HTML Editors

You don't need to spend lots of money on a HTML editor. You can find a range of free editors in the lists below.


HTML editors basically come in two main flavors: Text editors and WYSIWYG editors.


Text editors allow you to write the HTML code from scratch. Some have some built in functions that allow you place tags by choosing them in a menu or a pallette. If you are serious about learning HTML, you should start with a text editor. The repetition of inputting various tags is the best way to learn HTML. You will also learn how very small additions or omissions to the page can make a big difference on how the final page looks. Many web authors also like text editors, because they feel it allows better control over the code than what WYSIWYG editors allow.

WYSIWYG editors are great time savers. You mainly work by placing text and objects on a layout interface and the program writes all the HTML for you. These can be great tools if you are producing a large site or if you just want to make a site without learning HTML first. Many WYSIWYG editors are very expensive, some costing several hundred pounds.
Fortunately many of them offer 30 day free trials. You may want to try out some of the trial versions, before you decide which to buy. Some of them are rather complicated and take time to learn.

Hint:
If you download the ones which cost money use the free trials, try one at a time, so you have the time to really try out each one before your 30 days runs outs.

HTML Editors - non windows

• BBEdit (Text Editor)(Mac)There is a free lite version and a commercial version. The commercial version has a trial version, but it does not allow you to save your work. There are also free HTML extensions (which are a seperate download), which are a great time saver. For example, you can choose a HTML template and have a barebones page to begin with.
  
  
• Claris Homepage (WYSIWYG)(Mac,Windows) There is a fully functional 30 day free trial version. This is also one of the least expensive WYSIWYG programs
  
  
• GoLive Cyberstudio (WYSIWYG)(Mac) There is a fully functional 30 day free trial version. This is one of the more expensive programs, but also is packed with features. It is especially useful for creating large sites.
  
  
• HTML-Ed(Text Editor)(OS/2) This is a shareware program. It is basicly an editor with hot buttons which insert HTML tags for you.
  
  
• HTML PowerTools (Windows) This is a suite of tools to be used along with a text editor. Lots of features including spell checking, search and replace functions and much more. Thirty day fully functional trial version available.
  
  
• HTML Writer (editor)(Windows) Shareware program. Only $10 US and very small 262K.
  
  
• Net Objects Fusion (WYSIWYG)(Mac,Windows) This also one of the more expensive programs. One of it's best features is that if you change an image, for example a company logo, it will automatically update all pages on the site to the new image. Another useful program for creating, maintaining large sites. There is also a 30 day fully functional free trial version.
  
  
• W3 Magic(Unix) Allows you to add tags to HTML documents which can be used for creating Information Management Systems, such as shopping carts, databases, images that change which each download and more. Free beta available.