Types of Web Design Software
When it comes to web design software, there are three main types: code-free web design software, code editing platforms, and graphic design software for mockups and prototypes. Each type has its own advantages and disadvantages.
- Code-free web design software: These tools are user-friendly and don’t require any coding skills. They are great for beginners and those who want to create a website quickly and easily. Examples include Wix, Squarespace, and Weebly.
- Code editing platforms: These tools require some coding skills but give you more control over the design process. They are great for more experienced web designers who want to create custom and complex websites. Examples include Adobe Dreamweaver, Sublime Text, and Visual Studio Code.
- Graphic design software for mockups and prototypes: These tools can be used to create mockups and prototypes, but may also have web design features. They are great for designers who want to create a visual representation of their website before starting to code. Examples include Adobe XD, Sketch, and Figma.
Choosing the right web design software depends on your skill level, the complexity of your website, and your design preferences.
Best Code-Free Web Design Software
When it comes to creating a website without any coding, there are several software options available. Here are some of the best software options for different needs:
- If you want an overall great option, Weebly is your best bet.
- For multimedia-heavy sites, Squarespace is the way to go.
- Wix offers the best premade templates for those who want to get started quickly.
- If you’re looking to create an ecommerce site, Shopify is the best choice.
Consider your specific needs and choose the software that best fits them.
Best Overall Web Design Software
Weebly
Weebly is a website builder that offers basic e-commerce features included in all pricing plans. Forbes Advisor picked Weebly as the best website builder because it is accessible, easy to use, and reasonably priced. It is a great choice for small businesses or solo entrepreneurs just getting started.
Weebly keeps your content in place when you switch themes, which gives you the space to try a few different styles before settling on your website design identity. Even on the free plan, you’ll have an SSL certificate and the ability to create a basic storefront. As your business grows, you can scale with ease. Individuals and businesses who have never worked on a website before will find a lot of capability with Weebly. It’s the perfect stepping stone for getting comfortable with web design software.
Weebly offers the ability to generate shipping labels on paid plans, Instagram feed integration, and unlimited product listing for all pricing plans. However, the free plan only offers email customer service support, and PayPal payments are only available through its Performance plan.
Overall, Weebly is a great choice for those who are new to web design software and want to create a website with basic e-commerce features.
Best for Multimedia Sites
Squarespace
Squarespace is a website builder that is easy to use and offers award-winning templates. Its drag-and-drop style of editing and thousands of templates make it a great option for designing a clean, appealing website. Squarespace also has a ton of features that you can integrate into your website, from e-commerce to blogs to videos.
If you want reliable web design software, Squarespace is a great choice. Its fully integrated e-commerce plan is available on the Business plan ($23 per month if billed annually) and above. You can list unlimited products and the templates from Squarespace make it easy to edit.
Pros:
- Beginner-friendly content block site editor
- Award-winning templates
- Automatically optimized for mobile
- Create an online store easily
- SEO features
Cons:
- More expensive than other website builders with similar features
- Advanced e-commerce features only available on the most expensive plan
Overall, Squarespace is a great option for those looking to create a multimedia website with a professional look and feel. Its award-winning templates and easy-to-use site editor make it a top choice for beginners.
Best Software with Premade Templates
Wix
Wix is a popular website builder that offers a wide range of free templates to choose from. With Wix, you can easily create a website without any coding skills. You can either use one of the hundreds of templates available or start from scratch with the Wix Editor. The Wix Editor gives you full creative control over your website and also comes with features such as 300-plus third-party integrations, inventory management, SSL certificates, API, email tools, and built-in SEO tools.
Pros
- Wix offers a completely free plan.
- The app marketplace has more than 300 integrations.
- Wix comes with built-in SEO tools.
- Its Wix Artificial Design Intelligence (ADI) editor allows you to build a site in minutes—automatically.
Cons
- Once you pick a template and publish your site, you can’t change templates.
- E-commerce features are not available under every plan.
- The free plan will have ads.
To learn more about Wix, you can read our Wix review.
Best for e-commerce sites
Shopify
If you’re looking for an e-commerce platform, Shopify is a great option to consider. With Shopify, you can easily create your online store and customize it to fit your needs. You can even use JavaScript, JSON, HTML, and CSS to further customize your Shopify theme if you have knowledge of Liquid.
Shopify offers a 14-day free trial, so you can test out the platform and see if it’s the right fit for your business before making a commitment. One of the main advantages of Shopify is its built-in e-commerce features, such as a customizable checkout process, automatic tax calculations, and abandoned cart recovery. Plus, Shopify supports over 70 payment processors, so you can choose the one that works best for you.
Here are some pros and cons of using Shopify:
Pros
- Built specifically for e-commerce
- 14-day free trial
- Can integrate with tons of third-party apps
- Offers pay-in-four options for customers with a third-party connection
Cons
- Limited free themes
- Not as many customization options unless you code your theme
Overall, Shopify is a reliable and popular option for e-commerce businesses.
Best for Professional Designers
Adobe Dreamweaver
If you are a professional designer with coding experience in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, Adobe Dreamweaver is the ideal web design software for you. Dreamweaver offers maximum design control with coding, which allows you to build your own pages and have complete control over the website’s appearance and functionality.
One of the key features of Dreamweaver is its integration with other Adobe Creative Cloud products, such as Photoshop and its stock image library. This integration allows you to seamlessly transfer files and assets between programs, saving you time and effort.
Dreamweaver’s access code learns quickly and makes suggestions to help speed up the process of building the website. Although you need coding knowledge to get started on Dreamweaver, you’re not building from scratch.
However, Dreamweaver is a higher investment per month, and it might be better if you have more Creative Cloud services. It should be used by someone with more dedicated coding knowledge.
Pros:
- Maximum design control with coding
- Integration with Creative Cloud
- Live View available when editing
- Student/teacher discount
Cons:
- Not beginner-friendly
- Not the most affordable option
In summary, Adobe Dreamweaver is an excellent choice for professional designers who have coding experience and want maximum design control over their website. Its integration with other Adobe Creative Cloud products and access code assistance make it a powerful tool for creating custom web content. However, it may not be the best option for beginners or those on a tight budget.
Best Simple Code Editor
Sublime Text
Sublime Text is a powerful code editor that is highly recommended for experienced coders who design websites. It offers context-aware auto-complete features that make building and editing code faster. The software is available for Linux, Mac, and Windows, making it an ideal coding engine for a variety of website designers.
Why Sublime Text is the Best
The new tab multi-select view allows you to look at multiple tabs at once and switch between them easily, which is a big time-saver. Additionally, Sublime Text supports all of JavaScript’s newest features, ensuring that your website design can have the most up-to-date features. Experienced coders will also appreciate the split view tab organization.
Pros and Cons
Here are some pros and cons of Sublime Text:
Pros
- Context-aware auto-complete features for code make building/editing faster
- Syntax highlighting makes visual code editing much easier
- Available for Linux, Mac, and Windows
Cons
- Steep learning curve
- $99 for a three-year license for the software
Overall, Sublime Text is a great choice for experienced coders who want a powerful and versatile code editor.
Best Code Editor for Community Support
openElement
If you are an experienced coder looking for a free option for website design, openElement is a great choice. This code editor offers all the necessary coding tools to build a functional website, and also provides various integrations through Code Blocks.
One of the key features of openElement is its forum with a community of coders who can provide answers and help with coding issues. However, it’s important to note that most of the templates and forum discussions are not in English.
While openElement is free, it requires strong coding knowledge to use effectively. It may not be as visually accessible to new coders as other web design software.
Here are some pros and cons of using openElement:
Pros:
- Completely free with no paid plans
- Responsive website building
- SEO integrations
Cons:
- Requires strong coding knowledge to use effectively
- Templates are not in English
Overall, if you are an experienced coder looking for a free option with community support, openElement is a solid choice.
Best for Blogs
WordPress
WordPress is a popular and versatile piece of web design software that is open source and completely customizable. It offers a wide range of support from a community of developers who contribute to WordPress and create themes and plugins for the software. Over 43% of all websites on the internet are built with WordPress, making it a popular choice for bloggers.
One of the key features of WordPress is its ability to create anything from a simple blog to a full-fledged e-commerce website. Additionally, you can expand the functionality of your site using plugins and widgets, which are readily available in the WordPress community.
While WordPress is free to use, you must pay for hosting. However, there are lots of WordPress-provided and third-party support and tutorials available to help you get started. Keep in mind that there is a steep learning curve when it comes to using WordPress.
Pros:
- Completely customizable site
- Expand the functionality using plugins and widgets
- Lots of support and tutorials available
Cons:
- Steep learning curve
- Must pay for web hosting
Best for Easy Sharing
Adobe XD
If you’re looking for a user interface and experience design tool that is easy to share with your team, Adobe XD is the perfect choice. With prebuilt templates and UI kits, you can quickly create professional designs that are ready to share.
Key Features
Adobe XD offers a range of layout and design features to help you create stunning designs. The app also has a connection to Creative Cloud libraries, which makes it easy to access your assets from anywhere.
Why You Should Use It
Adobe XD is an invaluable resource for designing mobile applications and responsive, design-focused websites. With unlimited editors, you can test various designs and get feedback from your team. The basic plan also gives you 100GB of storage, so you can store all your files in one place.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Affordable plans start at $9.99 per month
- Leading choice for UX design
- Tons of design features available on the app and with Creative Cloud integrations
- Free trial available to try
Cons:
- Video export only available on Macs
- Steep learning curve
Overall, Adobe XD is a great choice for anyone who wants to create professional designs that are easy to share with their team. With its range of features and affordable pricing, it’s definitely worth checking out.
Best for designer-developer workflows
Webflow
Webflow is a powerful website design tool that offers a visual canvas for creating beautiful and professional-looking websites. With over 400 free tutorials available, you can learn how to use and scale your business with Webflow.
Why it’s a great choice for designer-developer workflows:
Webflow generates clean code in the background as you design, making it easy to hand off your project to a developer without any trouble understanding your vision. The visual CSS editor is also available if you want to get your hands dirty with code.
Pros:
- No coding knowledge necessary
- Can hand off projects to developers with ease
- Premade templates available
- Offers a free plan
Cons:
- Must have a paid plan to export code
- It’s not possible to reimport your code if you export it
- You can only develop sites within Webflow, you can’t import your own code
Overall, Webflow is an excellent choice for designer-developer workflows, providing a powerful visual canvas and clean code generation for easy handoff to developers.
How To Choose the Best Web Design Software
Choosing the best web design software for your business can be overwhelming, especially with so many options available. To help you make the right decision, here are a few things to consider:
1. Do you want to learn to code or not?
If you have no interest in learning to code, you’ll want to stick with a WYSIWYG editor or an all-in-one platform such as Weebly. On the other hand, if you’re willing to put in the time to learn to code, you have a lot more flexibility in terms of what software you can use.
2. What is your budget?
Some of the best web design software can be quite expensive. If you’re on a tight budget, you may want to stick with a free or lower-cost option.
3. What features are you looking for?
Make sure the software you choose has all the features you need. For example, if you want to create an online store, make sure the platform you choose has e-commerce features. Or, if you want to be able to create custom designs, make sure the software has a WYSIWYG editor.
4. What level of experience do you have?
If you’re a beginner, you’ll want to choose software that is easy to use and has a lot of tutorials and support available. If you’re more experienced, you’ll have more leeway in terms of what you can choose.
5. How much flexibility do you have to customize?
No matter which web design software you choose, remember that the most important thing is to create a website that reflects your brand and helps you achieve your business goals.
Once you have assessed your existing capabilities, you can choose the software that best suits your needs. If you’re an experienced coder and want more customization options, Dreamweaver or Sublime Text are better choices.
If you need a website up and running quickly, Weebly or Squarespace are better options. However, keep in mind that if there are bugs affecting Squarespace and Weebly sites, you’d have to go through customer service instead of being able to fix them by yourself. Make sure you have someone dedicated to website maintenance, no matter what web design software you’ve chosen.
In conclusion, the best web design software is the one that helps you create the website you need, within your budget and with as little hassle as possible. Take some time to explore your options and choose the software that’s right for you.
Methodology
To determine the best web design software, we conducted an analysis of more than twelve leading solutions available in the market. We considered several factors that are essential to web design beginners such as easy-to-use site editors and pre-built templates, as well as e-commerce capability and code-based UI design. We also took into account pricing, customer support, and user reviews. Our evaluation was based on reliable data sources and expert opinions, to ensure an accurate and unbiased assessment of the available options.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the best website design software?
Choosing the best website design software depends on your budget and needs. However, some of the top picks include WordPress, Adobe Dreamweaver, Sublime Text, and openElement. These software options offer various features and customization options to help you create the website you need.
What is the easiest website design software to use?
The easiest website design software to use depends on your coding experience. If you’re a beginner, Squarespace and Weebly are great options with user-friendly interfaces. However, if you have coding skills and want more customization options, you might prefer something like WordPress or Adobe Dreamweaver.
Is HTML best for creating websites?
HTML is the foundation of all static web pages, but most websites now use CSS for style and JavaScript for enhanced functionality. Web design software often includes templates with these features already built-in, so you don’t need to know how to code.
Can I design a website without coding?
Yes, you can design a website without coding. Drag-and-drop website editors like Wix and Weebly are great options for beginners. However, if you want to add more complex features, you might need some coding skills. WordPress is an open-source software with tons of tutorials available, making it a great option for those interested in learning to code.
Can I make a website for free?
Yes, you can make a website for free using website builders like Wix, Weebly, and WordPress.com. However, keep in mind that free plans often have limited features and storage. If you need more advanced features or storage, you’ll likely need to upgrade to a paid plan.
What is the best website builder for small business?
Shopify is a great website builder for small businesses. It’s an e-commerce platform with a wide range of features, such as abandoned cart recovery and automatic tax calculation. Plus, it offers a 14-day free trial and plans that can grow with your business.
Which software is recommended for professional web designers?
There are several software options available for professional web designers, such as Adobe Dreamweaver, Sketch, and Figma. However, the choice of software ultimately depends on the individual’s personal preferences and needs. Some designers prefer Dreamweaver for its powerful features, while others prefer Sketch or Figma for their simplicity and ease of use.
What are the top free web design tools available?
There are several free web design tools available, such as Canva, GIMP, and Inkscape. Canva is a great tool for creating quick designs and graphics, while GIMP and Inkscape are powerful image editing software options.
Which website builder is the easiest for beginners to use?
Wix and Squarespace are popular website builders that are known for their user-friendly interfaces and drag-and-drop features. WordPress is also a popular option, but it may require a bit more technical knowledge to get started.
What is the most popular web design software according to user reviews on Reddit?
According to user reviews on Reddit, Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator are two of the most popular web design software options. Both programs offer powerful design tools and are widely used in the industry.
Are there any robust web design programs compatible with Windows 10?
Yes, there are several robust web design programs that are compatible with Windows 10, such as Adobe Dreamweaver, Sketch, and Figma. These programs offer powerful design tools and are widely used in the industry.
What are the best options for HTML website builder software?
Some of the best options for HTML website builder software include Adobe Dreamweaver, Sublime Text, and Notepad++. These programs offer powerful code editing tools and are widely used by web developers.
Next Up In Business
As the economy continues to recover from the pandemic, businesses are looking for ways to adapt to the new normal. Here are some trends to keep an eye on:
- Remote work: Many companies have embraced remote work as a way to reduce costs and increase flexibility. Expect to see more businesses offering remote work options and investing in technology to support remote teams.
- E-commerce: Online shopping has surged during the pandemic, and it’s not going away anytime soon. Businesses that want to stay competitive will need to invest in e-commerce capabilities and improve their online customer experience.
- Sustainability: Consumers are increasingly concerned about the environment, and businesses are taking notice. Expect to see more companies making sustainability a priority and investing in green technologies.
- Digital transformation: The pandemic has accelerated the shift to digital, and businesses that haven’t adapted risk falling behind. Expect to see more companies investing in digital transformation initiatives to improve efficiency and stay competitive.
By keeping up with these trends, businesses can position themselves for success in a rapidly changing world.