HTML5 UP review
A free catalog of customizable, responsive templates for people building websites with HTML and CSS.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
HTML5 UP is a catalog of downloadable HTML5 and CSS3 website templates for people building websites, particularly solo creators and small teams seeking a free starting point. The templates are described as responsive and customizable, and listed designs have live demos. This is a collection of website files, not a hosted site-building platform, so it suits people who want templates to work with rather than a service that hosts and assembles a site for them.
The free access is central to the offering: the published plan is Free templates, with no paid tier described. The catalog contains 40 templates, and downloads are available for personal and commercial use under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License. That permission comes with a practical requirement: credit HTML5 UP for the design. Buyers who need a larger catalog or want to avoid an attribution obligation may prefer to consider other template sources.
The workflow centers on browsing listed templates, viewing their live demos, and downloading the files. HTML5 and CSS3 provide the format and customization context; the product is therefore a better fit for people comfortable working with website files than for those seeking a no-code hosted builder. Choose HTML5 UP if free, responsive templates and the stated license fit your project. Look elsewhere if you need a hosted publishing platform, a verified ecommerce-focused catalog, or templates without required attribution.
HTML5 UP pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Downloadable templates include live demos.
- Responsive HTML5 and CSS3 designs are described as customizable.
- Personal and commercial use is permitted with attribution.
- Where it doesn't
- The catalog contains 40 templates.
- Using a design requires attribution to HTML5 UP.
- It provides website files rather than a hosted site-building platform.
HTML5 UP fact sheet, pricing and score →
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