In today’s fast-paced world where new web applications appear every second, web development is practically impossible without web development tools. As a web developer, you must be familiar with and have access to the best web development tools on the market in order to provide your customers with exceptional online experiences. However, as hundreds of new tools are created every day, it can be difficult to determine which are the best in terms of price and features. Therefore, we’ve compiled a list of 31 web development tools that every web developer in 2023 should be aware of.
What are Web Development Tools?
Web development tools are programs that help you build custom software and test and fix bugs in your code. Although they do not aid in the development of an entire website, they can be used to check the security and aesthetics of a website and to create custom website elements. Web development tools generally come as browser add-ons and built-in features.
Why Use Web Development Tools?
Web development is a laborious process. It entails many steps, such as selecting the appropriate framework, programming language, host and server, and so on. Web development tools make the web development process a lot easier. They are designed to streamline the web development process, allowing the developer to save time and work more efficiently. But, please don’t confuse a web development tool with a website builder.
Front-end Development Tools vs Back-end Development Tools
Before we dive deep into the various tools, it is essential for you to understand the basic difference between front-end and back-end development tools.
Simply put, front-end development tools refer to tools that help in creating the interface and the functions that the customer or user sees and engages with. You can add animations, fancy buttons, 3d elements and reusable components with the help of front-end development tools.
On the other hand, back-end development tools make it easier for you to create a server and handle user data and authentication. It deals with the security of your website and simplifies the process of developing your website’s unique logic that should be kept private from the world.
But, some web development tools especially integrated development environments (IDEs) like Visual Studio Code and Sublime text can be used in both cases.
Factors to Consider Before Choosing Web Development Tools
Choosing a web development tool can be confusing with so many different options on the market. Nonetheless, here are some factors that can help you decide which one to choose for your next web development project.
Security features – Compromising security is the biggest risk you can take. Tools with built-in security features like web application firewalls can significantly prevent cyber threats. Make sure the tools encrypt sensitive user data, update the software, use client and user-side validation, for enhanced security.
Compare the Cost – Compare costs and find the best one you can afford. Some web development tools are free, while some others come with monthly or yearly subscriptions. There are also tools that you can access for free first but you’ll have to pay later to get more features.
Check for compatibility – You should check whether or not the tool is compatible with your device and operating software. As these tools bring in new features and functionalities with every update, your system must be compatible to accommodate all the changes.
Flexibility and scalability – The tool you use should be able to adapt to the growth of your project and be customizable. It should be able to handle an increase in the number of users without disrupting the process. If it’s not scalable, the tool will slow down and fail to perform.
Programming language – It is advisable to pick a web development tool that supports the language of your choice. Some of the best languages that could be used for web development in 2023 include Java, Python, Javascript, HTML, C++, SQL, Ruby Rails, Angular, etc.
Ease of use – Web development can be a complex and time-consuming process. Therefore, look for tools that are user-friendly. Mobile accessibility, automation, multiple selection, cross-platform functionality, etc. can make tools easy to use and navigate.
Customer support – Make sure the tool provides customer support. Also, determine whether the tool is backed by a good community of users who are willing to help and guide you every step of the way.
Reliable reputation – Reading reviews about the tool can go a long way in understanding its quality and reliability. You can also find out what kinds of projects were worked on by these tools to get a relative idea of their functionality and efficiency.
31 Best Web Development Tools on the Market
This is not an exhaustive list, but it does cover the top 31 web development tools on the market. It will serve as a starting point for every beginner. Let’s discuss in detail the various features and use cases of each tool.
- Sublime Text
- jQuery
- Chrome DevTools
- GitHub
- Sass
- AngularJS
- CodePen
- Web.com
- Grunt
- TypeScript
- NPM
- Bootstrap
- Sketch
- Visual Studio Code
- Codekit
- Ruby on Rails
- Adobe Dreamweaver
- Atom
- Foundation
- Django
- Postman
- Figma
- XAMPP
- Notepad++
- REST-assured
- ProtoPie
- SourceTree
- Tailwind CSS
- Yarn
- Framer
- Firefox Dev Tools
1. Sublime Text
If you are looking for a code editor, the Sublime Text should be on your list. It presents you with an efficient and clean user interface with ample shortcuts that make life easy for any coder. Navigation between files and multitasking is a cakewalk for people who opt to use Sublime Text, thereby reducing their overall time on the project.
Features:
- It has a multiple selection feature, and with it, you can make several changes at once. No need to manually navigate to that part of the code and edit individually.
- It has a command palette.
- Supports a variety of plugins to make your coding journey simpler.
Price:
- There is a free version, which you can download and use right away. But, obtaining a license will cost you $80. For businesses, one license is $80, and 10 licenses will be $70/unit.
2. jQuery
JavaScript is the most prominent web development language. This being said there were a lot of complications associated with JavaScript which were solved by the jQuery upon its arrival in 2006. jQuery is one of the most popular web development frameworks out there and it is loved by the entire development community. Its popularity can be attributed to its functionalities which were previously left to the developer to figure out.
Its ease of use and multi-browser access makes it a promising tool for developing animations and adding plugins to your website. Because of this, jQuery has become one of the most used libraries today.
Features:
- jQuery can work as an AMD module.
- When minified it is a 30kb module.
- Makes manipulating DOM elements simpler with built-in functions.
Price:
- Free and open source.
3. Chrome DevTools
Built into Google Chrome these are a powerful set of tools that allow you to change the Dom and page style while also giving you the functionality to view messages and run and debug your code in JavaScript. You can also edit pages with ease while being able to diagnose and optimize your problems.
Chrome DevTools are free and available for anyone and everyone. It performs debugging on various development languages such as JavaScript and HTML, making it a powerful tool in the hands of a developer. One drawback of Chrome DevTools is that they can only be used on the Chrome browser.
Features:
- You can inspect network activity and gain knowledge about the various kinds of requests your browser is making.
- The tools also provide several other panels such as the security panel, console, memory panel, elements panel, etc. These features help you to optimize your website.
Price:
- Free.
4. GitHub
When discussing current web development trends, GitHub for version control should be at the top of your list. It is an open source repository that has a rich community and provides essential services such as bug tracking, task management, etc. among others. GitHub is the perfect place to roll out new projects for the community to explore and many times job interviews can be secured based on a good GitHub profile.
Features:
- It helps you with version control and project management.
- And collaborate with developers around the world.
Price:
- For individuals: Free
- For Team: $48 per user/year
- For Enterprise: $252 per user/year
5. Sass
Syntactically Awesome Style Sheets or Sass is a CSS extension language that adds various functionalities such as inheritance, easier nesting, and inline imports to name a few. Since it is compatible with CSS it allows us to utilize the various CSS libraries. It needs to be installed into your project before you can use it.
Features:
- It has useful features that plain CSS can’t provide such as Arguments, variable loops, and nesting.
- Sass also supports multiple inheritances.
- You can easily manage large stylesheets with Sass.
Price:
- Free.
6. AngularJS
AngularJS is a front end development tool developed by Google. It is a tool that allows you to be more expressive and readable while also reducing your time requirements. It works on HTML and helps to remove some of its major drawbacks such as its inability to manage dynamic views.
Features:
- Angular provides you with data binding. This feature helps you to minimize or eliminate DOM manipulation.
- With reusable components, you can use the same code to create different sections of your websites.
- It provides built-in testability.
Price:
- Free.
7. CodePen
CodePen is an online editor that provides you with functionalities related to designing and development. You can build an entire project on it as it provides the features of IDE as well. It is a paid tool and can be used by big and small businesses alike.
CodePen looks like a sketchpad. It allows you to write tiny bits of code and get immediate visual feedback .
Features:
- CodePen allows you to drag and drop images, SVG files, CSS files, JSON and media files.
- In collaboration mode, more than one person can write and edit code at the same time.
Price:
- Free.
- Annual Starter: $8/month
- Annual Developer: $12/month
- Annual Super: $26/month
8. Web.com
A web development company gives you the power to customize the CSS and HTML of your websites with the help of coding languages such as Python, Php, etc. Its major motive is to simplify the process of creating websites. Its ease of use allows you to use it on platforms such as Drupal and Shopify just by clicking a button. This makes it an extremely powerful tool and one you should add to your arsenal. The best part is its do-it-yourself feature that allows you to add flair and personal touch to your website.
Features:
- Gives you access to an unlimited MySQL database.
- Supports FTP accounts.
- You can automate your site’s restore and backup.
Price:
- This tool charges you $1.96/month for the first offer month if you are a new user. After that, the price is $10/month.
9. Grunt
Grunt can be your ally if you want a tool to cut down your repetitive tasks on JavaScript. These tasks may include compilation, and unit testing minification to name a few. It also allows you to add various plugins to your website thus improving the quality of your overall project.
Features:
- You can automate anything with Grunt with minimum effort.
- It gives you access to plugins and also lets you create your own plugin.
- The installation process is very easy.
Price:
- Free.
10. TypeScript
One of the open source web development languages typescript is a superset of JavaScript. It does all the tasks that JavaScript does and provides you with many more additional features. Your browser cannot understand TypeScript so the code written with it first gets compiled into JavaScript before implementation. It is also static, which means the variables while you are coding your website will not change in between your code. By contrast, JavaScript is Dynamic, and thus variables can change when executing the code. And this is the primary source of unnecessary bugs generated in JavaScript. You will gain valuable insights into the various JavaScript libraries while also getting access to the latest JavaScript libraries.
Features:
- After compilation, a TypeScript code can be run in any JavaScript engine that supports ECMAScript, as well as in the browser and node.js.
- You can add interfaces between different software components.
- Lets you use the latest JS features.
Price:
- Free.
11. NPM
Node.js is a runtime environment for JavaScript to execute the language outside of your browser. It was released in 2009 and since then numerous websites and web apps are built using it. And the reason for Node.js’s massive success is NPM or, node package manager. NPM has two main parts:
- A CLI or command line interface to publish and download packages into your system.
- And the second one is an online repository from other developers downloading the package for easier workflow.
It is one of the best free and open source solutions currently available in the market for public package authors and it is an absolute must for enterprise JavaScript.
Price:
- Free and open source. NPM orgs is available for $7/month.
12. Bootstrap
If you do not like to spend your time working on CSS then Bootstrap is the solution for you. Developed by Twitter it is the framework for reference for people working on CSS. It can help you to build responsive and clean websites with only a few lines of code and tweaks to your CSS. It also has a wide and inclusive community of Bootstrap users.
Features:
- Has an extensive and responsive grid layout to position the components of your website.
- Has pre-built components which you can use right away without explicit coding.
- Lightweight so doesn’t increase the loading time of your website.
Price:
- Free and open source.
13. Sketch
Just like its name suggests, Sketch gives you a place to make design elements like logos and images that can make your website better and more appealing. It provides you with the ability to include animations and interactive elements on your website. Not only that it also provides you with a tool to manage the presentation of texts and fonts on your website.
Features:
- It offers features like vector editing, non-destructive editing, code exports, pixel-perfect precision and prototyping.
- Sketch can convert wireframes to UI elements which you can easily integrate into your website.
Price:
- It has two subscription options, a personal license, $99/month, and a volume license, $89/month.
14. Visual Studio Code
A good editor is a must have in the kitty of any developer. This propels Visual Studio Code as one of the most essential web development tools. Developed by Microsoft it presents various features such as smart coding completion, syntax highlighting, easier deployment, and a built-in debugger.
In addition to these, it supports various languages such as JavaScript, TypeScript, and Node.JS. VS Code also supports languages like Java, PHP, Python, and C++, via extensions. The multiplatform accessibility of Visual studio code makes it universal.
Features:
- Has an inbuilt PowerShell.
- With numerous plugins, you can code in any language with this IDE.
- Extremely customizable.
- Has an inbuilt debugger.
Price:
- Free.
15. Codekit
It is a web development tool that was designed for the advanced coder and helps in reducing the work time spent on development projects. It can be integrated with various languages and it helps in reducing the file size considerably. It also provides you with the option to combine syntax on JavaScript and reduces the number of checks needed.
The preintegration of CSS makes it smooth sailing to publish your website.
16. Ruby on Rails
An organized code library can save you time and effort by giving you the necessary lines of code that you are looking for. Ruby on rails or simply “rails” is an open source framework for web development written in Ruby programming language. It reduces your mining time and can be a major help to both beginner and senior developers.
17. Adobe Dreamweaver
A lifesaver for beginners, Adobe Dreamweaver comes under the category of extremely easy-to-use web development tools that allows you to build websites without any prior knowledge of coding. While one can easily design a website using this tool, to make it effective one generally needs to learn CSS and HTML.
It follows the action of Drag and Drops reducing the barrier to website creation. It also provides other functionalities such as file management, accessibility checks, and code validations. Thus it is a dream come true for any beginner.
18. Atom
Atom is a free and open-source IDE (enhanced code editor), available for Windows, Linux and Mac operating systems. The free extensions that come with this IDE, enable you to code in almost any language. Moreover, Atom offers countless shortcuts that can double your productivity.
Features:
- Atom has a built-in package manager. You can search and install packages from the internet or can make your own.
- Atom supports cross-platform editing. As it is supported by Windows, Linux and Mac operating systems.
- Atom has a file system Browser that makes it easier for you to browse and open different files.
Price:
- Free
19. Foundation
If you want to build a customized website quickly by using minimum tools, Foundation is the best bet for you. Why? Because Foundation comes with powerful HTML themes, making it the ideal front-end framework for beginners to get started with website building for their brand.
Features:
- Foundation allows you to build highly customized elements and modify their appearance.
- Foundation preserves semantics. With Foundation, you can create uncluttered markups and won’t lose any utility.
Price:
- Free
20. Django
Django is a high-level python framework used for backend development. It takes care of much of the boilerplate code for building a website’s server so you can focus on building your logic for various operations. It is open source, thus free, has great documentation and is an inclusive, helpful community. So if you get stuck with the building process you can always seek help from experienced developers.
Features:
- Django was built to enable developers to build websites quickly and efficiently. So it takes care of the most boilerplate code for you.
- Django packages are widely used and well-reviewed by experienced developers so it is less likely that you leave a security loophole while building your website using Django.
Price:
- Free
21. Postman
API is crucial for a modern website. Why? It lets your website communicate with the server and with other websites to utilize third-party data. But to test if the API is functioning correctly you need Postman. Currently, 20 million developers around the world use Postman to build and test their APIs. Postman also has a very intuitive, beginner-friendly user interface which lets you get started in no time.
Features:
- Postman creates, sends and saves and verifies REST requests. Using Postman you can also create and verify SOAP or GraphQL requests.
- Using Postman you can create workspaces consisting of multiple people.
- Using scripts in Postman sandbox you can set, retrieve, and clear variable values.
Price:
You can use it for free. But it also has Basic, professional and Enterprise packages starting from $12, $29, and $99 per month respectively.
22. Figma
You need a well-defined web design before you start to get your hands dirty with the nitty gritty aspect of coding a website. And before you make your web design you need a wireframe to work on. Figma is amazing because it lets you create not only the wireframe of your design, but the design itself. You can even add simple animations that you are planning to apply on the different buttons or cards. You can operate with multiple coworkers with Figma’s collaboration-friendly interface. And everything that Figma offers comes with zero cost. Try it out today.
Features:
- You can collaborate, create, and comment tagging elements easily using Figma.
- You can create and test prototypes with simple animations before you start to code everything from scratch.
Price:
- You can start with Figma for free or subscribe to the professional and organization packages starting from $15/per month and $45 per month respectively.
23. XAMPP
This tool is for PHP developers. It comes with MariaDB, PHP and Perl. What is best about this tool is that it has numerous add-ons that let you create highly customized websites. You can download this tool in any of the Windows, Linux and Mac operating systems.
Features:
- It is easy to get started with and is a solution package built for full-stack developers.
- It is lightweight and lets you manage Databases.
Price:
- Free and open source.
24. Notepad++
Notepad++ has a very simple user interface and is only available for Windows operating systems. But don’t get deceived by its UI because this tool can support over 80 programming languages. This also acts as a text editor and has code folding and syntax handling features.
Features:
- This software is written in C++.
- It is a replacement for Notepad and supports up to 80 languages with code highlighting, code folding and many other helpful features.
Price:
- Free
25. REST-assured
Specially made for Java developers, REST-assured is the tool that lets you build and test APIs to integrate with your website and enhance its capabilities. This tool is popular because it replaces boilerplate code to handle REST APIs.
Features:
- It eliminates the need for writing much of the boilerplate code including setting up an HTTP connection, receiving a request and parsing the received data.
- This is a Java Library used for Testing and Validating REST services.
Price:
- Free and open source.
26. ProtoPie
Now you have a design for your website and you want to implement it and make a tangible prototype. This is where ProtoPie comes in, it lets you transform interactive designs into prototypes. This offers you the quickest way to make the prototype without a single line of code.
Features:
- ProtoPie extension is available for Figma Adobe XD and Sketch.
- You can create realistic designs easily with ProtoPie’s code-free model.
Price:
- You can start using ProtoPie today with their free plan. However, if you want to upgrade there is a Pro and Enterprise plan for you starting from $67 per month.
27. SourceTree
SourceTree is a Graphical User Interface used to visualize your Git repository. As your application grows you start to add different functionality thus the number of brunches and merges increases in your Git Repository. It can become difficult to visualize and slow down your development process. SouceTree solves this problem with its simplified and intuitive UI.
Features:
- Visual branching diagrams in SourceTree make it easy to track the team’s progress.
- The software is available for both Windows and Mac.
Price:
- Free
28. Tailwind CSS
Another one of the most useful web development tools is Tailwind CSS. With the help of Tailwind CSS, you don’t need to leave your HTML aside to design. This tool is best for those developers who like the traditional way of styling HTML components. So, if you are one of them, try it out. This is free and open source.
Features:
- Tailwind allows you to style your HTML elements by adding class names, thus you don’t need to come up with class names to style separately in CSS.
- With Tailwind, because you are adding directly to your HTML file your CSS files remain compact and organized.
Price:
- For personal projects, you can get a lifetime subscription to Tailwind for the price of $299. And for working with teams, it is $799.
29. Yarn
The yarn has the same functionality as NPM and it lets you download a framework to add to your website. This package manager is best known for its stability and downloading speed in downloading different packages.
Features:
- Yarn can install packages from the local cache.
- It downloads packages parallelly unlike NPM thus is faster than NPM.
30. Framer
Framer is a design tool and website builder merged into one platform for code-savvy individuals. You can create interactive, highly customizable prototypes and publish those components directly to your website with the help of Framer after you finalize them inside it.
Features:
- It allows you to design your website with media, links and animations.
- After designing you can publish your website directly from Framer.
Price:
- You can either start with the free version and if you want to upgrade there are two plans Basic and Pro starting from $15 and $25 per month if billed annually.
31. Firefox Dev Tools
Chrome is a popular browser but did you know Firefox is one of the most popular browsers among developers? There is a good reason for it. And that is Firefox’s extensive Dev Tools. You can even customize the features of your website’s components in the browser itself before you decide to finalize it by modifying the code in your programme files. So try it out today and find out which browser you are most compatible with.
Features:
- It has many useful panels like a debugger, console, network, storage panel etc.
- It even has a Font panel allowing the developer to thoroughly inspect the fonts used in the design and adjust them in the browser before editing the actual code in the code editor.
Price:
- Free
Conclusion
That’s a lot of tools, and you may be feeling a bit overwhelmed. But don’t worry; each of these tools is designed to solve a specific problem, and you don’t need to use them all to create and publish your first website.
Global Media Insight is a web design and development company in Dubai, UAE. We use the latest web technologies to provide the best website design and development services to our clients. We are also the leading digital marketing agency in Dubai, with an extensive portfolio of services including SEO, PPC, Social Media Marketing, and online marketing. For more details, please call.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Which is the best tool for web development?
This depends on the type of problem you are facing. For example, if you want to make reusable front-end elements AngularJS can serve your needs, but if you need an efficient code editor with a terminal built into it, you should opt for Visual Studio Code or Sublime Text.
2. What are front-end development tools?
Frontend development tools are software applications used for building the user interface (UI) of websites and mobile applications. These tools reduce the time and effort required for web development by providing drag-and-drop elements and numerous built-in features that facilitate the creation of an appealing web design layout. Some of the very popular and widely used front-end development tools are AngularJS (a JavaScript framework), VS code (an IDE), Bootstrap (for styling), Sass, etc.
3. Which language is most commonly used for front-end development?
JavaScript is the most popular and most loved programming language for front-end development.
4. Which is the best tool for backend development?
Again, the best tools are relative to the type of problem you are facing. If you want to build a server, you can use Express, which is a Node.js framework. If you want to connect a database to your website, you may use MongoDB. On the other hand, if you are looking to build a serverless website, you can choose Firebase. So, depending on your preferences, your resources and the tool’s accessibility, the answer varies.
5. Is JavaScript used for developing the backend or the frontend?
JavaScript is widely used for frontend development but Node.js, which is a JavaScript runtime, is used to build the backend of a website. When it comes to building a website, you have many choices.
