Silex is a free, open-source, no-code website builder for static sites. See features, hosting options, pros, cons and how it compares to Webflow.
Silex is a free, open-source, no-code website builder for creating static websites visually in the browser. Its origins trace back to 2003, when it was created by Alex Hoyau together with Pol Goasdoue and Pierre Teissiere, and the tool was rebuilt from the ground up in 2013 with modern JavaScript and Node.js technology.
Silex is owned by Silex Labs, a French non-profit foundation with no investors and no exit strategy, which keeps the software permanently free and licensed under the AGPL. It is also recognized as a project of OW2, the European open-source community, having received the OW2 Best Project Award.
The tool is aimed at web designers, freelancers, and no-code builders who want a Webflow-style visual editing experience while keeping full ownership of the underlying static HTML, CSS, and JavaScript output, with the option to self-host rather than depend on a proprietary hosted platform.
Silex offers a drag-and-drop visual editor for building responsive pages, alongside direct access to the underlying HTML, CSS, and JavaScript for designers who want finer control than pure no-code tools allow.
The platform can connect to external data sources including WordPress, Strapi, Squidex, Supabase, and any GraphQL API, letting users build dynamic, CMS-powered pages that are still exported as fast, static HTML.
Silex can be used instantly at v3.silex.me with nothing to install, or self-hosted via Docker, Node.js, or a one-click CapRover deployment, giving users full control over where their site's data and build process live.
Silex is completely free with no paywalls: the project states explicitly that all features are free of charge and that the software will remain 100 percent free and open source for everyone.
Because Silex Labs is funded as a non-profit, including support from the NGI0 Commons Fund, rather than through investor capital, there is no commercial pressure to introduce paid tiers or restrict features behind a subscription.
Optional paid services exist around the free core product, such as managed hosting or professional consulting from community members and agencies, but using and self-hosting the Silex software itself never requires payment.
Yes, Silex is completely free and open source with no paywalls; the project states all features are free of charge for everyone.
Silex is maintained by Silex Labs, a French non-profit organization that owns the copyright and has no investors or exit strategy.
Yes, Silex can be self-hosted via Docker, Node.js, or a one-click deployment on CapRover, in addition to using the hosted editor at v3.silex.me.
No, Silex is designed as a no-code, drag-and-drop visual builder, though it also allows direct HTML, CSS, and JavaScript editing for users who want more control.
Yes, Silex can connect to WordPress, Strapi, Squidex, Supabase, or any GraphQL API to pull in dynamic data while still outputting static HTML.
Silex is licensed under the AGPL (Affero General Public License), and its source code is publicly available on GitHub.
Yes, because Silex outputs static HTML sites, pages tend to load quickly and are straightforward for search engines to crawl and index.
Silex Labs is a non-profit funded through grants such as the NGI0 Commons Fund and optional paid services like hosting or consulting, rather than through venture investment or software licensing fees.