15 Top Free & Premium Tools & Resources for Designers in 2024
It’s 2024, and the web design tools and resources market keeps humming right along. It was once said that: “everything you’ll ever need has already been invented”. That turned out not to be true and the same is true today for web design tools and resources (and just about everything else).
The new tool and resources on the marketplace are often better than the old ones, at least those that aren’t regularly updated.
To help you keep abreast of the times we’ve tested a multiplicity of free and premium web design tools & resources and compiled a list of 15 consisting of these different types:
- Website builders for building landing pages and multiple pages websites quickly.
- WordPress themes for building more complex websites and fully functional online stores.
- WordPress plugins for adding critical website functionality.
- Vector illustrations to help you add unique designs that will jazz up any website.
- Font identifiers to identify, locate, and acquire must-have fonts.
More than half of the following web design resources and tools are free or have a free version:
- Brizy
- Trafft
- wpDataTables
- LayerSlider
- Amelia
- Uncode
- GetIllustrations
- Mobirise AI
- WhatFontis
- Slider Revolution
- Essential Grid
- Woodmart
- XStore
- Blocksy
- Total Theme
What do these 15 Best Web Design Tools & Resources for Web Designers and Agencies have in common?
- They are intuitive. From signing up to final launch, everything is well thought out and in its proper place.
- They add real value. They help you deliver a web design project faster or make your final deliverables more beautiful, or both, which helps you get better paid work.
- They look premium. There is something about a top tool or resource that makes it obvious that everything related to it is enjoyable, effortless, and of the highest quality.
15 best Tools & Resources for Designers and Agencies Particulars
To help you in your web design resources and tools research, we have summarized key features, provided product ratings on non-biased platforms such as Capterra, Trustpilot, or WordPress.org, and shared relevant client testimonials.
Ready? Let’s get started.
1. Brizy Builder™ Best Website Builder for Agencies and Designers
Brizy is the #1 website builder for Agencies and Designers in need of a White Label solution to help them grow their business.
The Brizy Builder’s top feature is its White Label option, that when exercised enables user clients to build websites with the user’s builder. The platform features the user’s branding elements, and as it is fully customizable the White Label owner can offer clients a totally unique service.
Brizy Builder users have discovered even more to like, including:
- ease of use since every tool or option is always exactly where it needs to be.
- the ability to edit in place any type of content.
- content is not created where it is easiest to do so, and on a disjointed sidebar.
Additionally, Brizy Builder provides its users with a wonderful selection of prebuilt/demo/template websites. The SEO and Marketing Demo design is minimalist, thereby lending itself to a wide variety of website uses. It also demonstrates the effectiveness of illustrations in website design.
The Reseller Client Management, Marketing Integrations, and Billing features will benefit agencies and resellers alike.
Client Average Score: 4.6/5 on Trustpilot
Client Insight: “I like the best it’s flexibility, template and block library, as well as starter sites feature. Sync with SaaS cloud is also awesome for storing and reusing blocks and templates you created.”
Instant Support: Brizy Academy, Documentation, Useful Blog Posts and YouTube videos
2. Trafft – Appointment Booking Software Solution
The Ideal Scheduling Online Software Solution for Business Owners.
While flexibility is key when selecting a theme or plugin it can come in several flavors. Trafft’s top feature is its powerful and flexible Multilingual Notifications System, flexible because its users can operate it in the language of their choice.
The Multilingual Notifications System:
- efficiently manages appointments and events via email, SMS, and/or WhatsApp messages.
- keeps users up to date on appointment or event status changes.
- enables businesses to tailor alerts for specific activities or services.
Trafft’s library of prebuilt websites also plays a useful role. The Divine Beauty Spa prebuilt website example illustrates how a website could be configured to show a business’s operations while at the same time accepting bookings.
Newer users quickly become aware of Trafft’s stress-free backend and frontend interface navigation as well as what the various customization options bring to the table.
Trafft’s White Label option should be of interest to web developers and design agencies.
Client Average Score: 5 stars on Capterra
Client Insight: “Feature rich and allows a lot of flexibility to do business in whatever way works for you. I also appreciate their customer service. They always get back to you quickly and if there’s a feature they don’t have, they encourage you to submit it via their roadmap”.
Support: Trafft’s ticketing system. YouTube videos, support manual, email and social media.
3. wpDataTables WordPress Plugin for Tables & Charts
wpDataTables is the #1 WordPress plugin for businesses and individuals that are often, if not continuously, tasked with managing complex data to create tables and charts.
Multiple Database Connections is wpDataTable plugin’s best feature. It represents a breakthrough in data management in that it can be used to convert tables into data hubs that can pull data from different sources.
wpDataTables simplifies management of complex data and by doing so it makes it easy for its users to create custom, easily editable and responsive charts and tables. Templates can also play a useful role. The Responsive Products template would be very useful for creating an online shop selling tech oriented products.
Three things new users are apt to first take note of are wpDataTables’:
- ability to adroitly manage complex data structures.
- abundance of practical, user-friendly features.
- incomparable data management functionality
wpDataTables successfully addresses a wide range of customer categories.
- Separate database connections for managing information from specialized database systems.
- Chart engines that show data trends and comparisons for financial, environmental, and marketing uses.
Client Average Score: 4.5/5 on wordPress.org
Client Insight: “I love data and was a diehard Google Sheets nut. Loved to make dashboards for my clients. But they would get slow and clunky after a while, and they weren’t very “pretty” wpDataTables came across my desk, so I gave it a shot.
It’s fast, can be styled however you like it and has opened up a whole new revenue stream as the demand for custom dashboards keeps spreading like wildfire.”
Instant Support: Support manual, YouTube videos, and the Facebook community
4. LayerSlider – Best WordPress Slider Builder Plugin
LayerSlider stands out as the best WordPress slider plugin, making website enhancement a breeze for web designers.
It’s not all that unusual for a recently introduced feature to almost immediately become a favorite. This is the case with the LayerSlider plugin when its scroll effect emerged as its top feature and is prominently displayed in LayerSlider’s newer templates. Scroll through the Sweet Candies example and see the possibilities.
LayerSlider’s popularity has always been based on the wide range of uses it can be put to, from making simple sliders or slideshows to integrating rich animated content in websites.
Qualities that only users will become aware of:
- LayerSlider’s Project Editor is fully competitive with professional desktop applications.
- everything needed to design and create is right at their fingertips.
- millions of stock photos, videos, and other online services are available.
LayerSlider also shines brightly when used by marketers for content creation with the mind-blowing and user-engaging effects they can integrate into banners and popups.
Client Insight: “Powerful features and a flexible slider for many effects. Makes a very professional looking slider.”
Support: Email, Built-in help in LayerSlider’s Project Editor, ticket system, and support manual.
5. Amelia – Booking Plugin for Appointments and Events
Amelia is the best WordPress plugin for Agencies and Businesses in need of a modernized appointments booking solution.
Amelia’s top feature is the automated notifications system. It categorizes, and positions appointments as pending, cancelled, rejected, approved, or rescheduled. In doing so it makes the overall booking process extremely efficient and less susceptible to error.
Amelia’s templates can be customized to help clients and potential clients make the best decisions. The Beauty layout is an excellent example of this.
What would new Amelia users like to tell you about? Maybe it’s:
- Amelia’s ease of navigation.
- its overall user-friendly design.
- the value inherent in its transparent pricing policy
- the innovative backend and frontend interfaces.
The Amelia plugin will appeal to most service-oriented businesses, including those specializing in ticket sales and/or events.
Client Average Score: 4.8 on Capterra
Client Insight: “What a fantastic booking plugin, so many different configurations, different types of booking and payment options and so easy to use. The support team are also quick and helpful.”
Instant Support: Discord Group, YouTube videos, and Support Manual
6. Uncode – Creative Multiuse & WooCommerce WordPress Theme
Uncode is the #1 multipurpose WordPress and WooCommerce theme for designers and creative agencies seeking the best solutions for their projects.
Most Uncode users say the demo library is its top feature. The demos show exceptional attention to detail and also serve as sources of inspiration. This creative WooCommerce theme’s array of website building tools and options do their part in justifying its popularity.
It would be difficult if not impossible to pinpoint any particular demo as being the best one of them all, and you shouldn’t even try. Uncode’s AI Drones is one of the 5 most downloaded demos, and one of the most entertaining.
Uncode’s users quickly discover the value of Uncode’s demos and wireframes, the level of customization offered, and the top-notch customer support.
Uncode’s principal users are:
- Agencies and Freelancers because of the advanced customization options that cover the needs of every customer or client.
- Shop creators who appreciate and make effective use of Uncode’s advanced WooCommerce features.
Client Average Score: 4.89/5
Client Insight: “By far the best theme I’ve tried. I use it regularly for my clients and they are very happy with it. It is the best WordPress theme out there and the support is top notch (amazing response times and knowledge from their support team). The way it is built is really smart and intuitive. Truly easy to use and consistent in all its options. I love it!”
Instant Support: Support manual, YouTube videos, Facebook groups
7. Getillustrations – Gigantic Stock Illustrations Library
The best resource for designers seeking for excellent quality illustrations that exhibit terrific detail attention.
21,500+ vector illustration product line is Getillustrations’ top feature. It is supplemented on a weekly basis and users are entitled to free updates for a full year.
Which types of illustrations are we discussing here? All kinds will be an answer albeit an overly simplistic one. The illustrations are organized into more than 40 categories. Most categories have hundreds of illustrations, and several have more than 1,000.
The categorized packages include basic pencil and ink illustrations, logistics, fitness and ecology illustrations, few 3D illustration categories, and much more. The majority of illustrations carry messages that would normally take a fair amount of text to convey.
Illustrations can be purchased separately or in pack. They can also be custom made upon request. The Matilda packet for example contains 175 super cute and happy characters to help you deliver your messages.
Client Insight: “Have used illustrations from this team before this launched and they really took our content to the next level. This is beyond worth it and can take anything you have and make it exceptional. I’m just annoyed that the world is seeing it because it’s been my secret weapon all this time!”
Support: Vector stock illustrations in .Figma .Ai .SVG and .PNG, Ramy Wafaa on X- Getillustrations
8. Mobirise: Best AI Website Builder & Generator
The best online AI tool for generating and downloading full page websites by using prompt commands.
Mobirise AI website builder’s top feature is the ability of a user to generate a website using a single prompt.
How does the AI builder work?
- You describe in detail and upload what your site will be about, what it offers, and its benefits and/or specialties.
- The AI website builder takes that data and uses intelligent algorithms to auto-generate customized, beautiful websites, making it an ideal tool for non-techies or those looking for simplistic, efficient design options.
Your descriptions and preferences can be written in any language. Once the AI has crreated a basic layout:
- You can make changes in the pre-generated content to fulfill your requirements; coding is not required.
- You can use prompts to choose a topography, color scheme, style, etc., that suits your brand.
Important: AI simply helps you create your website; it does not own it., and you don’t need to be concerned about Google or mobile devices optimization. Mobirise AI does it for you.
Instant Support: The User Forum, YouTube Videos and Support manual.
9. WhatFontIs – The Best Font Finder
The most accurate font identifier available at no cost for searching providing results.
WhatFontIs’ top feature is its accuracy, the 90%+ chance it will find the font you identified, whether it is free or licensed.
No other system can claim that degree of accuracy, and most are more expensive. What makes WhatFontis tick is its database of 990K+ free and commercial fonts and an AI-powered search engine. The database has nearly 5 times as many fonts as that of the nearest competitor.
You can use WhatFontis to find a specific font sent by a customer, or simply because you see a nice font and you want to know its identification and where to find it, regardless of its producer, publisher, or foundry.
Start by dragging, dropping, and uploading a clean font image.
- The AI-powered search engine will quickly find the font along with as many as 60 close neighbors in response.
- Links will be provided to indicate where a commercial font can be purchased or a free font can be downloaded.
The ability to correctly identify a given font correctly heavily depends on cleanliness and quality of the submitted image and can be compromised if the quality is subpar.
It should also be noted that letters in a cursive font need to be separated before being submitted.
Client Insight: “The site works well at finding out what font is in an image. I use it often.”
Instant Support: User Forum
10. Slider Revolution – Responsive Slider for WordPress
Slider Revolution is the best WordPress plugin for those looking for a solution for creating jaw-dropping animated sliders.
Slider Revolution’s top feature is the functionality it provides to visually create stunning animated WordPress effects while avoiding extra work or coding in the process.
The Slider Revolution plugin is not just limited to creating sliders. With Slider Revolution at your fingertips, you can:
- create home pages that absolutely nail it.
- design eye-catching sections anywhere on your website.
- create entertaining portfolios worthy of a second or third look.
Check out the Slider Revolution’s library of 250+ templates to get some ideas for your project. Most of these templates will feature special effects not found on many websites, plus they have been 100% optimized for different screen configurations. As an example, the Portal Effect Hero slider template teleports you to the Four Corners region in the southwestern US. Touch your mouse and see what happens!
Slider Revolution is tailored for individual web designers, web shops, and small agencies.
Client Average Score: 4.65/5 on Trustpilot
Client Insight: “Slider Revolution is an incredible company. They’ve helped me through some issues that really more learning curve than an error. They have great videos and once you get the hang of it – you’ll be designing really cool websites from a template.”
Instant Support: Support manual and YouTube videos
11. Essential Grid Gallery WordPress Plugin
Essential Grid is the best WordPress Gallery Plugin for those seeking create breathtaking galleries.
Essential Grid’s top feature is its library of 50+ unique grid skins, which should come as no surprise since using unique grid skins in web design is what this WordPress plugin is all about.
It’s also worth noting that few if any web designers or developers would want to expend any extra time or effort to create a gallery from scratch knowing there was an alternative.
An Essential Grid gallery skin can make it remarkably easy to create the gallery layout you want. It’s also quite possible that when it comes to choosing the right skin for your project, you’ll come across a gid format you haven’t even thought of and completely fall I love with it. The Bernie Federko Portfolio Grid for example offers a completely new take on what a portfolio gallery could look like.
Its users will tell you how much helpful and efficient Essential Grid is, and how good it is at content streams organization.
Client Average Score: 4.75/5 on Trustpilot
Client Insight: “The tool is powerful and very well designed. The support team is incredibly fast, friendly and efficient! All the best to you!”
Instant Support: YouTube videos and Support manual
12. WoodMart WooCommerce Theme
The WoodMart WooCommerce theme is ideal for designing niche ecommerce websites.
It only takes a quick glance at the WoodMart website for its top feature to jump right out at you. Woodmart’s professionally designed custom layouts for shop, cart, and checkout pages are so realistic you could easily be tempted to forget what you’re doing and start shopping on a demo page. That’s the essence of a #1 feature.
There’s a lot to like about WoodMart with the:
- ease in customizing layouts.
- time saved when using the Theme Settings Search capability and the Theme Settings performance optimization features.
- multiplicity of options.
- widely popular customer-centric features such as “Frequently Bought Together,” “Dynamic Discounts,” and the social integrations options.
WoodMart also has a White Label option.
Picking out the most popular demo can be a challenge since so many of them enjoy plenty of usage. Plants, one of the 5 most downloaded demos would be an obvious choice for creating a website for a nursery.
Client Average Score: 4.93/5
Client Insight: “This is perfect for my large store. Many features, customizations or mobile pad and desktop. Handy tutorial and examples for each section and subsection of customization. You know exactly what to expect – from the main page to products, from widgets and filters to custom CSS and still more. Very happy.”
Instant Support: Support Manual and YouTube Videos
13. XStore – Best WooCommerce WordPress Theme
XStore is the #1 WooCommerce theme for effortlessly building a high-converting online store.
XStore is clearly tailored for shop owners and prospective shop owners. While its ready-made stores (pre-built websites) have always been highly popular, the recently introduced selection of Sales Booster features is the hands-down the top favorite.
New users also appreciate the Builders Panel and the intuitive XStore Control Panel because they provide more store-building and customization flexibility than they are ever likely to need.
They also appreciate from the get-go the quick start the pre-built websites give them. With the selection of a pre-built website like the Elementor Web Agency example, it’s easy to see why it’s possible to get an engaging online store up in running in a few hours.
Besides its ready-to-use layouts, XStore users have instant access to the Checkout Builder, Single Product Builder, Archive Products Builder, Cart Builder, and 404 Page Builder.
Client Average Score: 4.87/5
Client Insight: “I am beyond impressed with XStore theme! The design is modern, responsive, and highly customizable. The customer support is top-notch, always prompt and helpful. I highly recommend this theme for anyone looking to build a stunning website effortlessly. A solid 5-star rating from me!”
Instant Support: Support manual and YouTube videos
14. Blocksy: An Innovative WooCommerce Theme
Blocksy is the #1 free WordPress theme for building lightweight, attractive websites in 2024.
This theme’s top feature is a 4-way tie between:
- its user-friendly header and footer builder.
- its WooCommerce integration features.
- the level of Gutenberg support, and
- advanced hooks with display conditions.
In truth, most other Blocksy features are a close second, including the fact that Blocksy is free!
Blocksy users soon discover that this premium WooCommerce WordPress theme:
- uses the latest in web technology.
- provides consistent, outstanding performance.
- seamlessly integrates with the most popular plugins.
Blocksy demos are stunning in addition to their effectiveness as website building aids. Beverr, one of the 5 most commonly used demos, would be a great starting point for building a website for anyone looking to start an online design agency.
Client Average Score: 5/5 on WordPress.org
Client Insight: “Blocksy theme is lightweight, uncluttered and super-fast. Likewise, the support is also fast and detailed. Easy 5 star! Keep up the good work Eduard and Blocksy team!”
Instant Support: Support manual, YouTube videos, and an easily accessible documentation section
15. Total – An Ultimate Multipurpose WordPress Theme
Total is the best WordPress theme for web designers and developers who need enough flexibility to be able to design from-scratch.
The flexibility it provides is Total’s top feature as it makes this WordPress theme a veritable Swiss Army knife of design tools and options. It is also the reason its name is so appropriate. A reputation for amazing support is another factor that sets Total apart from most other themes.
Those who have spent some time working with Total quickly discovered and really appreciated Total’s:
- impressive speed that can be tweaked to perform even faster.
- tons of settings and page builder element options, the font manager, custom post types, etc.
- support for dynamic templates for posts and archives.
Total’s selection of pre-built websites is also a user favorite. Boomerang, one of the 5 most widely used, features a minimalistic design that lends itself to multiple uses.
Total is tailored for beginners, developers, and DIYers – and anyone else.
Client Average Score: 4.86/5
Client Insight: “Perfect theme. So versatile. It can do whatever you want to achieve, with or without web design skills. And the support is incredibly reliable, fast and thorough.”
Instant Support: Support Manual
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To sum things up, the best web design resources & tools share several things in common:
- They are easy to install or set up and are user-friendly.
- They offer first-class customer support.
- They give your website an edge in terms of design or functionality, and sometimes in
- They either allow you to evaluate their product for free or give you the information you need so that you won’t come to feel the product you bought does not match the one described in their marketing presentation.
This article is a good place to start exploring the wonderful (and large) world of web design resources and tools. Check out the 15 listed above and test them out after which you can add them to your toolkit or write them off.
Your search really never ends. With so many great web design tools & resources seeing the light everyday your search for better, faster products is likely to continue into the future.
Bogdan Sandu, a seasoned designer with 15 years of diverse experience, has been designing websites since 2008.
Renowned for his expertise in logo design and visual branding, Bogdan has developed a multitude of logos for various clients.
His skills extend to creating posters, vector illustrations, business cards, and brochures. Additionally, Bogdan's UI kits were featured on marketplaces like Visual Hierarchy and UI8.
Renowned for his expertise in logo design and visual branding, Bogdan has developed a multitude of logos for various clients.
His skills extend to creating posters, vector illustrations, business cards, and brochures. Additionally, Bogdan's UI kits were featured on marketplaces like Visual Hierarchy and UI8.
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