Top 4 Useful Open Source Web Design Software Tools

First impressions count and that goes as much for your website as it does for anything else. With so much of our lives now spent online and no longer even considering the number of websites we view on a daily basis anymore, to be noticed and not just seen is more important than ever.

Presentation, layout, images, colors, fonts, videos, animations… All of these ingredients are key factors to making the right – and the best – impression on visitors to your website. Many of the best website designs, or web development agency incorporate all these elements to create the best customer experience.

So here are four useful open source web design software tools that you should consider for making the first impression.

1. Wix

Along with a business name generator tool, Wix is an excellent SaaS webpage builder that will help you design and put together a stunning, professional-looking website. 

It comes loaded with over 500 pre-made templates, the blueprints of which you can then use as the foundation for your own site. With the aid of Wix’s intuitive and easy-to-use drag-and-drop features, aesthetically appealing and engaging websites can be designed without the need for any coding. Perfect for newbies and a time tracking app saver for the experiences, Wix is loaded with tools, as well as a variety of effects, so that you can add animations, videos, and incorporate scroll fx.

Finding a template that is ideal for whatever your website requires couldn’t be simpler. The large number available is easy to sift through thanks to a series of filters, which quickly narrows your search and speeds up your hunt. You can narrow the search down to specific industries, so be it retail, beauty, healthcare, manufacturing, tech or auto insurance industry – and so on: there is something there for everyone.

Wix is an excellent tool for anyone building a store for their new eCommerce business. Any website that is created can be tweaked easily so as to be optimized for viewing compatibility on smartphones. 

If you want to get fancy, Wix comes with an array of visual bells and whistles in its toolbox so that you can overlay multiple effects on visuals, such as shadows and flares.

Additionally, Wix:

• Lets you collaborate with others;
• Add numerous animations and backgrounds for better engagement;
• Boosts SEO with alternate background image text;
• Comes with a cool professional logo maker tool so you can stamp your brand onto your business.
  

And don’t worry – if web design is not your thing, after answering a few questions relevant to your business and needs, Wix can even create a site for you based on your answers.

Cost:

• You can start for free but will need to upgrade for a custom domain;
• Domain connection only: $4.50 monthly;
• Combo: $8:50 monthly (for personal use only);
• Unlimited: $14.50 monthly (small business);
• VIP: $26 monthly if you want a priority support service.

2. Squarespace

If you have not heard of Squarespace, then you are sure to have seen their logo. They are now well established and an industry-best at what they provide. Squarespace is now a one-stop solution for all your web building needs. 

Easily customizable, the creative possibilities are virtually limitless. Templates galore, anyone with any need in any field will be able to find suitable options for their requirements. Fashion, legal firms, pet groomers – you name it, there is something for all business and professional needs.

Spoilt for choice? Let Squarespace make some suggestions for you after answering a few questions to get specially tailored recommendations.

Squarespace blogging tools will provide you with the ability to routinely update your site with your latest news, deals, or product information. Clear, professional-looking text is available thanks to Squarespace’s free collaboration with Typekit. You will also have complete control over image editing throughout your site.

Additionally:

• There are zero limits to page add-ons, so your site can continually grow;
• A huge set of color palettes allow for maximum design originality;
• Role designation for more efficient collaborations.

Cost:

• Starts free;
• Personal: $12 per month on an annual subscription;
• Business: $18 per month on an annual subscription;
• Basic Commerce: $26 per month on an annual subscription;
• Advanced Commerce: $40 per month on an annual subscription.

3. Adobe Dreamweaver

Supporting HTML, CSS, Javascript, and much more, Dreamweaver is a very popular tool and web designer’s favorite. It provides speedy creation and publication of web pages from virtually anywhere, for any device or browser. 

One highlight feature is the ability to see the progress of the web build in real-time. Highly capable as you would expect from Adobe, it is a very robust and well-equipped toolbox. Not the easiest software to get to grips with for beginners, but for those who are willing to invest the time into learning it, Dreamweaver delivers fast, dynamic, and muscular websites. Any feature you can think of as necessary for a website is possible: blog pages, about pages, eCommerce pages, product portfolios, and much more.

Being an Adobe product, Dreamweaver comes with the benefit of being fully integrational with various other software and platforms.

Costs: 

• Dreamweaver Single Application: $20.99 per month;
• Creative Cloud – All Apps: $52:99 per month.

A free trial version is available for 7 days only.

4. OpenElement

OpenElement is powerful web authoring software for any creative professional or newcomer. Simple, with easy-to-use drag-and-drop functionality, it can create robust websites that will remain reliable and engaging for users. Complex web building tasks can be performed easily and quickly as openElement has been created for efficiency so that its users can maximize productivity and optimize workflow. 

Custom elements can be effortlessly modified to make unique sites that are clear, easy to navigate, and make for the best experience possible for users. You will also be able to enhance your website for better search engine results with its SEO management tool.

Cost:

• Free

Conclusion

The market for web design software is unsurprisingly a huge one. There is an enormous number of tools for designers available today. Finding the right one isn’t easy and the best results may come from a merger of solutions, but with any of the four tools listed above, you will be well on your way to creating an impressive website.