April 18, 2017by Staff Writer
When we first published this article back in August 2013, we had no idea how popular it would prove to be. Many thousands of people have read it since then and looked at the solutions we suggested might be viable alternatives to ‘Dreamweaver’ – possibly the Internet’s best known and most used website development tool.
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.
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.
Find the best WYSIWYG Editors Software using real-time, up-to-date data from. Web Wiz Rich Text Editor (RTE) is a free WYSIWYG HTML RTE that replaces.
hourglass_empty 6 min Read
We all make mistakes, and that also applies to writing code. But whether you’re just starting out or are a seasoned vet, making an error in your code can cause you a real headache. As we use all kinds of tools to help us with simple tasks, such as spellcheck for writing, an HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) editor is no different. HTML editors have a lot of features behind them, and we will be covering that and much more when we look at the list of the best HTML editors.
What is an HTML Editor?
In hindsight, an HTML editor is used to write the foundation of a website. And while any text editor can do the job, it doesn’t mean you have to do it without any help at all. Added functionality, error checking and all around a more intuitive editor is something that can ease your life significantly. The very fundamentals of HTML editors are the same; they help you write code by highlighting syntaxes, insert commonly used HTML elements and structures as well as providing autocompletion.
Text using an HTML editor can also be translated to other languages such as CSS, XML or JavaScript. But as we know, not all things are created equal. Some editors might be easier to use while some provide more functionality than others.
When should you use an HTML Editor?
![Free Free](/uploads/1/2/5/3/125301439/692955290.jpg)
To put it simply, always! An HTML editor is invaluable for both beginners and more advanced developers. We already mentioned the basic features of HTML editors, like syntax highlighting, inserting common HTML elements and autocompletion. All this makes sure that your code is kept functional and clean with less effort, thus makes it significantly easier to do what you do best – code.
For example, the editor will notify you should you forget to put the end tag </ in a code element. Therefore you should not limit yourself by not using some sort of HTML editor.
There are two types of editors available, WYSIWYG and textual HTML editors. Let’s start by talking about the first type.
Textual HTML vs. WYSIWYG Editors
WYSIWYG
WYSIWYG is the acronym for What You See Is What You Get. These editors provide an editing interface which shows how the code looks on a working web page. Using WYSIWYG editors does not require any HTML knowledge; therefore it is much easier to get started for an inexperienced user with no coding experience whatsoever.
Textual HTML editor
As the name implies, textual HTML editors are text-based. You should have HTML knowledge when using these types of editors. Features include opening files — either a single file, a whole project or multiple projects are universally available for all editors. When using a textual based editor, you can’t see a live preview of the site.
This type of editor may provide more freedom and personalized options. Using a textual editor, you may better optimize web pages for search engines. For example, it’s possible to create a web page that follows the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), so that people with disabilities can view your web page.
List of Best HTML Editors for 2019
Since we discussed what is an HTML editor and when to use one we can finally sink our teeth into the actual editors themselves and pick the best HTML editor.
We all have different tastes, and when it comes to choosing a platform for our work, where we will spend a lot of time on, it’s important to pick one that best suits us. Each editor has the same basic features. However, some provide more visual representation than others, more additional packages to install and so on.
The list of the best HTML editors is based on popularity, features and design:
1. Atom
Atom is a relatively new editor that came out in 2014 and gained tremendous momentum since. Atom is a free, open-source code editor, it was developed by the GitHub team. Atom uses a free software license for their package and it is maintained by the GitHub community. They aim to offer a premium feel to the editor while keeping it completely free. As well as flexibility to customize the software itself.
As for the tagline, they boast as the most hackable text editor of the 21st century. It means that developers can contribute to edit, extend, change, and share the program source code as well as create their own packages to improve Atom.
Let’s review the key features of Atom.
Key features
- Atom comes with 81 built-in packages and you can add up to 7,500 additional installable packages. You can also develop your own package
- Open Source Text Editor. The entire Atom editor is a free and open source program and is available at GitHub
- Atom supports Teletype. It is an important feature if you want to do a collaboration with other developers in real-time
- Supports multiple panes. Atom can split the interface into many windows so you can compare and write code side by side
Design overview
Atom offers a slick design with a premium look to it.
Why developers love Atom
- Customizable. Atom is very easy to customize, tweak how the interface looks and add other essential features. You can also build packages and themes from scratch. Or, simply install pre-made packages and themes from the community
- Atom in Dev Mode. You can experiment by adding features to the core system
- Git and GitHub integration
- Cross-platform editing. Atom works across all operating systems
Available for: Windows, OS X, and Linux (64-bit).
2. Notepad ++
Notepad++ is an editor that was developed for Windows-based machines. Linux users can also use it via Wine. This editor is distributed as free software and its repository is also available in GitHub. Like other community projects, third-party plugins are supported.
Notepad++ distinguishes itself for its simplicity. Notepad++ is super lightweight; there’s even a mobile version if you fancy it. Here are some highlights:
Key features
- Notepad++ interface is simple, lightweight, and fast
- It supports multi-language coding environment, from ActionScript, CSS, to visual basic
- 100% compatibility with Windows, although other OSs are not supported (without additional software)
Why developers love Notepad++
- It’s completely free
- Extendable – you can add plugins from the community or create your own
- Customizable – developers can personalize the features and interface to their preference
Design overview
Notepad++ interface is minimalist, but developers can customize it.
Available for: Windows and Linux (via Wine)
3. Sublime Text
Sublime is another excellent HTML editor. Developed by a Sydney-based company, this software falls under the category of freemium. Freemium means that you can use Sublime for free, but you have to buy a license to enjoy the full features.
Sublime offers great support to ensure that the program is constantly updated. Users can add plugins made by the community or build their own. We think using the free version of Sublime is more than adequate. However, if you feel like you need more features, you can get the license at a later point.
Key features
- Sublime supports Python API that allows the plugin to expand its default functionality
- Simultaneous editing. You can make changes to many selected areas at the same time
- Cross-platform. Sublime is available in Windows, OS X, and Linux. Developers only need one license to use Sublime on any computers they own
Why developers love Sublime Text
- Powerful API and package ecosystem. Sublime provides thousands of packages that are available and built by the community. These packages are open-source
- Split editing. Developers can use multiple monitors and edit different types of code simultaneously
- Go to Anything. This feature is useful to open the files with a few keystrokes, to search for symbols, lines, or words
Design overview
Sublime Text interface is excellent in terms of aesthetics.
Available for: Windows, OS X, and Linux (32/64 bit).
4. Adobe Dreamweaver CC
Developed and managed by tech giant Adobe Inc, Adobe Dreamweaver CC is a premium, powerful, and versatile tool. It caters for both the back-end and front-end development. As a closed-source software, Dreamweaver is designed to work within the Adobe ecosystem. Adobe also provides support, plugins, and features to make sure you will always code seamlessly.
Dreamweaver is one of the editors that support both textual and WYSIWYG methods. So, you choose whether you want to code with a live visual presentation or go the classical way.
Key features
- Dreamweaver allows you to write code in any major programming language
- Supports textual and WYSIWYG editor modes
- Fully integrated with the Adobe software ecosystem
- Awesome performance and support from Adobe Inc
Why developers love Adobe Dreamweaver CC
- Code and preview. This way developers can code while previewing the end product
- Confirm the code and page accessibility. This feature can ease the developers to follow Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)
- Access to creative cloud libraries. Premium access to the abundant supply of assets in the Adobe ecosystem. From colors, words, graphics, layers, characters, and much more
Design overview
Dreamweaver has that high-class premium look, with a stunning aesthetic and design. After all, it’s made by Adobe, a respected company in the creative industry.
Available for: Windows and OS X
Conclusion
Getting a helping hand to write code faster and more efficiently is becoming a must, now more than ever. Whether you just started coding or you’re a seasoned vet, we believe that an HTML editor can become anyone’s best friend. Features aside, picking the best HTML editor that suits you might be hard. We encourage you to experiment with different editors and choose one that fits your style and workflow best.
We would also note that unless you need 24/7 support and manage code for a huge company, you will probably be fine with a free editor.