Adobe Dreamweaver is one of the premier web development tools. Dreamweaver’s interface is WYSIWYG, what you see is what you get, which is to say how your webpage appears on the interface is how it will appear when up and running.

Dreamweaver has its faults. The interface can be difficult to navigate, and the software definitely has a steep learning curve. If Dreamweaver is too complicated, you may want to consider some of Dreamweaver’s alternatives and competitors which will be discussed below.

Top 10 Best Alternatives & Competitors

  1. Visual Studio Code – Most Popular Alternative
  2. Google Web Designer – Most Advertisement Design Friendly Alternative
  3. CoffeeCup HTML Editor – Most Coding-Oriented Alternative
  4. Amaya – Most Seamless Open-Source Alternative
  5. Pinegrow – Most Balanced Alternative
  6. BlueGriffon – Most Intuitive Open-Source Alternative
  7. RapidWeaver – Most macOS-Friendly Alternative
  8. Wix – Most Business-Centric Alternative
  9. Aptana Studio – Most Customizable Alternative
  10. Bluefish – Most Lightweight Alternative

1. Visual Studio Code – Most Popular Alternative

PRICING: starts at $45 per user per month

Visual Studio Code is undoubtedly one of the most acclaimed source code editors out there, popular among professionals and new programmers alike. Not only does VS Code support numerous programming languages ranging from C# to Java, but countless extensions are available to customize the software specifically for your needs.

On the downside, VS Code eats up a huge amount of CPU, so your device might run slower or even crash. Secondly, that VS Code offers so many plugins is also a negative, as users report frustration seeking out the ideal one.

KEY FEATURES:

  • Supports a range of languages from C# to Java
  • Wide array of extensions
  • Debugging
  • Git integration

REASONS TO BUY:

  • Live share editing
  • Extensive plugins
  • Highly customizable

REASONS TO AVOID:

  • Eats up CPU
  • Finding the right plugin is very difficult

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2. Google Web Designer – Most Advertisement Design Friendly Alternative

PRICING: free

Don’t let the name fool you, this software is designed for HTML5 editing, not web design. In particular, Google Web Designer is used for the creation of interactive, animated ads.

The interface is very simple yet flexible, with free-floating sections and resizable groups. Moreover, it’s free.

Google Web Designer won’t open HTML files unless they were specifically created through the software. The program’s name is also misleading, so be sure this is the right HTML editor for you.

KEY FEATURES:

  • 3D rotate tool
  • Advanced and quick animation mode
  • Free-floating sections
  • Event system

REASONS TO BUY:

  • Flexible interface
  • Free

REASONS TO AVOID:

  • Cannot perform web design
  • Used primarily for advertisements
  • Can’t open other HTML files

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3. CoffeeCup HTML Editor – Most Coding-Oriented Alternative

PRICING: starts at $19 per month

CoffeeCup HTML Editor is a great software for those who prefer coding by hand without any visual editor.

As far as CoffeeCup’s interface goes, it’s rather primitive. You’re coding all by hand so you have to know your HTML tags, and there’s not much room for customizable. On the plus side, with how lightweight the program is, CoffeeCup runs exceptionally smoothly.

CoffeeCup is not for novices, though there is a Support Center you can message or email. However, their hours are limited to 9 AM to 6 PM on weekdays, so your windows of contact are limited.

KEY FEATURES:

  • HTML and CSS3 support
  • Built-in preview
  • Auto-generated tags

REASONS TO BUY:

  • Code cleaner helps format and polish code
  • Support Center
  • Light application

REASONS TO AVOID:

  • Outdated interface
  • Requires extensive knowledge of HTML

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4. Amaya – Most Seamless Open-Source Alternative

PRICING: free

Amaya is a free, open-source HTML editor which works with a variety of languages like CSS and XHTML. Amaya is a fast web editor that displays your edits in real-time and comes with a robust, customizable interface.

Note that project development ceased in 2012, so Amaya is missing a lot, such as support for HTML5. Amaya is better for editors who prefer traditional web editors; new users may struggle with the software’s lack of features and how out-of-date it is.

KEY FEATURES:

  • CSS, SVG, MathML, XHTML, etc.
  • Editing several documents at once
  • Page zooming
  • Spell checking

REASONS TO BUY:

  • Very light
  • Intuitive interface
  • Highly customizable
  • Open-source

REASONS TO AVOID:

  • Updating has ceased
  • No premade templates

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5. Pinegrow – Most Balanced Alternative

PRICING: starts at $32.50 per year

Pinegrow is an excellent web editor which combines traditional coding with more visual-based editing. One of Pinegrow’s most popular features is its code checker which highlights the relevant code when you highlight your cursor above an object. Pinegrow is a desktop-based app, so you can edit even while offline.

Although Pinegrow’s interface is navigable, newcomers to coding might find the layout confusing, so if you use this editor, be sure to have prior experience. Some users also find Pinegrow to be on the pricier side for what you get.

KEY FEATURES:

  • Real-time webpage preview
  • Code highlighter
  • Drag-and-drop elements

REASONS TO BUY:

  • Bridges gap between front-end and back-end web development
  • Navigable interface
  • Offline designing

REASONS TO AVOID:

  • Not for beginners

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6. BlueGriffon – Most Intuitive Open-Source Alternative

PRICING: $87.75 one-time payment

BlueGriffon is designed for editing webpages and EPUB files. BlueGriffon is lightweight and comes with a variety of extensions. Users also praise the software for being easy to use.

Although the price is a one-time payment, each extension also has its own cost, and these can quickly pile up. BlueGriffon is also only for Windows and Apple products, so this program will not work for Linux users.

BlueGriffon is recommended for intermediate coders with some mastery of web design but who don’t require the all-in-one solution professionals would need.

KEY FEATURES:

  • Drag and drop
  • Premade templates
  • SEO management

REASONS TO BUY:

  • Works with Windows, MacOS, and Ubuntu
  • Various extensions
  • Lightweight
  • Easy to use

REASONS TO AVOID:

  • Costly extensions
  • Doesn’t have too many features

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7. RapidWeaver – Most macOS-Friendly Alternative

PRICING: starts at $84.99 per month

Rapidweaver is a web editor specifically designed for macOS.

You don’t need to be an expert coder to use RapidWeaver, though you might want to tweak lines of coding here and there. Even when you encounter troubles, there are plenty of tutorials available online, and the software has a very active and helpful support community.

On the downside, there is a bit of a learning curve, and it will be especially steep for those uninitiated to web design. Further, on top of being a pricier web editor, many of the extensions you might need won’t be free, so you might end up spending a hefty sum.

KEY FEATURES:

  • Prebuilt templates
  • Can preview webpage

REASONS TO BUY:

  • Huge array of extensions
  • Doesn’t require coding knowledge
  • Robust support community

REASONS TO AVOID:

  • Learning curve
  • Pricey

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8. Wix – Most Business-Centric Alternative

PRICING: starts at $16 per month

If you need a website for your small or medium-sized business, Wix has got you covered. A drag-and-drop editor, Wix requires very minimal coding knowledge, coming with premade templates and designs all wrapped up in an easily navigable interface.

Where Wix is lacking is in customizability and scalability; for instance, Wix does not integrate well with other programs. It’s also very difficult to transfer your content to other platforms if you’ve found Wix is no longer appropriate

KEY FEATURES:

  • Drag-and-drop editing
  • Advanced Design Intelligence

REASONS TO BUY:

  • Visual-based editing
  • Minimal coding knowledge required
  • Free with advertisements
  • Many premade templates
  • Highly intuitive interface

REASONS TO AVOID:

  • Not integrated
  • Difficult to migrate to a different service

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9. Aptana Studio – Most Customizable Alternative

PRICING: free

Aptana is a free, open-source IDE for those looking to design website applications. Aptana works with HTML, CSS, and Java, but additional plugins will allow you to use even more programming languages. Aptana also handily comes with a debugger and Git integration

Aptana Studio is on the heavy side, so there have been problems with the program crashing and lagging. Unfortunately, Aptana doesn’t have an HTML design window.

KEY FEATURES:

  • Debugger
  • Git integration
  • HTML, CSS, and Java

REASONS TO BUY:

  • Customizability
  • Intuitive interface
  • Variety of extensions to play with
  • Free and open source

REASONS TO AVOID:

  • Sometimes unstable

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10. Bluefish – Most Lightweight Alternative

PRICING: free

Bluefish is fairly lightweight, so it does not consume much RAM. The interface is fairly intuitive too, even for newer coders. Bluefish works well with a wide variety of languages like C++ and Java.

Bluefish does not get updated regularly, so the IU appears outdated. Even though Bluefish purports it can handle up to 500 documents at once, many users have difficulties when the solution has at least ten tabs

KEY FEATURES:

  • Unlimited undo/redo
  • Auto recovery of changes
  • CSS, HTML, XML, C/C++, etc
  • Powerful search-and-replace

REASONS TO BUY:

  • Lightweight
  • Customizable
  • Intuitive interface
  • Freeware

REASONS TO AVOID:

  • Outdated interface
  • Can’t handle many tabs

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References and Links

  • https://code.visualstudio.com/
  • https://www.theregister.com/2022/01/25/visual_studio_2022/
  • https://www.capterra.com/p/186634/Visual-Studio-Code/reviews/
  • https://webdesigner.withgoogle.com/
  • https://www.techradar.com/reviews/google-web-designer
  • https://www.sitepoint.com/google-web-designer-review/
  • https://blog.templatetoaster.com/google-web-designer/
  • https://www.coffeecup.com/html-editor/
  • https://www.techradar.com/reviews/coffeecup-free-html-editor
  • https://www.cnet.com/reviews/coffeecup-html-editor-9-2-review/
  • https://www.w3.org/Amaya/
  • https://www.thesitewizard.com/reviews/amaya.shtml
  • https://www.online-sciences.com/computer/amaya-html-editor-web-editor-review-features-advantages-and-disadvantages/
  • https://pinegrow.com/
  • https://www.websiteplanet.com/website-builders/pinegrow/
  • http://www.bluegriffon.org/
  • https://lewtononline.com/bluegriffon-review-pros-and-cons-of-the-website-editor/
  • https://slashdot.org/software/p/BlueGriffon/
  • https://www.majorgeeks.com/content/page/bluegriffon_is_a_user_friendly_wysiwyg_web_editor.html
  • https://www.realmacsoftware.com/rapidweaver/
  • https://www.websiteplanet.com/website-builders/rapidweaver/
  • https://www.g2.com/products/rapidweaver/reviews
  • https://www.wix.com/
  • https://www.fullychargedmedia.com/online-presence-fundamentals/5-reasons-not-to-use-wix-for-your-website-a-brief-wix-review/
  • https://www.softwareadvice.com/landing-page/wix-profile/reviews/
  • https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/wix
  • http://www.aptana.com/
  • https://reviews.financesonline.com/p/aptana-studio/
  • https://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/software/programming-software/aptana-studio-513707/review
  • https://comparecamp.com/aptana-studio-review-pricing-pros-cons-features/
  • https://bluefish.openoffice.nl/download.html
  • https://www.softwareadvice.com/website-builder/bluefish-profile/
  • https://www.capterra.com/p/175980/Bluefish/