HTML5 UP vs Tailwind Awesome
Quick verdict
HTML5 UP and Tailwind Awesome 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 Tailwind Awesome is a curated directory of Tailwind templates, kits and tools. For most people, HTML5 UP is the safer default thanks to its wider adoption — but Tailwind Awesome can be the better fit for the right workflow.
If you're choosing between HTML5 UP and Tailwind Awesome, 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 | Tailwind Awesome | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Website Templates | Website Templates |
| Pricing | Free | Freemium |
| On DesignBookmark | Featured pick | Listed |
| Categories | 1 | 2 |
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 Tailwind Awesome 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
At its core, HTML5 UP is responsive, free HTML5 and CSS3 site templates, CC-licensed. The team behind it ships steadily, so it keeps improving rather than standing still.
Against Tailwind Awesome, it tends to win people over when a clean, familiar workflow is the priority. On the pricing side, HTML5 UP is generally free — always click through to confirm current plans, since they change often.
Tailwind Awesome
At its core, Tailwind Awesome is a curated directory of Tailwind templates, kits and tools. What stands out is how focused and dependable it feels: it does what it promises, release after release.
Compared with HTML5 UP, it's the one to reach for when you'd rather not fight the interface to get started. On the pricing side, Tailwind Awesome is generally freemium — always click through to confirm current plans, since they change often.
How to choose between HTML5 UP and Tailwind Awesome
Pick HTML5 UP
Choose HTML5 UP if you're watching your budget — its pricing model is the friendlier of the two to start with, and you want the more established, widely-adopted pick that most people reach for first.
Pick Tailwind Awesome
Choose Tailwind Awesome if you'd rather have one website template tool that stretches across more of your workflow.
Pricing & how you'll pay
Based on their general pricing models, HTML5 UP is the friendlier option to get started with, while the other leans more premium. That said, pricing tiers shift constantly — check the current plans on each site before you commit, especially if a specific feature you need sits behind a paywall.
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
Tailwind Awesome stretches across more of the workflow, which is handy if you want fewer tools to juggle. HTML5 UP is more focused, which often means it does its core job better. Decide whether you want breadth or depth.
Momentum & community
A tool is only as good as the team and community behind it. Both HTML5 UP and Tailwind Awesome 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 Tailwind Awesome?+
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; Tailwind Awesome suits you if you want a curated directory of Tailwind templates, kits and tools. The best way to decide is to try both on a real project.
What's the difference between HTML5 UP and Tailwind Awesome?+
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 Tailwind Awesome is a curated directory of Tailwind templates, kits and tools. That shapes which workflows each one feels best for.
Is HTML5 UP or Tailwind Awesome cheaper?+
Going by their general pricing models, HTML5 UP is usually the more affordable place to start (HTML5 UP is free, Tailwind Awesome is freemium). Pricing changes often, so always confirm the latest plans on each site before deciding.
Can I use HTML5 UP and Tailwind Awesome 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 Tailwind Awesome?+
Both generally offer a free or freemium way in, so you can try HTML5 UP and Tailwind Awesome 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 Tailwind Awesome — 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.