15+ Best Website Design Software: Ranked & Reviewed [2023]

Website design software helps people create a webpage, whether they have plenty of technical knowledge or are a beginner.

You can use the tools to customize your website to align with your brand.

Most website design software applies to blogs, landing pages, storefronts, and portfolios.

Learning about the available tools and what they do can help you pick the best option.

The Best Website Design Software at a Glance

Get a brief overview of the options below if you want to pay for a website host or use something for free.

Features To Look For in Website Design Software

Before you choose website design software, you need to consider what will make the process easiest for you.

Knowing what each product offers gives you an idea of how you can use it to build and grow your website.

1. Ease of Use

You want your website design software to be easy to use.

If website design software is difficult, you’ll spend hours figuring out what to do.

A straightforward dashboard with clearly defined tools can help you understand what you need to do to design the best site.

2. Templates and Customization

Most website design software offers templates.

Choosing a template makes web design easier, but you don’t want your site to look like everyone else’s.

Customization is key. Knowing how to drag and drop elements, change colors, and use unique fonts will help your website stand out.

3. Functionality

Functionality for a website means you can easily create forms, add videos and images, and have landing pages and blog posts.

Sharing these pages from the source is another function that helps.

Functionality also refers to your site’s appearance on different devices, such as phones, tablets, and computers.

4. Analytics

Website design software with analytics in the dashboard helps you see who’s viewing your website and when.

You can see what keywords bring them to your page.

This information lets you understand what your audience wants and how you can provide it, so they spend more time on your website.

5. eCommerce Options

If you ever sell anything through your website, you’ll want website design software with eCommerce options.

Sites have plugins that add a storefront and cart to your site without needing a separate shop account from another provider.

Keep your same domain name and sell from one central location.

Best Website Design Software: Our Top 3 Options [Ranked & Reviewed]

Our top three options for website design software will help you create high-converting landing pages.

These tools result in professional websites that are simple to design.

Squarespace: Our Pick

Our top pick for website design software is Squarespace.

Whether you’re an artist showcasing a portfolio or a business hosting an online store, this platform is ideal.

You get a free domain name with every plan, SSL security, and unlimited bandwidth.

The dashboard is intuitive, but you can use 24/7 customer support if you encounter trouble.

Key Features of Squarespace

• Templates: Squarespace offers plenty of templates to suit your site’s purpose. If you don’t know where to start, an automated survey can narrow down the options.
• Supports Multimedia: Creatives love Squarespace because they can easily upload photographs, videos, and audio clips to showcase their portfolio.
• Domain Name: All plans include a custom domain name, so you don’t need to use an external host for your URL.
• eCommerce Options: Squarespace allows you to create an online store that seamlessly integrates with your existing domain.
• Student Plans: Squarespace offers students a discounted plan so they can have a professional website or online portfolio without breaking their budgets.

Why Is Squarespace a Great Solution?

Squarespace is a great solution because it’s the easiest way to build a website, whether you’re just starting out or already have a huge audience and platform.

Beginners can use the Personal plan to see how Squarespace helps them create a site, store, portfolio, or blog.

As your traffic increases, you can grow your website with upgrades instead of moving to a new host.

Pros of Squarespace

• Customization: The basic templates already look amazing, but the level of customization through Squarespace means your site won’t look like anyone else’s.
• SEO Tools: Squarespace offers in-depth SEO tools and analytics on all plans, so you can organically increase your traffic based on the supplied data.
• Teamwork: All plans allow at least two users to access the site, so you can easily collaborate with your employees or coworkers.

Cons of Squarespace

• Update Lag: Sometimes, you’ll experience a lag when Squarespace updates its servers. When they announce an update, make sure you check your site to see that it migrated properly.
• Editing Frustrations: Images can be finicky when creating a new layout. You’ll try to drag and drop an element and be unable to put it in the exact place you need.
• No Autosave: Save your progress constantly when you’re editing your page. There’s no autosave option with Squarespace, so you can lose all your updates if you lose power or the internet while editing.

Squarespace vs. Other Top Recommendations: How They Compare

Squarespace soars to the top of the recommendations list because, as you can see by the cons above, there’s nothing negative about the platform.

There are always potential glitches with technology, so as long as you’re careful with your backups and editing, you’ll be fine using the Squarespace platform.

It gives you plenty of room to grow, which is inspiring.

Squarespace Pricing

You can pay for Squarespace month-to-month, but an annual plan saves money, as shown in the prices below.

• Personal: $16 monthly on an annual plan
• Business: $23 monthly on an annual plan
• Basic Commerce: $27 monthly on an annual plan
• Advanced Commerce: $49 monthly on an annual plan

Can You Try Squarespace for Free?

You can take advantage of the Squarespace free trial to see what the plans offer.

You get to try a paid plan free for 14 days.

This trial allows you to see how your site will look on Squarespace.

When the trial ends, you need to start a paid plan, or else you’ll lose your site and data.

Conclusion: Should You Choose Squarespace?

Yes, you should choose Squarespace if you want reliable website design software that includes a domain name and many templates.

You can start with something basic to get your site up and running and continue to update and grow your audience without needing third-party help. Squarespace is ideal for websites big and small.

Adobe Dreamweaver: Runner-Up

Adobe is well-known for its creative apps, including graphic design software like Illustrator and Photoshop, plus photo and film editing tools.

Dreamweaver is Adobe’s website design software that enables you to create stunning websites while you learn HTML, CSS, and other code.

People interested in learning while they design will appreciate Dreamweaver.

Key Features of Adobe Dreamweaver

• Learn Skills: While you design your website, Dreamweaver gives you tips about HTML, CSS, and other elements. You’ll learn to code while creating a page.
• Code Suggestions: You don’t need coding knowledge to use Dreamweaver because it has a suggestions menu that helps you insert text, images, videos, and more. Select the item on the menu, and the program types the code for you.
• Template Creation: You can use Dreamweaver templates for your website, but once you customize them, you can save that update as a separate unique template.
• Adobe Stock: You can use photos, videos, and design elements from Adobe Stock with a click. Using one Adobe app means you’ll get simple integration to Adobe libraries.
• Education Discount: Students and teachers can get a discount on all Adobe Creative Cloud apps, including Dreamweaver, so you can create beautiful sites without blowing your budget.

Why Is Adobe Dreamweaver a Great Solution?

Adobe Dreamweaver is a great solution because you can create a beautiful website with little technical knowledge on your part.

The more you build, the more you’ll learn, so you’ll eventually have an impressive set of coding skills.

Anyone who appreciates hands-on learning will love how Dreamweaver simplifies the process.

Pros of Adobe Dreamweaver

• Find and Replace: Easily update or change code with the find and replace tool. You can use it to batch edit your pages and save time.
• Code Check: Dreamweaver highlights the code to scan and recognize errors. You can discern HTML, CSS, PHP, and Java based on the color of the highlight.
• Real-time Previews: Always see your site’s design with each edit you make. No need to worry about creating a glitch because you’ll see it immediately.

Cons of Adobe Dreamweaver

• Undo Option: If you’re used to pressing Command+Z to undo a wrong action, you might get frustrated with Dreamweaver. The undo feature doesn’t always work as you’d expect.
• Learning Curve: People with little technical knowledge might have trouble learning Dreamweaver. It teaches you as you go along, but getting in the right mindset to start can take a bit of work.
• Involved Editing: Since Dreamweaver aims to teach you HTML and CSS, you’ll have a more involved editing process each time you want to update or redesign your site, which can take more time than you have.

Adobe Dreamweaver vs. Other Top Recommendations: How They Compare

Adobe Dreamweaver differs from many options on this list because of how it teaches you coding.

The web creation process is just as simple as other website design software, but you’re improving your skills as you design your site.

It’s a great solution for people who want to learn as they spend time creating and updating their websites.

Adobe Dreamweaver Pricing

Since Dreamweaver is also part of the Creative Cloud, you have many pricing options.

• Dreamweaver Single App: $20.99 monthly
• Dreamweaver for Education: $19.99 monthly
• Dreamweaver Business: $35.99 monthly per license
• Creative Cloud, All Apps: $54.99 monthly

Can You Try Adobe Dreamweaver for Free?

Yes, you can try Adobe Dreamweaver free for seven days.

This trial gives you an idea of how much you’ll learn from the website design software.

You’ll also see how easily it integrates with other Adobe apps, making it more likely that you’d subscribe to the entire Creative Cloud.

Conclusion: Should You Choose Adobe Dreamweaver?

Yes, you should choose Adobe Dreamweaver for several reasons.

People wanting to learn code while they build a website will appreciate this website design software.

It’s also ideal for people who want to create and edit their visuals because Creative Cloud offers all those tools.

You’ll pay a bit more monthly, but it’s a great value for all the Adobe tools you get.

Weebly: Budget Pick

Weebly is an ideal website design software because it offers everything you need at various affordable prices.

You can use the free option forever, but the most expensive paid plan is just $26 a month—more affordable than almost every other option on this list!

Key Features of Weebly

• eCommerce Options: With all plans, including free, you can open an online shop and use tools like inventory management, a shopping cart, and coupons.
• Ease of Use: Many beginners choose Weebly as a host because they can start for free, learn how to create and edit a website, and then easily upgrade their plans.
• Templates: Weebly has an impressive template library for shops, blogs, portfolios, and landing pages. You don’t need to know any code.
• Multiple Platforms: Weebly ensures your site looks good on a computer, tablet, and phone. You can also easily edit your page from a mobile device with their touchscreen Drag and Drop editor.
• Domain Name: If you pay for a plan, you can get your domain name from Weebly. This feature eliminates the need to have a web host and a separate URL provider.

Why Is Weebly a Great Solution?

Weebly is a great solution because it’s affordable.

Most people are wary of affordable website design software because they think you get what you pay.

With Weebly, however, you’ll feel like you’re getting a steal.

The platform is easy to use and creates stunning, unique websites, blogs, portfolios, and stores.

Try for free and upgrade to a paid plan if you like Weebly.

Pros of Weebly

• Support: Weebly is easy to use and offers 24/7 support via live chat and email.
• SSL Security: Even Weebly’s free plan includes SSL security, so all visitors will feel confident that their information stays private when they visit your site.
• App: Weebly’s touchscreen app is great to have on hand because you can update your site or fix a glitch even when you’re away from the computer.

Cons of Weebly

• Free Limits: You can’t use a custom URL for a free plan, so if you want to seem professional, you have to upgrade to the Personal plan or above.
• Dated Templates: Weebly has a nice template library, but some seem outdated. This appearance makes them hard to work with, which can frustrate you.
• Bugs: Many users encounter bugs when using the drag-and-drop feature. It causes their site to glitch and won’t autosave the changes they just made.

Weebly vs. Other Top Recommendations: How They Compare

Weebly is a great website design software for people on a budget.

Since you can start using it for free, you’ll get an idea of how it works before paying anything.

However, even once you subscribe to a paid plan, you’re not putting too much money into your web presence.

It can host your website on Weebly for free.

If you want more options, consider a paid plan.

• Personal: $6 monthly
• Professional: $12 monthly
• Performance: $26 monthly

Can You Try Weebly for Free?

Yes, you can try Weebly for free.

You can sign up for the free plan without inputting credit card information.

There’s no time limit to the free plan, either, so if you don’t mind having a “.weebly.com” address, you can use it forever.

Most people find themselves upgrading to an affordable paid plan after a month, though.

Conclusion: Should You Choose Weebly?

You should choose Weebly if you’re on a budget.

Even the most expensive plan is more affordable than many other tools on this list.

You can create a store on any plan, so you won’t need a third-party program to expand your online presence.

Try Weebly for free, and then consider what plan best suits your business.

The Best Free Website Design Software Options

Not everyone can afford the website design software options above.

Sometimes you need a free tool to help you launch your website.

These two free website design software options are among the best, so check them out to see if they’ll work for you.

Google Web Designer

Google Web Designer is a great option because Google is the biggest search engine.

You can trust any analytics you get from Google since they use their data.

So using their tool to create online ads gives you a leg up on your competition.

Why Is This a Great Option?

Google Web Designer is a great option because it’s free and it’s Google.

Those two plugs are all you need to know so you can trust this website design software.

If you’re familiar with Gmail, Docs, Sheets, and Meet, then you’ll understand Google Web Designer intuitively.

The tool combines website design and online ads to help you build and grow your website in no time.

Drawbacks to Google Web Designer

Google Web Designer isn’t a true website design software.

You need to have a website before using this tool, which helps you create banners and online ads to increase your traffic.

It won’t open any HTML documents you didn’t create with the tool, so you’re somewhat limited with those options.

Wix

Wix is similar to Weebly in many ways. It has an extensive free plan you can upgrade as your web needs increase.

There’s no need for coding knowledge because the drag-and-drop editor gives you complete control over the page layout.

You can even create an eCommerce storefront with Wix to increase your potential profits.

Why Is This a Great Option?

Wix is a great option because you can try it for free.

Unless you want a custom URL and advanced options, you can continue using the free plan forever.

Creatives love Wix because it simplifies the process of creating a portfolio.

Even once you upgrade your website, you’re not paying nearly as much as several website design software options, so it’s an ideal choice.

Drawbacks to Wix

If you use the free plan, you’re stuck with a “.wix.com” website, which isn’t very professional.

You have to upgrade to customize your URL.

You also don’t get analytics unless you’re paying for a plan.

However, paid plans also have limits, like only being able to host one site per plan and being unable to transfer it to another host later if you outgrow Wix’s capabilities.

Notable Mentions: Other Website Design Software To Check Out

Now you know Squarespace, Weebly and Adobe are the best options for website design software.

But if for some reason neither of those or the free options we mentioned align with your standards, check out these notable mention plans that might provide what you need.

Adobe XD

Adobe XD might be what you need if Dreamweaver doesn’t seem right, but you love the Adobe brand.

This Adobe website design software also lets you create games and mobile apps.

You can use it with several other designers simultaneously, streamlining the creation process.

Why Is Adobe XD a Great Option?

Adobe XD is a great option because you’re getting everything Adobe has to offer in a simple dashboard that helps you create unique websites and online tools.

If you subscribe to the entire Creative Cloud, you also get access to Photoshop, Illustrator, and Adobe Fonts, which all elevate your design potential.

Drawbacks to Adobe XD

Some users struggle with exporting files.

You have limits for file compatibility, so people using Figma or Sketch don’t like when the XD files don’t open in other programs.

There’s also a delay with updates when multiple users access the same document simultaneously.

Since it should be collaborative, this is a frustrating glitch.

Adobe XD Pricing

• Adobe XD Single App: $9.99 monthly
• Creative Cloud, All Apps: $54.99 monthly

Can You Try Adobe XD for Free?

Yes, you can try Adobe XD free for seven days.

You’ll get to experience how simple this tool makes it to create websites, apps, games, and ads.

The free trial allows you to see how the tool works on its own, but you might also want to take advantage of other Adobe apps’ free trials to see how the Creative Cloud can help you.

Figma

Figma is a collaborative website design software that helps you work with your team from a central location.

It’s easy to use, no matter how technical each user may be.

They can all access the design through the web and leave feedback and notes for future edits.

Why Is Figma a Great Option?

Figma eliminates the need to manually share designs via printed documents or emails.

Users can log in to the software and see the design, then leave feedback in the same location.

Since Figma works in browsers, there’s no need for each user to download software to edit a design.

Drawbacks to Figma

You have to pay for a plan for each person who can edit the designs, which can get pricey.

Brands that don’t have a huge design budget might struggle to get the most out of Figma.

Each plan price applies to individual users, so a team of ten could spend a lot on editing access.

Figma Pricing

• Professional: $12 per person monthly
• Organization: $45 per person monthly
• Enterprise: $75 per person monthly

Can You Try Figma for Free?

Yes, Figma’s free trial gives you a free option that lets you see what the program offers.

You can check out all the features to get an idea of how your team can use Figma to streamline the design and approval processes.

Sketch

Sketch is a vector graphic program that allows you to create icons, logos, visuals, and more.

You can use these images for your website and social media outlets to create a cohesive identity for your brand.

You can also access fonts and design elements to easily create stunning visuals.

Why Is Sketch a Great Option?

Sketch is a great option for collaborative design because multiple users can work on the same design simultaneously.

You can access a shared library of text, layers, symbols, and design elements.

That library eliminates the need to create everything from scratch while ensuring your designs will be unique and stand out from the crowd.

Drawbacks to Sketch

Drawbacks to Sketch include the platform limits—it only works for Apple devices.

Everyone who uses Sketch needs to work on the macOS. Since many designers use Apple, it might not be a big deal, but it can limit you in terms of collaborators, which is a huge drawback.

Sketch Pricing

• Standard: $9 per person monthly
• Business: $20 per person monthly

Can You Try Sketch for Free?

Yes, Sketch lets you try their website design software free for 30 days.

This trial gives you a chance to explore everything the program has to offer.

You can play around with their design elements and understand how they will help you elevate your website and online presence.

You don’t even need to enter payment information for a free trial, so there’s no risk.

Sublime Text

Sublime Text is an editor for code.

It supports many programming languages, so it’s ideal for coding website design.

You can use it on Windows, OS, and Ubuntu.

You can download the app for free and use it to see what it offers.

You can open existing HTML code in the app and start editing immediately.

Why Is Sublime Text a Great Option?

Sublime Text is a great option for coding a website because it color codes elements based on the code type and autocompletes commands to eliminate errors.

You can use plugins to customize your Sublime Text interface and streamline your website design process.

Drawbacks to Sublime Text

The major drawback to Sublime Text is that it’s not that easy for beginners.

You need basic coding knowledge to get the most out of this app.

While it will highlight errors to help prevent glitches, you can’t just use this software and expect to create a site from nothing, especially if you don’t know basic HTML or CSS.

Sublime Text Pricing

Sublime Text only has one plan. You can buy a license for a $99 flat fee.

This fee means you can access all Sublime Text tools for three years.

You’ll get access to all updates within those three years.

If you want to continue using Sublime Text after three years, you will at no additional charge.

However, you must pay for newer versions after you reach that limit.

Can You Try Sublime Text for Free?

Yes, you can try Sublime Text free for 30 days.

This trial gives you plenty of time to see what the software has to offer and understand how it can elevate your website.

You’ll be able to see what options it offers that can help you as a website design software.

openElement

openElement generates the code you need to create a quality website without worrying that a user error will prevent the code from functioning properly.

It eliminates the need to repeatedly enter the same code because you can create an element that inserts the relevant code in each place.

Why Is openElement a Great Option?

openElement is a great option because you can create your own code or access the commonly used codes to build your own website.

You can access elements from the open-source library and drag them onto your page to build a quality website.

You also have the ability to create and share your own custom web elements with others.

Drawbacks to openElement

You can only use openElement on Windows computers.

It’s not compatible with iOS devices, so that limits the user base.

Otherwise, it provides quality website design software.

openElement Pricing

openElement is completely free, so there’s no risk of trying it to see how it can help your website design.

You can start as soon as you wish.

Can You Try openElement for Free?

Yes, openElement is completely free.

You can try it with no strings attached and stop your account at any time.

Webflow

Webflow is a cloud-based website design software based in a browser, so you don’t need to download anything for access.

You can design a site with the program and export the code to your host or use Webflow as the host to use one central dashboard for everything.

Why Is Webflow a Great Option?

Webflow is a great option because it gives you choices.

If you want to simplify the web host process, you can host and build your website through Webflow alone.

But if you already have a web host and domain name, you can use Webflow to build your code and export it to what you already own.

Drawbacks to Webflow

For how much Webflow simplifies the website creation process, it has limits on the plans that might make it too expensive for your needs.

It’s not the best option for sites needing SEO perks, so you might want to choose another option that gives you freedom for publication and SEO.

Webflow Pricing

Like most website design software, Webflow offers a free plan, but paid options eliminate many restrictions.

• Basic: $14 monthly
• CMS: $23 monthly
• Business: $39 monthly

Can You Try Webflow for Free?

Yes, you can use Webflow’s free plan for two sites to see how it can help you.

From there, you can decide to use Webflow as your host or export the code to use on your existing website.

Even More Options To Check Out

There are even more website design software options to check out if the ones above don’t seem to suit your needs.

Check out these tools to see how they can help elevate your website design.

Atom

Atom is a text and code editor that’s free to use.

You can use it to take notes or code your website, so you’ll get plenty of use out of it.

If you liked the idea of Sublime Text, but it didn’t seem like the right fit, Atom might be the right solution.

While there’s no support for Atom, it’s open-source, so there are plenty of users who create additional features and help people having trouble.

There’s also detailed documentation included with the file you install, so you should have no problem using Atom to code your website from scratch.

Shopify

If you know the primary aspect of your website is to open an eCommerce storefront, Shopify is your best bet.

This website design software simplifies the process of opening a store and managing your inventory.

Tiered plans give a certain ceiling for sales, so you’re never paying more for hosting than you’re making in profits.

You can use themes and templates to make your store stand out and draw in customers.

Picter

Picter combines several marketing tools into one platform where your team works together.

You can create visual content and marketing campaigns that allow other users to view and provide feedback in one centralized location.

Picter is an affordable way to streamline the approval process for small and medium companies.

You don’t need to print or email designs and send them to multiple people for feedback because it happens in one place.

InVision

InVision is an online whiteboard that allows you to brainstorm and collaborate with your team in one place.

It integrates with Microsoft Teams and Zoom for use during virtual meetings.

It also pairs with Google Docs and other apps like Mode, Jira, and Kanban.

Every step of the workflow process can happen in this platform, so you collaborate the entire way and have documentation of the process.

Users can leave comments, place sticky notes, and include video responses with Loom.

ClickFunnels

ClickFunnels helps you boost sales online.

You can use the website design software to build a landing page that serves your online needs, eliminating the necessity of designing a more involved website.

The templates and drag-and-drop editor make design simple.

Once you have a page ready to go, you can create a sales funnel to pull visitors to your page and convert them into customers.

It integrates with popular sites like Active Campaign, Facebook, YouTube, and Zapier, so you’ll have a broad reach.

Canva

Canva helps you design anything and everything, from a logo to social media promotional posts and letterhead.

The free plan gives you access to countless templates and design elements.

Once you create something, you can save it and use it on your website, social media, and email newsletters.

The paid Canva plan allows you and other teammates to collaborate on designs simultaneously.

You also gain access to more involved templates and design elements to create stunning and unique designs.

Other Products Relevant to Website Design Software

The work doesn’t stop with designing your website.

You can also use tools to create images, logos, and drawings—even if you’re not an artist yourself.

• Graphic Design Software: Graphic design software provides what you need to create a website that demands attention. You can design logos, headers, images, and social media posts with the right program.
• Best Logo Makers: The best logo makers help you finetune your brand’s identity. You can select colors and share inspirational images to get a few options of logos that will represent your website.
• Best Drawing Software: The best drawing software gives you a digital platform for doodles and designs. You can make design elements for your website using these tools.

Frequently Asked Questions

You’ve learned 15+ best website design software options.

If you need more information before committing to a service, check out the answers to these frequently asked questions.

Wrapping Up

There are many website design software options available, but not all provide the services you need.

Squarespace may be the best option if you’re willing to spend the money, while Google Web Designer is better for those who don’t want to break the bank.

Make sure you check out what each program offers so you understand how it helps you build your site and create visuals that you can also use across social media platforms.

The right website design software helps you grow your business without restriction, so get started today.