About Silex
Overview
Silex is a visual builder for static websites. It combines a visual editor, CMS integration, and hosting in one free/libre and open-source platform.
Silex Labs, a French non-profit organization based in Paris, maintains the project. Silex started in 2009, belongs to the OW2 open-source community, and won the OW2 Best Project Award 2026 in the Technology category.
Key Benefits
- Every feature is free, and the AGPL license with no Contributor License Agreement keeps it that way.
- Silex exposes only HTML and CSS concepts, so the skills you learn apply everywhere and you avoid vendor lock-in.
- Sites come out fast, accessible, SEO-optimized, and eco-friendly.
- You can connect a CMS such as WordPress, Strapi, Squidex, or Supabase to feed dynamic data into your designs.
- The websites you create carry no tracking and no third-party cookies.
- You choose your hosting, or self-host Silex whenever you want.
How It Works
Open Silex at v3.silex.me with nothing to install and design your pages in the visual editor. Start with a simple static site, then plug in a CMS or API so clients can edit dynamic content, and publish and host your site.
Use Cases
- Freelance web designers build multiple client sites and hand content editing to clients through a CMS.
- Web agencies scale client work with static-site performance and reusable templates.
- Students learning web design practice on real HTML and CSS concepts.
- No-code developers build blogs, small business sites, and e-commerce sites visually.
- Teams that need static site performance publish fast sites from a headless CMS.
Why Choose This Product
Silex has no investors and no exit strategy, and donations fund project needs rather than marketing. The page notes that you might prefer something else if you need zero learning curve or a site live in 10 minutes.
Silex Pros & Cons
- 100% free and open source under AGPL
- No vendor lock-in with web standards
- Connects to WordPress, Strapi, Squidex, and Supabase
- Maintained by a non-profit with no investors
- No tracking or third-party cookies in created sites
- Not suited if you need zero learning curve
- Not suited if you need a site live in 10 minutes
- Desktop app is not yet available
Key Features
Visual Editor
Design websites visually with drag and drop and components while Silex exposes HTML and CSS concepts.
CMS Integration
Plug in WordPress, Strapi, Squidex, Supabase, or your own API to design with dynamic data that clients can edit.
Hosting Included
Publish and host sites directly from Silex, or self-host Silex yourself at any time.
Web Standards
Built on open web standards to avoid vendor lock-in and keep skills universally applicable.
Fast Static Sites
Generated sites are fast, accessible, SEO-optimized, and eco-friendly.
Templates
Community templates are available, and a Template Pack 1 of 4 production-ready templates for freelancers and agencies is being crowdfunded.
Privacy Respecting
Websites you create include no tracking and no third-party cookies, and the official instance runs on eco-friendly European servers.
Community-Funded Roadmap
Users fund, discuss, and beta test features under development through the public roadmap.
Silex Pricing
Pricing extracted from the product website and may change. Check the source for current details.
Frequently asked questions about Silex
Is Silex free?
Yes. All features are free of charge and Silex is 100% free and open source. You can publish, host, and use every feature for as long as you like. Managed hosting or personalized advice is available by talking to the maintainer in the chat.
Do I need to install Silex?
No. You can start on v3.silex.me with nothing to install. A desktop app with local-first, offline-first open-source AI integration is coming soon, and you can also self-host Silex anytime.
Who maintains Silex?
Silex Labs, a French non-profit organization based in Paris, maintains Silex. It has no investors and no exit strategy, and the project is part of OW2 and funded by the NGI0 Commons Fund.
Which CMSs can I connect to Silex?
Silex plugs into WordPress, Strapi, Squidex, Supabase, or your own API so you can design with dynamic data that your clients can edit.
What license does Silex use?
Silex is licensed under AGPL, and Silex Labs holds the copyright. There is no Contributor License Agreement, which keeps the license unchanged and the price free for everyone.
Who is Silex best for?
It suits web professionals building multiple sites, students learning design, teams needing static site performance, and agencies scaling client work. It may not fit if you need zero learning curve or a site live in 10 minutes.