Best HTML Editor with Live Preview for 2025

We’ve seen something interesting over the years: people not only use our HTML editor demos to test the software; they’re using them to actually create content. That’s great, but we realized those demos weren’t exactly built for content creation. So, we decided to fix that. We built a dedicated space where anyone can use our WYSIWYG editor to write, clean up, and reuse content anywhere—no integration required. Enter Online HTML Editor

This minimalist site gives you access to two powerful editors:

• An online HTML editor, powered by CKEditor 4

• A real-time collaborative editor, built with CKEditor 5

# Why Choose a Better HTML Editor?

Let’s face it, not all editors are created equal. Most embedded editors—whether in a CMS, CRM, or note-taking app—are outdated and limited. Many are light, bare-bones options that can’t handle complex tasks. Pasting content from Word? Adding properly scaled images? Formatting lists? You’ve likely encountered the pain points.

CKEditor is different. With over 50 developers and more than 17 years of expertise in rich text editing, we’ve built tools that simplify content creation. Even though our editors are designed for embedding into other software, this free editor gives you direct access to their full capabilities. With just a few clicks, you can create content and export clean, reusable HTML for any platform.

# Free Online HTML Editor With Preview

You can use our editors to create content, copy the rich-text or HTML output, and drop it into whatever platform you’re working with. Many users come to our site to clean up messy formatting from other editors like Word or Google Docs. The consistent, clean HTML that CKEditor generates is a game-changer. It’s why people keep coming back. The ability to paste content from other sources and immediately produce professional, reusable HTML sets us apart.

# Online WYSIWYG HTML Editor with Access to Edit Source Code

The first editor available is based on CKEditor 4. It’s perfect for those who want to switch between WYSIWYG editing and direct HTML editing. With just a click, you can view and edit the HTML source code generated in the background. Toggle between modes as needed—your workflow, your rules.

CKEditor 4 comes packed with features:

• Classic tools like tables, lists, emojis, block quotes, and spell-check

• A distraction-free full-screen mode for when you need extra writing space

• Keyboard shortcuts to speed up editing

• “Find and Replace” functionality to quickly search for and modify elements in your code

One standout feature is the improved pasting capabilities. You can paste rich-text content from Word, Excel, Google Docs, or LibreOffice, and it just works. You can even paste raw HTML, including tags, by turning off HTML filtering.

# Collaborative Editor with Clean HTML Output

Our second editor, based on CKEditor 5, is a real-time collaborative editor. Unlike CKEditor 4, this editor was built from the ground up with collaboration in mind. It doesn’t offer source HTML editing, but its clean output more than makes up for it.

If you’ve been frustrated by editors that produce messy HTML or require constant tweaking, CKEditor 5 will change your mind. The clean, correct HTML it generates is ready to use anywhere, no editing required. And for teams, the real-time collaboration features are a game-changer.

Here’s what CKEditor 5 brings to the table:

• Real-time editing and commenting, just like Google Docs

• Track Changes to review and approve edits collaboratively

• Unlimited collaborators on the same document—just share the URL

Each document stays active for an hour after the last user disconnects, so you won’t lose your work. And since the editor isn’t tied to any application, usernames and avatars are randomized for simplicity. Whether you’re adding Markdown syntax or styling content with keyboard shortcuts, CKEditor 5 is built to handle whatever you throw at it.

# Which Editor Should You Choose?

Both editors have their strengths. CKEditor 4 is great if you prefer toggling between WYSIWYG and source code, while CKEditor 5 shines for team projects and collaboration. Need both? You can always switch between them based on your workflow.

If you’re new to HTML editing, we recommend starting with the real-time collaborative editor. It’s user-friendly and ideal for a wide range of technical backgrounds. If you need to tweak the HTML, you can always copy the output and refine it in the CKEditor 4 editor.

# A Better Way to Work with HTML

The tools available at Online HTML Editor are designed to make your life easier. Whether you’re creating content for an email campaign, cleaning up messy HTML, or collaborating with a team, these editors have you covered. With features like live preview, “find and replace,” advanced pasting, and real-time collaboration, clean HTML is always just a few clicks away.

Visit onlinehtmleditor.dev today and see how simple great content creation can be. And if you think there’s something missing, drop us a message—we’re always looking to improve.