Help wanted with this page, add missing subjects:
- Security
- Use case: integration in a software to let users create websites
- Obsolete update to Silex v3
Here are some frequently asked questions to help you along your way. Feel free to add to the FAQ here, or on social media.
You might also be interested in Silex vocabulary.
Explore examples in the Silex showcase.
Not yet, but templates are a requested feature.
Silex provides a drag-and-drop editor ready for professional website production. See the full list of Silex features.
Silex also offers free, ad-free hosting with custom domains via GitLab Pages. You can publish to any web host at no cost.
Silex allows integration with any CMS or GraphQL API.
Not included: Domain names.
Silex itself does not provide custom domains, but it integrates with Netlify and GitLab Pages, both of which offer free custom domains and ad-free hosting.
We need to store your data somewhere, and it would cost money to store everyone's data so we delegate this to a service of your choice, GitLab.com is great but not completely open source (open core model), FTP is an option but you need to buy hosting at a hosting company. There is a feature request to have a desktop version of Silex without an account.
For now, GitLab.com is the recommended way of login in Silex, so let's see how to create an account.
Other ways to create an account; Silex includes several connectors for file storage, hosting, collaboration, and versioning:
| Name | Description | File Storage | Website Hosting | Collaboration | File Versioning | SaaS Version (v3.silex.me) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GitLab.com | Integrates with GitLab to manage and version your website’s files using Git. Provides robust collaboration tools and CI/CD pipelines for automated deployment. | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Framagit.org | GitLab-based service run by Framasoft. Similar to GitLab.com but account creation is manually verified (can take 24h). | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| FTP / SFTP | Transfer files securely to a server. Ideal for hosting on traditional web servers. | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| File system | Use local file system for offline development and testing. | Yes | No | No | No | Yes |
| Directus | Connects to Directus CMS to manage content and assets via API. | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Silex is cost-effective—you only pay for a domain name, while everything else is free. It supports customization and client-friendly editing.
However, Silex has a learning curve. It is designed for no-code developers with basic HTML/CSS knowledge or those willing to learn.
If you just need a quick, simple page without customization, other solutions might be more suitable.
Also, beware of non-free/libre software that may introduce price changes, version restrictions, or vendor lock-in.
Silex integrates well with Snipcart (not open source) and PayPal, or any e-commerce platform with a GraphQL API.
For PayPal, you can simply add an HTML box and paste the "add to cart" button code. With BigCommerce or Shopify, you can use the Silex CMS feature to display products.
The Silex CMS feature also supports headless e-commerce solutions like WooCommerce and PrestaShop, both of which are open-source.
Or other questions like
I'm trying Silex. Ten minutes, just a title text and a button. Centering title ok. Centering button not works, margin-left & margin-right properties do nothing. Should I learn jet propulsion engineering for centering a button in Silex?
Indeed Silex is a no-code tool but it follows web standards like HTML and CSS, without shortcuts or custom behavior. Everything you learn here will help you beyond Silex—and if you already know code, you’ll feel right at home.
The box model is how browsers lay out elements on a page. It defines how padding, borders, and margins interact—just like they do in real-world web development
Please read about The box model on MDN and feel free to ask for help in Silex forums or the chat
Yes, Silex is designed to interact with other applications through:
Silex supports integration and customization. The AGPL license permits it.
However, Silex is closer to Webflow than Wix—it’s for makers willing to learn. If you need an easy, beginner-friendly tool, consider alternatives like:
Check out the Silex Resource Center for tutorials and guides.
Congratulations! Follow the guide to publishing and the GitLab Pages publication tutorial.
Silex is 100% free/libre software. There are no hidden costs and no monetization of users or visitors.
No. Silex does not collect user or website visitor data. Your files are stored in your account (GitLab, FTP, Nextcloud, etc.).
For full control, you can self-host Silex. See hosting instructions.
The sites you create with Silex belong to you, that means you can attribute them the licence you want and the copyright is yours
The website data is not stored by Silex but it is stored in your own GitLab account, so the answer is here: https://handbook.gitlab.com/handbook/security/security-operations/trustandsafety/intellectual-property-on-gitlab-com/
Yes.
Since plugins are not bundled with Silex and use the documented plugin APIs (client and server), they are not considered derivative works of Silex. This means you may choose any license for your plugin, including proprietary licenses.