Top Easel Alternatives for Web Design and Prototyping
Easel is a browser-based tool known for rapid web page prototyping, offering WYSIWYG editing and Bootstrap support. While excellent for quick mockups and team collaboration with its shared comments feature, Easel has limitations such as no theme chooser, lack of Foundation support, and no ability to add JavaScript code. If you're encountering these limitations or simply looking for different features, exploring an Easel alternative is a smart move. This article will guide you through some of the best replacements available for your web design and prototyping needs.
Discover the Best Easel Alternatives
Whether you need more robust coding capabilities, broader framework support, or simply a different workflow, there's a perfect Easel alternative out there. Let's dive into some of the top contenders that offer diverse functionalities for web development and design.
Pinegrow Web Editor
Pinegrow Web Editor is a powerful commercial web editor available on Mac, Windows, and Linux. It stands out as a strong Easel alternative by offering live multi-page editing, advanced CSS & SASS styling, and a dedicated CSS Grid editor. Unlike Easel, Pinegrow provides comprehensive support for both Bootstrap and Foundation, alongside features like drag-and-drop functionality, reusable content blocks, and excellent WYSIWYG support, making it a versatile tool for responsive website building and WordPress theme development.
Webflow
Webflow is a robust freemium Software as a Service (SaaS) platform that allows users to build production-ready experiences without writing a single line of code, making it an excellent Easel alternative, especially for those who need more control over the final output. It goes beyond simple prototyping by generating clean, semantic HTML5, CSS, & JavaScript. Key features include a custom types builder, inline editing, comprehensive JavaScript support (a limitation of Easel), a powerful page builder, advanced prototyping, and responsive design capabilities.
Wix
Wix is a popular freemium web-based platform that makes website creation accessible to anyone, regardless of coding experience. As an Easel alternative, it excels in simplicity with its drag-and-drop interface and no coding required. Wix focuses on empowering users to create visually appealing HTML5 websites quickly and efficiently, making it ideal for individuals or small businesses seeking a straightforward website builder.
Antetype
Antetype is a commercial design application for Mac that specializes in user interface (UI) design and prototyping. It offers a more focused approach to interface creation than Easel, allowing designers to invent new widgets and craft beautiful interfaces with precision. Its strength lies in dedicated UI design functionalities and robust prototyping capabilities, making it a strong Easel alternative for designers prioritizing detailed interface mockups and user experience flows.
Jetstrap
Jetstrap is a 100% web-based commercial interface building tool specifically designed for Twitter Bootstrap. Similar to Easel's Bootstrap support, Jetstrap focuses solely on this framework but offers a seamless cloud-based experience. With no software to download, it provides an accessible and convenient Easel alternative for designers and developers who work extensively with Bootstrap and require access to their projects from anywhere.
Webs
Webs.com is a freemium web-based DIY website builder that requires no programming experience, positioning it as a user-friendly Easel alternative. Beyond basic website creation, Webs integrates social media and contact management tools. It's a comprehensive platform for individuals and small businesses looking to establish an online presence with features like blogging, publishing, web development, and web hosting all included.
Webydo
Webydo is a commercial web design platform tailored for professional designers and agencies. It allows users to create, manage, and host websites, offering a more robust and professional-grade solution compared to Easel. Webydo includes features like blogging, e-commerce capabilities, developer tools, publishing, web development, and web hosting, making it a powerful Easel alternative for those needing to scale their design business and deliver production-ready sites.
BaseKit
BaseKit is a commercial, web-based website editor widely deployed by hosting, telco, and internet companies, targeting SMBs. It focuses on delivering beautiful, responsive websites without extensive coding. As an Easel alternative, BaseKit offers a comprehensive suite of features including blogging, e-commerce, multiple language support, publishing, web development, and web hosting, making it a strong choice for businesses needing an all-in-one solution.
IM Creator
IM Creator is a freemium web-based platform that offers a new and simple way to create websites, either from scratch or using free templates. It stands as a straightforward Easel alternative, emphasizing ease of use and elegance. Key features include blogging, e-commerce integration, no coding required, publishing, web development, and web hosting, making it accessible for users who want a simple yet effective online presence.
HTML5 multiple website builder
The HTML5 Multiple Website Builder (Multisite CMS) is a commercial, self-hosted PHP/MySQL solution for creating multiple mobile-friendly, CMS-driven responsive websites with just a few clicks. This Easel alternative is ideal for developers or agencies managing numerous client sites, offering powerful responsive web design capabilities with no coding required for site creation and management.
Each of these Easel alternatives offers unique strengths, from full-fledged web development platforms to specialized UI design tools. Consider your specific project requirements, preferred platform (desktop or web-based), and budget to choose the best fit for your next web design or prototyping endeavor.