Designing a website can be a daunting task, especially if you are starting from scratch. You can also choose a web design agency in Newcastle to create your website, but some of us love challenges. You may want to give it a try yourself.
But… where do you even begin?
And how do you turn that vision into reality once you have an idea of what you want your website to look like?
The good news is that there are plenty of helpful tools that can make the web designing process a whole lot easier (and less expensive).
So, in this blog post, we will share 10 of our favourite beginner-friendly free tools for web designing. Whether you are just beginning or a seasoned pro, we hope you find these tools helpful!
1. Canva
Canva is the most popular user-friendly graphic design tool we have today. It is perfect for creating professional designs for your website. Not only that, but Canva also publishes and hosts your website quick in an inexpensive way.
With over 1 million templates and tools available and varying levels of complexity, you can create pretty much anything you can imagine.
Plus, there is no need to be a graphic design expert in using Canva; the platform is designed for users of all skill levels.
Limitations:
- The free version has limited scope.
- Not the best at designing logos as it is not a vector-based program.
2. Adobe XD
Adobe is the preferred tool for many in the web design world. Adobe Photoshop, Adobe InDesign, and Adobe Illustrator hold the top three spots in terms of market share for graphics software. As a result, Adobe XD became the obvious choice for visual and online designers.
Even if you have never used an Adobe product before, Adobe XD is a top-notch web design tool that deserves a shot. The program’s repeat grids feature makes it simple to construct grids and add text, images, and other original content to them.
It’s also helpful for creating and testing various alternatives for UI element spacing.
Limitations:
- Although there is a library for extensions, it is less comprehensive than other competitors.
- Only a free trial
- Inability to collaborate in real-time
3. Sketch
If you are targeting mobile app design or interface design, Sketch is definitely worth checking out. It is excellent for crafting wireframes and high-fidelity prototypes and has become a popular tool among web and app designers in recent years. Its straightforward interface and great performance are primarily responsible for this popularity.
It includes a cutting-edge vector tool that facilitates the collaborative creation of interfaces and prototypes. Plus, there are tons of plugins and resources available to help extend its functionality.
Limitations:
- Only free trial.
- Weaker collaborative features.
- Only for macOS.
4. Illustrator
Another great Adobe program, Illustrator, is vector graphic software that can come in handy when creating detailed illustrations, logos, and typography for your website.
Limitation:
- Illustrator is not free but does offer a 7-day free trial period.
5. GIMP
GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) is often compared to Photoshop and can be
used for similar purposes, such as photo editing and graphic design. However, GIMP is open source and FREE to download and use—no subscription is required!
It is an excellent option for designers that need to create user interfaces or modify images but have a tight budget.
Limitations:
- Outdated interface.
- It lacks tools for wireframing and out-of-the-box prototyping and is primarily designed for photo editing.
6. Sublime Text
The next is Sublime Text, one of the most popular code editors among developers and designers due to its wide array of features and ease of use.
It enables you to retain all your HTML, CSS, and JavaScript code in a single file and colour-codifies various elements and properties for simpler viewing and editing. It will be simple to create a high-performing website if you combine Bootstrap with Sublime Text.
While it normally needs to be purchased, Sublime Text offers an unlimited evaluation period, so you can try it before buying!
Limitations:
- Coding knowledge is needed.
7. Visual Studio Code
You can use it to write and edit CSS and HTML code intuitively. Visual Studio Code provides access to a vast array of extensions that allow you to extend the tool’s functionality. It also enables extensive documentation for beginners.
Limitations:
- Coding knowing is necessary.
8. Figma
Figma allows multiple designers to work together in real-time and is best described as an interface design tool. It is, therefore, great if you incorporate various project stakeholders in the design process. As a web application, Figma does not require you to download any software to your computer.
It includes unlimited drafts, unlimited commentators, and unlimited editors in the free version. Thus, it is a terrific option for your team if you are all working on only one website because you can also have up to one team project.
However, the organisation tier offers you access to cutting-edge security and analytics, while the Professional one grants you limitless projects and history.
Limitation:
- It only takes into account historical modifications going back up to 30 days.
- Limited collaborative features
Conclusion
These are 8 free web design tools you can use. As you can see, all these are great tools available to help make web designing more uncomplicated, efficient, and affordable. However, you should consider your needs and the limitations of a particular tool and decide if it is the right choice.
And, if you are into web designing, remember that there is no shortage of tools whatsoever. You can keep going!
So whatever your needs may be, we hope that this list has given you some inspiration! If you are trying to build a website for your brand and feel lost often, we suggest you collaborate with a professional, such as Make My Website. Their web design agency in Perth is one of the best!
Have any other favourite tools that did not make our list? We’d sure want to hear about them in the comments below!
