites known to the Internet.
While Dreamweaver used to be accessible to everyone - the hobbyist right up to the web design professional - right now, it is not the cheapest of solutions. To get access to the single app, an annual plan (paid monthly) costs $19.99 per month, while a standard monthly plan costs $29.99. The cheapest it gets is an annual fee of US$239.88 per year.
While Dreamweaver has all the bells and whistles you could possibly need, the cost makes it prohibitively expensive for many. And as most designers only use a fraction of its capabilities, some might not be able to justify the expense.
But never fear… If Dreamweaver is beyond your reach there are still some great free WYSIWYG alternatives available for you to use.
To make sure you have the latest information, we’re going to revisit the five solutions we looked at back in 2013 to see what has happened to them over the last few years.
We are also going to add some more solutions that we think are also worthy of note.
1. Microsoft's Expression Web 4.0
Expression 4.0 has been pulled into Microsoft Visual Studio 2013 and the last update of the standalone solution (4.0.1460.0) was on December 20, 2012.
While a free download is still available, it seems this project has gone as far as it is likely to go. That said, it’s still free and still an excellent Dreamweaver alternative.
Expression 4.0 is very reminiscent of some of the earlier Dreamweaver versions so if you’ve been using Dreamweaver for a long time, it might prove pretty intuitive. It provides customizable toolbars and offers design and code views. Like Dreamweaver it allows you to look design and code at the same time when required.
With HTML 5 capability Expression caters for the latest design options and with a CSS Properties Palette, CSS management is relatively straightforward. Likewise, it makes light work of positioning graphics.
Currently there is no support for this free download and the tutorials that were available on the Microsoft site seem to have been removed. However, a good selection of tutorials are still available on the Internet.
2. KOMPOZER
A Mozilla project, the last stable update of KompoZer (0.7.10) was in 2007, suggesting like Expression 4.0, this project has run its course. However, also like Expression, KompoZer is still free as a download.
A fully WYSIWYG editor, KompoZer is Windows compatible and comparable to Dreamweaver except that it doesn’t allow server-side scripting. Like Dreamweaver, KompoZer allows you to create templates. And also like Dreamweaver, it’s possible to open any number of pages simultaneously.
KompoZer offers a CSS editor and an HTML validator and as a result, the sites it creates are compatible with modern browsers.
If you want a Dreamweaver alternative without all the bells and whistles, this might be an option.
3. BlueGriffon
The last update of BlueGriffon was released in February 2017 and so this project is still alive and kicking. Powered by Gecko, it is an Open Source solution billed as an “an intuitive, modern and robust application”.
The project website also describes BlueGriffon as a “next-gen Web and EPUB Editor based on the rendering engine of Firefox” with elements inherited from “famous ancestors” such as Netscape, Composer and Nvu. So, as you can see, it has a very solid pedigree.
Native standalone versions are available for Windows, MacOS X and Linux with HTML 4 and HTML 5 supported. It supports CSS 3 including 2D and 3D transformations, transitions, shadows, columns, and font features. However, some features of the latest update (BlueGriffon 2.3.1) are only available after purchasing a license, and that can cost 69.99 euros ($75) or 195 euros ($206) so you need to look carefully at what’s on offer. However, the free version is still likely to meet most people’s needs.
4. Aloha Editor
While the original version is still available, since we first looked at it Aloha Editor has morphed into Aloha Editor 2. The developers called it a day with Aloha Editor 2, but “Aloha Editor 1 is not affected by this decision and will continue to be supported and developed”.
The last stable Aloha Editor 1 release was 1.4.27 which happened 21 March 2017, so it remains pretty current.
Offering HTML5 editing it is compatible with current browsers and it features a 'floating' toolbar that alters depending on which part of your site you are working on.
It is an extremely viable Dreamweaver alternative.
5. Amaya Home Page
The last stable release of Amaya Home Page was version 11.4.4 in January 2012 so here’s another project that has reached the end of the road.
It supports HTML 4.01, XHTML 1.0, XHTML Basic, XHTML 1.1, HTTP 1.1, MathML 2.0, many CSS 2 features, and SVG, but these might be a bit dated if you need a site with a really modern design.
Amaya does though offer HTML, CSS and XML validators, validating HTML as you create your site. A tree structure is also available, as is a 'Page Preview' function.
Of all the solutions we looked at, this might now be a little dated for modern needs.
As promised here are five more great free WYSIWYG alternatives to Dreamweaver:
6. Seamonkey
Initially released in 2005, the SeaMonkey Project was around well before our original article was written, but with version 2.46 released on December 22, 2016, it has grown from strength to strength over the years.
An Open Source solution, SeaMonkey originated as a Mozilla project – that’s right, the Firefox people. It was ultimately taken over as a “community continuation” and the suite you download now includes ‘Composer’ – the tool that you use for website design.
Although Composer will be not be developed any further, it receives maintenance updates and is still a good choice, especially for anyone learning HTML for the first time.
SeaMonkey addresses areas like HTML5 and is available in 26 languages on Windows, Mac OS X and Linux.
Certainly not as sophisticated as Dreamweaver, but it delivers and represents a viable option.
7. Trellian WebPage 4.2
Initially released in 2006, Trellian Webpage is another solution that remains supported and much loved.
For a free software, it is quite powerful, offering a ‘drag & drop’ interface and support for current Internet technologies.
With a user-friendly interface, Trellian Webpage boasts a built-in spellchecker. It also features easy-to-use resampling tools and allows users to easily “create search engine friendly pages”.
Another good alternative for anyone who thinks Dreamweaver might be beyond their website’s requirements.
8. openElement
While the last stable release of openElement (version 1.47.3) was release January 21, 2014, this remains fully supported and a powerful tool.
This WYSIWYG software offers a very intuitive interface and caters for technologies like HTML5 and CSS3.
openElement is important because it focuses on enabling users to create websites with the responsive designs that look good on any device (PC, mobile, or tablet) and are vital for good SEO.
Powered by Chromium, it caters for multilingual websites and offers reusable styles and element packs.
9. Google Web Designer
Technically still in Beta (you know how Google does things), Google Web Designer is a genuinely good solution that gives you everything you want from a WYSIWYG HTML editor.
While the last release date was November 2015, it is still fully supported, and being a Google product could potentially offer an SEO edge.
Totally freeware, it offers a number of work spaces: Design View, Code View, and a Preview space that lets you look at what you have created through Chrome, Firefox, and Internet Explorer.
Another benefit of Google Web Designer is it allows you to craft Google Ads and create and edit CSS, JavaScript and XML files.
It probably offers as much as you need for your website and is therefore worth considering.
10. TOWeb
While the last version of TOWeb (version 5.29) was released late 2015, this software is still supported and maintained, and it packs a punch as far as free WYSIWYG software is concerned.
Like other solutions TOWeb has HTML 5 and CSS 3 covered, but more importantly, it also has a strong leaning towards enabling users to create ‘responsive’ website designs.
TOWeb provides a number of templates which users edit and revamp to design the responsive website they need.
While TOWeb has paid ‘premium’, ‘ecommerce’ and ‘studio’ packages available, the free version is powerful enough for most people’s needs.
4500+ amazing blocks Mobirise Creator offers 4500+ website blocks in 5 free and 100+ premium HTML themes and 300+ home page templates that include sliders, galleries with lightbox, articles, counters, countdowns, full-screen intros, images & videos, features, data tables & pricing tables, progress bar & cycles, timelines, tabs & accordions, call-to-action, forms, Google maps, social blocks. Available for OS: Windows, Linux, and Mac. Atom is a free and open-source HTML editor maintained and developed by Github. It is also a WYSIWYG editor to create websites without the need of writing HTML codes. You can easily collaborate with your team to develop the project. Main Features of Atom Best HTML Editors.
HTML stands for the hypertext markup language, and it is one of the most important and widely used elements in defining the structure of a website. If you’ve heard of web development, you’ve probably heard of HTML.
Knowing how to use an HTML editor will come in handy because it is used by more than 90% of all websites. An HTML editor offers a variety of features for creating a well-structured and functional website.
People can effortlessly create a WordPress website from scratch and modify the code to add more HTML editor functionality. This article will go over the fundamentals, make lists of the best HTML editors for free and paid versions, and discuss the benefits of using HTML.
What Is an HTML Editor?
An HTML editor is a lot of software that allows you to create and edit HTML code. It can be a standalone software dedicated to code writing and editing, or it can be a component of an IDE (Integrated Development Environment).
An HTML editor has more advanced features and is specifically designed to help developers quickly create web pages. It guarantees that each line of code is clean and functional.
The following are the most common features of a best HTML editor:
Highlighting the syntax. HTML tags are coloured differently depending on their category, making it easier to read and recognize the code structure.
Auto-completion. Saves time when typing a longer piece of code by automatically suggesting HTML elements and attributes based on previously added values.
Detection of errors. Scans for errors syntax whenever you type in incorrect code, allowing you to fix the error immediately.
Replace with a search. It helps to find specific code and replace it all at once, saving time from editing each code string.
Integration with FTP. Right from the dashboard, it connects your webserver to an FTP client.
Code Folding. Hides a section of code while focusing on specific sections of the HTML document.
Some HTML editors can also convert the hypertext markup language into a programming language, such as CSS, XML, or JavaScript.
Different types of HTML editors may offer varying sets of features and functionality.
HTML Text Editor vs. WYSIWYG Editor
There are two types of HTML code editors: WYSIWYG and text-based editors.
Both have their benefits and disadvantages.
WYSIWYG
WYSIWYG is an abbreviation for “What You Look Is What You Get.”
As the name implies, the WYSIWYG editor displays a live preview of your page as you add or modify elements. In addition, the code editor has a visual interface that resembles a standard word processor.
Users can add web page components such as headings, paragraphs, or images without touching a line of code if using a WYSIWYG editor, making this type of HTML editor an excellent choice for newcomers with little to no coding experience.
HTML Editor that is text-based
Unlike a WYSIWYG editor, a text-based HTML editor is intended to allow for more intricate coding practices.
Furthermore, because advanced users can directly modify the code, this HTML editor gives them more control over their work.
This HTML editor is primarily equipped with features such as auto-completion, syntax highlighting, and error detection.
However, because there is no live preview of your page, you must have sufficient HTML knowledge to avoid errors.
The Best Free HTML Editors in 2021
There are numerous free HTML editors available on the internet. Finding one that provides value and valuable features, on the other hand, can be difficult.
Don’t worry, and we’ve reviewed the market’s various HTML editors based on their popularity, features, and design to assist you in finding the best HTML editor.
Here are our tools for the four best HTML editors available for free download.
1. Sublime Text
Sublime Text is an best free HTML editor that is similar to Notepad++. It is cross-platform and is available for Mac, Windows, and Linux-based systems.
However, this text editor falls into the freemium category, which means that users can use Sublime for free but must buy a license to access full features.
Sublime was designed with web developers in mind, and it includes a plethora of latest tools. There is, for example, a GPU rendering mode that aids in giving optimal performance across operating systems.
The newest version also supports TypeScript, JSX, TSX, and various other programming languages. When launched, the program displays a basic text editor with no sidebar or tools.
Users can navigate coding right away by navigating the command palette and executing actions with keyboard shortcuts. Although a paid version is available, this Sublime free version includes enough features to get you started coding.
A few of the key features are as watches:
Context-aware autocompletes – provides suggestions based on existing code, with each advice including a link to the definition for more information.
Split-editing – easily splits tab layout for more efficient and straightforward HTML editing.
GoTo anything – a simple keyboard shortcut that finds anything in a specific file, code string, or section.
Python API has been updated to Python 3.8, making the program compatible with a wide range of plugins.
Sublime Text is available in 32-bit and 64-bit versions for Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux.
2. Notepad++
Notepad++ is a free and open-source best free HTML editor for Windows computers. The program is lightweight and has an easy-to-use user interface.
There is a mobile version available for developers to code on the go without installing it on Windows. Notepad++ is distributed as the best free software, and its source code can be found on GitHub.
Although this HTML editor is only available for Windows, Linux users can use it with Wine to add a compatibility layer. When coding, its adaptable user interface allows users to choose between split and full-screen layouts.
Users can work on two different documents at the same time in a split-screen layout. This advanced text editor also supports multi-language web development, ranging from HTML and CSS to JavaScript and PHP.
Notepad++ also has the following features:
Powerful code editing tools: Notepad++, a Scintilla-based text editor, ensures faster processing with smaller program size.
Plugin integrations – increase functionality and add more latest features by creating new or installing third-party plugins from the list.
FTP connection – allows users to connect to server files directly from the dashboard and edit them.
Document map – displays a document’s overview and sections, making it easier for users to navigate within a larger file.
Notepad++ is the best text editor available for both Windows and Linux (only via Wine).
3. Atom
For a good reason, Atom is one of the most popular HTML editors on the market. This open-source code editor aims to provide premium tools while remaining completely accessible. It also includes open-source packages supported by the GitHub community.
Web developers can add, modify, and share different source codes to improve Atom’s functionality. They can also personalize their interface by choosing one of the pre-installed themes or by creating their own. Although Atom offers a visual editor, it does give a live preview of your webpage.
As a result, you can quickly spot errors and fix the code in the text editor.
In addition to HTML, Atom supports a code of programming languages, including JavaScript, Node.js, and CSS. It’s also well-integrated with Teletype, making it easy to collaborate on projects with other developers.
Other Atom features are as follows:
Package manager built-in – over 80 built-in packages are available.
Users can add up to 8,700 more packages and create custom packages.
Multiple panes – divide its interface into multiple windows to make it easier to compare and write code across multiple files.
Syntax highlighting – makes it simpler to spot errors and distinguish between different code types and coding languages.
Smart auto-completion – uses smart autosuggestions to help users write code faster.
Atom is a desktop operating system available for Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux (64-bit).
4. Microsoft Visual Studio Code
Microsoft’s Visual Studio Code is an open-source, best free HTML editor based on Github’s Electron.
Users can apply this framework to create projects that use HTML, CSS, and JavaScript across multiple operating systems. Visual Studio Code works on Windows, Mac, and Linux. It also integrates with Microsoft Azure, building code deployment simple.
Users can create projects and applications on their local machines and then publish them to Azure with one click. This open-source code editor utilizes IntelliSense features to give various types of auto-completion, such as variables, fields, and function definitions.
Users can also install language extensions, such as Python and Ruby, to enable IntelliSense to work with different programming languages.
Furthermore, its clean and easy interface makes it simple to find various HTML editing tools, open a new file, and search documents.
Other essential features include:
Debugging: The dashboard includes a built-in debugger tool for quickly editing, compiling, or debugging code.
WYSIWYG editor – install an extension to change the default text editor to a WYSIWYG HTML editor.
Code snippets – includes built-in IntelliSense-powered snippets that make it easier to enter repeating code patterns.
Users can work on multiple projects or files from different parent folders simultaneously in a multi-root workspace. Visual Studio Code is available on Linux x64, Windows x64, and Mac OS X.
Best Premium HTML Editors
While free HTML text editors have many valuable features, most of them don’t have any for building advanced websites.
Premium HTML editors may be the way to go if you want to create a receptive web design, must access pre-built templates, and receive support from a dedicated team.
The following are some of the best premium HTML editors we’ve tested.
1. CoffeeCup
CoffeeCup is yet another paid HTML editor with a plethora of features and functionality. Users, for example, can create HTML and CSS files from scratch or customize a pre-made template design from the library.
CoffeeCup HTML editor allows a components library where users can add web elements such as a menu, footer, and header to multiple pages.
Free Html Wysiwyg Editor For Mac Os
Rather than manually updating each new page, they can modify a few library items. This HTML editor offers several options for previewing a website before publishing it.
A live preview divides the screen into the coding area and the web page, allowing users to code concurrently. For displaying a page in an advanced window, an external preview is also available.
In addition, a free trial version of CoffeeCup is available, which has the same functionality as the premium version. The trial version, on the other hand, will expire after 30 days. Users can continue to use the software by purchasing a license for USD 29.
Free Html Wysiwyg Editor For Mac Downloads
Other noteworthy features include:
Semantic web-ready – adds semantic data to all web content to assist search engine crawlers in determining what your content is about.
FTP integration – use an FTP client to publish your website from the menu dashboard directly.
Built-in validation tool makes errors in your code and ensures that your website functions correctly.
Template downloader – imports designs from existing templates to learn and develop the code.
CoffeeCup is only available for Windows and costs $29 for a single purchase.
2. Adobe Dreamweaver CC
Adobe Dreamweaver CC site is an integrated development environment (IDE) that supports both back-end and front-end development.
Furthermore, the software includes web design and web development toolkits to help with website creation. Adobe Dreamweaver CC includes a powerful code editing tool that supports various markup languages, including HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
Furthermore, the software allows users to use a text-based or WYSIWYG editor or combine the two. Syntax highlighting, code completion, and multi-language support are just a few of the features available in the text editor.
The visual editor also includes drag-and-drop functionality. Although there is no free version, this web editor offers a seven-day trial period.
Multiple payment plans beginning at $20.99/month are available to continue using the software. The license can be renewed on a monthly, annual, or prepaid basis.
Some of the more essential features are as follows:
Starter templates – provide the basic structure of a website, which users can then customize to various pages ranging from blogs to portfolios.
Fluid grid layouts automatically resize site elements to fit various screen sizes across devices in responsive designs.
Git support – efficiently manage site code and perform many Git operations from the Dreamweaver dashboard, such as “push,” “pull,” and “fetch.”
Access to Creative Cloud Libraries – allows users to access assets from other Adobe programs that support Creative Cloud Libraries, such as Premiere Pro, Photoshop, and After Effects.
Adobe Dreamweaver CC is now available for Windows and Mac OS X. Its prices begin at $20.99 per month for an annual subscription.
3. Froala
Froala is a front-end WYSIWYG HTML editor that has been designed to provide users with optimal performance. This lightweight software can load in 40 milliseconds thanks to a GZIP core of only 50 KB.
The software is also mobile-optimized and works with Android and iOS devices. Despite having a WYSIWYG interface, Froala includes a powerful text editor. Videos, table cells, and emoticons are just a few elements that users can add to their pages.
Furthermore, its editor includes over 30 plugins for extending functionality. Froala supports code viewing for those who prefer direct HTML editing.
Enter your HTML code, and the editor will generate elements for you. Furthermore, the software integrates seamlessly with Codox.io for real-time editing and collaboration. Froala offers three subscription plans ranging in price from $239 to $3999 per year.
Furthermore, users can always test the software before purchasing a license. The software is available for totally free download from NPM (Node Package Manager).
Froala’s extra features include:
Inline editing provides you to edit any element on your web page directly.
HTML5 and CSS3 – the most recent HTML and CSS versions provide an optimised user experience.
Support for multiple languages – the software has been translated into 34 languages and automatically detects RTL or LTR keyboards input.
Free online HTML editor – converting text to HTML code or performing a “sanity check” on your code.
Froala is available for Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X. Its prices begin at $239 per year for a Basic license.
The Benefits of Using an HTML Editor
Building a site can be an overwhelming and challenging process for both novice and advanced developers.
That is why using an HTML editor could be beneficial. The best HTML editors include a variety of tools that help to simplify the web development process.
Here are few reasons why you should work HTML editor:
Create websites more quickly. HTML editors’ basic features include syntax highlighting, the addition of standard HTML elements, and split-screen editing, which assure that your code is functional and neat with minimal effort. In short, the more features you have available, the more comfortable your coding experience will be.
It aids in the learning of HTML. Several text editors have color-coding or syntax highlighting features to identify other programming languages, such as CSS, HTML, and JavaScript. They also distinguish various HTML tags to make it easier to read the code and learn how to structure tags properly.
Code optimization for SEO. The best HTML editors usually include built-in search engine optimization functionality (SEO). Some text editors, for example, use semantic markup to improve search engine crawlability.
Errors in the source code are avoided. HTML editors, with features such as spell-checking and error detection, aid in detecting errors in any code.
For example, the editor will alert you if you forget to include the end tag “/” in a code element. Most text editors also include auto-completion to help you avoid typos and write code faster.
Project management is simplified. Each HTML editor offers it easy to collaborate in a team or with other developers by utilizing various project management tools. Some editors, like Atom, Sublime Text, and Visual Studio Code, can generate open-source projects.
In the Bottom line – Best HTML editors
HTML editors can be a helpful tool for developing a website. Utilizing an HTML editor can make coding more accessible and efficient, freeing up time to focus on your content and increase traffic to your website.
Although coding can be intimidating at first, the numerous features available in HTML editors will assist you in getting started. If you don’t feel comfortable writing code, there are many WYSIWYG editors to choose from.
Keeping this in mind, here are our top picks for the best HTML editors:
- Atom – is one of the top best free and open-source HTML editors with advanced features.
- Visual Studio Code – offers extensible functionality through a variety of extensions.
- CoffeeCup – is a low-cost solution for a premium HTML editor with powerful tools.
Overall, we hope this article has helped you better understand HTML editors and narrow down your options. To find the best HTML editors for you, we recommend that you experiment with different editors or even consider using a CMS instead of HTML.
Feel free to share your favourite HTML editor in the comments section here.