Best free web design inspiration sites in 2024

One of the hardest parts of a web design project is getting started, especially when you’re experiencing creative block. One of the best ways to push through this barrier is to look at other websites for inspiration. I’ve been designing websites for decades and over the years I’ve collected my go-to free web design inspiration sites.

With so many free web design inspiration sites out there, it’s difficult to know which ones to use, so I’ve compared the top sites based on how often they’re updated, their search filter functionality, website previews, newsletters, and social media channels. I’ve also pulled out my top 3 free web design inspiration sites to make it even easier. I hope you find them helpful and inspiring.

3 best free web design inspiration sites

With so many awesome free web design inspiration sites, it was hard to narrow it down to just 3. Each of these 3 sites excels across most of the judging criteria, so I’m sure they’ll help inspire you while working on your next web design project.

Awwwards

Awwwards has been around for longer than I can remember and they’ve always been one of the top free web design inspiration sites. Their site features a curated collection of visually stunning and technically impressive websites, rated by experts on design, usability, creativity, and content.

Awwwards is a bit different to most web design inspiration sites, as designers need to submit their website for consideration by the expert judging panel. Each day, the judging panel will vote for the highly coveted “site of the day”, which is featured on the website homepage. I was lucky enough to win site of the day for my portfolio website back in 2010.

With so many website submissions from top designers around the world and such a rigorous voting process, the result is a highly curated collection of daily web design inspiration from top designers around the world. You can filter websites by category, technology, country, fonts, and colour.

Awwwards also has a vibrant community where designers can participate in discussions, vote on submissions, and learn from detailed case studies. Additionally, they host educational courses, interviews with industry leaders, and events to help you stay on top of your web design game. Basically your one-stop shop for web design inspiration.

Unique features include:

• Expert-rated designs: Websites featured on Awwwards are evaluated by a panel of experts based on design, usability, creativity, and content, offering high-quality, curated inspiration.
• Community engagement: Designers can actively participate by voting, commenting, and contributing to discussions, making Awwwards a great place to learn from other designers.
• Collections: Websites have been organised into helpful categories to help you quickly gain inspiration on specific areas of web design such as: about us pages, 404 pages, footers, animation, and navigation.
• Case studies and insights: Detailed case studies and in-depth interviews with top designers provide valuable insights into the creative process and emerging trends.
• Educational content: The site offers workshops, courses, and articles to help designers hone their skills and stay updated on the latest design techniques.
• Events and conferences: Awwwards organises global conferences and events, bringing together design leaders and providing networking opportunities for professionals.
• Daily inspiration: A regularly updated feed of award-winning websites provides a steady stream of fresh and innovative web design ideas.

Visit Awwwards

The FWA

The FWA (Favourite Website Awards) was founded back in 2000 and is still one of the top platforms for free web design inspiration. It started off showcasing cutting-edge Flash websites that were famous for rich animations and immersive interactions. Now it’s a bit more well rounded and features daily website award winners that push the boundaries of design and user experience.

Like Awwwards, The FWA also relies on an expert judging panel to rate each website submission. Nearly 300 judges can cast their vote over a 1 week period. To win the site of the day award, a website must have a minimum score of 70% and at least 20 judges must have voted. This helps ensure that you see only the highest quality web design inspiration.

Unfortunately, there aren’t many filtering options to narrow down your search, but The FWA is still a great way to get your daily dose of web design inspiration.

Unique features include:

• Focus on innovation: The FWA highlights projects that utilise the latest technologies, such as WebGL, AR, and VR, setting it apart from sites that only showcase traditional web design.
• Daily awards: Every day, a new standout website is featured, keeping content fresh and inspiring for regular visitors.
• Spotlight on immersive experiences: Emphasis on interactive and experiential designs provides unique examples that go beyond standard websites.
• Industry recognition: Winning an FWA award is considered a prestigious accolade in the digital design community, adding a level of prestige to the showcased websites.
• Educational value: The site often includes details on the technology and techniques used in award-winning projects, offering a learning opportunity for web professionals.

Visit The FWA