WYSIWYG editors are HTML editors that attempt to display the Web page as it will show on the browser. They are visual editors, and you don’t manipulate the code directly. WYSIWYG basically stands for “What you see is what you get”. Below are the greatest WYSIWYG Editors of all time.
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1. Amaya WYSIWYG HTML editor
The free open source Amaya WYSIWYG HTML editor comes from the World Wide Wed Consortium (W3C). It started as an HTML and Cascading Style Sheets editor but now supports XML and XML applications such as HTML, MathML and Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG). You can both browse and edit web pages with this nifty program, which is especially helpful if you want to cut-paste information from other pages into your own.
2. openWYSIWYG
Finally, a free cross-browser WYSIWYG editor that’s packed with every rich-text editing feature you need to make your content management system that much better. Setting up openWYSIWYG is so easy, you can quickly turn any <textarea> into a powerful WYSIWYG editor with just a few simple lines of code. Packed with every rich text editing feature you need, openWYSIWYG gives you total control over formatting your text. The ultimate <textarea> replacement for your content management system.
3. KompoZer
KompoZer is a complete web authoring system that combines web file management and easy-to-use WYSIWYG web page editing. KompoZer is designed to be extremely easy to use, making it ideal for non-technical computer users who want to create an attractive, professional-looking web site without needing to know HTML or web coding.
4. Adobe Dreamweaver
Adobe Dreamweaver is a WYSIWYG and text editor for Windows and Macintosh best suited to Professional Web Designers and Professional Web Developers. It costs $399.00. There is a free trial.
5. QWebEditor
QWebEditor is a browser-based HTML editor. Its WYSIWYG feature is perfect for content management system or any web sites require asking users to enter formatted text.It is a DHTML component and easy to be intergrated into your websites. Your users do not need to download a bulky ActiveX control, applets and you do not need to worry about the browser security settings.
6. WYSIWYG Web Builder
The sensational All-In-One Web-Publishing Suite for starters and professionals. It has over 150 new features and improvements and thousands of new options and possibilities.
7. Seamonkey
Web-browser, advanced e-mail, newsgroup and feed client, IRC chat, and HTML editing made simple — all your Internet needs in one application.
8. Rapidweaver
With powerful tools under the hood, yet a beautifully-familiar user interface built especially for Mac OS X Leopard, RapidWeaver is ideal for anyone looking to create a beautiful website. Whether it’s your first or five-hundreth website, RapidWeaver has all the tools you need to quickly create pages you’ll be proud of.
9. Namo WebEditor Professional
Namo WebEditor Professional is an integrated software package that includes 6 applications and tools in one box. One simple installation gives you everything you need to make great Web pages and create stunning graphics.
10. WysiwygPro
WysiwygPro is an advanced online HTML WYSIWYG editor that can be embedded in a web page. Web developers may use it as an alternative to regular textarea tags in all PHP powered web applications including Content Management Systems, Blogs, Discussion Forums and Web Based E-mail Systems.
You definately overlooked Dynamic HTMl Editor which is a great tool with loads of options and an excellent support. If you have a good idea for a new feature you can be sure it will be included in an update.
Nice list. A lot of these open source programs are great.
However though, if you use a PC, I’ve found MS Expression Web to be one of the quickest & most versatile editors out right now. Best part is that, as far as proprietary editors goes, it’s super cheap. Only $79 ($139 if you want a full suite including an encoder and image editor).
Also, Visual Web Developer Express isn’t bad either as far as free web development software goes.
I find wysiwyg editors annoying and only for unprofessional use.
I myself use Komodo Edit (Open-Source) wich is code only.
If you use code only editors the code you produce is normally shorter and better structured.
I completely agree.
It would be more helpful to distinguish between
– offline and online editors
– PC and MAC and LINUX
– free / OpenSource and commercial
just my 5 cents
This is true (I use Espresso for Mac) but not everyone has the same thinking… WYSIWYG gets things done in much less time and doesn’t require you to know all the code. Unfortunately, some “professionals” do web design for companies using an editor like these. Sad but true.
Strange, you’ve missed probably the best editor – Expression Web. I understand it is from MS, thus the hate, but this peace of software is just brilliant.
Regards,
Julian
I have to agree with Julian here. I installed it just for fun so I could see what it exactly could do and I must say I am rather impressed with it. Not sure if it is ‘the best’ but it is surprisingly good.
Well, I’ve checked Expression Web, its good, but the dark color scheme is a letdown imo.
It indeed makes a bit difficult to clearly see everything:-).
Nice post
http://ajax.open-open.com/editor.htm
I agree with you Alex – but there are time when you are editing someone’s design and its all in old style tables… then editing in code really makes me pull my hair off. 😉
Personally use Coda for Mac, and when there are tables, then I fire up dreamweaver.
NicEdit is another gud one.
Can’t say I would recommend any of these. WYSIWYG editors rarely give you what you see across multiple browsers and the code they produce is a nightmare to manage.
Is there quite simple sofware for just making separate HTML pages? Pages cannot vontain flash, css or anything like that. I have used DW cs3 css disabled but I’m totally frustrated uploading all my imagefiles again and again for DW seems to think they get broken quite often. Yet them infact work fine. This si no WYSIWYG! Images are on free hosting servises like imageshack. I require nothing fancy. Just wysiwyg html editor.
These all look like great editors. I’ll have to try a few and see what works best for me. Thanks!
Hey! Quick question that’s totally off topic. Do you know how to make your site mobile friendly? My blog looks weird when viewing from my iphone 4. I’m trying to find a template or plugin that might be able to fix this issue. If you have any suggestions, please share. Thank you!
i can’t find what im looking for. i want a youtube WYSIWYG.
i am a Adobe Dreamweaver addict..its really helpful post to me…nice inspiring work..Thanks for sharing
Great selection of wysiwyg , know of any tools for working on wordpress css?
I’m sorry to be so blunt, but has the author of this article fallen on his head or something? Forget for a moment whether a desktop WYSIWYG editor should be used at all, in the first place (as others, here, have pointed-out); the larger problem is that no one would ever, in a million years, design and build an entire site using a web-based WYSIWYG editor, as one might not hesitate to do using a desktop one. So why are both kinds listed here, in a manner which suggests either could be used for any WYSIWYG purpose?
Desktop WYSIWYG ediitors, and browser-based WYSIWYG editors are for ENTIRELY different purposes. Assuming one can get past the fact that a WYSIWYG editor probably shouldn’t be used at all… at least not on a professional web site… at least not for any more than maybe just layout (and even then), only a desktop WYSIWYG would ever be seriously considered for the task.
Only once the web site has been designed and built using the desktop WYSIWYG editor, and only if said web site were built to allow for changes to content, or comments on same — in both cases, in the browser — would the developer then be in the market for a decent browser-based WYSIWYG editor… but, when so, certainly not for the developer’s use, but, rather, so that the develop can embed a WYSIWYG editor into the site so that whomever maintains it, or makes comments or blog posts on it, can make small content (and not wholesale site dessign) changes right in the browser.
To include both kinds of WYSIWYG editors, then, in the same article (unless, of course, the article’s point is to explain the differences, and how one is never used to do what the other does) is just plain dumb. C’mon!
And including both Windows and Mac products in the same article is equally dumb! People are either searching for one or the other. How is it useful to tell a Windows user about a Mac product, and vice versa? Listings and reviews of Mac products belong in articles containing only Mac products, with headlines that warn the reader that that’s what’s coming; and the exact same thing can be said for Windows products. Same with web-based products. Otherwised, the reader’s precious time is wasted; and the author of such articles conveys that s/he doesn’t care.
That the author of this article clearly doesn’t get how it all works; has no concept of the so-called “big picture;” and doesn’t give a whit whether the reader’s time is wasted. That being the case, how can anyone rely on his opinions; and why would anyone want to hire him?
My overarching point is that this kind of article just makes its author look really bad… clueless, in fact. Worse, I have a sneaking suspicion that he can’t even see it… or why.
Unbelievable. [sigh] Oy.
____________________________________
Gregg L. DesElms
Napa, California USA
gregg at greggdeselms dot com
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Dreamweaver still remains as the best for many of us. No better HTML editor out there..
Great HTML editor list. I’m amazed, I must say. Rarely do I encounter a blog that’s both educative and amusing, and without a doubt, you’ve hit the nail on the head. The problem is something not enough folks are speaking intelligently about. I am very happy I found this in my hunt for something regarding this.