We rank vendors based on rigorous testing and research, but also take into account your feedback and our commercial agreements with providers. This page contains affiliate links. Advertising Disclosure
Simplicity shouldn’t mean settling for a bland or boxy site. The best “clean” templates pair crisp, modern typography and generous white space, all while keeping code lean so that pages load quickly and edits remain painless. The problem is that most templates miss that mark. Some are stripped down to the point of looking unfinished, while others pile on bloated scripts that drag your Core Web Vitals into the red.
To separate the keepers from the clutter, I ran hundreds of minimalist designs through a two-step test. I looked first for baseline speed and mobile performance, then for real-world flexibility. Could I swap fonts, add a store, or embed a booking form without breaking the layout? Nineteen templates made the final cut, and almost all of them won’t cost you a cent extra.
Wix’s clean templates top the list. Its free plan unlocks dozens of polished, lightweight themes. Plus, you’ll get a true drag-and-drop editor and app-store add-ons for galleries, bookings, or donations – all without touching a line of code. Check out Wix’s free simple templates now, or keep reading for the other standout designs that made the cut.
Why Use a Website Builder Instead of an HTML Template?
If you’re looking for a quick and easy way to launch a website, using a website builder is often a better option than starting with an HTML template. Here’s why:
No coding required. Website builders like Wix enable you to create beautiful, functional websites with drag-and-drop editors, eliminating the need to write or edit code. Each one is built with speed in mind, so even if you add some animations to your simple website template, it won’t heavily affect your site’s loading speed.
All-in-one solution. Website builders handle your domain, hosting, security, mobile responsiveness, SEO basics, and updates, which saves you time and effort. Some, like Squarespace, even offer user behaviour analytics to help you understand whether your chosen template helps to convert visitors.
Professional designs. Templates from top builders like Squarespace are modern, polished, and optimized out of the box, with customization options to make them your own. Templates are typically mobile-responsive as standard, so you don’t need to do a ton of extra work to make your site look and feel professional on mobile devices.
Faster launch. Website builders come with built-in tools and pre-designed layouts, so you can go from idea to live site in minutes, not days. Most website builders now offer AI tools that will generate a unique, brand-aligned template for your website in just a few minutes.
Built-in page widgets. From contact forms to SEO-friendly content structures, website builders include functionality that you would otherwise have to add manually to an HTML template.
Ongoing support. If you encounter problems, website builders offer customer support – a feature you won’t find with manual coding.
One-Page Minimalist Templates
One-page templates allow you to display all your content in a single scroll. Without multiple subpages, you can offer a more fluid and unique browsing experience. These are ideal for small businesses, artists, and individuals who want to convey their core message with minimal distractions.
I’ve included free one-pagers from Wix, Squarespace, and SITE123. You can try out the Wix and SITE123 designs using their free plans, while Squarespace offers a 14-day free trial to explore its templates.
Crisp visuals and white space let Wix put your creativity center stageCraft House’s minimalist aesthetic uses ample white space and high-quality image placements to keep the focus on your products or artwork. The top-right navigation menu makes it easy for visitors to jump to each section of your site. Plus, you can easily edit and personalize every text and image with Wix’s drag-and-drop editor, allowing you to go online in less than an hour.
For instance, the About section features a visual profile and text in one clean scroll, so there’s no need for a separate team or story page. The Gallery section uses a tidy grid system that doesn’t overwhelm visitors, courtesy of Wix’s Pro Gallery tool. Plus, this template is fully mobile responsive, so your images will always scale correctly regardless of the viewing device.
Wix’s clean CV layout makes academic and professional highlights easy to exploreRemi Foster is ideal for showcasing educational background, work experience, and skills concisely. The About section provides a brief yet impactful introduction. At the same time, dedicated sections for Education & Experience and Awards & Interests detail your information using spaced-out headers and a symmetrical list format.
The template also leverages Wix’s media tools to embed a downloadable CV both above the fold and in the footer. This is a great way to give employees and recruiters clear calls-to-action (CTAs) without cluttering your main content area.
Wix’s templates use simple sections to keep your professionalism front and centerDaniel Martinez is designed for professional and aspiring actors looking to showcase their work. It features built-in sections for headshots, biographies, and resume details. Each section is neatly organized with spaced-out headers without complex designs or animations to slow your visitors down.
The Photos section features high-resolution headshots in a clean, grid-style layout, while the Showreel section utilizes Wix Video to showcase your on-screen talent. The Contract section includes pre-defined fields for manager and agent information, so you don’t need to make any changes before you go live.
This Wix one-pager delivers all your wedding info in a clean, scrollable formatWix’s T&J template is perfect if you’re planning a wedding. The sticky left-hand navigation bar provides your guests with easy access to every section of your site. This means they’ll be able to quickly find the information they need, saving you from another phone call from relatives who misplaced their invitation.
The layout utilizes ample white space and legible fonts to effectively highlight key details, such as the event schedule and registry. With no distracting visuals, and thanks to Wix’s intuitive editor, it’s easy to personalize each section and make a site that highlights your unique relationship.
Squarespace’s grid-based layout with bold visuals is perfect for high-end projectsRadian is ideal for architectural firms, interior designers, or any creative professional looking to showcase a portfolio with a clean, uncluttered aesthetic. The template uses a straightforward, grid-based layout that prioritizes large, impactful imagery. Plus, the simple UI provides a quicker browsing experience for potential clients, which can reflect positively on your work.
The Projects section utilizes Squarespace’s gallery block to feature a clean, modern slideshow. Each project overview has a clear title, location, and year. The Explore section further categorizes your projects, adding descriptions and linking to side pages that give more information about client requirements, the team involved, and any awards or accolades.
Squarespace puts everything your clients need up frontColton’s single-section landing page layout is one of the simplest on my list, providing visitors with necessary information and no bloat. It condenses a compelling headline, a brief description, and a direct contact method into one scroll-free layout. The result is a straightforward site that’s easy to build, manage, and keep up to date.
This template is well-suited for service-based businesses, such as interior designers or consultants, who want to collect leads without the hassle of a multi-page website. The central and prominent Get in Touch button gives potential leads a clear call to action, but you can easily customize it with Squarespace’s intuitive editor to offer your preferred CTA.
SITE123’s no-fuss layout provides clear CTAs and essential info onlyPristine Cleaning Co. is a no-fuss, straightforward template that features just three essential sections. These include a full-width hero section with a clear CTA, a Services section that neatly outlines what your business offers, and a Contact section with an embedded form for quick inquiries. There’s no blog, gallery, or excessive animations to distract visitors.
Pristine is perfect for local laundry services or home-cleaning companies that want to establish an online presence without worrying about design decisions. The template is incredibly easy to customize using SITE123’s free, drag-and-drop editor. You just replace text and images directly in the layout without adjusting spacing, columns, or styling.
Bright images and a simple SITE123 layout help turn visitors into leads quicklyThe Garden Gurus template is easy to set up and navigate. The homepage opens with a large hero image and an embedded contact form, which is perfect for converting visitors right away. Below that, a clean Services section gives each offering its own well-spaced block with a title and description.
The final part is a Contact section with a form and a built-in map. This uses SITE123’s map widget, so you don’t need to configure any third-party code to get it working. This template is ideal for solo landscapers, garden designers, or small outdoor service businesses that want to get online fast with minimal effort.
SITE123’s minimal design meets modern gallery functionality to spotlight your art
Spectrum of Creation Gallery is ideal for art galleries, museums, exhibition spaces, and individual artists looking to showcase their work online with ease. Visitors can use key navigation links in the header to jump to relevant information, which makes it easy for them to find your current events or opening hours.
The design relies on a spacious layout and clear typography to present your content without bloat. For instance, the About section combines descriptive text with an image, and the Events page presents information in an easily comprehensible vertical card arrangement. This helps you display all necessary details (date, time, location, description) without needing extra pages.
Multi-Page Simple Websites
Multi-page websites are ideal when you need to organize more content but still want a clean, user-friendly design. Each page focuses on one purpose, like booking services, blogging, or providing team details, without unnecessary clutter. Like the single-page designs above, you’ll get all of these simple website templates for free with their respective builder.
Large visuals and Wix’s instant booking tools create a guest-first experience
Laguna Resort is well-suited for hospitality businesses, such as small hotels, guesthouses, or boutique resorts, where simple booking and easy access to information are critical. Laguna’s layout is characterized by its large blocks and minimal clutter, which directs your visitors’ attention towards what your hotel has to offer.
The homepage immediately presents a search widget that helps guests find available rooms. This direct approach eliminates unnecessary clicks and places the primary call to action front and center. Similarly, the Book A Room page utilizes Wix Hotels to display room options with large blocks that make it easy for guests to scan, compare prices, and reserve.
Squarespace’s designs let you introduce yourself, show your work, and book clients
Adri works well for solo entrepreneurs, freelancers, and small businesses. The hero section immediately introduces you and your value proposition with a CTA button that leads to the Book Consultation page. On this page, visitors can fill in their details via a customizable form that lets them specify the service they’re interested in, courtesy of Squarespace’s form blocks. In just two clicks, you’ll have generated a new lead.
The Projects page showcases each case study using a large image demonstration on one side, paired with a concise title, a brief description, and a CTA button on the other. This horizontal, alternating layout (image-text, then text-image) creates visual interest without overwhelming your visitors. This way, they can quickly scan and understand each project at a glance.
Your music content is easy to follow with SITE123’s simple design philosophyMusic Blog is great for individual music enthusiasts, critics, or small music-related businesses. Its sections are arranged logically, moving from an introductory hero section to blog posts to an About Us section and contact form. This maintains a natural information flow that helps drive your visitor to become a potential lead.
Music Blog’s clear structure and minimalist approach mean you’ll spend less time on intricate design decisions – you only need to change text and images. You can easily edit any of its sections with SITE123’s simple editor, keeping your site updated in just a few clicks.
Webador’s clean blocks and CTAs keep the focus on booking and contactThis barbershop website template minimizes visual clutter and features a clear navigation bar at the top that helps visitors easily explore your website. It uses a simple, consistent color scheme with plenty of white space, which makes Barber minimalistic without being bland. This also minimizes any potential frustration points that would cause visitors to click away.
The template doesn’t have any animations or complicated design elements. It just uses text and image blocks that you can easily edit with Webador’s free editor. The Contact page is very straightforward, requesting only essential information like name and email address. The benefit of this is that it’ll load quicker, helping to bump your website up in search results.
Showcase galleries, services, and FAQs using Webador’s simple layouts
This photography website template uses a clean and intuitive layout that’s great for solo photographers or small studios. The template’s structured block-based design helps you input your content, images, and service details into predefined areas easily, without needing extensive design knowledge. You’ll be able to fill in your details and go online without any technical knowledge.
The Services section, for instance, uses a grid layout with clear headings, images, and CTA buttons, providing a neat way to showcase your different offerings. Similarly, the FAQ section uses an accordion design to display key facts and information in a compact format.
This IONOS template is designed for fuss-free reservations and clear menusThis template’s clear typography and minimal decorative elements contribute to a sleek aesthetic that is easy on the eyes and quick to load. It also puts your service front and center, helping you find new customers without flashy gimmicks. That makes it perfect for local diners, cafes, and catering businesses.
The template’s homepage is divided into distinct sections that make it easy for visitors to find what they’re looking for without clicking through multiple pages. When creating with this template, you can easily change the sections using IONOS’s pre-designed layouts. This speeds up the editing process since you won’t have to tweak each design element separately.
IONOS’ sleek three-page layout helps you highlight signature items and drive ordersBakery’s simple visual presentation is ideal for bakeries, patisseries, or even artisan food producers. It uses a minimalist, three-page structure, which prevents information overload, simplifies navigation for your clients, and makes editing easy for you. The design consolidates content within distinct, easy-to-digest blocks on these few pages.
For example, the “Our famous cakes” section showcases multiple offerings in a clear grid format that helps visitors quickly browse your items. Plus, by seamlessly integrating social media icons into both the header and footer, the design makes it easy for visitors to connect, follow, and share, all without disrupting the user experience.
HTML/CSS-Based Templates (Premium Option)
If you’re comfortable with coding, HTML and CSS-based templates offer more control and customization than regular templates. You’ll need to use this template type if you’re using a content management system like WordPress. Other website builders might not let you upload these kinds of templates outside of expensive, top-tier plans.
Despite the extra technical knowledge required, these templates are designed so that you won’t need to make significant modifications. You can easily find clean layouts that don’t overwhelm the user and only require you to add your custom content. The only downside is that these templates aren’t free, but they’re well worth it if you want a design with a little more freedom.
Webflow’s thoughtful structure creates a peaceful browsing experience
Momentus is ideal for yoga studios, fitness instructors, or wellness coaches. While there are multiple pages, the homepage presents all the critical information, from introducing your team to highlighting pricing plans and sharing client testimonials. This helps minimize how often visitors click and provides a straightforward user experience.
In addition, it avoids visual clutter with the use of white space, a clear and legible font, and a moderate color scheme. This keeps the focus on your content, products, and unique offering, helping turn visitors into new customers or clients.
Webflow makes it easy to navigate through service overviews, testimonials, and pricingPet Grooming is great for businesses in the pet care industry, such as pet grooming services, pet spas, and veterinary clinics. The homepage makes all essential information readily accessible so visitors don’t need to click through multiple pages. These include service descriptions, an introduction to team members, testimonials, and an FAQ section.
I was especially impressed with how clear and well-structured the Pricing page is. By presenting grooming packages side-by-side with distinct pricing, visitors can immediately grasp your offerings. There’s also a price comparison table that helps clients make quick decisions about what’s right for their pet without overwhelming them with excessive text or complex data.
ThemeForest offers a visual portfolio with a sharp layout and filtering options
Kitzu is perfect for freelancers, designers, and developers who want a simple yet effective online portfolio. Its Resume page is divided into distinct, easily scannable sections like Education, Experience, and My Skills, which you can customize to make your own. It uses bullet points and concise descriptions under each entry, which helps potential clients quickly understand your value proposition.
The Portfolio page is equally impressive with its visual impact, grid-based layout, and filtering options. It uses evenly spaced item thumbnails and a stark, contrasting background to make each project stand out. Meanwhile, the categories at the top help visitors navigate and focus on specific project types, helping you put your best and most relevant work at the forefront.
Build a Fast-Loading, Clutter-Free Website With Little Effort
Simple website templates help you focus on content, not design decisions. Whether you need a one-page layout, a multi-page setup, or an HTML-based option, each template on my list keeps navigation easy and design minimal. That said, I recommend using a website builder to create a simple website rather than downloading an HTML template.
A website builder gives you everything you need to build a website in one place, including templates, customization tools, hosting, and security. Top website builders like Wix offer hundreds of free, simple, and mobile-responsive website templates, making it easy to add your unique flair and stand out.
FAQ
How can I download simple website templates for free?
You can download free simple website templates from sites like ThemeForest, Webflow, and Colorlib, which offer hundreds of responsive HTML/CSS or Bootstrap templates. However, I recommend using a free website builder like Wix to get simple website templates instead. These top picks offer free, professionally designed, and fully customizable templates, complete with hosting and easy drag-and-drop editing, which saves you setup time and eliminates the need for coding.
What are the best free website templates?
A good free website template is Craft House from Wix, which gives you a clean, image-focused layout that’s easy to edit and ideal for showcasing art or products. Adri from Squarespace is another good one, as this keeps things simple with a direct intro, a clear CTA, and a project layout that highlights your work without clutter.
Are there simple HTML website templates?
Yes, there are. Kitzu from ThemeForest is a simple HTML website template that gives you a structured layout with easy-to-scan sections for your resume and portfolio. Momentus from Webflow is another simple HTML website template. It features a clean layout with key info on one page, using white space and clear fonts to reduce clutter.
Where can I get simple CSS website templates?
You can get simple CSS website templates from Webflow. One of my favorites is Webflow’s Pet Grooming template, as it shows essential info on the homepage and uses a clear, organized layout to display service descriptions, pricing, and FAQs.
How do I build a simple website myself?
You can build a simple website yourself by using a website builder that handles design, hosting, and security. I recommend Wix because it has 2500+ templates and an intuitive drag‑and‑drop editor that makes it easy to customize any of its designs to your liking. If you prefer a more hands-off approach, Wix’s AI can build a complete, customized website for you in seconds.
For more info on how to build a website quickly and easily, you can check out our step-by-step Wix starter guide.
Kamso specializes in writing about credit card processing and website builders. He has worked on comparisons, product reviews, and news stories about software products and digital tools. He has a mechanical engineering degree and a strong fondness for anything in the tech space.
Alex dove headfirst into digital marketing after earning his English degree in 2018. As Managing Editor at Website Planet, he leads reviews, comparisons, and blog posts on website builders, payment processors, freelance marketplaces, and other digital tools. Off the clock, you’ll find him replaying classic RPGs or experimenting in the kitchen.
Thank you, - your reply was submitted successfully!your comment was submitted successfully!
We check all user comments within 48 hours to make sure they are from real people like you. We're glad you found this article useful - we would appreciate it if you let more people know about it.
Share this blog post with friends and co-workers right now:
Thank you, , your comment was submitted successfully!
We check all comments within 48 hours to make sure they're from real users like you. In the meantime, you can share your comment with others to let more people know what you think.
Thank you for signing up!
Once a month you will receive interesting, insightful tips, tricks, and advice to improve your website performance and reach your digital marketing goals!
