HTML5 UP vs Start Bootstrap
Quick verdict
HTML5 UP and Start Bootstrap are both excellent website template tools, and the right pick depends on what you need. HTML5 UP is responsive, free HTML5 and CSS3 site templates, CC-licensed, while Start Bootstrap is free Bootstrap themes, templates and snippets. For most people, HTML5 UP is the safer default thanks to its wider adoption — but Start Bootstrap can be the better fit for the right workflow.
If you're choosing between HTML5 UP and Start Bootstrap, you're not alone — they're two of the most talked-about website template tools around, and the differences aren't always obvious from their landing pages.
We track hundreds of website template tools on DesignBookmark, so we've put them side by side below: what each one is, where they overlap, how they differ, and a clear answer to which you should choose.
No fluff and no fabricated benchmarks — just an honest, practical comparison to help you decide fast.
At a glance
| HTML5 UP | Start Bootstrap | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Website Templates | Website Templates |
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| On DesignBookmark | Featured pick | Listed |
| Categories | 1 | 1 |
Pricing is a general guide and changes often — always confirm current plans on each tool's site.
What they have in common
At a high level, HTML5 UP and Start Bootstrap are after the same thing. Both sit in our website templates category, both are aimed at designers, developers and creators, and both are built to make that job faster and more enjoyable.
So if you're only going to use one, you won't be missing out on the fundamentals either way — the question is which one's particular take on website template tool suits you best. That's what the rest of this comparison digs into.
HTML5 UP
HTML5 UP bills itself as responsive, free HTML5 and CSS3 site templates, CC-licensed — and in practice that's exactly what it delivers. It earns its reputation by being genuinely useful day to day, not just impressive in a thirty-second demo.
Compared with Start Bootstrap, it's the one to reach for when reliability beats raw feature count. On the pricing side, HTML5 UP is generally free — always click through to confirm current plans, since they change often.
Start Bootstrap
Start Bootstrap bills itself as free Bootstrap themes, templates and snippets — and in practice that's exactly what it delivers. Its biggest strength is the everyday experience — the small details are thought through, so it gets out of your way and lets you work.
Against HTML5 UP, it tends to win people over when you value a tool you can pick up without reading the manual. On the pricing side, Start Bootstrap is generally free — always click through to confirm current plans, since they change often.
How to choose between HTML5 UP and Start Bootstrap
Pick HTML5 UP
Choose HTML5 UP if you want the more established, widely-adopted pick that most people reach for first.
Pick Start Bootstrap
Choose Start Bootstrap if free Bootstrap themes, templates and snippets sounds like exactly what you need.
Pricing & how you'll pay
HTML5 UP and Start Bootstrap use broadly similar pricing models, so cost is unlikely to be the deciding factor. Focus instead on which one fits your workflow — and always confirm the latest plans on each site, since pricing changes often.
Workflow & learning curve
The best website template tool is the one that disappears into your routine. Think about which interface feels more natural to you, which integrates with the apps you already use, and which you'd actually open every day. A short free trial of each tells you more than any feature chart.
Scope — all-rounder or specialist
Both cover similar ground here, so neither is obviously the "bigger" tool. Judge them on how well they do the specific job you care about most, rather than the length of their feature lists.
Momentum & community
A tool is only as good as the team and community behind it. Both HTML5 UP and Start Bootstrap are actively maintained and listed on DesignBookmark for that reason — but it's worth a quick look at each one's changelog and community to see which is moving in a direction you like.
Frequently asked questions
Is HTML5 UP better than Start Bootstrap?+
Neither is universally "better" — they're both strong website template tools, which is why people compare them. HTML5 UP suits you if you want responsive, free HTML5 and CSS3 site templates, CC-licensed; Start Bootstrap suits you if you want free Bootstrap themes, templates and snippets. The best way to decide is to try both on a real project.
What's the difference between HTML5 UP and Start Bootstrap?+
They overlap a lot — both are website template tools aimed at the same audience. The practical difference is emphasis: HTML5 UP is responsive, free HTML5 and CSS3 site templates, CC-licensed, whereas Start Bootstrap is free Bootstrap themes, templates and snippets. That shapes which workflows each one feels best for.
Is HTML5 UP or Start Bootstrap cheaper?+
Their pricing models are broadly similar (HTML5 UP is free, Start Bootstrap is free), so cost isn't the deciding factor for most people. Check each site for the current plans, since they change regularly.
Can I use HTML5 UP and Start Bootstrap together?+
Often, yes. Plenty of people use more than one website template tool side by side — one as their main driver and another for the things it does best. There's no rule that says you must pick only one, though most settle on a primary tool over time.
Is there a free version of HTML5 UP or Start Bootstrap?+
Both generally offer a free or freemium way in, so you can try HTML5 UP and Start Bootstrap before paying for either.
The bottom line
The bottom line: HTML5 UP is the easier one to recommend as a default, but there's no wrong answer between HTML5 UP and Start Bootstrap — they're both genuinely good website template tools. Re-read the "how to choose" points above, take whichever one speaks to you for a quick spin, and keep the one that earns a permanent place in your workflow.