Sara Mote and I founded MOTE agency in 2014. We specialize in ecommerce, providing refined design, cutting-edge engineering, and the highest order of service to an ever-changing marketplace. In my career as a web developer, I’ve fostered an appetite for innovation and a focus on crafting websites for brands that want to cultivate enduring relationships with their audiences. Here are some insights gleaned from my 26 years of experience.
The early stages of web design are a bit like drawing a map: You start by arranging your content, noting features you might want to include, and then figure out how it all fits together. As you map out how one page will lead to another, you bring to life how your site will guide visitors along the customer journey and represent your brand.
Getting started with web design can be simple—even for a beginner. When you have the right web design tools at hand, you’ll be equipped to create a site that’s aesthetically pleasing, easy to navigate, and fully functional. Read on for tips and product recommendations that will help you find the right web design tools for your needs.
Table of contents
What to look for in web design tools
Whether you’re looking for tools to support your branding design, copywriting, or other steps in web development, choosing the best web design software often comes down to personal preference. For example, you might be a savvy writer or designer, but need some no-code web design tools to build your website. Whatever your skill level and support needs, there’s likely a tool out there that will help you accomplish your goals.
When evaluating different options for web design tools, keep in mind the following considerations:
Free trial
We can all appreciate the ability to test out a product before committing to a purchase. Often, testing out a variety of options in a given category can help you more clearly understand what you need and how you’d prefer to use it.
For example, if you’re looking for a no-code website builder, most platforms offer a free trial period (typically anywhere from three to 30 days). You can sign up for a few free trials, explore the software’s capabilities during the free trial period, then only start a paid subscription with the platform that feels best to you.
Beyond those free trials, many popular tools offer a paired-down free version of their subscription. If you’re on a tight budget and only need the bare minimum a particular tool offers, that type of free web design software could be something to pursue as you’re testing out different web design tools.
Pricing
Before diving into a free trial, make sure the full-price version of the software you’re testing is within your budget. You won’t want to waste your time getting involved with a tool you ultimately can’t afford to keep.
Some pricing details to consider include:
- Purchase frequency: Does this software require a one-time purchase or monthly or yearly subscription? A monthly subscription option is great for flexibility if you’re just starting out, while an annual subscription typically offers a lower total fee.
- Number of users: If a tool charges per user, it’s important to know how many team members will need full access.
- Features of different tiers or packages: Make note of your must-have features. You don’t want to budget for a cheaper package and then find out you actually need the more expensive version.
Ease of use
Choosing the best web design tools often comes down to balancing ease of use against customization. With professional software, the customization options may be endless, but the learning curve can be steep.
For example, when building a website, it usually makes more sense to go with a no-code, drag-and-drop website builder with customizable templates. Drag-and-drop builders are easy to use and don’t require any programming knowledge—giving you all the support you need to design and launch a website for your business.
Some platforms, like Shopify, have a drag-and-drop website builder and a code editor. That means you can quickly get your website up and running using a no-code template, but later, if you have the budget to hire a programmer, they can further customize your site’s code.
Integrations
Depending on the type of site you’re building and the areas of support you need, you may want to rely on several different tools. In that case, it’s important to make sure all of the different programs you use can work together.
The easiest way to harmonize all of your chosen web design tools is to opt for tools that seamlessly integrate with your website builder. For example, many ecommerce websites use a third-party content management system and marketing tools. You can browse all of the third-party services that integrate with Shopify on the Shopify App Store.
Collaboration capabilities
If multiple people will be working on your website, check each tool’s collaboration capabilities. Do you need a web design tool that allows you to collaborate with others in real time or will you be working solo? If you have a team, make sure the tools you select meet everyone’s needs.
You can ask yourself questions like: How many user accounts are provided? What are the system requirements to run this program? How useful is their help center and customer support if anyone on your team needs it?
7 best web design tools
The most helpful web design tools for you will depend on your budget and business needs.
Here are some of the best options to consider incorporating into your web design process:
1. Pen and paper
It may seem odd to use an analog tool for a digital project, but the one tool almost every web designer uses is good old pen and paper.
Before you can build a website, you need to figure out how you’re going to tell your story and bring your brand to life. Sketching out your web pages on a piece of paper is a simple, effective way to brainstorm what content you need and how you want to display it. Starting with pen and paper means you can get started with outlining your vision right away—without the need for simultaneously learning how to use a new piece of software. That way, once you are ready to choose the right website template, you won’t be starting from scratch.
Best for: Everyone, from professional web designers to business owners using drag-and-drop website builders. Even if you decide to hire a web designer or developer to create a fully custom site, you may want to get some of your ideas down on paper so you can more clearly communicate your vision to your design partner.
2. Figma
When you’re ready to get off the page and onto your computer, it’s helpful to have access to a cloud-based digital space that lets you both experiment and polish your ideas. Figma is that digital space. Made for teams, it’s the industry-standard web design tool that allows designers and developers to collaborate in real time. Figma has all sorts of capabilities that make it easy to design website mockups, batch updates, and even use AI to spark inspiration.
Best for: Larger teams of professional designers and developers working on the same project at the same time. It could also come in handy if you decide to partner with a web designer on your site design.
3. Sketch
Sketch is a web design app that allows for rapid iteration, specifically for UI design. One of the advantages of Sketch is that although it also has collaborative features much like Figma, Sketch is primarily a local app you download onto your computer. This allows you to work and save files offline, which can minimize distractions, offer your work more privacy, and not have you relying on a stable Wi-Fi connection in order to complete your project.
Best for: Professional web designers who want an alternative to Figma and frequent flyers who appreciate the ability to work offline. (Note: Sketch is currently only available for macOS devices.)
4. ChatGPT
Generative AI tools like OpenAI’s ChatGPT are fantastic for generating code. While it’s still nowhere near being able to replace a programmer, it’s an incredible tool to have in your toolbox as a web developer.
Plus, ChatGPT can also help draft web copy for your design mockups. It’s a quick way to generate text that’s more relevant than standard lorem ipsum placeholders. Using AI for copywriting should never be the endpoint though—always make sure you update your AI-generated drafts later. They should sound like your own brand voice and focus on content that’s wholly original.
Best for: Web developers wanting to quickly generate code and novice coders looking for a basic brainstorming partner during the web design process. Also useful for initial web copy drafting.
5. Visual Studio Code
Visual Studio Code, also known as VS Code, is Microsoft’s free code editor. The VS Code Marketplace offers a variety of third-party extensions to meet all your code-writing needs. If you’re new to programming, VS Code is a great code editor that will help catch issues like syntax errors and bugs in your code. It also streamlines coding with autocomplete features, so you can test out your ideas more quickly.
Best for: Web developers at any experience level looking for a fully customizable code editor.
6. GitHub
GitHub is a popular online code repository where you can store code you’ve written and edited elsewhere, such as in VS Code or Shopify. Even if you’re not a professional programmer, it can be helpful to gain a basic understanding of GitHub. Millions of developers swear by it.
Even if you don’t do your own programming, it’s wise to keep a backup of your website’s code in GitHub. Securing that backup means that if anything goes wrong with your site, you can easily revert to a previous version.
Best for: Developers and anyone else who wants to back up their website’s code with version control.
7. Shopify
All of the above tools may be best for you if you’re a web design professional (or eager to roll up your sleeves and learn the ropes). But if you’re a small business owner or solo entrepreneur, you’ll get a lot more value out of designing, developing, and publishing your site with Shopify.
Shopify’s website builder has an intuitive drag-and-drop theme editor that allows you to design, prototype, and launch an ecommerce website with zero coding experience. If you do want to fine-tune your code customizations, Shopify offers a built-in code editor with version control. Plus, Shopify includes more than just website building and hosting capabilities. You also get integrated selling features to operate your online store, marketing tools, and lots more to support the success of your business.
Best for: Ecommerce business owners who want an all-in-one platform that’s user-friendly and able to scale as their business grows.
Web design tools FAQ
What tool should I use to build a website?
The right tool for building a website depends on whether you want to customize a premade theme using a drag-and-drop website builder (no coding needed) or create a fully custom site (coding required). If you have an ecommerce business, Shopify provides an all-in-one website builder with an intuitive interface that allows you to do either.
Is Figma a web design tool?
Yes, Figma is one of the most popular professional web design software tools. It’s known for supporting real-time collaboration, which can be helpful for web designing with a larger team.
What should I look for in a web design tool?
Look for a web design tool that fits your budget and skill level. If you’re just starting out, you may want to use a no-code drag-and-drop website builder.
