What is Clutch?

Clutch is a visual builder designed for professional web designers who need full design control and functional freedom. Built on a modern tech stack, including Next.js and React, Clutch combines visual editing with full code access, allowing you to create high-performance websites without sacrificing flexibility or speed.

With Clutch, you can build:

  • Websites, storefronts, and web apps connected to any backends or services.
  • Libraries of templates, components, and style variables for use across multiple projects.
  • Libraries of React components for use outside of Clutch.

For more information on how to work with Clutch, check out our Start Guide.

Why we built Clutch

After over a decade of working with visual builders and themes, we found none gave us the creative and functional freedom we needed. We left our jobs at web agencies to create a visual builder with these goals:

  • Design freedom: equip designers with the full power of CSS, enabling them to achieve any design possible in a web browser.
  • Functional freedom: freedom to choose the best backends, services, and components for each and every project.
  • No handoffs: designers own projects from ideation through production. developers empower designers instead of acting as a hurdle.
  • Better products: Improve product quality with faster iteration and feedback loops. Automate performance, accessibility, and SEO.
  • Create a “headless visual builder” that easily connects to the best backends and services for each project.
  • Build an infinitely extensible platform where designers aren’t limited by what is built in.

Our beliefs

  • Use the Best Tools for the Job: Clutch’s headless architecture gives designers the flexibility to connect their work to the best backends and services for each project. Easily extend your toolbox with custom components, libraries, and integrations as needed.
  • Less Handoffs, More Hands-On: Clutch allows designers and developers to collaborate directly on the same platform, reducing the need for handoffs. This seamless integration speeds up the process from ideation to production.
  • A Modern Tech Stack That’s Easy to Work With: Built on Next.js and React, Clutch leverages a modern tech stack that’s fast, efficient, and easy to extend. It’s designed to be enjoyable to work with, unlike outdated systems.
  • No Footguns: It should be hard to make a bad site. Clutch automates accessibility, performance, and SEO optimizations, ensuring your site meets core web vitals. This allows you to focus on design while the technical details take care of themselves.
  • Iterate Quickly, Create Better: Clutch enables rapid iteration, allowing designers to refine their work in real-time. By reducing friction in the design process, Clutch helps you create better products, faster.

Why choose Clutch?

Clutch offers several compelling advantages that set it apart from other visual builders:

  • Full Design and Functional Freedom: Clutch provides a powerful visual builder with over 400 style controls, allowing you to design without constraints while maintaining full access to underlying code for complete flexibility. Utilize the complete power of CSS directly within the platform for detailed styling and responsive designs.
  • Modern Tech Stack: Built on Next.js and React, Clutch leverages the latest web technologies to ensure your sites are fast, scalable, and future-proof. By leveraging React components and NPM you can build dynamic, interactive interfaces, with the flexibility to customize or create your own.
  • Performance Optimization: Out of the box, Clutch creates websites that are optimized for performance, ensuring quick load times and smooth user experiences across all devices.
  • Seamless Backend Integration: Whether you're working with Shopify, WordPress, Contentful, or any other backend service, Clutch integrates effortlessly, allowing you to build dynamic, data-driven websites.
  • Total Creative Control: From responsive design tools to custom fonts and theme management, Clutch gives you complete creative control over every aspect of your website.
  • Built for Collaboration: With real-time collaboration and version control features, Clutch makes it easy for teams to work together efficiently, whether you’re in the same office or across the globe.

Clutch equips you with the tools to push creative boundaries, manage every aspect of your project, and deliver professional results—all without compromising on design freedom or functionality.

Next steps

Check out our Core Concepts to get an understanding of how to best utilize Clutch’s features.