Uncovering the Best openWYSIWYG Alternatives for Web Developers
openWYSIWYG, hailed as a free, open-source, and cross-browser WYSIWYG editor packed with rich-text editing features, once served as a go-to solution for many web developers. However, as technology evolves and specific needs arise, developers often seek out more modern, feature-rich, or specialized tools. Whether you're looking for enhanced collaboration, specific integrations, or a different approach to content creation, there are numerous excellent openWYSIWYG alternative options available today.
Top openWYSIWYG Alternatives
If you're ready to move beyond openWYSIWYG and explore what else the market has to offer, you're in the right place. We've compiled a list of top alternatives, ranging from powerful full-fledged IDEs to lightweight, embeddable editors, ensuring there's a perfect fit for every project and preference.
Markdown
Markdown is a text-to-HTML conversion tool, perfect for web writers who prefer writing in an easy-to-read, plain text format before converting it to HTML. It's a fantastic openWYSIWYG alternative for those who prioritize simplicity and direct text manipulation over visual editors. Markdown is Free and Open Source, available on Mac, Windows, and Linux, and offers features like MarkDown support and text formatting.
Adobe Dreamweaver
Adobe Dreamweaver is a comprehensive commercial tool for building websites and applications, widely used by web designers and developers. As a powerful openWYSIWYG alternative, it offers extensive features including WYSIWYG Support, HTML/CSS/JS rendering, visual design, Bootstrap support, drag and drop functionality, FTP/SFTP support, and live preview. It's available for Mac and Windows, making it a robust choice for professional web development.
TinyMCE
TinyMCE is a widely popular, platform-independent, web-based JavaScript HTML WYSIWYG editor control, released as Open Source under LGPL. It's an excellent openWYSIWYG alternative, especially for web applications requiring a robust and customizable rich text editor. TinyMCE offers extensive plugin support and strong WYSIWYG capabilities, and is available as Freemium, Open Source, Web, Self-Hosted, and for WordPress.
CKEditor
CKEditor is an easy-to-implement Open Source JavaScript WYSIWYG rich text editor for any web browser, making it a compelling openWYSIWYG alternative. It provides robust features such as colored text, customizability, drag and drop, embeddability, extensibility via plugins, real-time collaboration, and ReactJS support. Available as Commercial and Open Source for Web and Self-Hosted environments, CKEditor is a versatile choice.
ContentTools
ContentTools is a collection of small, flexible, extensible, and framework-agnostic JavaScript libraries for HTML content editing, serving as a beautiful and efficient WYSIWYG editor. This Free and Open Source web tool is a great openWYSIWYG alternative for developers seeking a lightweight yet customizable and extensible editor with strong drag and drop functionality.
VisualNEO Web
VisualNEO Web is a user-friendly authoring tool for developing Web Apps, suitable for both beginners and professionals. This Commercial Windows application offers a drag-and-drop visual IDE, simplified programming language, and features like object-oriented language support, plugin manager, PWA creation, HTML export, UI Design, and mobile app development. It stands as a robust openWYSIWYG alternative for those needing a more comprehensive website builder with scripting capabilities.
WebsiteBaker
WebsiteBaker is a free, easy, secure, flexible, and extensible Open Source Content Management System designed to help you create the website you want. As a comprehensive web-based platform, it offers a full-fledged website builder, making it a strong openWYSIWYG alternative for users seeking a complete CMS solution rather than just an editor.
CLEditor
CLEditor is an open source jQuery plugin providing a lightweight, full-featured, cross-browser, and extensible WYSIWYG HTML editor. It can be easily integrated into any web project, making it a straightforward and efficient openWYSIWYG alternative for developers prioritizing ease of integration and a compact footprint.
SCEditor
SCEditor is a lightweight WYSIWYG BBCode & HTML editor, presenting itself as an excellent openWYSIWYG alternative for those who need a compact yet capable web-based editor. Being Free and Open Source, it provides essential WYSIWYG support in a minimalist package.
N1ED
N1ED is a modern page builder offered as an add-on for popular editors like CKEditor and TinyMCE, with Bootstrap support. This Free, Web, and Self-Hosted SaaS solution provides features such as browser-based functionality, plugins, file management, image editing, and integration with Java, PHP, and WordPress. As an openWYSIWYG alternative, it enhances existing editors to deliver a powerful page building experience.
The landscape of web development tools is rich and diverse. From minimalist markdown converters to comprehensive visual IDEs and powerful CMS platforms, there's a perfect openWYSIWYG alternative out there to match your specific workflow, project requirements, and personal preferences. Explore these options, try out their features, and choose the one that best empowers your web creation journey.