Essential Web Design, Development, Hosting, and Security Tools [50 Best Picks]

Essential Web Design, Development, Hosting, and Security Tools [50 Best Picks]
Published
Jul 24, 2024

As of 2024 the number of websites worldwide has surpassed 1 billion, and on average more than 252,000 websites are created daily. 

Being a high-in-demand job or simply having a passion for it, might have made you decide to join the caravan of web designers and developers, and now you are looking for the tools you need to be equipped with during this exciting journey. 

Within this comprehensive guide, we've selected an extensive collection of free web design resources, covering a broad range of elements, including graphic design, coding, inspiration, and testing. 

This listicle features 50 best picks for web professionals across the different web categories below:

  1. Graphic Design Resources
  2. Coding and Development Resources
  3. Web Design Inspiration Resources
  4. UI/UX Design Resources
  5. Web Development Frameworks and Libraries
  6. Testing and Optimization Resources
  7. Web Analytics
  8. Security Resources
  9. Web Hosting Resources

While most of these web design resources are free to use, some are premium products but offer free usage with limited capabilities.

Graphic Design Resources

1.1. Canva

Canva's homepage screenshot asking in the hero section "what will you design today?"
Canva Website

Canva has revolutionized graphic design for non-designers. It offers a vast library of templates for web graphics, social media visuals, and more. With its user-friendly interface, you can create stunning visuals effortlessly.

1.2. Vecteezy

A preview of Vecteezy homepage, a place for free vectors, stock photos, videos and more
Vecteezy Website

Vecteezy offers an extensive collection of free vector graphics, illustrations, and clipart for enhancing your design projects.

1.3. Unsplash

A screenshot of Unsplash's homepage showing a search bar and a brown background image
Unsplash Website

Unsplash is a treasure trove of high-quality, free-to-use images and videos that can add visual appeal to your various creative projects. It is a valuable resource for designers, marketers and content creators worldwide.

1.4. Coolors

A screenshot of the Coolors a super fast color palette generator
Coolors Website

Coolors is a super-fast color schemes generator, perfect for creating harmonious and visually appealing color palettes.

1.5. Pexels

Pexel's homepage view showing a search bar in the middle and written the best free stock photos above it
Pexels Website

Pexels is another outstanding source for high-resolution, free stock images and videos to enhance your web projects. Pexels is a valuable go-to for professionals and creatives seeking high-resolution visuals without the burden of licensing fees.

1.6. Adobe Color Wheel

Adobe Color Wheel's homepage showing a round colored wheel with different colors to select
Adobe Color Wheel Website

The Adobe Color Wheel is an excellent resource for selecting harmonious color palettes for your websites, ensuring that your design elements mesh seamlessly.

1.7. Adobe Expres Video Maker

Preview of the Adobe Express video maker platform

Adobe Express makes it easy to create videos by combining different elements like videos, images, animations, and sound. With the help of Adobe Firefly's generative AI, you can streamline your workflow and finish tasks quickly using the all-in-one editor.

1.8. Google Fonts

A screenshot of Google Font's homepage showing a search bar and below it different text with different fonts
Google Fonts Website

Google Fonts provides a rich collection of free and open-source fonts that can be easily integrated into your web designs, adding personality and uniqueness to your text.

1.9. Font Awesome

Font Awesome' s homepage screenshot showing a man with a magicians hat in the background
Font Awesome Website

Font Awesome offers a comprehensive collection of scalable vector icons that can be customized and integrated seamlessly into your web projects.

1.10. Figma

Figma's homepage screenshot with a saying on the middle "How you design,align and build matters"
Figma Website

Figma is a versatile, cloud-based design tool that allows for real-time collaboration on web design prototypes and mockups, making it a go-to choice for design teams. If you’re already using it, here you will find a very useful list of Figma plugins you need to have to enhance your design process.

Coding and Development Resources

2.1. CodePen 

CodePen's homepage view. It writes "The best place to build, test and discover front-end code".
CodePen Website

CodePen is an online code editor that's perfect for front-end developers. It enables you to experiment with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript code snippets and share your creations with the community.

2.2. GitHub 

GitHub's homepage view showing an image of space and below highlighted Let's build from here"
GitHub Website

GitHub is the ultimate platform for version control and collaboration on coding projects. Whether you're working solo or with a team, it's an indispensable resource for developers.

2.3. CodeSandbox

Instant cloud development through Codesandbox tool
CodeSandbox Website

CodeSandbox is an online editor tailored for web application development, making it easy to create, share, and collaborate on projects.

2.4. Stack Overflow

Stack Overflow homepage screenshot, it writes Every developer has a tab open to Stack Overflow"
Stack Overflow Website

Stack Overflow is a thriving Q&A community where you can find solutions to coding problems, share your expertise, and learn from experienced developers worldwide.

2.5. Tabnine

Tabnine website homepage preview - an AI code assistant
Tabnine Website

Tabnine is an AI-powered code completion tool that integrates with popular code editors to enhance coding productivity.

2.6. MDN Web Docs

A screenshot of MDN Web Docs homepage, written with white text on a black background it says: "Resources for Developers by Developers"
MDN Web Docs Website

Mozilla's MDN Web Docs is a ‘treasure-house’ of in-depth web development documentation, tutorials, and guides, covering HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and much more.

2.7. W3Schools

A screenshot of W3School's homepage saying in the middle Learn to Code
W3Schools Website

W3Schools offers a comprehensive repository of web development tutorials and reference materials, making it an excellent resource for beginners and experienced developers alike.

Web Design Inspiration

3.1. Behance

Behance's homepage showcasing different projects with different pictures and colors
Behance Website

Behance is a popular platform for showcasing and discovering creative web design and graphic design projects. It's a fantastic place to get inspired and see what's trending in the design world.

3.2. Awwwards 

The Awwwards homepage showing in capital letters the text "SITE OF THE DAY" and below it a feature site
Awwwards Website

Awwwards recognizes and awards outstanding web designs, providing a constant source of inspiration and motivation for web designers seeking to push their creative boundaries.

3.3. Landdding

Landdding's homepage showcasing Todays 3 favorite project picks
Landdding Website

Landdding serves as a hub for the design community, offering a platform to showcase and discover remarkable web design concepts effortlessly. Visitors can engage with various web design projects across categories like SaaS, agency, portfolio, design, and more by upvoting their favorites. By doing so, they contribute to these projects' chances of earning a prestigious community badge as one of the top three most-liked endeavors.

3.4. Web Design Reddit Communities 

A Reddit's page showing search results of web design communities
Reddit Website

Reddit hosts several active communities related to web design, such as r/web_design and r/webdev, where you can engage with fellow designers, seek feedback, and stay updated on industry trends.

3.5. Dribbble

a screenshot of the dribble website showing a text saying "the worlds destination for design"
Dribbble Website

Dribbble is a community of designers showcasing their work, providing endless inspiration for web and graphic designers.

3.6. SiteInspire

a screenshot of the site inspire website showing latest site showcase designs
SiteInspire Website

SiteInspire showcases the best web design inspiration, curated from a range of high-quality websites.

UI/UX Design Resources

4.1. Miro

Miro website homepage screenshot - an AI-powered visual workspace
Miro Website

Miro is an online collaborative whiteboard platform that allows teams to brainstorm, plan, and collaborate on UI/UX designs in real-time.

4.2. InVision Freehand

InVision Freehand homepage view, a white background with text in the middle saying "all-in-one collaborative workspace"
InVision Freehand Website

InVision Freehand is a collaborative digital whiteboard that empowers designers to brainstorm, sketch, and create user interfaces together in real-time.

4.3. UserTesting

Usertesting's homepage view showing a text "Understand what it's like to be your customer"
UserTesting Website

UserTesting offers a free trial for user testing and feedback on your web design prototypes, helping you fine-tune your user experience.

4.4. Balsamiq Wireframes

Balsamiq Wireframes homepage screenshot. It displays a text saying "Quick and easy Wireframing Tool"
Balsamiq Wireframes Website

Balsamiq Wireframes is a valuable tool for creating wireframes and prototypes, allowing you to visualize the layout and functionality of your web pages before diving into development.

Web Development Frameworks and Libraries

5.1. Bootstrap

Bootstrap's homepage screenshot. "Build fast, responsive sites with Bootstrap" text in the hero section.
Bootstrap Website

Bootstrap is a widely-used CSS framework that simplifies the process of building responsive and mobile-first web projects. Its pre-designed components and grid system are a game-changer.

5.2. Svelte

Svelte homepage preview - a javascript framework - create enhanced web applications
Svelte Website

Svelte is a modern JavaScript framework that shifts much of the work to compile time, resulting in highly optimized web applications.

5.3. jQuery

jQuery homepage view, showing the download button section and a "what is jQuery description".
jQuery Website

jQuery is a fast and feature-rich JavaScript library that simplifies complex tasks like DOM manipulation and AJAX requests, making it a staple in many web developers' toolkits.

5.4. React

React's homepage screenshot - "The library for web and native user interfaces"
React Website

React, developed by Facebook and the open-source community, is a JavaScript library for building user interfaces. Its component-based architecture makes it an excellent choice for creating interactive and dynamic web applications.

5.5. Vue.js

Vue.js homepage screenshot "The progressive JavaScript Framework"
Vue.js Website

Vue.js is another JavaScript framework that focuses on building user interfaces. It's known for its simplicity and flexibility, making it an attractive option for web developers.

5.6. Tailwind CSS

A screenshot of the tailwindcss website showing a text in bold saying: Rapidy buld modern websites without ever leaving your HTML.
Tailwind CSS Website

Tailwind CSS is a utility-first CSS framework that provides low-level CSS classes for building custom designs quickly.

5.7. Semantic UI

Semantic Ui homepage view with a green background and "semantic ui" text in the middle
Semantic UI Website

Semantic UI is a sleek and intuitive CSS framework that emphasizes human-friendly HTML, making it easier to create beautiful and responsive web designs.

Testing and Optimization

6.1. Google PageSpeed Insights

Google Pagespeed Insights homepage screenshot showing a URL bar in the middle and analyze button
Google PageSpeed Website

Google PageSpeed Insights is a handy tool for analyzing the performance of your web pages. It provides valuable suggestions for improving loading times and user experience.

6.2. Lighthouse

A preview of the Lighthouse page, a tool for site audit by google
Lighthouse Website

Lighthouse is an open-source tool for auditing the performance, accessibility, SEO, and more of web pages.

6.3. GTmetrix

GTmetrix's homepage screenshot - with text in the middle saying " How fast does your website load"
GTmetrix Website

GTmetrix offers detailed insights and actionable recommendations for optimizing your website's speed and overall performance. It's a must-have resource for ensuring your site loads quickly and efficiently.

6.4. BrowserStack 

BrowserStack homepage screenshot - a light blue background with a blue button saying Get started for free
BrowserStack Website

BrowserStack allows you to test your website on various browsers and devices to ensure compatibility and functionality across the diverse landscape of the web.

6.5. WebPageTest

A screenshot of the Webpagetest website, a url bar is shown to start a site performance test
WebPageTest Website

WebPageTest offers detailed analysis and insights into web page performance, with testing across different browsers and locations.

6.6. Google Mobile-Friendly Test

Google's Mobile friendly test homepage screenshot - it shows a url bar with a question above " Is your web page mobile-friendly?"
Google's Mobile-Friendly Test Website

Today with the increasing use of mobile devices, it's crucial to ensure your website is mobile-friendly. Google's Mobile-Friendly Test helps you determine if your site meets mobile usability standards.

Web Analytics

7.1. Google Analytics

Google Analytics homepage view with text saying Welcome to Google Analytics
Google Analytics Website

Google Analytics is a powerful web analytics tool that provides detailed insights into your website's performance, user behavior, and traffic sources. It's an essential resource for data-driven decision-making.

7.2. Matomo (formerly Piwik)

Matomo homepage screenshot - a text saying Google Analytics Alternative
Matomo Website

Matomo is an open-source alternative to Google Analytics, offering similar features while allowing you to maintain full control over your data and privacy.

Security

8.1. Wordfence

Wordfence's homepage screenshot, a black backgroung with "Introducting Wordfence" text in green and white in the middle
Wordfence Website

If you're using WordPress, Wordfence is a highly-rated security plugin that helps protect your site from malware, hackers, and other security threats.

8.2. Let's Encrypt

Let's encrypt homepage screenshot saying they provide TLS certificates to 300million websites
Let's Encrypt Website

Let's Encrypt is a free, automated, and open Certificate Authority that provides SSL/TLS certificates for encrypting website traffic, enhancing security and trustworthiness.

8.4. Sucuri Security

Sucuri's homepage screenshot showing a "clean and protect your website fast" text in the hero section
Sucuri Website

Sucuri offers a free website security scanner and malware removal tool, helping you identify and eliminate security vulnerabilities.

8.5. H5BP (HTML5 Boilerplate)

HTML5 Boilerplate's homepage screenshot with text saying "Web's most popular front-end template"
HTML5 Boilerplate Website

HTML5 Boilerplate is a front-end template that includes best practices for HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. It promotes a solid foundation for secure and well-optimized websites.

Web Hosting

9.1. Netlify

Nelify's homepage screenshot showing a blue background with text in the middle saying Connect everything.
Netlify Website

Netlify offers free hosting for static websites with features like continuous deployment and serverless functions.

9.2. Vercel

Vercel homepage showing a text saying: Your complete platform for the webr
Vercel Website

Vercel offers seamless deployment and hosting for modern web applications, with features like serverless functions and edge caching.

9.3. GitHub Pages

Github Page's page screenshot with text saying "Websites for you and your projects"
GitHub Pages Website

If your website is open-source and hosted on GitHub, you can use GitHub Pages to host it for free.

9.4. Firebase Hosting

a view of the firebase hosting site and documentation
Firebase Hosting Website

Firebase Hosting provides fast and secure static and dynamic web hosting services with global CDN and seamless integration with other Firebase products.

9.5. Heroku

Heroku homepage screenshot showing the supported code languages and a button for sign up
Heroku Website

Heroku offers a free plan for hosting web applications. It's a great choice for developers looking to deploy web projects quickly.

Conclusion

In the dynamic world of web design, staying well-equipped with a diverse range of free resources is essential for success. Whether you're a newcomer or a seasoned pro, these tools and platforms can help you design, develop, and optimize websites that captivate and engage users.

From graphic design and coding to inspiration, testing, and security, the vast array of free web design resources presented in this comprehensive guide empowers you to create websites that not only meet but exceed industry standards.

By harnessing the power of these resources, continuously learning, experimenting, and pushing the boundaries of your creativity, you'll be well on your way to mastering the art of web design. With these tools at your disposal, your web design journey is bound to be a thrilling and successful one. 

Lastly, as a bonus for reaching the end of this tool guide, check out this useful list of Chrome extensions, and enrich your web browsing experience. For more articles and the latest trends in web design, follow our socials and visit our blog section.

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