RapidWeaver Elements vs Sitely
A Sitely alternative for Mac with responsive components, Tailwind CSS and a built-in CMS.
RapidWeaver Elements is a website builder for Mac where you build responsive pages from components and publish HTML with Tailwind CSS to any host. Sitely, from Crinon, is a freeform website builder for Mac and iPad that also publishes to your own hosting, with a layout for each device size.
Which is best for you?
Choose RapidWeaver Elements if…
- You want one responsive layout that adapts to every screen, not a layout per device.
- You want clean HTML with Tailwind CSS that any developer can read.
- You want a CMS that stores posts and collections as Markdown files.
- You want to publish to Amazon S3 as well as FTP, SFTP or FTPS.
Choose Sitely if…
- You want freeform, design-app layout and don’t want to think in rows and columns.
- You want to build on an iPad, with Apple Pencil, as well as a Mac.
- You want one licence for all your Macs.
- Your Mac runs macOS older than Ventura, as far back as Mojave.
RapidWeaver vs Sitely, side by side
How two Mac website builders compare on layout, code, CMS and price.
| Feature | RapidWeaver Elements | Sitely |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A Mac app you install | An app for Mac and iPad |
| Where you build | On your Mac, online or offline | On your Mac or iPad |
| Hosting | Any host you choose, over FTP, SFTP, FTPS or Amazon S3, or Realmac Hosting | Any host you choose, over FTP, FTP with TLS or SFTP |
| Taking your site elsewhere | Export the whole site as HTML and CSS to a folder | Export the whole site to a folder |
| Custom code | Your own HTML, CSS and JavaScript, code pages and custom components | An Embed element for HTML snippets |
| Code it writes | Clean HTML with Tailwind CSS and Alpine.js | HTML, CSS and JavaScript, with a layout for each device and PHP for some features |
| Blog and CMS | Built-in CMS that stores posts as Markdown files | Built-in blog, which needs PHP on your host |
| Price | Base $99, Plus $149 or Pro $249, bought once with a year of updates. Renewing for more updates is optional. Hosting is extra | Personal $79.99 or Pro $119.99 once, or Pro $59.99 a year. Hosting is extra |
| Free trial | Free download, up to three pages per project. Publishing unlocks when you buy | 14-day trial of every Pro feature. Publishing needs a licence |
| What you need | A Mac with macOS 13.7.8 Ventura or later. One licence works on three Macs | macOS 10.14.4 Mojave or later, or iPadOS 18.6 or later |
Prices in US dollars, checked 6 November 2026; see RapidWeaver Elements pricing for every plan.
What each costs in the first year
Neither app includes hosting, so add the same hosting cost to both.
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RapidWeaver Elements Base
$99 + your hosting
Bought once, for up to three Macs, with a year of updates included. After that, renewing for more updates is optional: if you don’t, you keep the version you have. Build as many sites as you like and host each one wherever suits it.
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Sitely Pro
$119.99 once + your hosting
A one-off licence for all your Macs; new major versions are paid upgrades. Personal, for one Mac and no commercial use, is $79.99. Pro is also sold as a $59.99 yearly subscription with every update.
One responsive layout for every screen
Sitely is freeform: you place things where you like, and lay out each device size separately. RapidWeaver Elements builds pages from responsive components, so one layout adapts to mobile, tablet and desktop, and you can preview each one instantly.
A visual Tailwind CSS builder for Mac
RapidWeaver Elements writes semantic HTML styled with Tailwind CSS, with Alpine.js for interactive parts, and there’s nothing proprietary to run on your server. Add your own HTML, CSS and JavaScript with code injection, code pages and custom components. Sitely writes HTML, CSS and JavaScript too, and adds custom code through an Embed element.
A CMS that stores posts as Markdown
Sitely’s blog lives inside your Sitely project and needs PHP on your host. RapidWeaver Elements has a CMS built in. Blog posts and other collections are stored as Markdown files, with a Markdown editor and components to show them on your pages.
Praised by the Mac press
Reviews, ratings and awards for RapidWeaver Elements.
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“Capable and versatile visual website editor that creates pro quality websites without writing code.”
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“If you’re looking for a full suite of visual development tools, Elements should really be at the top of your list.”
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“Elements is a perfect example that there’s life beyond WordPress, letting you build modern websites on Mac, even without writing code.”
- 4.4 Based on over 30 reviews on G2
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Global 100 Winner
Best Computer Software Business of the Year 2026
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App of the Month
MacFormat Magazine
Moving from Sitely to RapidWeaver Elements
Sitely projects don’t open in RapidWeaver Elements, so plan to rebuild your pages with components, often starting from a template. Your copy, images, fonts, colours, hosting and domain carry over: both apps publish over FTP or SFTP, so the same host works.
- 1Export your Sitely site to a folder to keep a copy of your text and images.
- 2Download RapidWeaver Elements and start from a template or a blank project.
- 3Rebuild your pages with components, add your blog posts to the CMS, and reconnect any payment buttons.
- 4Publish to your existing host. Your domain stays as it is.
RapidWeaver Elements vs Sitely questions
Choosing
Yes, if you want responsive layouts built from components and a site written with Tailwind CSS. RapidWeaver Elements and Sitely are both Mac apps that publish to your own hosting. Sitely is the better pick for freeform, design-app layouts, building on an iPad, or one licence for all your Macs.
Not to start with. RapidWeaver Elements Base is $99, bought once with a year of updates, and renewing for more updates is optional. Sitely Pro is $119.99 once, with new major versions as paid upgrades. Neither includes hosting.
No. RapidWeaver Elements is a Mac app and needs macOS 13.7.8 Ventura or later. Sitely runs on Mac and iPad.
Switching
No. RapidWeaver Elements can’t open Sitely projects, so you rebuild the pages with components and bring your copy and images across. Sitely’s export to a folder is a handy reference.
Yes. RapidWeaver Elements publishes to any host over FTP, SFTP or FTPS, or to Amazon S3, so the host you use with Sitely works too.
More comparisons
See how RapidWeaver Elements compares with other website builders.
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RapidWeaver Elements vs Classic
Built-in components, a CMS and Tailwind CSS, or the original app with themes, plugins and stacks.
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RapidWeaver Elements vs Squarespace
Build on your Mac and publish to any host, or build in a browser on Squarespace’s own hosting.
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RapidWeaver Elements vs Webflow
Build on your Mac and publish to any host, or design in a browser on Webflow’s hosting, with a plan for each site.
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RapidWeaver Elements vs Blocs
Two Mac apps that publish to your own host: a built-in CMS and Tailwind CSS, or Bootstrap with an iPad app.
Read the comparison → -
RapidWeaver Elements vs Stacks
Design right on the page, with everything built in, or arrange stacks inside RapidWeaver Classic.
Read the comparison → -
RapidWeaver Elements vs WordPress
Design visually on your Mac with no database, or run PHP, themes and plugins on a WordPress host.
Read the comparison → -
RapidWeaver Elements vs EverWeb
Two desktop builders that publish to any host: Tailwind CSS and a Markdown CMS, or Mac and Windows with hosting add-ons.
Read the comparison → -
RapidWeaver Elements vs Sitely
Responsive components and Tailwind CSS, or freeform layouts for each device on Mac and iPad.
Read the comparison →
Try RapidWeaver Elements on your own site.
Download it free, build your first pages and see how it compares for yourself.