Best for Web Designers and Front-End Developers: Notepad ++
Small download and program size.
Loads fast and runs light.
Auto-completion for words and functions.
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Plug-in options to extend functionality.
May be less useful for languages like Java.
Notepad++ is a favorite free note-taking app and code editor.
It’s a more robust version of the Notepad software available in Windows by default.
These additions make it an ideal choice for web designers and front-end developers.
A fast and lightweight program.
Multiplatform support (Windows, Mac, and Linux).
Primarily a code editor without a WYSIWYG interface.
Lacks an easy FTP upload feature.
Bluefish is a full-featured HTML editor for various platforms, including Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Bluefish is primarily a code editor, not specifically a web editor.
This means it has flexibility for web developers who write in more than HTML.
Website server management is easy.
Good for HTML and CSS editing.
User-friendly and a good option for beginning designers.
Many features are only available with the paid version.
No WYSIWYG editor (unless you purchase).
Not the best editor for coding languages beyond web design.
The CoffeeCup HTML editor has a free version and a paid full version.
CoffeeCup also offers an upgrade calledResponsive Site Design 2that supports responsive web design.
This version can be added to a bundle with the full version of the editor.
Best if You Write Java and Web Pages: Apache NetBeans
Version control functionality.
Takes some time to learn.
Consumes a lot of system resources while running.
Can be slow to execute commands.
Apache NetBeans features a Java IDE to help you build robust web applications.
Once you get used to it, however, you’ll find it very useful.
The IDE’s version control and developer collaboration features are handy for people working in large development environments.
If you write Java and web pages, this is a great tool.
Best for Web system Development: Aptana Studio 3
Good for JavaScript.
Plug-ins expand supported languages.
Lack of major updates over the last few years.
Bulkier and sometimes slower than some other editors.
Aptana Studio 3 offers an interesting take on web page development.
Aptana Studio 3 may not be the best fit for simple web design needs.
But, if you’re looking more toward web software development, its toolset may be a great fit.
Supports a range of programming languages.
Nice, beginner-friendly design.
Premium features come with a high price tag.
Heavy program that consumes significant memory and processing power.
Bit of a learning curve for new users.
You may have used it previously, but Visual Studio Community is the software’s latest version.
Microsoft offers a free download and paid versions (including free trials) for Professional and Enterprise users.
Microsoft Visual Studio Codeis a free coding-only app that’s part of the Visual Studio suite but stands alone.
It’s an excellent standalone code editor for dozens of coding and scripting languages.
Best for Creating Complex Web Applications: Eclipse
Plug-in design makes adding new languages simple.
Open source with a large community that makes problem-solving easier.
Not as light as other editors.
Consumes considerable system resources, especially on large projects.
If you create complex web applications, Eclipse has many features to make your project easier to build.
It offers Java, JavaScript, and PHP plug-ins and a plug-in for mobile developers.
Available for Windows, Mac, and Linux.
Excellent for XML editing.
Not the best editor for beginners.
There are two versions of Komodo: Komodo Edit andKomodo IDE.
Edit is open source and free to download.
It’s a trimmed-down version of IDE.
Komodo Edit includes many great features for HTML and CSS development.
Komodo doesn’t shine as the best HTML editor.
Still, it’s great for the price, especially if you build inXML, where it truly excels.
