18 Handy Alternatives to Lipsum.Com for Dummy Content
Nicole Dominguez
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet… most designers probably have these few words embedded in their heads from seeing them over and over. This is dummy text, otherwise known as Lorem Ipsum. I’m not going to give you a history lesson, but it is helpful to know that it is in Latin — because most people just think that it’s gibberish. When you do a Google Search on ‘Lorem Ipsum’, the first hit is Lipsum.Com. Now, don’t get me wrong, Lipsum is a great resource for getting chunks of the text and learning more, but there are other websites out there that can do an even better job as well. So, here they are — alternatives to Lipsum.Com.
1. LoremIpsum.Net
LoremIpsum.Net is a small and simple static site that provides you with a decent sized passage without having to use a generator. The site also provides an all caps version of the text, as well as translations, and an explanation of what this famous passage means.
What Sets it Apart: Very Simple. No Generator Needed.
2. Lorem-Ipsum.Info
The main site of lorem-ipsum.info contains general info as well as translations. They also have a generator that looks pretty nice. It lets you choose Lorem Ipsum in a different language and the amount of words/paragraphs that you want to generate.
What Sets it Apart: Generates text in different languages.
3. Malevole Text Generator
This is a text generator that makes real paragraphs, not lorem ipsum! I don’t know what it does make, but it is readable English and provides pretty balanced text (graphically). You have the option to create 1 to 5 paragraphs.
What Sets it Apart: Creates dummy text that is in English.
4. Lorem Ipsum Generator
This Lorem Ipsum Generator creates HTML markup, as well as giving you dummy Text. Because of this it will help you perfect your web typography with added b, i and p tags.
What Sets it Apart: Adds various different tags
5. jHTML-Ipsum
This is a jQuery plugin that will create HTML elements using Lorem Ipsum. It dynamically creates the text, so you don’t have to end up removing all of the Lorem Ipsum later. Helps figure out how you will style your web type and CSS.
What Sets it Apart: ‘Make your own’ solution
6. WP Dummy Content
This is a WordPress plugin that generates dummy posts when developing and testing your WordPress theme! It also makes fake titles, and multiple length paragraphs. In one click you have an entire set of dummy content.
What Sets it Apart: You can remove all of the dummy data in one click.
7. Lorem Ipsum Generator – Chrome Extension
This is a Lorem Ipsum Generator for Chrome! It’s quite simple and minimalist in design. You can choose the amount of words and paragraphs you want to generate.
What Sets it Apart: Convenient and easy to use.
8. Greeking Machine
This ‘Greeking Machine’ generates dummy text in many different forms. Like the others, you can choose how much text you want to generate. There are also many languages or forms to choose from, so you aren’t just stuck with boring ‘Lorem Ipsum’.
What Sets it Apart: Cool Languages like, “The Matrix, and Hillbilly”
9. Lorem Ipsum 2.0
This generator is pretty cool! It’s ‘Community generated greeking’, which means that it takes text from community powered sites and presents it to you as dummy text for you to use. It gives you pretty random results, but at least it isn’t Lorem Ipsum!
What Sets it Apart: Fun to use and play around with.
10. Blind Text Generator
This Blind Text Generator creates dummy text in many different forms! You can choose Lorem Ipsum, Panagrams, The alphabet or other English passages. It’s quite easy to use and gives you a bunch of options!
What Sets it Apart: Great if you’re tried of using Lorem Ipsum for your dummy text.
11. Lorem Ipsum Generator
This is yet another Lorem Ipsum Generator. It gives you the option to get the text as a plain text file or HTML file, and to pick how long you want your passage.
What Sets it Apart: Many different options.
12. Sample WordPress Content
This is a .xml file which you can import into your WordPress blog! It creates dummy posts, comments, categories, tags, and pages as well as adds common styling elements such as blockquotes and lists.
What Sets it Apart: Saves lots of time!
13. HTML-Ipsum
HTML-Ipsum provides code snippets rather than just plain text. Of course it features Lorem Ipsum, but it really is a great resource when designing webpages. They even have a kitchen sink, which is the body of a webpage template with necessary code structure and dummy text!
What Sets it Apart: Very useful. One click copy to clipboard.
14. Lorem Ipsum Generator
This Lorem Ipsum Generator lets you pick out how many characters, words and sentences you want. It explains lorem ipsum and shows you translated passages.
What Sets it Apart: Lets you start with something other than ‘Lorem ipsum dolor…’
15. Dynamic Dummy Image Generator
The Dynamic Dummy Image Generator is basically what the title says – a dummy image maker! It’s quite useful when creating web layouts, even for creating dummy advertisements and such. This LifeHacker post explains it all quite well!
What Sets it Apart: One of a kind and very useful!
16. Lorem Ipsum Paragraph
This is a code snippet at CSS-Tricks. It’s a paragraph of Lorem Ipsum text. Simple. Just copy the paragraph and you’re on your way! No fuss included.
What Sets it Apart: Not a Generator!
17. Lorem Ipsum Post Generator
This is a Lorem Ipsum plugin for WordPress! This plugin can be a lifesaver when designing wordpress themes. It creates dummy posts and comments that help test your styling elements.
What Sets it Apart: Conveniently accessible!
18. The Dummy Content File
This is another .xml file that you can import into WordPress! It creates a lot of useful things like posts, pages, tags, categories and non-admin comments!
What Sets it Apart: Includes Typographic Elements in it
Do you use any of these resources? Or what about one that wasn’t listed? Let us know below!
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Anna
Posted 56 days ago 22What about slipsum.com? Generate Samuel L. Jackson lipsum, different levels of ‘clean’ available, it’s hilarious :)
@Aaron, that bogan one made my day! ha ha
Rob
Posted 84 days ago 21Not sure how anyone cannot see what Malevole generates. It doesn’t generate anything. When I used it, i got 3 paragraphs of text, each paragraph being the theme song lyrics to different television programs. Its not really a generator, since it doesn’t generate anything.
the pilatesbiz
Posted 105 days ago 20There seems to be one thought that has been neglected here.Some of the many things that signal the end of a couuntry/nation/civilisation are:-1. Moral standards (biblical) vanish2. Law fails and corruption reigns supreme3. Personal responsibility, honour and integrity becomes scarce and trust goes out the window (who me? paranoid? never!)4. Life revolves around I instead of us
Andrew
Posted 216 days ago 19Nathan, your point is valid, however Latin words generally have a greater character count than those in English and therefore I find more prone to line wrapping (with hyphenation is not supported in web browsers). Therefore this morning I am on a quest for English alternatives!
Maarten van der Velde
Posted 248 days ago 18Lorem Ipsum looks too much like Latin. How about a generator that creates scrambled text from ANY text source, including one that is in your own language, own dialect or own ‘business jargon?’. I created one on:
http://www.ideogram.nl/Custom%20Lipsum/
I tested it, and when I use Dutch text about banking for a website for Dutch bankers, they initialy didn’t not notice there was dummy text. They simply didn’t start reading it — they just assumed it was valid text! So, go ahead, create Norwegian, Catalonian, Frisian or even Vietnamese dummy text based on any source you provide!
Aaron
Posted 266 days ago 17Tip – we created Bogan ipsum for Australian Designers.
Dale Davies
Posted 313 days ago 16I’ve just created my own dummy text generator and would really appreciate the feedback. Please check it out… http://www.randomtext.me
Many thanks :)
Chan
Posted 421 days ago 15thanks good list, i used LoremIpsum.Net for long time .. will try others .. thanks ..
Todd Eddy
Posted 576 days ago 14Are there any other “image lipsum” sites out there? I recall one where it was basically a small graphic that was royalty free and allowed you to choose from a few different color schemes. I liked it over the “400 x 800″ text you see on other placeholder images.
marshoud
Posted 644 days ago 13the web site: http://www.lorem.dk
marshoud
Posted 644 days ago 12This one :) http://www.lorem.dk
raym
Posted 652 days ago 11Here’s one for fans of Futurama. I don’t get to use it too often, but it’s good for a laugh. http://chrisvalleskey.com/fillerama/
Andre
Posted 653 days ago 10Here is another one from germany: http://www.textdreher.de
Todd
Posted 656 days ago 9With a lot of these sites, I think they’re missing an important reason for using dummy text. Lorem Ipsum flows like real text but is unreadable by pretty much everyone. Using readable text for dummy content is usually a bad idea. I’ve never had a client that didn’t get confused by readable dummy text. They always think it’s intended to be real copy (even if the text is totally not related to subject of the site), assume I’m an idiot, then proceed to send me edits. When dummy text looks like gibberish, they catch on before they draw conclusions about the designer’s competency.
Maybe I need smarter clients…
Jordan Walker
Posted 656 days ago 8Excellent list of alternatives.
Pär Thernström
Posted 656 days ago 7I use http://randomlorem.com/.
Not much options, but works fine for me.
Stephen
Posted 656 days ago 6I been wanting something a bit different then Lorem Ipsum text. My fav would be the Blind Text Generator . Thanks for sharing!
visaap
Posted 656 days ago 5A nice list I’ll try out. For now I use an FF add-on named Dummy Lipsum: https://addons.mozilla.org/nl/firefox/addon/2064/
Federica Sibella
Posted 656 days ago 4Nice list Nicole! Thanks for sharing, it can be a good resource for changing a bit from the classic “Lorem Ipsum”.
Raquel Trevisi
Posted 657 days ago 3Very Nice Blog!
esranull
Posted 657 days ago 2wooow great list thanks for sharing
Nathan Sweet
Posted 657 days ago 1Nicole,
Great article. Thanks for the resources. I want to highlight an important idea behind “Lorem ipsum” dummy-copy, and simultaneously take issue with Malevole.
Designers shouldn’t be using readable text in their mock-ups (either in Photoshop or in the Browser). The whole point of “Lorem ipsum” is to create a realistic feel of copy, without it being distracting to the client. If the dummy-copy it is actually in English, they’ll start to read it, no matter how non-sensical it is. “Lorem ipsum” is preferable to “This is content, this is content…” repeated ad infinitum because it doesn’t replicate the “feel” of real text. It is a best practice to use Lorem ipsum. The Latin can’t be read*, but it feels like real copy, and it looks “English-ey”.
*Even people who know Latin can’t read it, because it’s Cato’s treatise on ethics rearranged into nonsensicalness.