Froala vs AIEditor: Which Rich Text Editor Should You Choose in 2026?
If you’re adding a rich text editor to your app, you’ve probably come across AIEditor and Froala.
AIEditor is a newer, open-source editor built with AI in mind. Froala has been around for over a decade and is used in CMS platforms, CRMs, email builders, and other applications.
So, which one should you choose?
There isn’t one answer that works for every project. In this article, we’ll compare AIEditor and Froala based on pricing, built-in features, AI support, and what it’s actually like to use them as your app grows.
Let’s get into it.
Key Takeaways
- AIEditor is an open-source, AI-focused editor with a generous free version, but its Pro version costs $5,000–$8,000.
- Froala starts at around $799/year and includes unlimited editor loads, unlimited users, built-in plugins, and technical support.
- Both editors support AI, but Froala’s AI Assist works with multiple AI providers and gives you more control over AI-generated content.
- AIEditor works well for small projects, while Froala is a better fit for products that need to scale and be maintained long-term.
- Both editors are quick and easy to integrate.
Quick Comparison Table
Before we get into the setup and code, here’s a quick side-by-side comparison of AIEditor and Froala.
This table gives you a quick look at their pricing, features, AI support, plugins, and more. We’ll cover each of these points in more detail later in the article.
| Feature | AIEditor | Froala |
| License model | LGPL (open source) + paid Pro tiers | Commercial subscription/perpetual license |
| Starting price | Free (open source) / $5,000+ for Pro | ~$799/year (Professional plan) |
| Users & editor loads | Yes, on both open source and Pro | Yes, on every paid plan |
| Framework support | React, Vue, Angular, Svelte, and more | React, Angular, Vue with maintained LTS SDKs |
| Plugin ecosystem | Built-in features | Full plugin library included on all plans |
| File management | Manual setup | Native Filestack integration (uploads, CDN, image editing) |
| AI features | AI writing, translation, chat, and code tools | AI Assist plugin, works with any LLM provider |
| Support | Community + direct contact for Pro | Dedicated technical support |
| Best for | Small projects and developers who prefer open source | Teams shipping production apps that need predictable cost and support |
At first glance, AIEditor and Froala look quite similar. Both are capable rich text editors with AI features and modern framework support.
The biggest difference is pricing. AIEditor Pro uses a one-time license fee, while Froala offers annual and perpetual license options. So, it’s worth looking at the long-term cost rather than just the starting price.
With that in mind, let’s see how easy each editor is to set up and use.
Setting Up AIEditor
AIEditor is easy to add to a simple HTML page. You don’t need npm or any build tools to get started.
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="<https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/aieditor/dist/style.css>" />
</head>
<body>
<div id="editor-container" style="height: 400px;"></div>
<script type="module">
import { AiEditor } from "<https://esm.run/aieditor>";
const editor = new AiEditor({
element: "#editor-container",
placeholder: "Start typing here...",
});
</script>
</body>
</html> That’s it. AIEditor gives you a Notion-style block editor with drag-and-drop, Markdown support, and basic formatting, all loaded directly from a CDN.
You can find the full option list and more advanced examples in the AIEditor GitHub repository.
AI features require some additional setup. You’ll need to connect an AI model and configure how requests are handled.
Froala takes a similar approach. Its AI Assist plugin provides the AI interface and built-in actions for generating content, changing tone, and translating text. You still need to connect an AI endpoint or handle requests yourself, but you don’t have to build the AI editing interface from scratch.
Setting Up Froala
Now, let’s try the same with Froala. The setup is just as quick, and the Froala documentation includes examples for almost every common use case.
Like AIEditor, Froala can also be loaded directly from a CDN, so you only need a simple HTML page to get started:
<!doctype html>
<html>
<head>
<link
href="<https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/froala-editor@latest/css/froala_editor.pkgd.min.css>"
rel="stylesheet"
type="text/css"
/>
</head>
<body>
<div id="editor-container"></div>
<script
type="text/javascript"
src="<https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/froala-editor@latest/js/froala_editor.pkgd.min.js>"
></script>
<script>
new FroalaEditor("#editor-container", {
placeholderText: "Start typing here...",
toolbarButtons: [
"bold",
"italic",
"underline",
"strikeThrough",
"fontFamily",
"fontSize",
"textColor",
"backgroundColor",
"alignLeft",
"alignCenter",
"alignRight",
"formatOL",
"formatUL",
"insertLink",
"insertImage",
"insertTable",
"insertHR",
"undo",
"redo",
"html",
],
});
</script>
</body>
</html> 
Adding AI Assist
Froala’s AI Assist plugin adds AI tools directly to the editor. To enable it, load the AI Assist plugin, accept the AI supplemental terms, and add the AI buttons to the toolbar:
<!doctype html>
<html>
<head>
<link
href="<https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/froala-editor@latest/css/froala_editor.pkgd.min.css>"
rel="stylesheet"
type="text/css"
/>
</head>
<body>
<div
id="editor-container"
></div>
<script src="<https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/froala-editor@latest/js/froala_editor.pkgd.min.js>"></script>
<script src="<https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/froala-editor@latest/js/plugins/ai_assist.min.js>"></script>
<script>
new FroalaEditor("#editor-container", {
placeholderText: "Start typing here...",
aiSupplementalTermsAccepted: true,
toolbarButtons: [
"bold",
"italic",
"underline",
"strikeThrough",
"fontFamily",
"fontSize",
"textColor",
"backgroundColor",
"alignLeft",
"alignCenter",
"alignRight",
"formatOL",
"formatUL",
"insertLink",
"insertImage",
"insertTable",
"aiAssist",
"aiShortCuts",
"undo",
"redo",
"html",
],
});
</script>
</body>
</html> That’s it. The AI Assist options now appear in the editor toolbar, so users can access AI tools directly inside the editor without needing a separate AI interface.
But Froala doesn’t limit you to a specific AI provider. You can use the aiAssistRequest option to control how AI requests are sent and connect the editor to the AI provider of your choice.
Here’s a simple example:
new FroalaEditor('#editor-container', {
aiAssistRequest: async function(data, signal) {
const response = await fetch('<https://my-ai-api.com/generate>', {
method: 'POST',
headers: { 'Authorization': 'Bearer TOKEN' },
body: JSON.stringify({
prompt: data.prompt,
max_tokens: 500
}),
signal: signal
});
const result = await response.json();
return result.generated_text;
}
}); In this example, aiAssistRequest sends the prompt to the OpenAI API and returns the generated content to Froala. The editor then adds the AI response to the editing workflow.
This direct setup is useful for testing and prototypes. For production apps, keep your AI API key on the server and send requests through your own backend instead.
The setup is simple, but there are a few things you should keep in mind when adding a rich text editor to a real application.
Best Practices
Here are a few best practices to follow when working with AIEditor or Froala:
- Keep your AI API keys on the server. Never expose your OpenAI, Claude, or Gemini API key in frontend code. Use a backend endpoint or serverless function to handle AI requests.
- Add only the toolbar buttons you need. Both editors let you choose which buttons appear in the toolbar. Keeping the toolbar simple makes the editor easier to use.
- Test content pasted from Word or Google Docs. Pasted content can include extra HTML and inline styles, so test how the editor handles it before launching your app.
- Set content limits. Use word or character limits to prevent users from adding more content than your application or database expects.
- Check the license before going to production. Make sure you understand what the editor’s license allows before using it in a production application.
Following those practices will save you from most headaches, but a few mistakes are common enough and costly enough that they deserve a closer look on their own.
Common Pitfalls
Even with a simple setup, there are a few common mistakes you should avoid:
- Assuming open source means every feature is free. AIEditor’s core editor is open source, but some advanced features are only available in the Pro version. Check which features you need before choosing a license.
- Ignoring long-term support. Adding a rich text editor is easy, but you may run into paste issues, mobile bugs, or other edge cases later. Consider what kind of technical support you’ll need as your app grows.
- Exposing AI API keys in frontend code. If you connect an AI provider to your editor, never add the API key directly to your frontend code. Keep it on your server and handle AI requests through your backend.
- Not checking framework support early. If your app may move to a different framework later, check how well the editor supports and maintains its framework integrations.
Those common mistakes also show why choosing a rich text editor isn’t just about how quickly you can set it up. You also need to think about pricing, support, integrations, and how well the editor will work as your application grows.
Why Teams Lean Toward Froala for Production Apps
Both AIEditor and Froala are capable editors. AIEditor offers a lot in its free, open-source version. But for production applications, Froala has a few practical advantages:
- More predictable pricing. Froala’s paid plans start at $799/year, while AIEditor Pro costs $5,000–$8,000 as a one-time license. For teams that don’t want a large upfront cost, Froala can be easier to budget for.
- A built-in plugin library. Froala includes plugins for tables, images, file uploads, and other common editing features. It also integrates with Filestack for advanced file and image management.
- Flexible AI integration. With aiAssistRequest, you control how AI requests are handled. This makes it possible to connect different AI providers or your own AI service.
- Maintained framework SDKs. Froala provides SDKs for React, Angular, and Vue, making it easier to use the editor in modern web applications.
- Technical support. Froala provides technical support for paid users, which can be helpful when you run into integration or editor issues in production. Independent reviews on G2 echo this, with users regularly citing responsive support as a standout.
So, which editor should you choose?
Conclusion
If you’re building a small project or want a free, open-source editor, AIEditor is a good option. It’s easy to set up and offers useful AI-focused features.
But if you’re building a production application that you plan to maintain and scale, Froala may be a better fit. Its plugin library, flexible AI integration, maintained framework SDKs, and technical support can make long-term development easier.
Both editors are capable, so the best choice depends on your project and budget. Try them in your own application and see which one works better with your stack and requirements.
Ready to build with a production-ready rich text editor? Explore Froala’s AI Assist, plugin library, framework SDKs, and file management features to see how quickly you can integrate a flexible editor into your app.
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