Froala vs. VisualEditor: Best WYSIWYG HTML Editor Comparison
WYSIWYG HTML editors, such as Froala Editor and VisualEditor, have revolutionized content creation and editing since their emergence. With features like rich text editing, drag and drop, file uploads, and more, they make creating content faster and easier. But how do they differ?
Nowadays, we have numerous WYSIWYG editors appearing in content management systems (CMS), blogs, and even social media platforms. Their functions also range from regular rich text editors to full-blown productivity or content management platforms. Wherever you go on the internet, as long as you see content, you’re most likely interfacing with a WYSIWYG editor.
This variety is great, but for developers like you, choosing the right WYSIWYG editor can sometimes lead to confusion. Many of these editors are better suited for solving specific needs. Others offer a complete package.
To help you choose the WYSIWYG editor for you, this article explores Froala vs. VisualEditor, a comparison between two popular editors. Froala is lightweight and feature-rich, while VisualEditor is an open-source rich text editor. Let’s start comparing!
What is Froala Editor?
Froala is a modern WYSIWYG editor designed for developers seeking a lightweight, robust, and customizable solution. With an intuitive interface and over 100 features, Froala allows its users to create rich text, Markdown, HTML code, and entire blogs or web pages easily. Additionally, it provides seamless integration with most modern and popular languages and frameworks.
History and Development of Froala
Launched in 2014, Froala Editor is more than a JavaScript rich text editor. It is aimed towards providing excellent UX (User Experience) and DX (Developer Experience).
Today, it is popular among developers for its modular architecture and ease of integration, having 50,000+ customers and millions of end users. Additionally, this advanced rich text editor also managed to enter G2’s “Top 10 WYSIWYG Editors Software” rankings multiple times.
Key Features
- Rich Text Editor Features: Supports basic and advanced text formatting, including Markdown support and real-time collaboration.
- Media Management: Allows users to upload and manage files. As of version 4.3, Froala comes with a built-in Filestack integration, providing access to advanced file management features like OCR, SFW (safe for work) detection, and workflow automation. Note that to use this feature, you will also need to create a free Filestack account.
- Code View: Integrates with CodeMirror for directly editing or viewing the HTML code equivalent of the editor’s contents.
- Plugins: Offers different plugins for extended functionalities like spell check, emoticons, and more. You can also customize and reuse plugins.
- Responsive Design and Accessibility: Optimized to look consistent across different devices and browsers. It’s also compliant with various accessibility guidelines like Section 508 and WCAG 2.0.
- Security: Implements robust measures against XSS (cross-site scripting) attacks.
User Interface and Experience
Froala offers a modern, polished, and responsive user-friendly interface. Its design focuses on providing a clean experience that doesn’t overwhelm users with too many controls at once. It’s also highly customizable, allowing you to control which features you want on the toolbar as well as themes and editor behavior.
Supported Platforms and Integrations
Froala Editor is cross-platform and works across all major browsers and multiple operating systems. Its JavaScript core ensures compatibility with popular web development frameworks, such as Angular, React, Vue, .NET, Django, and Laravel. Plugins and APIs make customizing and scaling easier.
What is VisualEditor?
VisualEditor is an open-source rich-text editor developed by the Wikimedia Foundation for the MediaWiki platform. It aims to provide a user-friendly editing experience, especially for collaborative environments like Wikipedia.
History and Development of VisualEditor
Introduced in 2012, VisualEditor stemmed from the need to simplify the editing process on Wikipedia. Throughout the years, it has allowed users to edit web pages without needing to understand wikitext markup.
Key Features
- Rich Text Editor Features: Provides basic formatting options suitable for wiki content.
- Linking and Citation Tools: Simplifies adding internal and external links, as well as citations.
- Template Editing: Allows users to edit templates (and use ready-made templates) with a visual interface.
- Collaborative Editing: Designed for multi-user environments with real-time collaboration.
User Interface and Experience
VisualEditor provides a simpler UI with minimalist characteristics. It prioritizes ease of use, especially for contributors who are unfamiliar with code. While it may not offer the same level of control or customization as other editors, it fits wiki-like websites and needs perfectly.
Supported Platforms and Integrations
VisualEditor is primarily designed for MediaWiki, making its integration options narrower. While you can adapt it for use outside MediaWiki, doing so requires significant setup and familiarity with the codebase. Its lack of seamless integration with common web development tools limits its flexibility for broader use.
Froala vs. VisualEditor: In-Depth WYSIWYG Editor Comparison
Now that you know some vital details about Froala Editor and VisualEditor, it is time to compare the two. In this comparison, the criteria will revolve around the UI, features, performance, integration and support, and pricing.
User Interface
| Feature | Froala | VisualEditor |
|---|---|---|
| Intuitive Interface | Excellent | Moderate |
| Customizable UI | Yes | Yes (Limited) |
| Responsive Design | Yes | Yes |
| Toolbars and Themes | Full control | Predefined |
Froala excels in UI flexibility and aesthetics, providing a user-friendly interface suitable for a wider range of website building tasks.
On the other hand, VisualEditor’s UI suits simplified environments, such as wikis, better.
Features
| Feature | Froala | VisualEditor |
|---|---|---|
| Rich Text Editing | Yes | Yes |
| Markdown | Yes | No |
| Media and File Manager | Yes (Even better for v4.3 and up) | Limited |
| Code View/Source Code | Yes | Limited |
| Real-Time Collaboration | Via Codox.io integration | Limited |
| Plugins | Yes | No |
Froala offers more advanced features like Markdown support, a file manager, image upload tools, and code editing capabilities. VisualEditor sticks to the basics, which may be ideal for certain users but limiting for others.
Performance
Froala is known for its speed and responsiveness. It loads fast (less than 40 ms), is lightweight (50 KB core), and performs efficiently across browsers. Using websites with Froala on mobile devices retains the fast and intuitive experience.
VisualEditor can sometimes lag on larger pages and complex wiki entries due to its heavier dependencies.
Integration and Development Support
Froala WYSIWYG editor comes with seamless integration with both major frameworks and programming languages. It has strong developer support, including comprehensive documentation, a helpful community, a YouTube tutorial channel, and commercial support.
VisualEditor, on the other hand, currently doesn’t specify a list of integrations with modern web frameworks.
It also has limited documentation outside MediaWiki and requires a steep learning curve for those looking to use it elsewhere. This is because of its open-source or free software characteristics. Additionally, it’s difficult to find relevant video tutorials for VisualEditor.
Pricing and Licensing
Froala is a commercial product with tiered pricing. Its cost is backed by its features, support, and ongoing development. It does come with a fully featured free trial.
VisualEditor is free and open source, which is attractive to budget-conscious users but comes with fewer features and less flexibility.
Froala vs. VisualEditor: Pros and Cons
While both WYSIWYG editors are great, they also come with their own pros and cons:
Froala WYSIWYG Editor
Advantages
- Modern interface with full control over features; works well with UI frameworks like Bootstrap or Tailwind CSS
- Integration with multiple platforms
- Advanced features like Markdown, file management, and code editing
- Excellent developer documentation and support
- SEO-friendly, responsive, and accessible
Disadvantages
- Paid license required
VisualEditor
Advantages
- Free and open source
- Very simple and accessible UI
- Great for wikis and collaborative content
Disadvantages
- Basic rich text editor features only
- Minimal integration support outside MediaWiki
- Difficult to customize
Use Cases and Recommendations
Now, let’s discuss when and how you should use these WYSIWYG editors.
When Should You Choose Froala Editor?
If you’re a web developer, web designer, or product manager looking to create scalable websites, social media platforms, LMS, or blogs, Froala is a great option. It suits content-heavy applications and client-facing platforms where users expect a seamless, user-friendly editing experience.
Froala has the right tools for maximum control over the editor experience, whether you’re integrating real-time collaboration, making the next Instagram, or just need a powerful text editor.
When Should You Choose VisualEditor?
VisualEditor is ideal if you’re building a wiki, educational site, or knowledge base where multiple contributors need a simple, consistent, and open-source way to edit content. If you’re already working within the MediaWiki ecosystem, it’s the natural and obvious choice.
Tip: Choose the Right WYSIWYG Editor Based on Your Project Needs
Choosing the right rich text editor tools depends on your specific use case.
Do you need an entire arsenal of rich text editor capabilities or just a few? Are you considering accessibility, scalability, simplicity, and ease of use? How about integration with different programming languages?
For instance, Froala is a WYSIWYG editor that’s geared toward creating websites where customization and performance matter. It’s also a solid choice for creating content for a wide user base.
VisualEditor, while limited, shines in collaborative and documentation-heavy environments.
Whichever WYSIWYG editor you are eyeing, be sure to always check your project needs first. Pay only for what you’re sure you’ll use. More importantly, pay for the one that gives you the least amount of headache, especially when it comes to integration and maintenance.
Which WYSIWYG Editor is Better?
So there you have it: a detailed run-through of the background, features, strengths, weaknesses, and use cases of two popular WYSIWYG editors.
In terms of features, documentation, compliance, and usability, Froala Editor takes the lead. On the other hand, if you’re building a wiki or looking for a simple rich text editor for a small project, then you might want VisualEditor.
In the end, “better” refers to the HTML editor that best suits your project or website needs. So, why not try both of these editors and play around with their features?
FAQs
Is Froala Editor free?
Froala has a free trial, but it is a commercial WYSIWYG editor product with different pricing tiers based on features and usage.
Is VisualEditor easy to set up outside MediaWiki?
Not exactly. VisualEditor is primarily designed for MediaWiki, and while it can be adapted, it requires more effort than using it within its native environment.
Can you use Froala with Bootstrap 5 or Tailwind CSS?
Yes, you can integrate Froala with projects that use Bootstrap, Tailwind, or regular CSS codes, giving you design consistency across your app or website.
Which rich text editor is better for real-time collaboration?
You can easily integrate Codox.io with Froala for collaboration in real time, whereas VisualEditor offers basic collaborative features out of the box.
Which one is better for developers?
Froala, due to its robust documentation, easy integration with modern frameworks, and developer-friendly tools like code editing and Markdown.
Which rich text editor is better for building informative pages?
If you’re looking to build some wiki pages for your interests or organization, then you could go with VisualEditor.
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