Five underrated tools that will save you time, level up your workflow, and won’t cost you a single penny.
Let me introduce you to five websites that you probably haven’t heard of yet, but trust me, they’re incredibly helpful for anyone involved in programming and web development. Best of all? They’re completely free to use. By the time you’re done reading, I bet you’ll end up with at least one new browser bookmark. Let’s jump right in.
1. Uiverse — Thousands of Free UI Components
If you’re working on websites, you know web design is always part of the game. Sure, you can rely on classics like Material Design, Tailwind UI, or Bootstrap. They work well, they’re intuitive, and they get the job done.
But what if you want your project to really stand out?
That’s where Uiverse comes in. It’s a huge collection of over 4,000 unique UI components built with plain HTML and CSS (some even with Tailwind CSS). All components are MIT-licensed, which means you can copy and paste them directly into your project without worrying.
You’ll find buttons, checkboxes, toggles, switches, loaders, inputs, and so much more. Some designs are just stylish, while others are seriously unique with amazing animations.
There’s even a live editor where you can tweak the code right on the site. And if you’re a CSS specialist yourself, you can publish your own components for others to use.
One thing to note
The components may not be as rock-solid in terms of accessibility, usability, and browser compatibility compared to big libraries like Bootstrap. But if you want eye-catching elements that make your project look extraordinary, Uiverse is one of the best hidden gem for frontend developers.
2. Readme.so — Effortless Documentation
Let’s be real: writing documentation isn’t every developer’s favorite task. And creating a good README file in Markdown can feel like a chore.
That’s where Readme.so comes in. It’s essentially a README editor with a live preview and, even better, predefined sections you can add with one click.
Want to insert code examples? Add badges? Create a features list? Just click, and the section appears in your document. From there, you can edit and rearrange as needed.
This tool is especially helpful if you’re unsure what to include in your README. It gives you a solid structure to follow. And when you’re done, you can download your file with a single click.
Simple, free, and actually makes documentation, dare I say, enjoyable.
3. Carbon — Beautiful Code Screenshots
Ever wanted to share your code snippets in a way that looks, beautiful? Whether you’re writing blog posts, creating technical documentation, or just posting code on social media, plain text screenshots don’t cut it.
That’s why I love Carbon. It turns your code into gorgeous, customizable images.
You can choose from different themes, adjust background colors, change text size, tweak spacing, and more. Once you’re happy, export the result as a PNG or even as a vector graphic (SVG), which is great for presentations.
There’s also a built-in code formatter, and you can save your favorite configurations via a shareable URL. No registration required. Just drop your code in and watch it transform into something you’ll actually be proud to share.
4. Favicon.io — Generate Favicons in Seconds
You know that tiny icon in your browser tab? That’s the favicon. And if you’re building a website, chances are you’ve spent way too long figuring out how to create and integrate one.
Enter Favicon.io.
With this tool, you can simply upload your logo and get all the necessary favicon formats instantly, for both desktop browsers and smartphones. It even provides the code snippet for integration.
Don’t have a logo? No problem. You can generate a favicon by entering text or an abbreviation, picking your favorite colors, and choosing from Google Fonts. The tool can even generate a simple logo for you the same way.
Super convenient, totally free, and a must-have in your dev toolkit.
5. DevDocs — All the Docs in One Place
Last, but definitely not least: DevDocs. If you value speed and efficiency in your workflow, this tool is a lifesaver. DevDocs is a massive collection of software documentation in one place. Angular, Docker, Shell, Python, React, whatever tech you’re working with, you’ll probably find it here.
The best part? It’s lightning fast. You can navigate entirely with the keyboard using built-in shortcuts. You can also pre-select the technologies you care about, so your searches only return relevant results.
The documentation is uniform, clean, and also available offline. And if you ever want to jump to the original source, one click takes you there.
I highly recommend spending some time with DevDocs. Once you get used to the navigation, it’ll become second nature, and you’ll never waste time Googling for docs again.
Final Thoughts
So there you have it, five free, super useful web tools for developers:
- Uiverse: unique UI components
- Readme: easy README creation
- Carbon: stylish code screenshots
- Favicon: instant favicons
- DevDocs: lightning-fast documentation
Each of these tools has helped me at different points in my projects, and I think at least one of them will find its way into your workflow too.
Give them a try, see which ones stick, and let me know what you think.
Top comments (3)
Great list! For code images, I have a preference for ray.so by Raycast.
100% free and open-source (view source code here), including 24 beautifully crafted themes inspired by Vercel, Supabase, Clerk, and more.
Also, there's an extension for that so you can create images of your code in a keystroke. No brainer.
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