WYSIWYG editors have transformed content creation by showing you exactly what you're getting while you work. From novices to seasoned developers, everyone can benefit from the top 10 WYSIWYG editors that streamline workflow and enhance productivity. Think of them as Microsoft Word for the web—what you type, format, and design is precisely what appears when published. No more jumping between code and preview modes.

These best WYSIWYG editors connect technical and non-technical team members, making content creation accessible to everyone in your organization. By utilizing one of the top 10 WYSIWYG editors in your headless CMS, you can drop content, images, and widgets directly on pages without writing any code, harnessing the benefits of headless CMS to deliver content across multiple platforms efficiently.

In brief:

• WYSIWYG editors democratize content creation by allowing non-technical users to build attractive content without coding knowledge
• The top editors (TinyMCE, CKEditor, Froala, Quill, and Summernote) each offer unique advantages for different use cases
• Modern WYSIWYG editors support integration with headless CMS platforms like Strapi v5, combining visual editing with powerful backend capabilities
• When selecting an editor, consider factors like usability, code quality, content reusability, and how well it fits your specific content strategy

What Are The Best WYSIWYG Editors and Their Benefits

WYSIWYG ("What You See Is What You Get") editors let users shape content visually without coding knowledge. You see in real-time how your content will appear to end-users—just like Microsoft Word shows you exactly how your document will look when printed.

The true power of these editors is accessibility. They democratize content creation by allowing non-technical users to create visually appealing, structured content without learning HTML, CSS, or programming languages. This makes them especially valuable when marketing teams, subject matter experts, or anyone without development skills needs to create or update content.

WYSIWYG editors offer several key benefits:

• Intuitive interface: Most feature drag-and-drop functionality, letting you easily structure pages with text, images, and videos.
• Faster time-to-market: You can quickly set up web pages without writing code from scratch, and preview pages live without switching between editing and preview modes. In fact, tools like Strapi enhance this by improving content workflows, enabling teams to collaborate more efficiently through features like customizable review workflows, automation of repetitive tasks, and clear assignment of responsibilities.
• Fewer mistakes: It's easier to spot and fix errors when you can see the final result as you work.
• Flexibility for non-technical users: Making modifications takes just a few clicks, empowering team members across departments. For agencies handling multiple projects, the Strapi benefits for agencies are significant, enabling rapid project setup and deployment, easy content management, and cost-effective scalability without extensive coding. This allows agencies to focus on delivering tailored features and enhancing client satisfaction.

However, these editors come with limitations:

• Inconsistency across channels: Traditional WYSIWYG editors often struggle with multi-platform content delivery. Content designed for desktop might not translate properly to mobile.
• Limited functionality: Their simplicity becomes a limitation when designing complex web pages. Advanced customizations may exceed the editor's capabilities.
• Code bloat: WYSIWYG editors frequently generate excess code that can slow down website loading times and cause rendering errors.
• Content reuse challenges: The way these editors structure content often makes it difficult to reuse across different channels or contexts.

Your choice should align with your organization's specific needs, content update frequency, and technical capabilities. Different projects require different levels of complexity, whether for websites, mobile applications, or other digital channels.

For more information about WYSIWYG implementation in content management systems, check out What Is a Headless CMS WYSIWYG? or explore different approaches to visual editing.

Top 10 WYSIWYG Editors for Modern Web Development

Whether you're building a website, integrating with a headless CMS, or developing a content-rich application, choosing the right WYSIWYG editor can transform your content creation workflow.

1. TinyMCE

TinyMCE is a well-established and versatile WYSIWYG editor, known for its high customizability and seamless integration with various frameworks, including React applications and headless CMS platforms. It supports integration with Strapi CMS, allowing developers to replace Strapi's default editor with TinyMCE's rich text editing features. This integration offers advanced content creation capabilities and supports a wide range of plugins and customization options, enhancing productivity and content management within Strapi.

Key features that set TinyMCE apart include:

• Extensive plugin ecosystem with capabilities like accessibility checking and spell checking
• Customizable toolbar configurations to control available formatting options
• Comprehensive API for deep integration with your application
• Mobile-friendly responsive design
• Real-time collaboration features

TinyMCE's flexibility makes it particularly valuable when implementing custom solutions. For example, you can configure specific plugins for enhanced functionality:

1plugins: 'a11ychecker code link tinymcespellchecker',
2spellchecker_language: 'en',
3spellchecker_dialog: true,

Perfect for: Enterprise applications, content management systems, and situations requiring extensive customization.

Integrate TinyMCE into your Strapi application using the TinyMCE Strapi plugin from the Strapi Market place.

2. CKEditor

CKEditor is a robust WYSIWYG editor that offers exceptional flexibility and power, making it ideal for enterprises and complex content creation needs. CKEditor integrates with Strapi v5, enhancing content editing capabilities within the headless CMS environment. This integration offers advanced rich text editing features, improved media handling, and customization options that streamline the content creation workflow in Strapi.

What makes CKEditor stand out:

• Three customizable preset versions (Light, Standard, and Rich) to match different content complexity needs
• Outputs fully semantic HTML markup, pleasing both content creators and developers
• Advanced table editing and styling capabilities
• Font customization options including size, family, color, and background
• Media integration with platforms like Strapi Media Library

CKEditor's preset system is particularly valuable for different content types:

• Light version: Perfect for short content like comments or social posts
• Standard version: Ideal for blog posts with features for external media URLs and block quotes
• Rich version: Comprehensive solution for complex articles, offering advanced tables and text styling

Strapi 5 is designed for projects with complex documentation systems and high content structure requirements. It supports both TypeScript and JavaScript, emphasizing modularity and extensibility. Its Content API, available through REST and GraphQL, along with the Document Service API, enhances its ability to manage intricate content needs.

Integrate CKEditor into your Strapi application using the CKEditor 5 Strapi plugin from the Strapi Market place.

3. Froala Editor

Froala Editor has gained popularity for its modern design, lightweight footprint, and extensive feature set. This premium WYSIWYG editor combines performance with aesthetics, making it a go-to choice for developers seeking a polished editing experience.

Key features that distinguish Froala:

• Clean, modern interface with customizable themes
• Inline and pop-up editing modes
• Advanced image handling with cropping and resizing tools
• Easy integration with various frameworks including Angular, React, and Vue
• Extensive API documentation for developers

Froala also offers specialized extensions for:

• Image management with TUI Image Editor
• Advanced table operations
• File management with powerful upload capabilities
• Code syntax highlighting for technical content

Perfect for: Commercial projects requiring a premium user experience, applications with heavy image requirements, and design-focused websites.

4. Quill

Quill is a free, open-source editor built for the modern web. Its modular architecture and minimal core make it lightweight yet powerful. Quill focuses on providing a clean API that makes customization straightforward.

Standout features of Quill include:

• Modular architecture allowing for precise customization
• Parchment, a powerful document model system
• Delta format for representing content changes
• Extensive formatting options despite its lightweight design
• Cross-platform compatibility and responsive design

Quill's API allows for detailed customization:

1var quill = new Quill('#editor', {
2  modules: {
3    toolbar: [
4      ['bold', 'italic'],
5      ['link', 'image'],
6      [{ 'list': 'ordered'}, { 'list': 'bullet' }]
7    ]
8  },
9  theme: 'snow'
10});

Perfect for: Projects requiring a lightweight solution, applications where customization is prioritized over out-of-the-box features, and modern web applications.

5. Summernote

Summernote offers a simple, clean interface while maintaining powerful editing capabilities. Built on Bootstrap, this open-source editor provides seamless integration with Bootstrap-based projects.

Key features of Summernote include:

• Bootstrap integration for consistent styling
• Minimal setup requirements for quick implementation
• Air-mode for distraction-free editing
• Extensive callbacks for event handling
• Support for custom buttons and plugins

Summernote's simplicity is evident in its initialization:

1$('#summernote').summernote({
2  height: 300,
3  tabsize: 2,
4  placeholder: 'Start typing...'
5});

Perfect for: Bootstrap-based projects, situations where simplicity is prioritized, and applications needing quick implementation with minimal setup.

Other Notable WYSIWYG Editors

While the top 5 WYSIWYG editors lead the market, several other noteworthy options are worth considering for specific needs:

6. Trix

Developed by Basecamp, Trix takes a different approach to rich text editing by focusing on composing rather than formatting.

Key features:

• Clean, distraction-free interface focused on content creation
• Custom HTML elements for predictable editing behavior
• Automatic image uploads with progress indicators
• Markdown-inspired shortcuts for formatting
• File attachment capabilities built-in

Perfect for: Applications needing streamlined content creation with minimal formatting options, and situations where content structure takes precedence over styling variety.

7. ContentTools

ContentTools offers an innovative approach to content editing with its inline editing system that transforms entire webpage regions into editable content.

Key features:

• True in-context editing directly on the webpage
• Region-based editing approach for precise control
• Floating toolbars that appear only when needed
• Image cropping and focal point selection tools
• Clean HTML output with configurable allowed tags

Perfect for: Projects requiring true in-context editing, websites with complex layouts that need direct manipulation, and situations where WYSIWYG should feel like editing the live page.

8. MediumEditor

Inspired by Medium.com's editing experience, MediumEditor provides a minimalist, inline editing toolkit focused on distraction-free writing.

Key features:

• Floating toolbar that appears only when text is selected
• Minimal interface that prioritizes content over toolbars
• Multiple toolbar options and positioning
• Customizable buttons and extensions
• Anchor preview for links within content

Perfect for: Blog platforms, publishing websites, and applications seeking a content-first editing approach with clean visual aesthetics.

9. Redactor

Redactor is a premium WYSIWYG editor that emphasizes speed and simplicity without sacrificing power, particularly valuable for projects prioritizing performance.

Key features:

• Extremely lightweight codebase for fast loading
• Clean HTML output with minimal markup
• Image handling with drag-and-drop support
• Table editing with cell manipulation tools
• Plugin architecture for extended functionality

Perfect for: Performance-critical applications, projects requiring clean code output, and professional publishing platforms seeking a balance of features and speed.

10. ProseMirror

ProseMirror stands out with its toolkit approach to rich text editing, providing building blocks for custom editors rather than a standalone solution.

Key features:

• Document model focused on structured content
• Schema system for content validation
• History module for undo/redo functionality
• Collaborative editing capabilities
• Strong typing with TypeScript support

Perfect for: Complex applications requiring highly customized editors, collaborative editing platforms, and situations where content structure and validation are critical.

Essential Features of WYSIWYG Editors

WYSIWYG editors have become fundamental tools for content creation and management, displaying how different types of content will appear without requiring any coding knowledge.

The core functionalities of effective WYSIWYG editors include:

• Intuitive drag-and-drop interface: Quality editors offer drag-and-drop capabilities that allow you to easily position text, images, videos, and other components exactly where you want them on the page.
• Real-time visual previews: One of the defining features is the ability to see how your content will appear to end-users while you're creating it. This eliminates the need to switch between editing and preview modes, streamlining the content creation process and accelerating time-to-market.
• Basic formatting controls: Effective WYSIWYG editors provide easy access to essential formatting options like text styling, alignment, color selection, and typography adjustments.

Beyond the basics, modern WYSIWYG editors often include more sophisticated features:

• Error detection and resolution: Advanced editors can help you identify and fix errors in your content more easily than if you were working directly with code.
• Flexible modification options: The best editors allow you to make quick changes to your content with minimal effort. This flexibility is crucial for content teams that need to update information frequently.
• Component-based editing: Many modern editors, especially those in headless CMS platforms, support component-based content creation, where you can work with reusable, pre-designed content blocks that maintain consistency across your content.
• Cross-platform preview: Advanced editors may offer the ability to preview how content will appear across different devices and platforms, helping address one of the traditional limitations of WYSIWYG editors—inconsistency across channels.
• Multilingual support: Advanced editors may also support multilingual content creation, crucial for organizations reaching global audiences. Integrations with systems like Strapi enable a multilingual CMS, facilitating efficient content management in multiple languages through its Internationalization (i18n) plugin.

When integrated with platforms like Strapi, editors can enhance performance by strategically using APIs and CDNs. A Content Delivery Network (CDN) helps address network latency issues, especially when handling large media assets from a REST API. By caching these static assets globally, a CDN reduces server load and minimizes geographical latency, allowing the server to manage higher traffic volumes effectively. For more detailed information, you can read the full guide on Strapi's blog about using a CDN.

How to Choose the Right WYSIWYG Editor

Selecting the optimal WYSIWYG editor for your specific needs requires a systematic approach. With numerous options available, you need to assess each tool against a comprehensive set of criteria.

When evaluating WYSIWYG editors, consider these essential factors:

• Usability and Interface: Look for editors with intuitive drag-and-drop functionality that allows easy manipulation of text, images, and other media elements.
• Multi-platform Compatibility: Traditional WYSIWYG editors often struggle with consistency across different devices. Ensure your chosen editor renders content appropriately on desktops, tablets, and mobile devices.
• Code Quality and Performance: Many WYSIWYG editors generate excess code that can slow down website loading times. Evaluate whether the editor produces clean, standards-compliant HTML.
• Content Reusability: Consider how easily content created in the editor can be repurposed across different channels and platforms.
• Customization Options: Assess the degree to which the editor can be customized to meet your specific requirements.
• Integration Capabilities: Determine how well the editor integrates with your existing tech stack, including your CMS and other systems.

To effectively compare different WYSIWYG editors, create a comprehensive matrix using the criteria above:

Criteria TinyMCE CKEditor Froala Editor Quill Summernote Usability Multi-platform Code quality Content reusability Customization Integration Time-to-market Error reduction

When weighing these factors, prioritize those most critical to your specific use case. For instance, if you're managing content across multiple platforms, multi-platform compatibility should be weighted more heavily.

Remember that the "right" WYSIWYG editor depends entirely on your organization's unique requirements, technical environment, and content strategy. Similarly, when evaluating your CMS options, consider the factors in choosing a headless CMS to find a solution that aligns with your needs.

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Integration with Headless CMS Platforms

Integrating powerful content editing capabilities with headless CMS platforms enhances the content creation experience while maintaining the flexibility of headless architecture. For organizations seeking comprehensive solutions, enterprise content management with Strapi offers robust content editing combined with scalable backend capabilities, including API creation, content management, customization, collaboration, and secure hosting.

Integration with Strapi v5

The latest iteration of Strapi offers enhanced integration possibilities with WYSIWYG editors. Strapi v5 brings significant improvements to the developer and content editor experience, making it an excellent platform for implementing rich text editing capabilities. For those looking to tailor the editor to specific needs, Strapi provides guidance on how to customize and extend the editor's functionality, including integrating third-party plugins like CKEditor and creating custom WYSIWYG plugins. Users can create and register custom components using the admin panel extensions system by adding new components in the /src/admin/extensions folder and registering them with the app.addFields() function.

When working with Strapi v5, integrating CKEditor 5 enhances CMS editing capabilities by combining the flexibility of a headless CMS with an advanced rich text editor. CKEditor's plugin-based architecture is customizable, allowing you to add or remove features. You can adjust the toolbar, plugins, and styling to create a personalized editing environment within Strapi. For detailed steps on this process, see CKEditor integration with Strapi.

For Strapi v5 specifically, you have integration options including using CKEditor as a custom field, which enhances editing with advanced formatting and media handling. For simpler content, Strapi provides a default Markdown-based editor.

According to the Strapi v5 documentation, the platform offers improvements in:

• Performance and scalability
• Developer experience
• Plugin management
• API capabilities
• Security features

To integrate CKEditor with Strapi v5, ensure you have the correct plugin version. Follow the installation and project rebuild instructions provided in the plugin's documentation, as these steps may vary depending on the specific CKEditor plugin used.

This integration allows your content team to utilize CKEditor through custom fields, enhancing editing capabilities while retaining the benefits of a headless architecture. It supports extensive customization, including toolbar configuration and plugin management. Existing content is preserved and integrates seamlessly with Strapi's media library for a smooth content management experience.

The collaboration between Strapi v5 and CKEditor creates a powerful pairing that addresses the needs of developers, content creators, marketers, and end-users by combining a flexible headless approach with user-friendly editing tools.

Other Integration Approaches

Beyond Strapi v5, many other headless CMS platforms offer integration with WYSIWYG editors:

• TinyMCE integrates well with React-based headless CMS implementations
• Quill works nicely with Node.js backend systems
• Froala provides dedicated components for various frontend frameworks

When selecting an editor for your headless CMS implementation, consider:

• API compatibility between the editor and your CMS is crucial for smooth operation. Platforms like Strapi offer customizable APIs to integrate seamlessly with a variety of editors such as CKEditor and TinyMCE. You can adjust toolbars, settings, and add plugins to suit different editing requirements.
• How content is stored and retrieved
• Whether the editor supports the content structure your CMS uses
• Performance impact on your application