Free and open first

Best Website Development tools in 2026

Website development tools let you create, manage, and publish sites using web, API, self-hosted, Linux, iOS, or Windows environments. This list is for people comparing ways to build a site on a budget.

30 apps
Research read 28 Sept 2026
How the order is worked out

1

WordPress
by WordPress
Free plan Open source AndroidAPIiPhone+2

WordPress offers a flexible publishing foundation with options for both nontechnical site builders and developers. The self-hosted plan is free, but requires hosting and a domain of your own.

8.5 Free plan Visit site
2

Drupal
by Drupal
Free plan APILinuxMac+3

Drupal CMS provides a ready-to-use starting point with content tools and room for extension.

7.6 Free plan Visit site
3

Framer
by Framer
Free plan AndroidiPhoneLinux+3

Framer combines visual site creation with CMS, collaboration, and managed hosting. The free plan uses a Framer domain, while custom domains require a paid plan; code export is not offered.

7.5 Free plan · paid from $10/mo (annual) Visit site
4

Grav
by Grav
Free plan APILinuxSelf-hosted+1

Grav offers a database-free CMS with content, editorial, and administrative tools, plus an API in Grav 2. Its free core is self-hosted, and the newer version has a PHP 8.3-or-later requirement.

7.5 Free plan Visit site
5

ExpressionEngine

Free plan APISelf-hostedWeb

ExpressionEngine offers flexible content management with front-end editing and multi-site support.

7.4 Free plan · paid from $39/yr Visit site
6

Contentful
by Contentful
Free plan Web

Choose Contentful if your team needs web-based content tools with localization, preview, webhooks, and asset transformations.

7.3 Free plan · paid from $300/mo Visit site
7

Dorik
by Dorik
Free plan APIWeb

Dorik combines AI-assisted site creation, a visual editor, CMS and SEO tools, with a free plan and paid annual tiers. Compare page and collaborator limits against the intended site and team size.

7.3 From $20.75/mo (annual) · 7-day trial Visit site
8

Joomla
by Joomla
Free plan APILinuxSelf-hosted+1

Joomla! offers a broad set of publishing and access-control features for many kinds of websites. Choose between installing the CMS and using its free hosted website option.

7.3 Free plan Visit site
9

Craft CMS

Free plan Web

Craft CMS provides structured, hybrid content management with multilingual publishing and editorial controls.

7.2 Free plan · paid from $279 Visit site
10

Directus

Free plan Web

7.2 Free plan · paid from $499/mo (annual) · 14-day trial Visit site
11

MODX
by MODX
Free plan APISelf-hostedWeb

MODX offers a flexible CMS and framework with both self-hosted and managed-hosting options.

7.2 Free plan · paid from $90/mo (annual) Visit site
12

HubSpot CMS Hub
by HubSpot CMS Hub
Free plan APIWeb

Content Hub combines website creation, content management, and marketing features with web and API access.

7.1 Free plan · paid from $20/user/mo · 14-day trial Visit site
13

Payload CMS
by Payload CMS
Free plan APISelf-hostedWeb

Choose Payload CMS if you want an open-source framework and backend with APIs, an admin panel, and self-hosting flexibility.

7.1 Open source Visit site
14

Silverstripe CMS
by Silverstripe CMS
Free plan APISelf-hostedWeb

Silverstripe CMS offers page editing, workflow controls, and extension options for teams building websites and applications.

7.1 Free plan Visit site
15

Webstudio

Free plan APILinuxMac+3

Webstudio combines visual control with API-driven content, multiple integrations, and export choices. Check static-export omissions and plan limits before selecting a deployment approach.

7.0 Free plan Visit site
16

Hygraph
by Hygraph
Free plan Web

Choose Hygraph if you want a web-based content platform with GraphQL, localization, and a free plan with stated limits.

6.9 Free plan · paid from $199/mo · 30-day trial Visit site
17

Jimdo
by Jimdo
Free plan Web

Jimdo combines website building with bookings, invoices, payments, and a basic shop in one web platform.

6.9 Free plan · paid from $9/mo Visit site
18

October CMS
by October CMS
Free plan Web

October CMS combines core content-management tools with self-hosted deployment and several license choices.

6.8 Free plan · paid from $39 Visit site
19

Sanity

Free plan Web

Sanity combines content authoring, APIs, collaboration, and automation in a web platform.

6.8 Free plan · paid from $15/user/mo Visit site
20

Tilda
by Tilda
Free plan APIWeb

Tilda pairs a block-and-template site builder with store, CRM, and AI tools. The free plan covers one site, while Business supports five and adds source-code export.

6.8 Free plan · paid from $10/mo (annual) · 14-day trial Visit site
21

Storyblok
by Storyblok
Free plan Web

Storyblok pairs visual content editing with localization, APIs, and integrations. Compare the listed traffic, request, seat, and locale allowances with your needs before selecting a plan.

6.7 Free plan · paid from $99/mo · 45-day trial Visit site
22

Strapi
by Strapi
Free plan Self-hosted

Choose Strapi if you want an open-source headless CMS with customizable APIs and the option to self-host or use Strapi Cloud.

6.7 Free plan · paid from $35/mo · 30-day trial Visit site
23

Webflow AI
by Webflow AI
Free plan APIWeb

Webflow AI combines prompt-based site creation with tools for content, optimization, and localization.

6.7 Free plan · paid from $15/mo (annual) Visit site
24

Svelte REPL

Free plan Web

Svelte REPL provides a free browser-based way to explore Svelte through examples.

6.6 Free plan Visit site
25

Umbraco CMS
by Umbraco CMS
Free plan Web

Choose Umbraco CMS if you need a web CMS with multilingual content, custom roles, editorial workflows and headless APIs.

6.6 Free plan · paid from €45/mo Visit site

#1Places #1, #2, #3, #4, #5 on this list can be bought by the makers of the software on it. See the price

Look for free plans, trials, or open-source code, and check the licence before modifying code. Evaluate starting prices, visual and custom-code editing, CMS and ecommerce capabilities, included hosting, deployment approach, and collaboration features.

Questions

Do website development tools offer free plans?

Check the pricing details for the tool you are considering to see whether it offers a free plan.

Can I try a tool before paying?

Check the trial terms and paid-from price for the tool you choose to see whether a free trial is available.

Are open-source website development tools included?

Check whether the tool provides open-source code, and review the licence before reading, changing, or redistributing code.

Which platforms do these tools run on?

The list covers tools for web, API, self-hosted, Linux, iOS, and Windows environments.

What features should I compare?

Assess free-plan availability, starting price, visual and custom-code editing, CMS, hosting, ecommerce, deployment approach, and team collaboration.

Questions

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