April 23, 2024

Best HTML and CSS IDEs and Code Editors

Are you looking for the best free HTML and CSS IDE to boost your web development journey? Then you are in the right place.

Choosing which IDE is best for HTML and CSS may require some background research. In this blog, discover the best HTML and CSS IDE for Windows, and best HTML and CSS IDE for Mac.

11 Best HTML & CSS IDEs and Code Editors – Overview

Here’s an overview of the 11 best HTML and CSS IDEs and Code Editors:

S.No.	IDE Name	License Type	Platform Compatibility	Version Control Integration	Download Link
1	Visual Studio Code	Free	Windows, macOS, Linux	Yes	Download
2	Notepad++	Free	Windows	No	Download
3	Komodo Edit	Free	Windows, macOS, Linux	Yes	Download
4	Brackets	Free	Windows, macOS, Linux	Yes	Download
5	Sublime Text	Paid	Windows, macOS, Linux	Yes	Download
6	Adobe Dreamweaver	Paid	Windows, macOS	Yes	Download
7	Atom	Free	Windows, macOS, Linux	Yes	Download
8	PyCharm	Free/Paid	Windows, macOS, Linux	Yes	Download
9	PHPStorm	Paid	Windows, macOS, Linux	Yes	Download
10	CoffeeCup HTML Editor	Paid	Windows	No	Download
11	Aptana Studio	Free/Open-Source	Windows, macOS, Linux	Yes	Download

Top 11 HTML and CSS IDEs for Developers

Below are the best IDEs for HTML and CSS for developers:

1. Visual Studio Code

Visual Studio Code is the best IDE for HTML and CSS. It is a versatile code editor that supports development in a wide range of programming languages.

It offers students powerful features like debugging, task running, and version control, making it ideal for academic and personal programming projects.

License Type: Free/Open-Source

Supported Programming Languages:

JavaScript
TypeScript
Python
PHP
C++
C#
Java
Go
Ruby

Platform Compatibility:

Windows
macOS
Linux

User Interface and Experience:

Clean, user-friendly interface
Highly responsive with minimal lag

Customization Options:

Themes to alter appearance
Extensions for added functionality
Configurable settings for personalized workflows

Syntax Highlighting and Visualization:

Clear and customizable syntax highlighting
Real-time syntax error detection and fixes
Visual differentiation of code and comments

Code Autocompletion: Yes

Integrated Debugging Tools:

Built-in debugger to diagnose and solve issues directly
Breakpoints and call stack visualization
Console integration for real-time output and error logs

Version Control Integration: Yes

Community and Support:

Extensive documentation and tutorials
Active community forums and regular updates

Download Now

2. Notepad ++

Notepad++ is a lightweight, yet powerful source code editor that supports multiple programming languages.

It is especially beneficial to students for its simplicity, efficiency, and ability to handle large texts and documents quickly.

License Type: Free/Open-Source

Supported Programming Languages:

C
C++
Java
XML
HTML
PHP
JavaScript

Platform Compatibility:

Windows

User Interface and Experience:

Simple, tabbed interface for easy navigation between files
Minimalistic design focused on functionality

Customization Options:

User-defined syntax highlighting and folding
Plugin architecture to extend capabilities
Customizable GUI

Syntax Highlighting and Visualization:

Extensive syntax highlighting for numerous languages
Customizable themes and styles
Line numbering and code folding for easy reading

Code Autocompletion: Yes

Integrated Debugging Tools:

Basic debugging through plugins
Error highlighting and line marking
Integration with external tools for advanced debugging

Version Control Integration: No

Community and Support:

Large user community with a wealth of plugins
Active forum for troubleshooting and support

Download Now

3. Komodo Edit

Komodo Edit is a free, open-source code editor that provides robust support for a broad array of programming languages and frameworks.

It offers students a feature-rich platform that aids in coding, editing, and debugging, ideal for both classroom learning and personal projects.

License Type: Free/Open-Source

Supported Programming Languages:

Python
Perl
PHP
Ruby
Tcl
SQL
Smarty
CSS
HTML
JavaScript

Platform Compatibility:

Windows
macOS
Linux

User Interface and Experience:

Streamlined interface that balances simplicity with functionality
Multi-window editing and tabbed documents for efficient workspace management

Customization Options:

Extensive editor customization via preferences
Key bindings and macros for personalized workflows
Support for themes and skinning

Syntax Highlighting and Visualization:

Auto-detects languages for immediate syntax highlighting
Offers multiple color schemes
Features like code folding and visual guides

Code Autocompletion: Yes

Integrated Debugging Tools:

Syntax checking and immediate error highlighting
Supports addons for enhanced debugging capabilities
Tools for regular expression testing and inspection

Version Control Integration: Yes

Community and Support:

Access to a wide range of tutorials and resources
Support through community forums and extensive documentation

Download Now

4. Brackets

Brackets is an open-source code editor developed specifically for web designers and front-end developers.

It emphasizes visual tools and preprocessor support to enhance efficiency in designing and coding websites, making it particularly suitable for students focusing on HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

License Type: Free/Open-Source

Supported Programming Languages:

HTML
CSS
JavaScript

Platform Compatibility:

Windows
macOS
Linux

User Interface and Experience:

Clean, modern interface that’s easy to navigate
Live Preview feature for real-time coding and viewing results

Customization Options:

Themes to customize the interface
Extensions for adding new functionalities
Customizable workspace to suit individual preferences

Syntax Highlighting and Visualization:

Automatic syntax highlighting for clearer code reading
Visual aids like line numbers and matching tags
Code folding for managing large blocks of code

Code Autocompletion: Yes

Integrated Debugging Tools:

Inline Editors for quick editing and troubleshooting
Live Preview to instantly see and debug changes
Problem detection with Linting tools

Version Control Integration: Yes

Community and Support:

Active and supportive community
Regular updates and a variety of extensions are available

Download Now

5. Sublime Text

Sublime Text is a highly efficient and versatile code editor known for its speed, ease of use, and powerful features.

It supports a wide range of programming and markup languages, making it an excellent choice for students who need a reliable tool for code editing across various projects.

License Type: Paid

Supported Programming Languages:

Python
JavaScript
HTML
CSS
PHP
Java
C
C++
Ruby

Platform Compatibility:

Windows
macOS
Linux

User Interface and Experience:

Sleek, minimalistic interface that maximizes workspace
Highly responsive and optimized for quick navigation

Customization Options:

Extensive customization through JSON settings
Wide range of themes and color schemes
Plugins and packages for enhanced functionality

Syntax Highlighting and Visualization:

Robust syntax highlighting adaptable to numerous languages
Distinctive visual style with customizable themes
Code folding and minimap for easy code overview

Code Autocompletion: Yes

Integrated Debugging Tools:

Goto Anything feature for quick navigation and error tracing
Integrated build systems for debugging within the editor
Plugins available for extended debugging capabilities

Version Control Integration: Yes

Community and Support:

Active user community and forums
Extensive documentation and tutorial resources

Download Now

6. Adobe Dreamweaver

Adobe Dreamweaver is a comprehensive web design and development application that offers a visual interface along with a source code editor.

It is designed to provide students with a full suite of tools for creating, managing, and publishing websites and web applications.

License Type: Paid

Supported Programming Languages:

HTML
CSS
JavaScript
PHP

Platform Compatibility:

Windows
macOS

User Interface and Experience:

Dual interface options: code editor and visual design surface
Real-time design and code view updates

Customization Options:

Customizable workspace layouts
Extensive options for CSS and HTML previews
Integrated with Adobe Creative Cloud for streamlined workflows

Syntax Highlighting and Visualization:

Code coloring and style updates for easy navigation
Interactive code hints for CSS and other web languages
Layout visualizations with Grid display

Code Autocompletion: Yes

Integrated Debugging Tools:

Live browser preview with real-time editing
Syntax checking and code validation tools
Direct integration with Adobe BrowserLab for cross-browser testing

Version Control Integration: Yes, through Git support

Community and Support:

Professional support available from Adobe
Wide range of learning materials including tutorials and community forums

Download Now

7. Atom

Atom is an open-source text editor designed for ease of use and customization, developed by GitHub.

It offers students a flexible and customizable development environment with powerful coding tools, making it perfect for software development and collaborative projects.

License Type: Free/Open-Source

Supported Programming Languages:

JavaScript
Python
HTML
CSS
PHP
Ruby
C and C++
and more

Platform Compatibility:

Windows
macOS
Linux

User Interface and Experience:

Modern, user-friendly interface
Supports split editing and multiple panes

Customization Options:

Highly customizable themes and appearance
Installable packages to extend functionality
Editable configuration files for personal tweaks

Syntax Highlighting and Visualization:

Automatic syntax highlighting for various languages
Allows for custom syntax themes
Code folding and indentation guides

Code Autocompletion: Yes

Integrated Debugging Tools:

Inline error detection and corrections
Integration with build and scripting tools
Plugin support for additional debugging functionalities

Version Control Integration: Yes

Community and Support:

Large and active community
Extensive plugin library supported by GitHub

Download Now

8. PyCharm

PyCharm is a sophisticated Integrated Development Environment (IDE) specifically designed for Python programming.

It offers a comprehensive set of tools for professional developers and students alike, including smart code navigation, advanced debugging, and integrated testing.

License Type: Free/Open-Source (Community Edition), Paid (Professional Edition)

Supported Programming Languages:

Python
JavaScript (Professional Edition)
HTML/CSS (Professional Edition)
SQL (Professional Edition)

Platform Compatibility:

Windows
macOS
Linux

User Interface and Experience:

Intuitive, well-organized interface suitable
Customizable UI with themes and view modes

Customization Options:

Extensible via plugins to increase functionality
Configurable code style, inspections, and project settings
Supports custom project templates for rapid development

Syntax Highlighting and Visualization:

Advanced syntax highlighting optimized for Python and other supported languages
Code folding, hierarchical view of your project files
Integrated visual debugger and SQL editor (Professional Edition)

Code Autocompletion: Yes

Integrated Debugging Tools:

Powerful debugger with graphical UI for Python code
Line-by-line code analysis with quick-fix suggestions
Remote debugging capabilities supporting different frameworks

Version Control Integration: Yes

Community and Support:

Extensive documentation and educational resources
Active community forum and professional support from JetBrains

Download Now

9. PHPStorm

PHPStorm is a commercial Integrated Development Environment (IDE) tailored specifically for PHP and related web technologies.

It provides a comprehensive development environment that offers deep code understanding, top-notch coding assistance, and support for all major PHP tools and front-end technologies.

License Type: Paid

Supported Programming Languages:

PHP
JavaScript
HTML
CSS
SQL

Platform Compatibility:

Windows
macOS
Linux

User Interface and Experience:

Clean, intuitive interface designed for productivity
Customizable UI with adjustable themes and layouts

Customization Options:

Extensive plugin ecosystem to extend functionality
Configurable coding styles and formats
Customizable shortcuts and settings

Syntax Highlighting and Visualization:

Intelligent PHP code editor with advanced automatic refactoring
Real-time error prevention with immediate feedback
Dynamic live templates and code snippets

Code Autocompletion: Yes

Integrated Debugging Tools:

Advanced PHP debugger for seamless error tracking
Integration with Xdebug and Zend Debugger
Browser debugging capabilities

Version Control Integration: Yes

Community and Support:

Extensive online documentation and learning resources
Active community forum and professional support options from JetBrains

Download Now

10. CoffeeCup HTML Editor

CoffeeCup HTML Editor is a dedicated web design tool that focuses on HTML, CSS, and JavaScript editing.

It provides students and novice developers with a user-friendly interface and a suite of features such as live preview, comprehensive code completion, and built-in validation tools.

License Type: Paid

Supported Programming Languages:

HTML
CSS
JavaScript

Platform Compatibility:

Windows

User Interface and Experience:

Simple, intuitive interface ideal for beginners and intermediate users
Dual-pane view for simultaneous code editing and live preview

Customization Options:

Customizable themes and workspace layouts
Extensive snippet library for quick code insertion
Easy integration of third-party templates and widgets

Syntax Highlighting and Visualization:

Clear syntax highlighting for HTML, CSS, and JavaScript
Tag matching and auto-indentation for readable code structure
Real-time syntax and error-checking

Code Autocompletion: Yes

Integrated Debugging Tools:

Built-in validation tools to ensure code correctness
Preview mode to test web pages in real-time
Quick access toolbar for common tasks and debugging

Version Control Integration: No

Community and Support:

Active user forums for peer support
Detailed help files and responsive customer service

Download Now

11. Aptana Studio

Aptana Studio is a powerful, open-source IDE designed for web development. It supports HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, along with a range of web development frameworks.

It provides a comprehensive set of tools for coding, previewing, and debugging web projects.

License Type: Free/Open-Source

Supported Programming Languages:

HTML
CSS
JavaScript
PHP
Ruby on Rails

Platform Compatibility:

Windows
macOS
Linux

User Interface and Experience:

Modern, customizable UI tailored for web development
Split view to code and preview simultaneously
Integrated terminal for managing tasks

Customization Options:

Highly customizable with various themes and plugin support
Extensive configuration options for workflows and preferences

Syntax Highlighting and Visualization:

Advanced syntax highlighting for HTML, CSS, and JavaScript
Code outlining, smart indentation, and auto-closing of tags

Code Autocompletion: Yes

Integrated Debugging Tools:

Integrated debugger for JavaScript and server-side languages
Breakpoints, call stack, and live browser preview for error diagnosis

Version Control Integration: Yes, supports Git

Community and Support:

Active community and plugin ecosystem
Comprehensive documentation and forums for troubleshooting

Download Now

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are some of the best free HTML and CSS IDEs and code editors available?

Some of the best free HTML and CSS IDEs and code editors are:

Microsoft Visual Studio Code
Atom
Brackets
Sublime Text

2. What is the key difference between HTML & CSS IDE and Code Editor?

The key difference between an HTML & CSS IDE and a Code Editor is that IDEs provide integrated development environments with tools for debugging, testing, and project management, whereas code editors offer a simpler, more lightweight interface for writing and editing code.

3. What are the key features to look for in the best HTML and CSS IDEs and code editors?

Key features to look for in the best HTML and CSS IDEs and code editors include syntax highlighting, auto-completion, ease of use, support for multiple frameworks and languages, integrated debugging tools, and customization options.

4. Can you recommend HTML and CSS IDEs that are best for beginners?

HTML and CSS IDEs that are best for beginners are Adobe Dreamweaver, Microsoft Visual Studio Code, and Atom.

5. Which HTML and CSS IDEs have strong community support and reliable customer service?

HTML and CSS IDEs with strong community support and reliable customer service include Microsoft Visual Studio Code and Adobe Dreamweaver.

6. What tools are available in HTML and CSS IDEs for debugging code?

Tools available in HTML and CSS IDEs for debugging code are real-time preview, error highlighting, console integration, and network inspection, which help developers identify and fix issues efficiently.

7. What HTML and CSS IDEs have the best integration with version control systems like Git?

HTML and CSS IDEs with the best integration with version control systems like Git include Microsoft Visual Studio Code and IntelliJ IDEA, both of which provide built-in Git support for easier versioning and collaboration.

Wrapping Up

Choosing the right HTML and CSS IDE or code editor is key to working more efficiently in web development.

If you are a student or beginner you can select the best free HTML and CSS IDE from the above-discussed tools.

Explore More HTML & CSS Resources

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Thirumoorthy

Thirumoorthy serves as a teacher and coach. He obtained a 99 percentile on the CAT. He cleared numerous IT jobs and public sector job interviews, but he still decided to pursue a career in education. He desires to elevate the underprivileged sections of society through education