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When it’s time to introduce your business to the world, you need a high-quality website. With many various solutions on the market, finding the best website design software for your needs is no easy task. To help make your decision easier, Forbes Advisor analyzed the leading options to discover that are the best in class based on a variety of factors and use cases. So, no matter your skill level, needs or budget, we found web design software that will work for you.
Code-free web design software: These tools don’t require you to write any code and are typically more user-friendly.
Code editing platforms: You’ll need to have some coding skills to use these tools, but they give you more control over the design process.
Graphic design software for mockups and prototypes: These tools can be used to create mockups and prototypes but may also have web design features. Sometimes, these are code editing platforms or code-free web design software.
Now that you know about the various types of web design software available, as well as their key features and pricing, it’s time to decide which one is right for you. Here are a few questions to ask yourself:
The most important facet of choosing web design software for your solo venture or small business is assessing your existing capabilities. 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. 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 the end, 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. So, take some time to explore your options and choose the software that’s right for you.
To find the best web design software available, we analyzed over a dozen of the leading solutions on the market. We considered a variety of factors that matter most to those looking for an easy and effective tool to assist with their web design—from features that matter to web design beginners, such as easy-to-use site editors and pre-built templates, to e-commerce capability and code-based UI design. Additionally, we factored in pricing, customer support and user reviews.
The best website design software is the one that helps you create the website you need within your budget and with as little hassle as possible. However, our top picks include WordPress, Adobe Dreamweaver, Sublime Text and openElement.
It depends on your previous coding experience. Although Squarespace and Weebly are easiest to use overall, coders might prefer something with more customization options.
Although HTML is the basis for all static web pages, most websites now use CSS for style and JavaScript as well as other enhancements. Web design software can have these features already made for you with templates.
Most web design software does not require coding. However, if you want to add more complex features, you might need some coding skills. If you want to try your hand at coding, check out WordPress as 43% of websites are powered by it. It’s open-source software and there are tons of tutorials. Otherwise, consider a drag-and-drop website editor, such as Wix or Weebly.
Yes, you can. However, keep in mind that free website builders usually have limited features and storage. If you need more features or storage, you’ll likely have to upgrade to a paid plan.
If you’re looking for a website builder for small business, we recommend Shopify. It’s an e-commerce platform that offers a wide range of features, such as abandoned cart recovery and automatic tax calculation. Plus, it has a 14-day free trial and plans that grow with your business.
