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Freeway Pro
Freeway Pro 5.6.3
Your rating: Now say why...

(16) 4.0625

Design Web pages with this WYSIWYG page editor.   Demo ($229)
Add to my Watch List
Email me when discounted
Sale $99.00
57% off today. Buy now
  • Download Now
    123 MB
  • Buy
    $229.00 $99.00
  • Visit Developer's Site
    Softpress
We are also selling Freeway Express for $27.50, that's 60% off!

Freeway Pro makes it quick and easy to create websites that look exactly the way you want - without writing any code. Designing in Freeway Pro is as simple as dragging and dropping items around your pages. Just drag in any images (including Photoshop and Illustrator files), video, audio or interactive content you want in your site. When you're happy with the results, Freeway will convert your design into standards-compliant code at the click of a button.

You can also use Freeway Pro for
What's New
Version 5.6.3:
ACTIONS
  • Changes in the Showcase Action are now correctly reflected in the live preview

    OTHER
  • Resources that begin with a capital letter are not re-uploaded every time

    SHOWCASE
  • Captions can now extend beyond the end of the editing field
  • Requirements
    PPC / Intel, Mac OS X 10.5 or later.







    • Flux
      +10
      Shareware $119.99
      Advanced web design tool.

    • Freeway Expres...
      +9
      Demo $69
      Design Web pages with this ...

    • RapidWeaver
      +7
      Demo $79.99
      Create template-based websites ...

    • ShutterBug
      +4
      Demo $21.00
      WYSIWYG website creation tool.

    • Smaller
      +4
      Shareware $20
      Batch minify HTML, PHP, CSS and ...

    • Espresso
      +3
      Demo $79
      Powerful HTML, XML, CSS and ...
    Freeway Pro User Discussion (Write a Review)
    ver. 5.x:
    (16)
    Your rating: Now say why...
    Overall:
    (28)

    sort: smiles | time
    burypromote

    +1

    Golfgirl reviewed on 11 Feb 2012
    Quick review -
    I tried and used almost every type of web design software (Dreamweaver etc.) before settling on Freeway as the best available for my needs. It's unique in that it's approach is that of a graphic design program, that exports the code once you've done you layout. You don't work in code, you work in design and have the ability for advanced code as well. It offers many extremely convenient and simple shortcuts that get the job done quickly. The only real negative I can see is that clients cannot edit their own websites without owning the software and keeping an exact mirror of all the files used to create it.
    [Version 5.6.3]


    burypromote
    -2

    -1
    farmertomato commented on 31 Dec 2011
    I used Freeway Pro for several years and eventually switched to iWeb. The reason? Navigation links were a breeze in iWeb, whereas I seemed to spend 90% of my time in Freeway trying to get the page links right. Also, I found that Freeway's templates were not useful to me, while the ones in iWeb were easily adaptable to my needs. From reading the reviews here, it seems that nothing much has changed--except that iWeb may be approaching the end of its lifespan. I've looked at the other alternatives, and even tried out a few, but have not found any exciting alternative. Do any recent users of Freeway have any experience that might make me want to try it out again?
    [Version 5.6.2]

    2 Replies

    burypromote

    +1
    Golfgirl replied on 11 Feb 2012
    Links can't BE any simpler - highlight the words or graphic and click the link "well" as they call it, and add your link URL. Done. You can even automate simple rollovers with Actions. I highly recommend visiting the discussion Freeway Talk forum if you cannot figure something out.
    burypromote

    -1
    farmertomato replied on 11 Feb 2012
    Thanks for the answer, golfgirl, but you misread my comment. I specifically said "navigation links," the basic links at the top of the page, usually, for navigating within the site. Add a page in iWeb and it automatically appears in the navigation menu, unless you uncheck it. The navigation menu in Freeway took up far too much of my time, and iWeb's solution to that issue is much more elegant. I had many other problems with Freeway's pages not displaying as intended in browsers, but navigation links were the most annoying, work-slowing issue.
    burypromote
    +2

    +106
    Revco commented on 11 Aug 2011
    Freeway 5.5 Pro - version 5.6.1
    Their version numbering makes my head hurt.
    [Version 5.6.1]


    burypromote
    +4

    -86

    Hines2kj reviewed on 24 Feb 2011
    EXCELLENT software! Very easy to use, beats Rapidweaver with a stick, no a BAT (aluminum), shames iWeb to tears, and Freeway even goes out of its way to be a caretaker to Grandpa GoLive at Web Springs retirement home. As for Dreamweaver (garbageware), Freeway beats this one with the same aluminum bat!

    Freeway's methods of doing things does take some steps, but they're logical. I was even surprised that elements could be indicated as layers so as not to cause other elements from moving. This app never crashes, freezes or causes any problems so far. The developer is beautiful and quick in answering questions via email. My company bought this, I can't wait to get this for myself. It's well worth the $$.
    [Version 5.5.4]

    4 Replies

    burypromote
    -1

    +28
    ylluminate replied on 17 May 2011
    I think Flux is really headed in the right direction. It's got a bit to go in terms of bringing everything together, but they've got the right tools for us professionals. I think in the next version or so we'll see something amazing come from those amazing developers.
    burypromote
    -2

    -1
    Mikael B replied on 05 Jul 2011
    I still think that Freeway seems awkward for anyone doing real web design. I still haven't forgiven them for the stupidity in version 3 to make all text an image either. Because of this I haven't even considered Freeway for many years. I hope that is very much gone from this 5 version?

    Flux seems better GUI-wise, but all those dialogs put me off.
    burypromote
    +3

    +68
    Macsterdam replied on 11 Aug 2011
    @Mikael B: Freeway Pro has always had the option to publish text as either HTML or as an image, never just as an image only. It's up to the user which of the two to use.
    burypromote
    -5

    -1
    Mikael B replied on 13 Aug 2011
    @Mactserdam, The real issue isn't whether and old version wouldn't allow this or that, but whether the relevant version of Freeway today allows for a good workflow producing CSS-oriented design, font-face and similar support and also allow full control of the code produced. I have yet to see an app that implements that in a good way.

    An app that lets designers not learn code is so 90's. If it worked, it would be nice, but does it really? Perhaps if you lower your work product expectations.

    The issue I had with an old version — could have been even older than 3 — of Freeway concerned that certain settings of text in the GUI produced not text, but an image, in the resulting page. For body text? Hello? Considering the lack of indications of this in the work process and Freeways ads at the time about exact control of text, I still found this to be cheating the concept. I'm done discussing features of old versions of Freeway now.
    burypromote
    +5

    +18

    Vito reviewed on 01 Jan 2011
    I know it's going to sound like hyperbole, but I'm in awe of Freeway Pro. Stated most simply, it gets coding out of your face and lets you concentrate on design and content so you can create standards-compliant sites that look good and work well.

    I'm not afraid of coding. I'm not a whiz at it, but I understand it. I know how to tweak it if I have to. But it's not my idea of fun to build entire sites from the ground up using code. I'm a visual kind of person, and I would much rather work with WYSIWYG graphic and text tools. Freeway Pro provides those tools.

    For me, standards compliance is a big deal. Whether a site passes the W3C validator checks says a great deal about the site owner. (Alas, MacUpdate's site doesn't pass…but I digress…) Standards compliance raises the bar for site design, and it's a happy thing that more and more sites recognize its importance every day.

    For that reason, I was not interested in a web design application that generated garbage code that wouldn't validate. If there was one thing that sold me on Freeway Pro—the one thing on which I would not compromise—it was the fact that it creates sites that validate. Every time. YOW!

    As for Softpress, the company has integrity. Not only is their support is excellent, but they're VERY responsive, which is probably the single biggest indicator of a developer's (or any business's) quality. The company has created a super product, which is (mostly) well-documented and well-supported.

    NOTE: The standard Help menu (called "Using Freeway") is NOT all-inclusive or comprehensive. It's really more of a general guide. If you really want to dig into the features of Freeway Pro in depth, you need to refer to the "FW5Reference" PDF. That's where the detailed information resides.

    Gripes:
    1. Like every other FW Pro aficionado, I add my voice to the chorus of users who lament that Freeway's most serious drawback is its lack of multiple undo functionality. You get one level of undo, and that's it. It's barbaric.
    2. I'd like to see the "big" PDF reference document accessible from the help menu.
    3. The hierarchy of formatting options isn't clear. Changes (such as font color or line spacing) made at one level might not apply because they've been overridden by contrary formatting options elsewhere that have priority. Eventually, you figure it out, but it takes a while.
    4. The menus aren't intuitive. If you don't know what to call the feature you're looking for, you can't always find it just by poking around in the menus. That's also true (but to a lesser degree) with the Help documentation.

    Gripe Nos. 3 and 4 (above) need some qualification. The main thing to realize about Freeway Pro is that it's a very powerful, fully-featured application. Like every other application of that kind, it's going to take an investment of time to master such a sophisticated tool.

    Nevertheless, it's worth the effort. After years of searching for a web design tool that works for me, I've happily embraced Freeway Pro as the best for my purposes. There's nothing else like it.
    [Version 5.5.1]


    burypromote
    +3

    +67

    Bdkennedy1 reviewed on 29 Dec 2010
    I decided to revisit Freeway Pro after 2 1/2 years. The layout is a lot better but this program still suffers from lack of common sense.

    For instance, a new feature is CSS Menus (barely documented in the Help file). I used one of the provided templates to mess around with it and couldn't figure out where to edit the hyperlinks for the menu items. That feature should be in the Inspector with all the other settings, right? No. It's in the Edit menu.

    It's the kind of design like that, that makes the learning curve of this product so high. It's WYSIWYG so it's supposed to be easy.

    And still only one level of undo. If you change 2 things, you can only undo the last change.

    I was hoping for a rewrite for version 6, but it took them 2 years just to get version 5 stable.
    [Version 5.5.1]

    1 Reply

    burypromote

    -1
    Mikael B replied on 05 Jul 2011
    Thanks for your post. Saves me the time.
    burypromote

    +650
    Espiridion commented on 05 Aug 2010
    The information seems pretty clear at Softpress' site.
    What's new:
    http://www.softpress.com/images/uploads/Whats_New_In_FW55.pdf

    Unfortunately, I did not see whether they offered multiple levels of Undo.

    "Purchasers of Freeway 5.5 Pro or Freeway 5.5 Express should download the Preview below until the preview period is over.
    After this date Freeway 5.5 will be available to download and serialize."
    "Important!
    Until the final release of Freeway 5.5, please use the Preview - no serial required."
    "Users who purchased Freeway Express or Pro after June 1st 2010 will receive a free upgrade to Freeway 5.5. Users will be notified by email after the preview period is over. Those who purchased Freeway outside of the Softpress store should contact sales with proof of purchase."

    Upgrade from version 5 Pro to 5.5 Pro is $49, which seems very reasonable. They offer some additional discounts.
    I'll give it a try over the weekend and decide then whether or not the new features are worth the $49 for my needs. I know that I will not use many of them.
    [Version 5.5.0]


    burypromote
    +3

    +109
    22duke commented on 04 Aug 2010
    If this is a paid update it should be clearly stated.
    I also would like to know what I'm paying for so where is the new feature list?

    Actually I just installed it and it seems to be a Preview Version!!!

    I'm using FW since the early days and like the software but have to say
    it's now lagging behind quite a bit no new features or real improvements (and there are plenty to be made GUI, multiple undo, HTML 5) for 2 1/2 years so I find myself using Rapid Weaver more often then FW now.

    Seems like the vision and creative spirit has left the company
    [Version 5.5.0]


    burypromote
    +4

    +44
    Younkint commented on 04 Aug 2010
    Be aware that the move to version 5.5 from version 5.4.2 is a paid upgrade. I contacted Softpress today, and asked if it was a paid upgrade; they replied that it is.
    [Version 5.5.0]


    burypromote
    +4

    +67
    Bdkennedy1 commented on 04 Aug 2010
    How hard would it be to list the changes since the last version? After 2 1/2 years this is still at version 5?
    [Version 5.5.0]


    There are currently no troubleshooting comments. If you are experiencing a problem with this app, please post a comment.



    eppenstein rated on 11 Feb 2012

    [Version 5.6.3]




    cybervision rated on 11 Feb 2012

    [Version 5.6.3]



    +14

    Jeffrey Harris rated on 31 Dec 2011

    [Version 5.6.2]



    -1

    Donw rated on 21 Nov 2011

    [Version 5.6.1]




    Michel Hautin rated on 19 Aug 2011

    [Version 5.6.1]


    Downloads:74,553
    Version Downloads:1,748
    Type:Development : HTML
    License:Demo
    Date:18 Jan 2012
    Platform:PPC / Intel
    Price: $229.00
    Overall (Version 5.x):
    Features:
    Ease of Use:
    Value:
    Stability:
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    We are also selling Freeway Express for $27.50, that's 60% off!

    Freeway Pro makes it quick and easy to create websites that look exactly the way you want - without writing any code. Designing in Freeway Pro is as simple as dragging and dropping items around your pages. Just drag in any images (including Photoshop and Illustrator files), video, audio or interactive content you want in your site. When you're happy with the results, Freeway will convert your design into standards-compliant code at the click of a button.

    You can also use Freeway Pro for creating email newsletters that work in all major email clients. And, because it's so quick and easy to work with, it makes a great tool for prototyping sites and sketching out design ideas.

    As the name suggests, Freeway Pro is more advanced than its little brother, Freeway Express. By going Pro you'll not only get access to hundreds of user installable plugins, you'll also get more control over the finer details of your sites, be able to create pixel perfect and flexible layouts with the CSS positioning tools, manage your styles and colors, add search to your sites, fade and animate content, import professional graphic filetypes, and much, much more.

    Visit the developer's website for detailed feature support and further information.
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