Users can now benefit from endless instruments whenever they need a professional portfolio, a web store or a corporate site. Despite the type and purposes, website builders have proved to be the easiest and fastest option on the way to a solid web representation. While online builders are growing popular, offline website software keeps staying in the shadow for a while. We decided to highlight some of the major offline website building platforms and compare them with a leading online service.
The first thing we need to do is to figure out what an offline builder actually is. What misses and hits might the offline software have?
An offline website builder is a set of downloadable software elements. Every time a user needs to build a site, he or she has to download and install those pieces onto a computer. Unlike online platforms, you do not require an internet connection to edit your website.
This fact ensures higher security and some decent backup degree. On the other hand, your PC is the only way to access the builder. You will not be able to outsource the work on the website or edit it remotely.
The major stages of using an offline website builder are as follows:
- Download the software.
- Install the website platform on your laptop or PC or Mac.
- Choose from the list of templates or design your own.
- Add and edit content.
- Add media files.
- Publish the website.
Although some offline platforms still have a drag-and-drop feature, they are pretty complicated. It will take some time for beginners to keep up with all the functions and features. Moreover, using an offline builder requires advanced hardware, a separate hosting, and regular update downloads.
All the systems listed above are full-featured offline web building tools, which come with their advantages, disadvantages, special parameters and specifications. Each software works great for the completion of certain tasks. That’s why it makes sense to review each of the services in detail to pick the one that works best for your individual project.
1. WordPress
| Product Name: | WordPress |
| Official Website: | wordpress.org |
| Founded: | 2003 |
| Number of Websites: | 60,327,543 |
| Complexity: | Complex |
| Free plan: | Completely free |
| Paid plan: | Paid themes and hosting |
WordPress – is a free downloadable CMS for any website. The software was initially intended for blog development, yet it is now used to launch and manage all types of projects for personal and business use.
It’s quite hard to call the CMS an easy-to-use system as it requires a bit of coding and web design proficiency to create high end projects. The system is known for its extensive integration options, availability of built-in and third-party templates as well as advanced design customization tools.
The major WordPress benefits include:
- Free Hosting Choice. WordPress allows choosing any hosting provider that comes up to your project requirements and needs most. What’s more, many contemporary hosts come with a pre-set CMS that is installed in a few clicks only.
- Offline Website Creation. When working with WordPress, a user can pick specialized tools to get a virtual server on his/her computer. This makes it possible to launch websites without any online connection, while ready-made projects can further be published on one of special hostings.
- 100% Design Customization. Whatever template you will go for, it will be quality, responsive and 100% customizable. You can select and modify the required settings to get the best result in the long run. What you can experiment with is general web design settings, colors, backgrounds, styles, fonts and images, which are both available in stock and can be added to the system’s gallery. Additionally, it is possible to upload and integrate social media files, documents, new gallery elements etc.
- Professional Blogging Platform. As far as WordPress was initially created as a blogging system, it boasts an extremely powerful blogging engine that encompasses multiple features, tools and settings. The service allows launching and managing full-featured blogs, which can also be updated any time of the day and even on the go.
- Integrable Plugins. WordPress boasts one of the most extensive collections of plugins. Many of them are available in the built-in catalog of the service, while hundreds of extensions can also be found online. Plugins are free and paid. Mind that free add-ons are not completely safe as they may come with malware threats. To prevent potential scams, it is better to download premium plugins. Their cost ranges between $15 and $200 per one extension. Some of them are provided on the lifetime basis, while others require monthly/annual payment.
WordPress is an absolutely free CMS. You can download and install it at no cost at all. Mind, however, that to get extra features, plugins, third-party templates, hosting and domain name, you’ll have to invest an extra budget.
2. Webflow
| Product Name: | Webflow |
| Official Website: | |
| Founded: | 2013 |
| Number of Websites: | 544,053 |
| Complexity: | Complex |
| Free plan: | Yes |
| Paid plan: | $12/mo |
Webflow – is a professional web design tool, which is used to develop high end projects with advanced performance and outstanding design. The major website builder specialization goes down to the development of innovative projects, which differ in thematic niches, complexity, size and other important parameters.
Because of the system’s complexity and professional web design approach, users are expected to possess coding skills right from the start. Otherwise, it will be difficult for them to get used to the control panel and master the entire feature set of the service. Webflow can give your project outstanding look and exquisite functionality.
Here are the main Webflow advantages:
- eCommerce Engine. The website builder comes with a powerful eCommerce engine that lets you set up and modify all types of online stores. These projects are distinguished by high end functionality, although no deep coding skills are required to manage them. What you can do to give your eCommerce project an outstanding look is integrating and customizing the shopping cart, creating and updating product lists, uploading items and providing their descriptions, adding prices, introducing discounts, tracking web store statistics, inventory tools, sales reports etc.
- Responsive Templates. Webflow boasts a collection of responsive templates, which are customizable, modern and versatile. As of today, the template set of the platform encounters over 200 ready-made designs, which are both free and paid. The templates are sorted out by industry to ensure quick and easy access.
- Lightbox Gallery. The website builder now allows creating professional Lightbox galleries. With this purpose, you can use videos and images available in the system’s collection or those you have uploaded and stored on your own. The feature is provided on a free basis to let all Webflow users enjoy an opportunity to create an immersive web browsing experience.
- Code Editing. As mentioned above, the system makes it possible to create exclusive and personalized website designs by means of code editing. Users are allowed to integrate custom HTML codes into footers or headers to give their projects a high end look.
- After Effects and Lottie Integration. Another highlight of the website builder is its After Effects and Lottie integration. The system lets users control vector animations display options via the use of multiple system interactions.
Webflow is a professional website builder, the major specialization of which goes down to the development of complicated and feature-laden projects. Along with the free plan, the system offers several payment options. There are two types of subscriptions here – Site and eCommerce plans. Each of them, in its turn, falls into more detailed packages. The overall Webflow pricing starts at $12/mo.
3. Dreamweaver
| Product Name: | Adobe Dreamweaver |
| Official Website: | adobe.com |
| Founded: | 1997 |
| Number of Websites: | 4,887,288 |
| Complexity: | Complex |
| Free plan: | Free 7-day trial |
| Paid plan: | From $20.99/mo |
Adobe Dreamweaver – (current version 21.3) – is an offline web design and development tool, which allows creating, publishing and editing professional websites featuring high end functionality and exquisite design. The software is provided as a part of the Creative Cloud service. It lets you create and update different types of websites and offline applications with no hassle at all. However, it is still desirable to possess some coding skills and web design background to be able to work with the system.
Both web design pros and beginners can use the software to develop high end projects. However, newbies will find the system complicated as it takes some time and effort to master it to the advantage.
Have a look at the main Dreamweaver highlights now:
- Code Editor. The software allows getting access to the advanced code editor of the platform. This is where you can work with a variety of website codes, such as HTML, PHP, CSS, JSP, XML JavaScript and more. The feature lets you create individual professional app and website design. All the steps and edits you make are clearly displayed in the visual preview mode so that you could fix the available errors before publishing the project.
- Integration Options. Dreamweaver comes with advanced integration options. To be precise, it perfectly integrates with other Adobe products in terms of Creative Cloud Library and Adobe Stock Marketplace integration. Among the products you can choose for your website or offline app, it makes sense to mention InDesign CC, Photoshop CC, Premiere Pro CC, Illustrator CC, After Effects CC, Dimension CC and Animate CC. Additionally, the software allows integrating third-party services, such as Business Catalyst, Bitbucket, GitHub and many more.
- Adobe Stock Marketplace Services. As a Dreamweaver user, you can get access to the rich Adobe Stock Marketplace with lots of services to be chosen for your project. This is where you can browse an extensive collection of illustrations and images to further download and insert them into the website or app you are working on. Additionally, you can export multiple PSD files you plan to use for your project.
- Free Templates. Dreamweaver grants access to lots of templates you can download and install from third-party services. These designs are both free and paid, so it’s up to you to pick the design you are interested in. The software lets you integrate Joomla, WordPress and Drupal templates. Mind, however, that picking themes from external resources is not altogether safe. So, mind this aspect and check the security of each design chosen in advance.
Adobe Dreamweaver is a professional offline web design tool, which is provided by the Creative Cloud service. It requires download and installation to be used for web building purposes. There is no completely free plan, but there is a 7-day trial that lets you test the entire feature set of the system prior to opting for one of its paid subscriptions, the price range of which is quite extensive. Currently, the cost of Dreamweaver subscriptions starts at $20.99/mo.
4. Mobirise
| Product Name: | Mobirise |
| Official Website: | mobirise.com |
| Founded: | 2015 |
| Number of Websites: | 367,298 |
| Complexity: | Easy |
| Free plan: | Free Software |
| Paid plan: | Hosting, premium templates |
The release of Mobirise (current version 5.6.11) – is an offline website building program (Mac & Windows), which is a simple platform for all user groups, including non-techies. The release of the software appeared to be a revolutionary step as it boasts some core differences if compared with its contemporaries.
First of all, it is a responsive free offline software. It means that you will need to download and install it. Otherwise, you will not be able to launch the website building process. It is very simple to use. The software provides an intuitive and simple editing environment in addition to some other fundamental competitive advantages.
The major Mobirise benefits include:
- Simple installation – The web design process is very fast and easy. Make sure your hardware meets necessary system requirements;
- 6500+ Content Blocks – You have an opportunity to create a unique page structure using any of the content blocks from a huge collection. Currently, there are over 6500 pre-designed blocks available in 5 free, 140+ premium HTML templates and 400+ homepage themes. These include sliders, blog posts, image/video galleries, headers/footers, shopping carts, articles, special features, CTA buttons, Google Maps, testimonials, social feeds and more;
- 800+ Content Blocks – create a unique page structure using any of the content blocks form a huge collection;
- Good-Looking Templates – The software delivers a bunch of appealing and responsive templates out of the box. All Mobirise websites are mobile-friendly. The overall template number currently exceeds 163;
- Simple Drag-and-Drop Feature – Mobirise boasts an easy-to-use and intuitive WYSIWYG editor. It means that no coding skills are required;
- AMP Website Builder – Choose from an array of AMP templates to create an online business card, portfolio or blog. AMP templates are the best bet to represent and promote your business/services on mobile devices;
- Blogging and eCommerce – With Mobirise, you can create high end blogs and digital stores. This is done by means of integrating and customizing shopping cart/blog content blocks. Extra add-ons for blogs and online tires are available here as well.
- Powerful Integrations – Make use of the opportunity to select and connect multiple integrations to enhance your project performance and design. Among the most popular integrations you can choose from, it makes sense to mention YouTube and Vimeo support, Google Fonts, Maps, social feed for Facebook, Analytics, PayPal, SoundCloud, Progressive Web Applications, Icons, Disqus, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and many more.
Users may select a place to host their Mobirise websites. It can be your Google Cloud, local drive or even Github. The features certainly add some flexibility. Another good advantage about the software is the fact that it is free to use whether your website is going to serve commercial or non-profitable purposes.
However, Mobirise does not provide hosting, which means you will have to pay for it and maintain it by yourself. In addition, you should be ready to pay for any further advance or extension for your website. On the other hand, users may opt for Github Pages as a free web hosting alternative. To get access to high end Mobirise themes and extensions, you can opt for a Premium Pack of the service. Its cost currently constitutes $149.
5. TemplateToaster
| Product Name: | TemplateToaster |
| Official Website: | templatetoaster.com |
| Founded: | 2012 |
| Number of Websites: | - |
| Complexity: | Complex |
| Free plan: | Free Trial |
| Paid plan: | $49 and $149 |
TemplateToaster – (current version 8.1.0.20984) – is the offline software for creating website templates that lets you design advanced, stylish and contemporary themes with no programming or coding knowledge required. The platform is handy to web design experts and beginners, who intend to create professional and visually-appealing themes for Joomla, WordPress, Drupal, Magento and other CMS. No programming skills or web connection is needed to design a theme with the software.
You can choose one of two template design options offered by TemplateToaster. It’s either possible to use a ready-made responsive template to further customize it with regard to your project needs or create a brand new template from scratch.
Top TemplateToaster advantages are now listed below:
- Responsive Layouts. One of the major highlights of the system is that it comes with a powerful visual editor and responsive layouts to let you independently create visually-appealing and technically correct templates.
- Advanced Compatibility. The template builder is compatible with almost any Content Management System of your choice. This means that you can design a high quality template for any CMS you wish without any coding or third-party assistance. This can be a blog, eCommerce, small business website template or any other theme you need.
- Drag and Drop User Interface. TemplateToaster offers integrated drag-and-drop functionality, which lets you create up-to-date UI designs without any extra techniques or coding skills. Just pick the required element and choose the area you’d like to place it and drop it there. Then you can proceed to content editing, which is also easy and quick. All the edits you make are saved in the automated mode.
- Template Collection. The system comes with a rich choice of responsive themes you can choose for your own template. There are 10 free industry-specific design packs and a rich choice of paid templates to browse and pick for your project. All the designs come with the preview mode to let you make the right choice from the start. Additionally, there is an opportunity to design your own template from scratch, if there is anything you don’t like about ready-made themes. This option, however, implies coding knowledge.
TemplateToaster can be downloaded from the official website for free. To use the program, you will need to upgrade to one of the paid plans – either Standard ($49) or Professional Edition ($149). The software also offers an unlimited trial version that lets you test the program before purchasing one of the paid plans.
6. Wix
| Product Name: | WIX |
| Official Website: | wix.com |
| Founded: | 2006 |
| Number of Websites: | 10,489,954 |
| Complexity: | Very easy |
| Free plan: | Yes |
| Paid plan: | From $22/mo |
Although Wix is the best SaaS website builder software, which is actually a hosted program. The only difference between offline software is that you do not have to download program files and look for a place to host them. You get an all-in-one solution with files already hosted and all changes saved in real time.
The platform has proven to be equally good for different purposes. It lets beginners easily come up with a full-featured web store, a professional looking portfolio or a capturing business website within a couple of hours. The software boasts an advanced built-in online editor to customize website pages with just one click.
The main Wix advantages are as follows:
- Ease of Use – Wix boasts probably the easiest-to-understand WYSIWYG editor. You can start building a website once you have signed in. The intuitive interface does not take long to figure out how everything works here;
- Great Collection of Templates – the software boasts an amazing selection of mobile-ready templates for any type of website. Wix developers regularly come up with new themes to meet users’ expectations. All templates are professionally designed and boast an excellent online appearance;
- Wix App Market – looking for a widget or app to make your website more user-friendly? Wix boasts its own App Market with a huge collection of FREE applications and widgets to choose from. Create a stunning blog, integrate analytics into your digital store, etc.;
- ADI Tool – Wix follows the latest website building trends and offers its unique ADI tool letting you build a website at no time at all. The AI-based system will consider your preferences and likes. Then it will automatically build a website you need without any manual involvement;
- Wix Mobile Editor – you can now check how your website will look like on a mobile device before publishing it. The tool lets you edit various blocks and sections without affecting the web version of the original website.
- Logo Maker – The website builder comes with a high end built-in Logo Maker tool, which allows designing and integrating a quality logo in any project – either personal and business. It’s up to you to pick logo design elements and layouts to build a truly personalized brand logo;
- Wix Ascend Platform – The software offers an opportunity to use its Ascend platform – the advanced all-in-one solution, which includes more than 20 business tools (Live Chat, Inbox, Invoices, Forms, Contact Manager, Tasks & Reminders, Automations, Price Quotes etc.) that contribute to effective business website management.
Moreover, Wix comes as an all-in-one platform. It means that you do not have to think of where to host your website or register a domain name. The system is advanced enough to let you cope with different projects despite their complexity. You will hardly ever need the assistance of third-party developers or programmers. The website builder offers an affordable pricing policy – there is a free subscription and two types of paid plans – Website and Business/eCommerce. Each type, in its turn, falls into more detailed subscriptions. Their cost starts at $22/mo.
7. Adobe Portfolio
| Product Name: | Adobe Portfolio |
| Official Website: | adobe.com |
| Founded: | 2016 |
| Number of Websites: | 260,754 |
| Complexity: | Complex |
| Free plan: | Free Software |
| Paid plan: | From $9.99/mo |
Adobe Portfolio – is an offline website builder for web designers that serves the only purpose – portfolio creation and management. Available as a part of Creative Cloud software, the platform can be used on a free basis. Paid packages, however, are also available here. The use of the system does not imply coding proficiency, which makes it a great pick for all user categories – both non-techies and web design experts.
Whether you intend to showcase your work in a portfolio website or launch a single-page website only, the software will get you covered. Availability of easy-to-customize templates along with a set of design customization/project management tools makes Adobe Portfolio a worthy choice for this kind of website. At the same time, the software lacks eCommerce features, which does not let you sell your products/services. However, if you aim at creating catchy galleries and portfolio projects, the system has much to offer, including:
- Behance Integration – Adobe Portfolio allows for seamless integration with Behance that lets you successfully import projects and grow customer base. The process is easy and takes a few steps only;
- Import of Lightroom Images – With the software, you can easily access and import images from Lightroom, using your Creative Cloud subscription;
- Automated Image Resizing – The software will automatically optimize the uploaded images for your project, if needed. It can also reduce the resolution, improve the load time and resize photos, irrespective of their format;
- Unlimited Photo Collections – The system makes it possible to create as many photo collections as you need. Mind, however, that creation of a new collection requires a new web page set up. However, this is rather an advantages than a disadvantage for most users as they have an opportunity to display image collections combining various styles and genres;
- Third-Party Domain – Adobe Portfolio lets you connect any domain to the newly-created project. However, the very process of its integration is quite complex as all websites started with Adobe have the software domain by default. To replace it, you will require a custom name purchased via popular third-party domain anime providers or hosts;
- Password Protection – It’s up to you to keep your Adobe Portfolio website protected from unauthorized access by setting a password. You can keep either the entire website or selected pages private depending upon your project requirements.
As mentioned above, Adobe Portfolio is a free platform, when used with Creative Cloud subscription. However, it grants access to premium features and services. The cost of using them constitutes $9.99 per month for the Creative Cloud – Photography package and $54.99 per month for the entire set of Creative Cloud apps.
8. Pinegrow
| Product Name: | Pinegrow |
| Official Website: | pinegrow.com |
| Founded: | 2014 |
| Number of Websites: | - |
| Complexity: | Complex |
| Free plan: | No |
| Paid plan: | From $99/mo |
Pinegrow – (current version 6.7) – is a downloadable drag & drop design software, which is created with the needs and skills of web design experts in mind. The platform requires preliminary download and installation before being used for web development purposes. It delivers an extensive range of features and tools to help you get started even with the most feature-rich and complex responsive projects. Pinegrow is compatible with Windows, Mac and Linux. Have a look at the major advantages of the system now:
- Editing and Multi Review Mode – The software offers an opportunity to see the way your project runs on various desktop and mobile devices. It automatically analyzes the stylesheets to define the potential errors and bugs and to let you fix them on time.
- Advanced Visual Editing Tools – The system grants access to the powerful toolset to rearrange, modify, edit and add new CSS and HTML elements. There is an opportunity to get a repeater here to insert the selected code elements in order to customize your project layout.
- Custom CMS – The platform can be applied as a custom CMS system to create/edit static HTML pages. This eventually makes website/content management more intuitive and understandable to everyone.
Pinegrow has several pricing solutions. Thus, you can opt for monthly/annual palms along with Lifetime licenses that require one-time payment. If you plan to work with the software, it makes sense to opt for a Pro License, the cost of which starts at $99. The system frequently introduces discounts that let you save big when getting a subscription/license.
9. WYSIWYG Web Builder
| Product Name: | WYSIWYG Web Builder |
| Official Website: | wysiwygwebbuilder.com |
| Founded: | 2014 |
| Number of Websites: | 47,570 |
| Complexity: | Complex |
| Free plan: | Free trial |
| Paid plan: | $59.95 per license |
WYSIWYG Web Builder – (current version 17) – is an offline program for Windows 10, which is used to build professional jQuery-based and HTML web projects. As a desktop software, it requires download and installation before being applied for website development. The system works great for small business websites, portfolios, news portals, blogs and other content-based projects. The list of the website builder advantages is as follows:
- Powerful Design Customization Options – users get access to over 200 design tools that contribute to simple and hassle-free project development and customization. No deep coding skills are required to work with the system yet it takes some time to explore the platform and to get used to it.
- Pre-Designed Modules – the website builder comes with an extensive selection of free, customizable, pre-designed modules and content blocks, the number of which exceeds 150 versatile sections that let you present your company niche specialization, pricing policy, services, contacts etc.
- Extensions Choice – for premium plan subscribers, the system has a special offer that includes more than 200 extensions, such as slideshows, eCommerce features and tools, online menus and many more.
- Media Files – the platform allows for media file integration to let you create image carousels, galleries, animation/visual effects etc.
- SEO Assistant – The feature lets you make website pages more search engine friendly. The advanced SEO Assistant scans each page to detect missing keywords, image descriptions, header tags, sitemap.xml/robot.txt, broken links and other problems that may have negative impact upon your project SEO ranking;
- eCommerce – The recent WYSIWYG Website Builder version have introduced an opportunity of third-party shopping cart checkout integration for Stripe, Ecwid, PayPal, Snipcart, WebMoney, Gumroad and Vibracart Pro;
- Lottie Animations – The system unveils the opportunity to display scalable, lightweight and interactive Lottie animations on your newly-created website.
As a downloadable platform, WYSIWYG Web Builder comes as a lifetime license version, the cost of which constitutes $59.95. There are no limits in terms of use and updates here. Monthly subscription fees are absent here as well. Those users, who are interested in the system’s functionality before purchasing it, can test it for free during the 30-day trial.
10. Figma
| Product Name: | Figma |
| Official Website: | figma.com |
| Founded: | 2012 |
| Number of Websites: | - |
| Complexity: | Complex |
| Free plan: | Yes |
| Paid plan: | From $12 per editor/month |
Figma – is an advanced cloud-based web development tool for professionals, which allows for interface design editing under the terms of real-time collaboration. This means that everyone involved in the project creation has an opportunity to stay on the same page, making the edits at a time. This puts a strong focus on the work itself, contributing to high end results. The system lets businesses start web design projects and share prototypes with other team members, who have website access. The main Figma highlights are as follows:
- Prototyping Features – the platform offers a broad range of prototyping options, such as versatile templates, animations, collaboration tools, UI Prototyping, UX Prototyping, version control and usability testing tools.
- Graphic Design Tools – the software grants access to multiple graphic design tools, including those for effective data visualization, collaboration, filtering as well as Image Editor and Image Database compilation.
- Distinctive Collaboration Functionality – Figma stands out from the crowd due to its extensive team collaboration options, letting designers, product/project managers, engineers, and other specialists work on the same project at a time.
Figma has a starter plan, which is completely free for everyone. It allows 2 editors to participate in the project and it also lets you run up to 3 projects. If you plan to use the system ona long-term basis, it makes sense to upgrade to one of its premium plans – Professional or Organizational. Their cost constitutes $12 and $45 per editor or per month.
11. FrontPage
| Product name: | FrontPage |
| Official website: | — |
| Founded: | 1997 |
| Number of Websites: | 1,536,402 |
| Complexity: | Medium |
| Free plan: | Unlimited |
| Paid plan: | Completely free |
FrontPage – is an outdated WYSIWYG web design software from Microsoft, which is currently no longer supported. It was initially introduced to the market in 1997, while its latest version was issued in 2003. However, it is still possible to use the software along with its tools and extra extensions to set up simple HTML pages. They will be certainly compatible with an outdated Internet Explorer browser only. Currently, the system is not available for download from the official Microsoft website. Previously downloaded versions can only be used to educate beginners, who do not have a single notion about website development. Among the main FrontPage advantages, it makes sense to mention the following:
- Dynamic Templates – The software comes with a number of dynamic templates that let users create a single design. It can further be used across multiple pages and even across the website in general;
- Interactive Buttons – Availability of interactive buttons allows users to pick a brand new way to create web graphics for links and project navigation. This eliminates the need for downloading and using a complex image-editing package like Adobe Photoshop, for example;
- Accessibility Checker – The tool provides a user with the ability to check whether a certain code is compliant with their project and the website is accessible for disabled users;
- Code Snippets – The feature offers an opportunity to create snippets of commonly used code pieces to further store the code for easy and quick access;
- Visual Editor – Access to the open code and visual editor allows adding text and media content by means of pasting it from the clipboard. This contributes to more effective control over the website management process.
As far as the software is no longer available for download, it doesn’t make any sense to discuss the pricing policy. When FrontPage was offered for sale in the official Office 2003 version, its const constituted around $400-500. Currently, you can only download the system from unofficial websites, but the safety aspect will be quite controversial.
12. Blocs
| Product Name: | Blocs |
| Official Website: | blocsapp.com |
| Founded: | 2010 |
| Number of Websites: | - |
| Complexity: | Complex |
| Free plan: | Free trial |
| Paid plan: | $99.99 for license |
Blocs (current version V4) – is the best offline website builder for MacOS. To make your first website with the system, you do not need any HTML knowledge or specialized skills. You simply choose the required blocks and create web pages by arranging them in the preferred order. The interface of the program is intuitive even for beginners.
Apart from starting standalone pages, the Blocs editor can integrate with popular CMS systems (as an advanced alternative to regular software). In the extended software version, Blocs Plus, it is possible to create custom WordPress themes (you can automatically apply your design to a WordPress template here). The list of Blocs advantages includes:
- HTML-Based Website Layout – The website builder doesn’t have a cloud dashboard, where you can edit the submitted content. Instead, you initially get a primary HTML-based website structure. To set up a more complicated and feature-rich project, you’ll need to customize your project with a CMS. This obviously requires a certain coding and web design background. The platform does not have built-in default templates as this is mainly the app used to independently start HTML-based design;
- Block and Brick Structure – Blocs comes with a complex block and brick structure. What you need is to select pre-designed content blocks and customize them with regard to your needs. The WYSIWYG page editing tool ensures simple and fast project editing. No coding skills or FTP manager are needed to launch a website with Blocs. However, this implies the necessity to pick an external hosting provider to upload and update the files when required;
- Template Development – You can create Blocs templates by using a set of editor tools available in stock. If you do not like this option for some reason, you can opt for premium themes at the official website of the software (the cost of one template constitutes $20);
- Lifetime Package – A notable advantage is an opportunity to buy the software for a lifetime use. No monthly/annual subscriptions with regular payments are required here. What’s more, it is possible to use one license on two devices at a time. This is convenient for most platform users;
- Apple Features Support – Blocs supports Apple hardware features such as the Touch Bar, Force Touch trackpad, and haptic feedback. There is native support for new Apple Silicon (M1) chips, etc. The basic functionality can be easily extended with add-ons and blocks (they are installed from the official Blocs.Store catalog). Extensions, ready-made designs and CMS integration modules are available in the store.
Blocs offers a free downloadable trial version to test the software features and two premium licenses. Their cost constitutes $99.99 and $149.99 correspondingly. Paid extensions and add-ons will cost from about $15 to $200. Free content is also available in the catalog. Additionally, you’ll need to invest around $100 per year for the hosting and about $60 for an opportunity to switch from the old version of the program to the new one.
13. WebSite X5
| Product name: | WebSite X5 |
| Official website: | websitex5.com |
| Founded: | 2005 |
| Number of Websites: | 286,473 |
| Complexity: | Complex |
| Free plan: | Free 15-day trial |
| Paid plan: | From $99.95 |
WebSiteX5 (current version WebSite X5 Evolution 2022.2.6) – is an Italian offline web design software, which belongs to the list of the oldest DIY programs in the modern market. This is an easy and intuitive platform, which makes it possible to create small and medium-sized websites, web stores and blogs.
The system works great for non-techies looking for a system with a visual editor that does not require any coding proficiency to get started. Web design pros, however, will also find multiple tools to use here. If you are interested in using the software for your project development, consider the following features:
- Ease of Editing – You don’t have to know how to code, when working with WebSite X5. Just use a handy drag-and-drop tool to organize the submitted content and launch a website without a line of code. All websites created with the software are mobile-friendly, fitting all mobile and desktop devices.
- Website Export – You can export the ready-made project to HTML or upload it directly to the hosting. The latter option, however, requires FTP access;
- eCommerce – WebSite X5 can be used to launch an online store. The software offers a bundle of eCommerce tools to create an appealing show window in order to display and promote your products. It is possible to create a web store in several languages to target the audience from abroad. When managing your digital shop, you can set discounts, pick payment/shipping methods, customize the checkout feature, adjust product parameters etc.;
- Custom URL Creation – To go live with your website, you can either use the automated domain provided by the system by default or connect your own custom URL with one click only;
- Website Security – To ensure the utmost security of your ready-made website, the system allows connecting the SSL Certificate with HTTPS in the automated mode.
WebSite X5 offers a 15-day free trial that comes without any restrictions at all. To publish a full-featured website, however, you will have to upgrade to the premium subscription here. The software currently offers two paid software versions. The EVO package will cost you $99.95, while the PRO version costs $219.95. This is a one-time payment. The price of third-party hosting and domain name is calculated individually.
14. Visual Studio Code
| Product name: | Visual Studio Code |
| Official website: | code.visualstudio.com |
| Founded: | 2015 |
| Number of Websites: | 222,894 |
| Complexity: | Complex |
| Free plan: | Free software |
| Paid plan: | Completely free |
Visual Studio Code – (current version 1.70) – is a Microsoft-powered web design software, which comes with a convenient and full-featured code editor. The system can work with almost any syntax, supporting all modern programming languages. If any language or feature is not provided out-of-the-box, you can install the appropriate module from the catalog. The platform offers access to the open source code.
As a cross-platform solution, the software easily allows writing interfaces and programs for mobile and web applications that work on CMS. It has everything web design pros may require: syntax highlighting, opportunity to install third-party extensions, support of certain website builders (React, Vue etc.), cooperation with popular git repositories, code refactoring, convenient navigation etc. Other Visual Studio Code highlights are as follows:
- IntelliSense Feature – The feature predicts the variables and function names as you type them. This eventually speeds up the typing process and prevents potential errors. Built-in tools simplify the debugging process almost on the fly;
- Easy Work with Git Commands – Visual Studio Code facilitates the process of working with Git and other SCM providers. You can review diffs, make commits, stage files etc. directly in the editor;
- Extensions – If you need more features, the software allows for integration of external extensions. They are used for a broad variety of purposes – to add themes, languages, debuggers as well as to connect to extra services etc. What’s important, all extensions are free and they run in separate processes. As a result, your editor will work smoothly and easily as well. Use the search filter option to pick the required extensions on a separate website page.
Visual Studio Code is a completely free software that works for any web design platforms and goals. If you need a complex corporate tool, however, you can switch to another version like Visual Studio Community (free), Professional ($45/mo) or Enterprise ($250/mo).
15. Notepad
| Product name: | Notepad |
| Official website: | — |
| Founded: | 1985 |
| Number of Websites: | - |
| Complexity: | Easy |
| Free plan: | Unlimited |
| Paid plan: | Completely free |
Notepad – is the simplest website editor, which is always available for use in your PC operating system. To be precise, the editor is used on Windows-based devices, although similar software is also available for Linux and MacOS systems. In other words, Notepad is a tool that is always at hand. Instead of the built-in Notepad, you can alternatively download and install other programs with advanced functionality for web developers like those that come with syntax highlighting tools for HTML, JS, CSS and other programming languages.
Windows Notepad has recently been redesigned, starting with the Windows 10 Redstone 5 version. It currently uses UTF-8 encoding by default (popular Apache and Nginx web servers work with it) and can search for selected phrases in Bing. The rest of Notepad pros include:
- 24/7 Accessibility – Notepad is always at hand – it is available in your Windows OS by default. You don’t have to download and install it. This is convenient for everyone;
- Easy Creation of HTML Pages – The software allows editing and creating HTML web pages from scratch. You just need to know and correctly apply HTML markup to reach the desired result. Likewise, Notepad works well for editing UTF-encoded files that are used on most contemporary websites;
- Fast Use of Pre-Installed Functions – You have to be aware of the available button combinations that call certain functions (like replace, search, find a line etc.). This notably simplifies the website/code editing process.
Notepad is a free integrated software. As mentioned above, it is available in your Windows OS by default. You can use it when required for the unlimited period of time. By the way, many alternative text editors that support syntax highlighting features are also completely free, such as Notepad++, Notepad2, AkelPad etc.
Website Builders: Going Offline or Online?
The main idea of any website builder is to make the building process easier. No matter if you are a professional web designer or a beginner trying to open your first ever digital store, such software should come as a helper to cope with web projects of different complexity.
On the other hand, choosing the right platform is vital. It will define the future success of the website. For this reason, we decided to compare offline and online programs as well as highlight their fundamental hits and misses. And you are the one to choose, which of them suits you best.
Offline Website Builders Hits and Misses
Designed as a downloaded software, offline website builders still come with enough flexibility. On the other hand, they have core misses that will keep them behind the online software at least for now.
Offline Software Hits:
- Edit website without an Internet connection. Work with your website anytime;
- Ease-of-use thanks to implemented WYSIWYG website editors;
- Advanced opportunities to customize the website design and content;
- Free program versions;
- Direct editing capabilities.
Offline Software Misses:
- Manual update installation;
- Website access from your personal PC only;
- Software installation required;
- Higher pricing if compared with online website builders;
- Out-of-date software, the lack of updates;
- Separate web hosting;
- The need for powerful hardware.
Online Website Builders Hits and Misses
Created to build a website of any type with just a couple of hours, online website building software is perfect for newbies with no coding skills. It offers a high level of flexibility in addition to features that let users promote their websites online.
Online Software hits:
- Use the software whenever you need despite the location;
- Ease of use and speed when building a website from scratch;
- No software installation required;
- More updating opportunities;
- No need to buy powerful hardware;
- No manual software updates and downloads;
- More flexibility.
Online Software Misses:
- Requires Internet connection;
- Requires the signing-up procedure;
- Fewer opportunities to work with CSS code.
The Bottom Line
The array of website building software is impressive. Users can choose from various options to meet their expectations. All you need is to define the website goals, complexity, structure, type of content and some other crucial features before getting started. Both online and offline programs have proved to be efficient when building a solid website.
However, online software appears to be a better choice for those who look for a simpler and more cost-effective solution. They offer easier ways to build a new store or portfolio from scratch and publish it with no coding skills at all. They are cheaper and easier to use. On the other hand, professional web designers may prefer offline programs with a wide option of customizing opportunities.
