TOP PICKS | 11 TOOLS

Best Web-Design Apps and Websites for Students

Help students understand how the web works with these web design and development tools. Are your students interested in learning HTML, CSS, PHP, and the nuts-and-bolts of how websites get designed, built, and maintained? Maybe they just want to brush up on the basics of coding so that they can better understand their increasingly web-filled world. Or, perhaps they're just looking to launch a personal site or publish content with a WYSIWYG tool like Squarespace or Wordpress. On this list, we've assembled a nice mix of tools for each scenario.

Top Picks

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Codemoji

Emoji-based coding tool demystifies web design and animation

Bottom line: Emoji-based lessons engage and empower kids to explore web design and animation, with instant website creation.

Grades: 2–8 Price: Free, Paid Individual licenses are free; classroom licenses are $10 per month and include more lessons and premium student access. School and district licenses are also available.

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Mozilla Thimble

Inspiring platform teaches coding through remixing

Bottom line: Thimble is an excellent, free resource for teaching students to code through experimentation.

Grades: 4–12 Price: Free

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Weebly

Impressively easy-to-use website-creation tool

Bottom line: Helpfully walks students through each step of website creation, and teachers can control access and monitor progress.

Grades: 4–12 Price: Free, Paid Basic features are available for free. Weebly has optional Pro account features for $39.95 per year, and they offer add-on packs of student accounts (10 accounts for $10) if teacher needs exceed the 40 accounts that are included.

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Mozilla X-Ray Goggles

Remix tool reveals code, can strengthen kids' understanding of the web

Bottom line: It's a blast to use and an easy way to get experimentation and prototyping going with plenty of student choice -- kids are really in the driver's seat!

Grades: 5–12 Price: Free

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Codecademy

Terrific coding site a fun way to learn real-world skills

Bottom line: For both introductory and higher skill levels, Codecademy teaches the breadth and depth of skills for the modern computer field workplace.

Grades: 7–12 Price: Free, Free to try, Paid Codecademy Pro accounts include all content from the free account plus access to real-world scenarios, online assessments, and advisors who will guide your progress ($19.99 per month for a 1-year subscription, $29.99 per month for a 6-month subscription, or $39.99 per month).

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Adobe Spark

Super-flexible design tool for crafting fab images, videos, and sites

Bottom line: This free, one-stop shop for creating sleek graphics, web stories, and animated videos is incredibly easy to use and challenges students to think critically about visual presentation.

Grades: 6–12 Price: Free

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CodeHS

Computer science curriculum offers great feedback, fun challenges

Bottom line: Effective tools and clear lessons teach real programming, but you'll have to spend some cash to help kids master it.

Grades: 6–12 Price: Free to try, Paid Pricing is from $1,500–$3,000 per section, depending on the plan; individual plans are $25 per month and up. For more information, visit https://codehs.com/info/plans.

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