Apple's Forgotten Website Designer

Has anyone ever heard of or remembered Apple’s website design software called “iWeb”?

Despite its innovative approach, iWeb remains one of Apple’s lesser-known products. Launched in 2006 as part of the iLife suite, iWeb enabled users to easily create and publish websites without any coding experience. Its drag-and-drop interface, seamless integration with other Apple apps, and a variety of built-in templates made web design accessible to everyone, from beginners to hobbyists.

However, iWeb was discontinued in 2011, leaving many users searching for alternatives. Today, it stands as a nostalgic reminder of Apple’s early efforts to democratize web publishing. If you ever used iWeb, you probably remember its simplicity and the excitement of building your first personal site. The question remains: what happened to iWeb, and why did Apple let it fade away? Exploring its legacy reveals how it paved the way for modern website builders and inspired a new generation of user-friendly design tools.

I once tried iWeb to create a website. Although I can still download it to my 2009 Mac Mini running OS X Mountain Lion and edit my projects, publishing them to the internet is no longer possible since Apple discontinued the service. Fortunately, I can still copy the generated HTML code and upload it to my own web server, but the seamless publishing experience that iWeb offered is now a thing of the past.

Looking back, iWeb was a stepping stone for many aspiring web creators. Its influence can be seen in today’s intuitive website builders, which continue to make web design accessible to all. Apple’s decision to discontinue iWeb may have disappointed its loyal users, but its legacy lives on in the tools and platforms we use today.