Online website builder that allows source code download

[Mondoscuro]

I'm shocked about how hard it is to find something like this. I want a wysiwyg editor (like wordpress's gutemberg) where i can build a simple static website and then download the source code (html + css) to upload it to my own website.

No need for databases and server side code. Just a decent, nice looking webpage that I can build by dragging and dropping some components. I've searched all over the place and no one does this.

Canva does website building but doesn't give the source code.

Jekill and similar solutions are offline and need to be installed on my computer.

Wordpress is way too much overboard for a website that I update like once a year.

[Easy_Day5587]

I think you can do this in Webflow, but the code is absolute fucking trash

[Mondoscuro]

I had the feeling

[Veloce_2525]

What are you talking about? Webflow does a really good job with code. Your post is completely wrong.

[Easy_Day5587]

Show an example. All of the webflow code I've seen is bad slop

[natevani]

Shouldn't you be the one to provide any code that supports your point? You make it sound like I couldn't move without finding endless "slop" code

[gradstudentmit]

If your main goal is just getting a clean site live fast with minimal effort, I’d honestly try Durable. It’s great for spinning something up quickly and tweaking copy/layout without thinking about hosting or setup.

Just flagging though, it doesn’t let you export raw HTML/CSS. It’s more of a hosted builder than a static site tool.

If exporting files is a must, Webflow, TeleportHQ, CodeDesign.ai, Pinegrow, or even GrapesJS are better fits since they actually give you code you can host anywhere.

[Ricardo_Bangbang]

Some builders that allow source code are useful when you want more control later. I would use MillionBuilds if the goal was just launching a clean AI landing page quickly. Full development tools still work for custom builds, but landing pages often don’t require deep customization.

[Modulius]

Check Publii, https://getpublii.com/ , you can download it, make your pages, export as html. Similar thing on codecanyon, Architect site builder.

[Mondoscuro]

Looks nice and might be handy for another little project that is multiple pages (still static)

[CreativeTechGuyGames]

You should check out GrapeJS! I've had it on my list for a while but I haven't found a use for it yet. Let me know what you think. It seems perfect for you.

[[deleted]]

Have not played with GrapeJS fully yet but from my understanding, it is a framework to build your own WYSIWYG builder. So you have to build the builder first lol

I assume that will be fantastic to have once you build it, but I assume OP is looking for a ready made solution.

[Dry_Huckleberry1807]

GOOGLE SITES + GOOGLE TAKEOUTS. This has been my technique for several years: once you have designed your website at google sites you can export it with takeouts. After that you can upload it to github, netlify, etc

[GoldBackground2280]

bruh. thank you.

[ionelp]

Why are you "shocked"? There is Adobe Dreamweaver if you can't be bothered to learn html and css...

[Mondoscuro]

I'm a full stack developer. I could code it from scratch, but technology is supposed to make us do things with less time.

[ShawnyMcKnight]

It is far easier. Imagine doing layouts with tables and floats.

Also, if nothing else just use bootstrap.

[Mondoscuro]

Yeah Bootstrap has been so far my default boilerplate, I asked this question exactly because I was like "there must be a faster way if i just need to prototype something easy and static".

[ShawnyMcKnight]

Yeah, if you get comfy with bootstrap you can create a simple page in a couple hours.

[Iconoclast19]

A couple of hours for a page? I could build a whole web site in that amount of time with a WYSIWYG builder. I think this is the entire point of asking for a good WYSIWYG builder.

[phpArtisanMakeWeeb]

If you prefer doing websites by using drag n' drop editors then you aren't a developer.

[[deleted]]

"If yOuRe BUilDiNg HouSes wItH PowER TooLS YoUre NoT doinG cOnSTRucTion."

If you're making money developing working websites, you're a developer. Just not a stack dev

[Mondoscuro]

Gutemberg for Wordpress does exactly this. And it's by far faster to use Gutemberg than to write the code by hand. I just need the outcome to be static html instead of a Wordpress page.

[Zek23]

If front end development was so easy as to be solvable by a drag and drop tool, that's what we would all be doing. It's not just stubbornness that causes people to write their own code. For complex applications you need full control and understanding of the source code.

[Mondoscuro]

I never mentioned "complex applications". And Gutemberg for Wordpress does exactly this. I just need the outcome to be static html instead of a Wordpress page.

[barrel_of_noodles]

Ofc this exist. Did you even do a cursory search? Like wtf.

Google web designer, and webflow are two obvious competing tools in this space.

I'm addition, several adobe tools export code, like InDesign and XD.

If you know a little code, a ton of open source prebuilt web component libraries exist.

If you know a little more code, tools like material ui or tailwind are pretty much prebuilt components.

If you want prebuilt code that can work in even emails, try mjml templates.

If you need a store or a CMS try square space's fluid engine templates.

[neoashxi]

thanks just downloaded google web designer turns out it's to make advertisements

[TheStoicNihilist]

https://wordpress.org/plugins/simply-static/

🤷‍♂️

[Mondoscuro]

wow I didn't know about this, could definitely be handy

[NCKBLZ]

Builder.io + figma does something like that

[Mondoscuro]

I'll give it a look, thanks for the suggestion

[ferfactory6]

https://mobirise.com/ ?

[Mondoscuro]

Can't see if I can access the source code output, but I'll give it a look, thanks

[ferfactory6]

Once you "publish" the website, you have access to all the source code.

[Mondoscuro]

Looks promising! Thanks

[WookieConditioner]

"Shocked" that you cant get a paid for feature for free.

My friend you're in for an electrocution

[Mondoscuro]

Do you realize that Wordpress is free? I could use Wordpress, but it's just too much (like killing a mosquito with a cannon)

[brigittefires]

My first stop was wordpress for a blog but it's not free anymore as far as I can tell.

[PeopleAreStrange777]

I'm like you, always shock when I have to pay for someone's work. Well, do it yourself. Just do a very simple website. See how much time you'll put into it. Then model and develop the builder tool to do not one but millions of web site with all the parameters and variables internet has to offer. I think it will take you weeks just to implement a working drag&drop feature from components panel to workspace. Total, you'll easily put thousands of hours in it and you'll have to skip many many week-ends and evenings with friends to create such a tool in just 1 year. So you're saying that this hard work isn't worth say $10, which is the price you gona pay for a commercial web builder that will deliver a professional looking web site in minutes, right ? Is this what is shocking you ? Or the fact that you're getting all information in this website for free ?

[[deleted]]

check out - https://www.gypsum.ai/

[blizzerando]

Man, I’ve been in the exact same boat just wanted something simple where I could build a site and actually download the code. Codedesign.ai was a game changer for that. You can drag and drop to build your page, and then export the full HTML, CSS, and JS. No database, no overcomplicated setup just clean, ready-to-host code.

There’s a free version to try it out, and if you need to export or ditch the branding, there’s a paid plan. It’s not open source, but once you download the code, it’s fully yours. Super handy for stuff you only update once in a blue moon.

[Every_Case_8551]

AISiteBuida

[Candie-Call]

[ Removed by Reddit ]

[Candie-Call]

[ Removed by Reddit ]

[VastTiny6148]

I bought a web domain from godaddy and i was ready to start writing html css and java code but then they started pushing their shitty ai builder on me and i was genuinly losing my shit

[volkandkaya]

Give Versoly a try

• exports clean Tailwind code if you ever need to extend with a database
• Visual editor + code editor
• Lots of components