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Web Design Software: Ratings of Sources
Total of 17 Sources

For an explanation of how we rank reviews, see our ratings criteria page.

1. PCMag.com
As of Sept. 2008
Web Publishing
by Editors of PC Magazine
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentPC Magazine reports on web design software in detailed single-product reports and occasional multi-product roundups. Microsoft Expression Web is the current Editors' Choice -- for ease of use, accurate WYSIWYG editing and overall elegance -- but that may change after the public version of Dreamweaver CS4 becomes available. Both programs earn praise here, but the reviews also note drawbacks for each. For blog software, editors recommend WordPress.com as much better for beginners than the free version at WordPress.org, but Six Apart Vox earns the Editors' Choice award.
2. WPDFD.com Web Page Design for Designers
Apr. 2008
Tomorrow's Web Design: Popular Design Software Challenge
by David Rodriguez
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentThis head-on comparison among four website design software programs takes one site done in HTML and tries to recreate it using only the WYSIWYG features in each product. Dreamweaver CS3 proves hardest to use for anyone not already familiar with CSS and HTML. FrontPage 2003 is included since it's still available, but it proves the least usable of the four.
3. PCPro.co.uk
May 2008
Microsoft Expression Web 2 Review
by Tom Arah
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentThis British site reviews both Dreamweaver CS3 and Microsoft Expression Web 2 in separate detailed reviews but provides numeric ratings on a six-point scale. Version 2 of Expression Web earns praise for its integration of Flash and Photoshop, but Dreamweaver CS3 maintains its edge except for those devoted to other Microsoft programs. Among its advantages, Dreamweaver has broader Ajax implementation.
4. PC World (Australia)
As of Sept. 2008
Web Design Suites
by Editors of PC World (Australia)
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentThe detailed single-product reviews at this Australian site include the latest version of Microsoft Expression Web. A March 2007 review here by Dennis O'Reilly covers Dreamweaver CS3, giving it a slightly higher rating (because of its integration with Photoshop) than the earlier version of Expression Web that lacked this -- though O'Reilly calls even that "a giant step up" from FrontPage. (He notes that experienced FrontPage users will need to "set aside a day or two to get up to speed.") Unfortunately Dreamweaver CS4 beta hasn't been reviewed here.
5. Smart Computing
May 2007
Software Head-To-Head: Code & Art Combined -- Web Design Tools
by David Garrett
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentEven though this review doesn't cover the latest version of Expression Web, we give it a good ranking because it compares five web publishing programs from the point of view of a relative novice. For beginners, TypePad earns the Smart Choice award -- for websites as well as blogs -- but incurs a monthly fee. For regular software with a one-time charge, the top rating goes to CoffeeCup Visual Site Designer.
6. Macworld
As of Sept. 2008
Web Publishing Software Reviews
by Editors of Macworld
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentMacworld publishes separate reviews of web publishing software, rating each on a five-point scale. Editors recommend RapidWeaver 4.0 rather than iWeb ‘08 for users who find Dreamweaver intimidating or overkill. For professional use, editors recommend Dreamweaver CS3 -- or CS4 as soon as it's released. The CS4 beta gets a detailed review here.
7. MerificamPress.com
May 2008
5 Free HTML Editors that Get the Job Done
by Matthew Griffin
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentThough this site is aimed at professional web designers, this review compares five free web design tools. The winner is a 2006 update to the award-winning First Page. The review gives several paragraphs of details about each software program, including pros and cons. NoteTab gets quite a few loyal comments from readers, but ranks in the middle of the pack here.
8. ITReviews.co.uk
As of Sept. 2008
Internet Software Reviews
by Editors of ITReviews.co.uk
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentThe long list of software reviews at this U.K. site includes many of the major programs, though not necessarily in their latest incarnations. It also includes quite a few less well-known titles that cost less and may be easier to learn to use. A strong point of this site is that it includes so many recent reviews. Another is that it also includes reviews of software to jazz up a social networking page. Unfortunately Expression Web 2 isn't covered; nor is there any preview of Dreamweaver CS4.
9. TUAW.com
May 2008
TUAW Review: Dreamweaver CS4 beta
by Robert Palmer
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentThis Apple-centric website delves into the Dreamweaver CS4 beta version, with an emphasis on its new features and whether they are worth making the upgrade for users of earlier versions. The author enthusiastically recommends Dreamweaver for anyone who doesn't want to hand-code.
10. All Things Web 2.0 (blog)
Aug. 2007
Google Blogger vs. WordPress, Blog Wars Part 2: The Results
by Susan M. Mellott
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentThis reviewer tests Blogger and both the free and paid versions of WordPress, recommending Blogger as the best solution for inexperienced users. The free version of WordPress is better for bloggers with a lot of technical experience. The review gives plenty of details and useful links. Part 3 reviews less popular free blog software, including Vox, LiveJournal and InstantSpot.
11. About.com
Not Dated
Offline Blog Editors
by Susan Gunelius
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentThe blog guide at About.com recommends using an offline blog editor to write and edit your entries rather than relying on an Internet connection for the whole task. Several blog software tools are reviewed here, with the most praise for Windows Live Writer. For Macs, a separate review by Rebecca Freed recommends ecto. (Note that ConsumerSearch and About.com share the same parent company but are not editorially affiliated.)
12. About.com
Not Dated
Free Web Editors for Macintosh
by Jennifer Kyrnin
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentThis review lists ten web design software titles for use on a Mac, but doesn't rate, rank or even test all of them. If you're looking for free web design software for a Mac, however, this is a good starting point. Each title does get brief comments. (Note that ConsumerSearch and About.com share the same parent company but are not editorially affiliated.)
13. CNET
As of Sept. 2008
Software Reviews
by Editors of CNet.com
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentCNet doesn't have a category for web design software so you have to search for each title separately. Dreamweaver CS3 and Microsoft Expression Web 1 get the same ratings here -- 3.5 out of a possible five stars -- with warnings that neither one is at all easy for a beginner to learn. FrontPage users express disappointment that Expression Web is so different. Unfortunately neither Dreamweaver CS4 beta nor Expression Web 2 are reviewed here at the time of our report.
14. TopTenReviews.com
As of Sept. 2008
Website Creation Software
by Editors of TopTenReviews.com
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentThis chart compares ten web design software programs that are relatively easy to use, with the top three clearly identified. Each program also gets a brief individual review, but the reviews seem inconsistent. For example, the review of second-ranked Web Plus says it has fewer features than the top-rated Web Easy Professional, but the features chart contradicts this.
15. Amazon.com
As of Sept. 2008
Web Page Editors
by Contributors to Amazon.com
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentWeb retailer Amazon.com sells tons of web design software suites and programs, though many are older versions of current products. Users have the opportunity to weigh in on every program offered, but while older programs attract a fair amount of feedback, newer ones typically attract only a few ratings, or less.
16. Softpedia.com
As of Sept. 2008
HTML Editors
by Editors and Contributors to Softpedia.com
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentEditors review web design software here that comes in trial versions for download, and the site also publishes users' ratings. We'd rank this site higher if there were more distinction among versions. Instead, an updated version automatically gets the same status as an earlier one.
17. Media Designer
May 2006
Microsoft's Expression Web Designer vs. Adobe's Dreamweaver
by Matthew David
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentWe'd rank this detailed comparison review higher if it were more current. A newer version of Expression Web changes the picture presented here.
     
 

This is our assessment of the review’s relevance, clarity of testing and thoroughness.

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