The best places to get free HTML templates are HTML5 UP, Start Bootstrap, Bootstrap's own examples, ThemeWagon and BootstrapMade. All let you download and use templates free, but the licences differ: some need a credit in the footer, and BootstrapMade's free licence doesn't allow client websites.
A free HTML template gives you a ready-made website design you can open in any code editor, change and upload. The download is the easy part. The licence is what decides whether you can use it for a client, remove the credit link or sell what you build, and that's where people get caught out. Here's each source, with the rule that matters, checked on each site in October 2026.
The quick comparison
| Source | Licence | Commercial use | Credit needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| HTML5 UP | Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 | Yes | Yes, credit HTML5 UP for the design |
| Start Bootstrap | MIT | Yes | Follow the MIT licence terms |
| Bootstrap examples | MIT | Yes | Keep the licence and copyright notice in Bootstrap's files |
| ThemeWagon | Varies by template author | Yes, including client sites | Depends on the author |
| BootstrapMade (free) | Free Licence | Not for client work | Yes, keep the footer credit |
1. HTML5 UP
HTML5 UP is a long-running collection of clean, responsive one-page and multi-page templates. Its homepage calls them 100% free under Creative Commons, as of October 2026, and the licence page says you can use them for personal and commercial projects and change them however you like. The one condition is that you give HTML5 UP credit for the design. If you'd rather not show a credit, the same designer offers attribution-free versions through a paid side project.
2. Start Bootstrap
Start Bootstrap says it creates free, open source themes, templates and code snippets under the MIT licence, for use on any project. That includes landing pages, portfolios, blogs and admin dashboards. MIT is one of the most relaxed licences there is, which makes Start Bootstrap a safe choice for client websites. It also sells some premium products, so check you're on a free one.
3. Bootstrap's own examples
If you just need a clean starting layout, Bootstrap's documentation includes starter examples you can open and edit. Bootstrap itself is released under the MIT licence. It lets you download and use it freely for personal, internal company or commercial purposes and modify the source code, as long as you keep the licence and copyright notice in Bootstrap's CSS and JavaScript files.
4. ThemeWagon
ThemeWagon gathers templates from many designers. Its licence page says all themes it publishes can be used free for commercial and non-commercial purposes, including building a website for a client and getting paid. The catch is the credit link: some authors require you to keep the attribution in the footer and others don't, so check each template's author licence before you remove it.
5. BootstrapMade
BootstrapMade has a large library of polished business templates, and most can be downloaded free. Read its Free Licence carefully, though. You must keep the footer credit line, Designed by BootstrapMade, and you can't use the free version to build websites for clients or charge for your work. The free version also leaves out its working PHP contact form script and the source Sass files, and comes with no support. For client work you'd need one of its paid licences.
A source that's no longer free
Colorlib was a popular source of free HTML templates for years. Its licence page now describes its website templates as commercial products, with a paid licence for a single template or a yearly plan for all of them. If an old blog post sends you there for free downloads, that advice is out of date.
What to check before you download
- The licence page, not just the download button. It's the licence that tells you whether you can use the design for a client.
- Whether the contact form works. BootstrapMade's free version, for example, leaves out its working contact form script, so check whether you'll need a form service to receive messages.
- That it looks right on a phone. Open the live demo on your mobile before you commit to a design.
- That there's no tracking or advertising code you don't want. Read through index.html once before you publish.
How to put a template live for free
- Download the template and unzip it.
- Open the folder in a code editor and edit index.html with your own words, images and links.
- Check the licence notice or credit is still in place where the licence requires it.
- Upload the folder to your web host, or publish it on a free host.
GitHub Pages is one free option for a simple site. GitHub's docs say it's available on public repositories with GitHub Free, and each account can have one user site at its own github.io address, plus one site per project repository. You can also connect your own custom domain.
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My verdict
For a business site you'll run yourself, HTML5 UP and Start Bootstrap are the easiest wins, as long as you're happy to keep a credit or the licence notice. For client websites, choose MIT-licensed templates or ThemeWagon designs whose authors allow it, and avoid BootstrapMade's free tier. If you'd rather not touch code at all, my guide to free website builders for small businesses covers drag-and-drop options, and my guide on how to use GitHub helps if you go the GitHub Pages route.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use free HTML templates for commercial websites?
Usually, yes. HTML5 UP, Start Bootstrap, Bootstrap and ThemeWagon all allow commercial use. BootstrapMade's free licence doesn't allow client websites or paid work.
Must I keep the credit link on a free HTML template?
It depends on the licence. HTML5 UP asks you to credit it for the design, BootstrapMade's free licence requires its footer credit, and on ThemeWagon it depends on the template's author.
Are Start Bootstrap templates free?
Yes. Start Bootstrap says its free themes, templates and snippets are open source under the MIT licence, for use on any project.
Are Colorlib templates still free?
No longer for its website templates. Colorlib's licence page now describes them as commercial products sold per template or through a yearly plan.
Where can I host an HTML template for free?
GitHub Pages is one option. GitHub says it's available on public repositories with GitHub Free, with one user site per account and one site per project repository.
