Silex

The pitch for Silex is an argument against lock-in. This free and libre visual builder produces standard HTML and CSS, hosts anywhere, and lets you walk away at any point, with no subscription, no proprietary format and no tracking, which is the opposite of how most no-code tools are shaped.

The editor is built on GrapesJS, pairing drag-and-drop page building with HTML, CSS and JavaScript editors. Output is static, and templates are compatible with 11ty, so a site can be generated and deployed through CI like any other codebase.

Several pieces beyond the editor matter for real client work.

• CMS integration: bind components to WordPress, Strapi, Squidex or any GraphQL API.
• Desktop app: an alpha Tauri build for Windows, macOS and Linux that works offline with no account.
• MCP server: the desktop app exposes a Model Context Protocol endpoint, so a local Ollama model or another compatible client can edit a site by prompt.
• Plugin system: server and client extensions written in JavaScript or TypeScript.
• SEO tools: meta tags, Open Graph and per-page settings.
• Self-hosting: Docker, Node.js or a one-click CapRover deploy.

Silex is maintained by Silex Labs, a non-profit recognized as being of general interest, with transparent finances and no investors, which is the reason there is no premium tier to upgrade to. An online instance is free to try, storing your work in a GitLab account, and the desktop download needs no account at all.