How do you create a simple yet effective website that captures your visitor’s attention without overloading them with information?
The answer is to use a one-pager.
One-page websites have become an increasingly popular web design trend used by freelancers, entrepreneurs, and small to big businesses to showcase projects, portfolios, events, products, and more.
In this article, we’ll examine some of the best one-page website examples we’ve seen and what we can learn from them.
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What’s a one-page website?
A one-page website or one-pager is a website that has only one HTML page.
Unlike a multi-page website where the menu navigation items link to other single pages on the website, menu items on a single-page website link to different sections of the page.
In a one-page site, all the information is presented on a single page, so navigation links serve as anchors to different sections of the page.
This layout means that one-page websites often have smooth scrolling and parallax effects, which give them an immersive feel.
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Why would anyone need a one-page website?
A one-page website is a quick way to put your business or work online without going through the hassle of creating a multi-page website — especially if you do not have a lot of content.
Website visitors can see all the information they need on one page. By using the navigation links, website visitors can jump quickly to any section without loading a new tab.
A one-page website is different from a landing page because while a landing page is focused purely on conversions, a one-page website can be used for a variety of purposes besides conversions.
We can say that all landing pages are usually one-page websites, but not all one-page websites are landing pages.
One-page or single-page websites are great for:
- Personal websites
- Portfolio websites
- Single-product websites
- Event websites
- Small business websites
- Agency websites
Let’s look at some beautiful one-page website examples so we can better understand how they can be used.
Here are 25 of the best one-page websites we’ve seen
Single-product websites
1. Apple Plug
Why’s this a good example to follow?
Although it’s a parody website mimicking the ones developed by Apple, it’s very well designed and could inspire your very own one-page website.
It makes great use of visual hierarchy, negative space, and witty website copy. As you scroll through the page, you’re drawn in by the copy and visuals till you arrive at the place of conversion – their signup form.
Unlike other elements on this page, the signup form along with the headline and the call to action button are all centered. Thanks to this, there’s a high likelihood you won’t miss the main goal of the page and you’ll end up converting.
Key takeaways from this example
- Use visual hierarchy to keep users focused on your unique selling propositions (USPs) and keep scrolling through the page.
- Use a well-designed signup form to capture email subscribers (if that’s the goal you’re trying to achieve) and make your call to action prominent.
2. Tupuy
Why’s this a good example to follow?
This product-based, one-page website does a good job of highlighting all the important features of the product (in an interactive way that captures visitor’s attention) and providing users with a clear call to action — which is to download the software.
The website has two menus: a standard header menu and a vertical menu that highlights the active section of the page.
Key takeaways from this example
- Use arrows and other visual cues to give clear direction to visitors.
- Use a vertical menu to show active sections as users scroll through the page.
3. Roma
Why’s this a good example to follow?
This is the website for the award-winning Oscar-nominated Netflix original movie, Roma, which follows the life of a domestic worker.
The website theme matches the seriousness of its subject — better working conditions for domestic workers — and the site has a clear call to action inviting visitors to “Take Action” or watch the movie on Netflix.
The website tells a story, giving visitors background information about the movie and its goals as they scroll through. On top of that, carefully timed animations and scroll effects amplify the website’s message.
Key takeaways from this example
- Storytelling is a great way to increase engagement on a one-page website.
- Use design elements that match the subject of your website — whether it’s fun, somber, or formal.
4. The Rafael
Why’s this a good example to follow?
This property website is a delight to navigate. In seven well-planned sections, we learn about the property; its location, floor plans, amenities, and how to contact the leasing agent for inquiries.
This is a great example of a product-focused website that highlights the unique features of the product while delivering a seamless user experience. In addition, the website has accessibility features for users with visual, hearing, cognitive, and motor impairments.
Key takeaways from this example
- A one-page website works best when it focuses on a central idea or theme.
- Include website accessibility features for visually impaired users.
5. Plant22
Why’s this a good example to follow?
Plant22’s website loads in a snap, thanks to its minimalistic design and HTML template. The design is unconventional and creative, featuring four color-coded boxes. When clicked, each box opens a pop-up overlay that contains additional information.
For example, when you click on the “members” block, a list of members is shown in an overlay window, and you can select a member’s name to view their details on a new overlay — all without opening a new tab. This provides a seamless user experience.
Key takeaways from this example
- Unconventional designs work well if they are consistent and optimized for user experience.
- Present information so that your website visitors can find what they need at a glance.
Read more:
1. How to create a popup that converts
Small business websites
6. Plastics Unlimited
Why’s this a good example to follow?
This website shows how a business can present a fair amount of information without overwhelming the user. The website includes a slider, services section, gallery, about, contact, and team information. The creative use of pop-ups (that appear when you click the headline with “+” sign) makes all this possible.
Instead of directing users to a different page, additional information is presented in a neat pop-up that users can close without disrupting their scroll.
Key takeaways from this example
- Use on-click pop-ups to present additional information (for inspiration, see these creative popup examples).
- Consider accordions, tabs, and toggle buttons for displaying longer bits of text. Keep in mind that visitors often scan websites, so do not put critical information in an accordion or toggle list.
7. Formation
Why’s this a good example to follow?
Formation is a beautiful example of a one-page business website done right. It captures a large amount of information without feeling overloaded.
There are at least 10 sections, including an about section, testimonials, contact form, as well as product and services information. Each section includes a creative call to action text that ties back to the main CTA, ensuring that the end goal is always clear to the user.
Key takeaways from this example
- Creatively repeat CTAs at different sections to increase conversion rates. Multiple calls to action can increase conversions by 20%, according to a study by Invesp.
- Organize information in well-defined sections that visitors will understand. Link to the most relevant sections in the menu.
8. Upstate Laundromat
Why’s this a good example to follow?
This small business website is a neat minimalistic one-page design. The header features a descriptive menu with links like amenities, FAQs, and testimonials. There’s an unobtrusive top-level banner that announces the current discount promo. The FAQ section uses a toggle display for a compact view and great use of space.
Key takeaways from this example
- A top-bar banner can be used to highlight ongoing promotions and sales without hurting the user experience.
- Dropdown toggle buttons help to present larger bits of information in a user-friendly way.
9. We Shoot Bottles
Why’s this a good example to follow?
We Shoot Bottles is another example of a business website that relies on horizontal scrolling and unconventional design. An arrow points the visitor in the right scroll direction so users don’t have to guess. An eye-tracking study by CXL found that arrows and lines drew the most attention to the desired element on a page.
This creative example features gorgeous images and descriptive website copy. They include their pricing list, detailed contact information, and mailing list CTA.
Key takeaways from this example
- Again, visual cues are a must for unconventional designs.
- Use eye-popping imagery to grab and hold visitor’s attention.
10. Weinbau Strenger
Why’s this a good example to follow?
This business website for a winery features beautiful parallax effects and a smooth scroll. Website users find websites with parallax scrolling to be more fun than non-parallax scrolling websites, according to findings from UX researchers at Purdue University.
On scroll, the one-page website tells a story of the couple behind the business, introduces their wine selection and encourages visitors to shop at the winery’s ecommerce website.
Key takeaways from this example
- One-page websites may not work well for ecommerce stores, but they can serve as landing pages to other important sites connected to your business or brand.
- Storytelling works for small business websites because it helps to create an immersive experience for website visitors.
11. Ribalta
Why’s this a good example to follow?
This website does a great job of promoting a brick-and-mortar pizzeria using beautiful imagery. The website highlights the menu and business location and includes links to important directories such as Tripadvisor. The CTA is prominently displayed at the top right corner of the menu and website visitors can make their reservations without leaving the page.
Key takeaways from this example
- Include links to important directories where interested customers can read reviews and learn more about your services.
- Professional images help to highlight your products and build trust in your customers. Eye-tracking studies by Nielsen Group shows that photos of products and real people are treated as important content and scrutinized by users while stock or filler photos are completely ignored.
Agency websites
12. Allies
Why’s this a good example to follow?
This marketing agency uses a one-page layout to showcase its services. The website boasts an immersive parallax scroll and seamless mobile scroll.
The navigation links are prominent both on desktop and mobile, allowing site visitors to quickly navigate the website. In place of testimonials, which might make the page longer than necessary, they have used client logos for social proof.
Key takeaways from this example
- Include clear navigation links that scroll seamlessly to different sections of the page.
- Less is more — cut out sections that might slow down the page or negatively affect the user experience.
13. Type + Pixel
Why’s this a good example to follow?
For creative agencies, the goal is usually to dazzle clients with top-notch design skills, and Type + Pixel does this well. This website features bold typography, stunning images, and a beautiful scrolling effect. The top-level navigation shows only two items, which double as the CTAs, keeping the focus clear to the visitor.
Key takeaways from this example
- Fewer menu items work well. They clarify the goal and help website visitors stay focused.
- Find creative ways to present additional content using well-designed pop-ups or reveal-on-hover animations.
14. Cleverbird
Why’s this a good example to follow?
Cleverbird is an impressive one-page portfolio website that highlights the achievements of the award-winning digital design firm. The website features an autoplay slider, portfolio, about, and contact sections. Each project thumbnail can be expanded into a pop-up overlay that provides more details about the project — a great way to display additional text on a one-page website.
Key takeaways from this example
- Sliders work well for portfolio websites. Be careful so they don’t impact speed.
- An on-click overlay pop-up can be used to show additional information.
15. Lisa & Ryan
Why’s this a good example to follow?
Lisa & Ryan uses bold font and colors to create a stunning one-page design. In only five contrasting light and dark sections, this website introduces the designers, their work, and contact information.
Key takeaways from this example
- Simple does it. Highlight only the most important details in your portfolio website, especially if you have only a few projects under your belt.
- Use bold colors and fonts to create a rich user experience even with minimal content.
Portfolio websites
16. Jim Haakman
Why’s this a good example to follow?
This is an incredibly simple yet effective portfolio website. The highlight of this website is the project display style. Jim manages the one-page space well by only displaying titles of selected projects. When you click a project title, the section expands seamlessly into a larger area that provides more information about the project.
Key takeaways from this example
- Find creative ways to present additional information.
- Use frictionless transitions that improve user experience.
17. Sergio Perdercini
Why’s this a good example to follow?
Sergio’s website is a paper-textured website that’s a great example of a one-page personal portfolio website. The hero section links to the three most important sections of the website — the about section, projects, and contact information — shown in three overlapping circles. On page scroll, a header menu displays the same information, making the website a delight to navigate.
Key takeaways from this example
- Simple navigation works. Fewer menu items help website visitors find information quickly especially on a one-page website.
- Well-structured sections make for easy navigation. A section is the equivalent of a page in a multi-page website. Ensure that each section presents only one piece of information at a time so your website visitors do not get overwhelmed.
18. Ana Asnes Becker
Why’s this a good example to follow?
Ana Becker’s website is built on a simple WordPress theme. Her navigation menu items scroll smoothly to different sections on the website. She keeps the sections simple and focuses on one item at a time, making it easy for users to interact with the website.
Key takeaways from this example
- You can create an impressive one-page website using a simple WordPress theme.
- Presenting information in well-organized sections is helpful for easy navigation.
19. Musab Hassan
Why’s this a good example to follow?
Musab’s personal website is a stunning one-pager with superior transition and scrolling effects. The card-based portfolio section uses horizontal scrolling to display projects, ensuring an economic use of space.
Key takeaways from this example
- Use transitions to boost engagement. Website users prefer a user interface with animations over a user interface with no animations, according to a research at Aalto University.
- Use a minimalistic design to command attention and keep users engaged.
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Resume/Personal websites
20. Marty
Why’s this a good example to follow?
Marty’s website steps away from the conventional — which is often not advised in web design — but it works because of his use case. The website relies on horizontal scrolling to display a timeline of Marty’s education and work experience.
Each slide can be expanded or minimized using the arrow keys. While the website may take users a minute or two to figure out, it works because it presents bite-sized information in an unusual way that is likely to pique interest.
Key takeaways from this example
- When using an unconventional design layout, use directional cues to guide users in the right direction.
- Keep the design consistent so users don’t get confused after mastering one layout.
21. Andreas Beugger
Why’s this a good example to follow?
Andreas uses bold images and typography that contrast sharply with the website’s dark background to create an immersive user experience. The website is fast, responsive, and features a beautiful resume section.
In place of a contact form, Andreas shares his social media channels where visitors can connect with him. Notice the creative use of an emoji.
Key takeaways from this example
- Use scrollable horizontal sections to present longer information in a section.
- Show off your fun side with emojis. Emojis have been shown to boost email open rates, increase interactions on social media pages and Intercom found that messages containing an emoji are far more likely to get a response.
22. Strange Native – Russ Maschmeyer
Why’s this a good example to follow?
This gorgeous website has a minimalistic web design and is presented as a resume. Russ Maschmeyer lets go of all the bells and whistles to highlight the most important details — his portfolio and work experience.
This website has no CTA nor contact information. It works well if you simply need a place to link to your most important online projects.
Key takeaways from this example
- Minimalistic design helps users stay focused on the important details.
- You can use a one-page website as a public bookmark of sorts for all your important projects.
23. Brittany Chiang
Why’s this a good example to follow?
Brittany Chiang’s website is an impressive yet simple personal portfolio. Her navigation menu only has five items; the first four items are numbered and link to different sections on the page, giving her visitors a clear sense of what to expect.
Brittany makes good use of her space by prominently displaying her email address and social media channels on both sides of the page. These stay fixed as users scroll. According to ContentSquare, sticky menus are ideal for long pages — users scroll much further down a page with actionable sticky navigation items.
Key takeaways from this example
- Give site visitors a glimpse of what to expect using a clear navigation menu.
- Find creative ways to highlight important information, for example, by making them sticky, so they don’t get lost in the scroll.
Events/Destination websites
24. Finally Sexton
Why’s this a good example to follow?
This wedding website presents information about the event in an aesthetically pleasing and easily digestible form.
Subtle CSS transitions keep the user engaged and nudges them to scroll further. The website copy is conversational and speaks directly to wedding guests, helping them find the information they need.
Key takeaways from this example
- Use animations and transitions to liven up your website and increase engagement. Viget found that web animation increases people’s understanding of your product or service by 74%.
- Present important information first to avoid losing visitors halfway through the page, especially if you have a long one-page website.
25. Banyak Surf Adventure
Why’s this a good example to follow?
This tourist destination website does a good job of selling the location. Descriptive menu items such as the boat, the camp, a social media gallery, and booking make it easy for new visitors to navigate the website. The gallery links to their Instagram photos and the entire website copy is reminiscent of travel and fun.
Key takeaways from this example
- Use descriptive menu names to help website visitors find information more quickly.
- Use the appropriate tone in your website copy to connect with your audience.
Summing it up
One-page websites are an excellent way to showcase a portfolio, product, or service in an easily digestible format. The best one-page websites are mobile-responsive, scrollable, have a central theme and clear call to action, and are easy to navigate.
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