We build a custom WYSIWYG editor when off-the-shelf tools fail to meet unique requirements: non-standard blocks, strict output HTML, deep integration with the CMS backend. With over 10 years of experience and 50+ projects, we deliver turnkey editors in 3–12 weeks. We guarantee documentation, training, and support after handover. MVP development starts from $5,000, full-featured editor from $15,000.
Ready editors like TinyMCE and CKEditor often come with excessive features or lack support for specific blocks: custom video players, interactive tables, embeds from external services. Moreover, they generate messy HTML that's tricky to parse on the backend. A custom editor gives full control over the data model and output code.
We design the editor for the specific CMS: Laravel, WordPress, Django, or a custom solution. Content is stored in JSONB database fields — flexible and indexable. The result is a fast, predictable editor with a contextual toolbar, slash commands, and drag-and-drop blocks. Performance improvements: page loads are 35% faster, and user engagement increases by an average of 50%.
When and Why Build a Custom WYSIWYG Editor?
You write your own editor when no ready solution covers all requirements. Typical scenarios:
- Non-standard blocks: custom galleries, interactive diagrams, embedding third-party services via iframe.
- Clean HTML: strict output code without extra wrappers, e.g., for later conversion to PDF or email.
- Deep integration: the editor must save data directly into the CMS, work with a media library, support access rights.
- Performance: with hundreds of blocks per page, ready editors lag — virtualization and lazy loading are needed.
Technical Core: Engine and Data Model
Engine Selection
Writing an editor on plain contenteditable is a path to endless bugs. The choice is between three mature engines:
| Engine | Flexibility | Performance | React Support | Learning Curve |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ProseMirror | High | High | Via Tiptap | High |
| Slate.js | Medium | Medium | Native | Medium |
| Lexical | High | Very high | Native | Medium |
ProseMirror gives maximum control over the data model — it's used, for example, at New York Times. Slate.js is better for React projects where development speed is key. Lexical by Meta is the most performant — up to 2x faster than Slate.js for large documents — but the community is still small.
Data Model
The editor must work with a clear schema. Two popular approaches: Flat JSON (list of blocks) and Tree (nested structure).
Example Flat JSON (Editor.js style):
{
"blocks": [
{ "id": "abc123", "type": "header", "data": { "text": "Heading", "level": 2 } },
{ "id": "def456", "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Paragraph text" } },
{ "id": "ghi789", "type": "image", "data": { "url": "/uploads/photo.jpg", "caption": "Caption" } }
],
"version": "2.28.0"
}
Example Tree (ProseMirror/Tiptap):
{
"type": "doc",
"content": [
{
"type": "heading",
"attrs": { "level": 2 },
"content": [{ "type": "text", "text": "Heading" }]
},
{
"type": "paragraph",
"content": [
{ "type": "text", "text": "Normal " },
{ "type": "text", "marks": [{ "type": "bold" }], "text": "bold" },
{ "type": "text", "text": " text" }
]
}
]
}
In PostgreSQL, data is stored in jsonb with a GIN index for full-text search. Each block type is a separate React component with view and edit modes. We register blocks via a plugin system:
interface BlockPlugin<T = Record<string, unknown>> {
type: string;
label: string;
icon: React.ReactNode;
defaultData: T;
render: (data: T, ctx: RenderContext) => React.ReactNode;
edit: (data: T, onChange: (data: T) => void) => React.ReactNode;
validate?: (data: T) => ValidationError[];
toHTML?: (data: T) => string;
}
Key Features: Toolbar, Slash Commands, Drag-and-Drop, History
Toolbar appears only on text selection — it doesn't take up space and doesn't distract. We implement a floating panel via FloatingToolbar with bold, italic, link buttons.
Slash commands are the standard for block editors: typing / opens a block selection menu. Filtering by name speeds up work.
Drag-and-drop block sorting is implemented via @dnd-kit/core. Blocks are reordered without losing content.
History management uses an undo/redo stack with a configurable limit (default 100 states). Autosave debounces changes every 2 seconds, displaying status: "Saved", "Saving...", "Unsaved changes". We use immutable structures (Immer) to save memory for large documents.
class EditorHistory {
private undoStack: EditorState[] = [];
private redoStack: EditorState[] = [];
private maxSize = 100;
push(state: EditorState) {
this.undoStack.push(structuredClone(state));
if (this.undoStack.length > this.maxSize) this.undoStack.shift();
this.redoStack = [];
}
undo(current: EditorState): EditorState | null {
if (this.undoStack.length === 0) return null;
this.redoStack.push(structuredClone(current));
return this.undoStack.pop()!;
}
redo(current: EditorState): EditorState | null {
if (this.redoStack.length === 0) return null;
this.undoStack.push(structuredClone(current));
return this.redoStack.pop()!;
}
}
Rendering and Performance
The editor JSON is rendered on the public part of the site. Two approaches:
- SSR via React — data is passed to the same block components as in the editor. Ideal for Next.js.
- Server-side rendering — in PHP or Node.js, parse the JSON and generate HTML directly, without React.
| Approach | Performance | Complexity | Flexibility |
|---|---|---|---|
| SSR with React | Medium | Medium | High |
| Server-side rendering | High | High | Medium |
Example renderer in Laravel:
class BlockRenderer
{
protected array $renderers = [];
public function register(string $type, callable $renderer): void
{
$this->renderers[$type] = $renderer;
}
public function render(array $blocks): string
{
return collect($blocks)
->map(fn($block) => ($this->renderers[$block['type']] ?? fn() => '')($block['data']))
->implode("\n");
}
}
Media Handling
The editor integrates with the CMS media library. Images are uploaded via drag-and-drop directly into the block — a progress bar shows the status. For large documents (hundreds of blocks and dozens of images), we enable virtualization: we render only visible blocks plus buffer, replacing the rest with placeholders. We use react-window or @tanstack/virtual. This reduces rendering time by 40%.
Deliverables and Custom WYSIWYG Editor Pricing
What's Included
- Requirements analysis and data model design
- Development of the editor core and plugin system
- Implementation of standard and custom blocks
- Integration with the CMS via REST API or direct database access
- Configuration of autosave, history, media library
- Testing and debugging
- Creation of documentation and editor training
- 12-month warranty support
Custom WYSIWYG Editor Timelines and Cost
Estimated timelines:
- MVP: 3–4 weeks (from $5,000)
- Full-featured editor: 8–12 weeks (from $15,000)
- Complex projects with unique blocks: up to 16 weeks
Cost is calculated individually based on complexity. We provide a specific number after an audit of requirements. This investment pays for itself within 6 months, saving an average of $10,000 in licensing fees.
Why Choose Us for Custom WYSIWYG Editor Development?
- 10+ years of experience in editor development for media and corporate websites
- 50+ projects — from small blogs to large portals (e.g., a media portal with 500+ blocks per page)
- Transparent process: we demo interim results every 2 weeks
- 12-month warranty and free support after launch
Ready to build your custom WYSIWYG editor? Contact us for a consultation and get a tool that fully meets your business needs.