Definitive guide
Best Dark Websites of 2026 | 32 Examples
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👋 My Experience With Dark Web Design
Hi – it’s Ralph here 👋 In the past 10 years, I’ve designed 15+ dark websites. What I learned over the years building dark websites:
1. Contrast and Readability
To create a great dark website, I highly suggest taking time to plan a great contrast between colors and ensure the readability of your content. Use vibrant colors to highlight your CTAs.
2. User-friendly NavigationÂ
Dark websites often have a minimalist design, so I suggest ensuring simple and easy navigation for your visitors. Make sure that your menus are still visible and easy to access, so use an accent color or light colors.
3. Emotional and Psychological Impact
Keep in mind the right use of dark website aesthetics. Make sure that when planning the design it will fit the branding of your website and the audience will enjoy navigating it. I suggest giving your visitors an option to switch to light mode
Focus on this, and you’ll be fine.
PS: I suggest taking a look at the website examples below. Get inspired by their designs and see which website builders they’ve used. Best of luck!
👋 How I curated this list
Welcome friendly stranger! You’re looking for some inspiring website examples. You found the right page.
About me
My name is Ralph de Groot. I’m the founder and author at My Codeless Website. Wake me up for a great web design. I love writing about website examples, too!
How I curated this list
Once a year I collect 500 website examples to create/update this article. I create a shortlist which I send to my team of web designers. Together, we vote to determine the order of this list.
Next to that, I always follow our editorial policy when writing my articles, to make sure they are really helpful and useful for you.
Best dark website examples
- Nordisten
- Calvin Pausania
- Rafael Varona
- Andrew Scrivani
- Minh Ahn
- BLCK VCÂ
- Myrick Visual
- Alan Schaller
- Jean Francois Bury
- Schaller’s Stube
- Opa
- Beardtamer
- Brain of Brian
- Sydney & Larry
- Kiki & Sam
- Mark & Jacob
- Thank God It’s Monday
- Tobias Becs
- Studio 19
- Adam McCain
- Cuts & Bruises
- Darren Hughes Art
- Evolve Clothing Gallery
- Nevada Civil Rights
- Memosand Construction
- Terra Living
- Karen J Revis
- AB Models
- Conqr
- Mayara Queiroz
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1. Nordisten
This Wix business example is amazing in the sense that it only needed images to take its design to the next level. On its one-pager homepage, a modish image of chair furniture is featured along with clean texts in an elegant font style. With little to no text, images carried the whole website.
Things we love about this web design
- Contemporary and aesthetic images
- Classy neutral color scheme
- Mellow and clean menu structure
🚀 Here's the website builder I recommend to replicate this website
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2. Calvin Pausania
https://www.calvinpausania.com/
Calvin Pausania is a dynamic website for photography and editing. With its crisp pictures, I became obsessed with this website at first sight. I bet you’ll love the website’s relaxing interface, scrolling bar that offers a 4D view, and unique canvas design! Don’t miss seeing this one out! Â
Things we love about this web designÂ
- The interface of the website is relaxing
- The website’s scrolling bar offers 4D views
- The website uses unique canvas designs
🚀 Here's the website builder I recommend to replicate this website
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3. Rafael Varona
This is a gem! Aside from a very cool and fun animation video above the fold, scrolling through this website will leave you in awe, as if you’re staring at sculptures in a museum. Clicking a project on the portfolio will then redirect you to a page with its full details. Clean, fun, visually pleasing, and easy-to-follow.Â
Things we love about this web design
- Soft color scheme
- Whimsical characters and illustrations
- Personal descriptions for every project
🚀 Here's the website builder I recommend to replicate this website
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4. Andrew Scrivani
https://www.andrewscrivani.com/
Andrew Scrivani’s site opens with immersive, high-quality food photography set against a minimalist dark backdrop that feels cinematic. Primary navigation is streamlined to essentials like Instagram and podcasts. The design balances visual storytelling with professional branding, guiding the eye with clarity and warmth through each scroll.
Things we love about this web designÂ
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Cinematic hero imagery that feels immersive
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Simple, clean navigation that prioritizes key content
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Dark, minimal backdrop
🚀 Here's the website builder I recommend to replicate this website
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5. Minh Ahn
The Minh Anh Pham portfolio website uses a visually focused layout that highlights creative projects through large images and video previews. The structure is simple and easy to navigate, allowing visitors to browse work without distractions. A dark, minimal color scheme helps the visuals stand out, giving the portfolio a polished and cinematic presentation.
Things we love about this web designÂ
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Visually focused layout
- Large images
- Cinematic look
🚀 Here's the website builder I recommend to replicate this website
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6. BLCK VC
Bold words are written on the first highlight and focus on the services. With that, a dark background provides more emphasis. Sliding down follows different colored backgrounds with different write-upsÂ
What we love about this web design
- Sectional website design and different background colorsÂ
- Call to action above the fold
- Nice photography
🚀 Here's the website builder I recommend to replicate this website
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7. Myrick Visual
The Myrick Visual website uses a dark background that immediately draws attention to each image as you scroll down. The dark canvas makes the visuals pop, keeping the focus on the artwork. The collage-style layout adds energy and variety, letting multiple pieces be seen at once without feeling cluttered, creating an engaging and dynamic portfolio experience.
Things we love about this web designÂ
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Good choice of background color
- Dark canvas
- Interesting pieces
🚀 Here's the website builder I recommend to replicate this website
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8. Alan Schaller
The Alan Schaller website uses a black-and-white color scheme that gives it a classic and timeless look. The monochrome palette emphasizes the photography itself, letting each image stand out without distraction. The clean layout and minimal design create a sophisticated feel, making the portfolio easy to navigate while keeping the focus on the artist’s work.
Things we love about this web designÂ
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Classic and timeless look
- Clean layout
- Easy navigation
🚀 Here's the website builder I recommend to replicate this website
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9. Jean Francois Bury
https://www.jeanfrancoisbury.com/
Jean Francois Bury is a passionate chef who wants nothing but the best for his customers. If you want to see awesome video backgrounds and high-quality images of a restaurant, this is the one to go to. I am sure you’ll love the content displayed too.
Things we love about this web design
- Captivating dark backgroundÂ
- Powerful images
- Great contentÂ
🚀 Here's the website builder I recommend to replicate this website
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10. Schaller’s StubeÂ
https://www.schallerstube.com/home
Schaller’s Stube’s web designer knows how to stay consistent. I love how they settled on a black background color from start to finish, as the pages look classy all the time. In addition, the incorporation of gold hues made the overall look more professional than it should be. Fantastic!
Things we love about this web design
- Classy look
- Consistent color scheme
- Entertaining visuals
🚀 Here's the website builder I recommend to replicate this website
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11. OpaÂ
Opa’s web designer knows how to capture your attention and make you stay for long periods. This website welcomes you with an entertaining video of the restaurant, its food, and its chefs. It’s a glimpse of what they can offer and much more. I suggest visiting this website to see trendy design and appealing visual content. Â
Things we love about this web design
- Entertaining video
- Lots of spaces
- Easy navigation
🚀 Here's the website builder I recommend to replicate this website
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12. Beardtamer
Beardtamer is a premium beard oil manufacturer from Switzerland. I love the typography art above the fold. It really catches your attention, doesn’t it? And the color scheme looks vintage; that’s definitely a plus! Aside from the ones I’ve mentioned, this website also has unique text above the fold, a classic color scheme, and an elegant retro font style.Â
Things we love about this web design
- Unique text art above the fold
- Classic color scheme
- Elegant and retro font styleÂ
🚀 Here's the website builder I recommend to replicate this website
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13. Brain of Brian
https://www.brainofbriancomics.com/
Fun and creative! This blog website will definitely be loved by the kids and kids at heart. Just by looking at it, you can already tell how fun and exciting the website is, since this is all about a comic character. The colors and other elements blend well with each other and create a very nice design for the blog. Check this one now!
Things we love about this web design
- Fun and exciting websiteÂ
- Nice color palette
- Creative and cool characterÂ
🚀 Here's the website builder I recommend to replicate this website
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14. Sydney & LarryÂ
https://larryfelixart.wixsite.com/sydneyandlarry
The wedding site opens with a full-width hero image introducing Sydney and Larry, followed by a vertical, one-page layout. Navigation is simple, with sections for RSVP, location, details, registry, wedding party, and FAQs. The aesthetic feels personal and organized, making event info easily accessible.
Things we love about this web design
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Clear, intuitive section navigation for seamless browsing
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Hero image that gives a warm, welcoming first impression
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Concise one-page format
🚀 Here's the website builder I recommend to replicate this website
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15. Kiki & SamÂ
The “Sam and Kiki” wedding website offers a dynamic and engaging experience. With its bold color palette and interactive elements, it captures the couple’s vibrant personalities. The design seamlessly blends modern aesthetics with playful touches, ensuring visitors are both informed and entertained throughout their journey.
Things we love about this web design
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Bold visuals
- Dark aesthethic
- Dynamic experience
🚀 Here's the website builder I recommend to replicate this website
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16. Mark & JacobÂ
https://markanimmo.wixsite.com/website
This site keeps things direct and visually focused. Large images introduce each part of the page, while short text sections provide quick context. The structure is straightforward, allowing visitors to move smoothly through the content without distractions. The layout emphasizes the visuals, making the browsing experience simple and easy to follow.
Things we love about this web design
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Direct and visually focused
- Large images
- Strightforward navigation
🚀 Here's the website builder I recommend to replicate this website
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17. Thank God It’s Monday
https://www.thankgoditsmonday.co/
Creativity with purpose! Thank God It’s Monday is the award-winning design and branding work of Craig Valentino. This website readily features his works on the homepage for the viewers to see. This is a great move for a portfolio-focused website!
Things we love about this web design
- Visually-pleasing color palettes
- Large-sized texts capture the viewer’s attention
- Clean and straightforward web design
🚀 Here's the website builder I recommend to replicate this website
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18. Tobias Becs
Tobias Becs is a freestyle footballer from Norway. More specifically, he’s the world champion. Well, clearly, he hired a professional to build his Wix website. This clearly shows Wix is a serious platform when it comes to building amazing websites! Don’t forget to click the link to learn more about him.
Things we love about this web design
- Amazing background images
- Very clean design
- Great typography
🚀 Here's the website builder I recommend to replicate this website
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19. Studio 19
Studio 19 was founded in 2014 by Josh and Vicki Wille offering quality training to young people whether they want to perform for fun or as a career. The video above the fold is a collaboration of fun, passion, and creativity. By simply featuring it above the fold, viewers are enticed to scroll further!
Things we love about this web design
- Modern web design
- Very nice feature where you can ‘book a trial’ for an upcoming class
- Bold and powerful video above the fold
🚀 Here's the website builder I recommend to replicate this website
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20. Adam McCain
Attend Adam McCain’s website online events for spiritual peace. This website provides the best services for Christian followers to revive their faith. The color scheme used for website design makes you feel calm. Color can be used as a stress management aid if you are feeling unduly stressed.
Things we love about this web design
- Page designs uplift the spirits
- This is a user-friendly website for people of all ages
- Practical navigation bar
🚀 Here's the website builder I recommend to replicate this website
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21. Cuts & Bruises
https://www.cutsandbruisesbarbershop.com/
Have you ever seen a barbershop on the internet? Sounds weird. But brace yourself for the moment of truth. Cuts & Bruises Barbershop X Parlor’s website provides online services. A savior in Covid times! This is the one if you’re looking for an inspiring and classy website interface.Â
Things we love about this web design
- The interface of the website is promising
- All services appear at once on the website’s scrolling bar
- Classy use of colors to enhance the experience
🚀 Here's the website builder I recommend to replicate this website
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22. Darren Hughes Art
https://www.darrenhughesart.com/
Darren Hughes is an excellent website for users who love animals. There are images of animals that are closer to life. Much of Darren’s art is inspired by a long-held fascination with the natural environment and the interactions between those who call it home. Every composition is meticulously hand-drawn, capturing the finest details in a modern aesthetic that honors the topic. His art links a strong observation of reality with a dash of whimsy and a visual conversation between characters and their surroundings. This is the one if you’re into an enchanting interface, an attractive homepage, and a terrific navigation bar.Â
Things we love about this web design
- Its interface is enchanting
- Animal art patterns on the website are making its homepage attractiveÂ
- The website navigation bar is terrific
🚀 Here's the website builder I recommend to replicate this website
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23. Evolve Clothing Gallery
URL: https://www.evolveclothinggallery.com/
The bold hero imagery and clean grid layout instantly communicate style. The restrained color palette keeps attention on the clothes. The navigation is intuitive, and the product presentation feels crisp and polished.
Things we love about this web design
- Minimalist grid
- Elegant typography
- Strong product focus
🚀 Here's the website builder I recommend to replicate this website
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24. Nevada Civil Rights
URL: https://www.nevadacivilrights.com/
Right from the landing page of this website, you can really tell that they are very professional and great with their work. I love the combination of modern designs to make the website look very unique yet still elegant. This is definitely a great example you can take inspiration from. Well done!
Things we love about this web design
- Stunning website design
- Structured image placement
- Fine page speed
🚀 Here's the website builder I recommend to replicate this website
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25. Memosand ConstructionÂ
URL: https://www.memosandconstruction.com/
This website surely knows how to charm visitors with a well-established design. You’ll appreciate how every text allows you to comprehend more about the construction business! The text arrangement is excellent, I must say. You can enjoy scanning here at your pace.
Things we love about this web design
- Welcoming atmosphere
- Responsive design
- Pleasant layout
🚀 Here's the website builder I recommend to replicate this website
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26. Terra LivingÂ
URL: https://www.theterraliving.com/
If you enjoy websites that display an image paired with a brief description, this is the one for you. Terra Living’s designers made sure that your time is valued, so they made the homepage informative and straight to the point. Whatever your concern is, you’ll immediately find your answer wherever.
Things we love about this web design
- Neat design
- Organized content
- Interesting descriptions
🚀 Here's the website builder I recommend to replicate this website
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27. Karen J Revis
URL: https://www.karenjrevis.com/
This website surely knows how to wow the audience when they set foot on the homepage. The design looks good, balancing both photographs and content to provide a pleasant browsing experience! If you’re a fan of efficient layouts, this will put a smile on your face.
Things we love about this web designÂ
- Great harmony of design
- Efficient layout
- Simple yet outstanding visuals
🚀 Here's the website builder I recommend to replicate this website
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28. AB Models
The website adopts a fashion-editorial aesthetic that feels closer to an online magazine than a traditional corporate site. The homepage is dominated by full-screen photography, model portfolios, and campaign imagery, with minimal text competing for attention. The agency lets its talent become the content—visitors immediately judge the quality of the agency through the models and photos rather than marketing copy
What we love about this web design:
- Aesthetically designedÂ
- Classy web design
- Quite a decent layout with picturesÂ
🚀 Here's the website builder I recommend to replicate this website
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29. Conqr
CONQR feels like a digital agency showcase built around motion, technology, and innovation. Instead of relying on traditional corporate layouts, it uses bold headlines, immersive visuals, AI-inspired imagery, and large content sections that present each service as a capability rather than a simple offering. I
What you can learn from this great website design
- Minimal dark interface
- Modern typography and clear sections
- Awesome visuals and animations
🚀 Here's the website builder I recommend to replicate this website
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30. Mayara Queiroz
https://www.mayaraqueiroz.com.br/
Mayara Queiroz’s digital creative portfolio is designed to showcase personality as much as professional work. Large visuals, elegant typography, and generous spacing create a gallery-like experience where each project gets room to stand out. Rather than overwhelming visitors with information, the site focuses on presentation and visual storytelling.Â
What we love about this web design:
- Awesome color scheme!
- Moving graphics are everywhere
- Unique animations
🚀 Here's the website builder I recommend to replicate this website
BONUS –Â Here is my favorite template
Bar Template
URL:Â https://mycodelesswebsite.com/try-theme/bar
Why this is such a great template:
- Clean design, great to turn visitors into customers
- Wordpress compatible, easy to customize
- Free download if you’re a Divi member
BONUS: Wix
URL: wix.com
Although this one shouldn't be on the list - I couldn't keep this one from you. Wix has amazing website themes and leads by example. Their own homepage looks stunning.
What can you learn from this great website
- Playful design
- Clear call to actions
- Great user experience
Checklist: 5 ways to make your dark website beautiful and highly converting
1. Don’t break the 5-second rule
The moment a visitor lands on your website you only have 5 seconds to make a good impression.
That’s 5 short seconds to convince your visitor to stay on your website – and don’t hit the ‘back’ button.
Make sure the text on your website is appealing and gets your visitor excited. Don’t waste the first 5 seconds of somebody’s visit with unnecessary fluff.
2. Don’t confuse your visitor with too many call to actions
Great call to actions draw the attention of your visitors.
That said, you don’t want your call to action buttons fighting for the attention of your visitor. Pick the most important call to action for that page, and go with it.
In case you want to show multiple call to actions anyway, make sure to give them a different design, with your primary call to action being the most notable one.
3. Design mobile first
Last year over 52% of all the website traffic worldwide came from mobile devices.
More than half of the website visits are on a mobile device.
This percentage will only increase in the coming years, therefore the mobile design of your website is crucial for the success of your dark website.
When designing your website, think about mobile design before you build your desktop website.
4. Watch people using your website without telling them what to do
Once your website is ready it’s time to launch. Well, almost.
Invite some friends or colleagues and put them in front of a computer. Ask them to pretend to be a potential customer and have them visit your website.
Now sit next to them, and don’t say anything (this will be harder than you think).
Do this with at least 5 people and learn from their behavior:
- Did they follow the steps you expected them to?
- Did your website load fast enough?
- Was everything clear to them?
5. Collect real testimonials from real members
By now you probably realized social proof is extremely important when it comes to building a great website. Take it to the next level, and add testimonials from your members.
Don’t write them yourself, don’t ask your friends to write them. Everybody will feel something is off.
Want to go for the perfect score? Include video testimonials. Trust me, this will turn your website into a conversion machine.
Growth hacking: 3 powerful strategies to promote your dark website
1. Go viral with a viral give-away
Imagine.
You send your website to 5 friends. Who each send it to 5 friends.
Now, these friends also send it to 5 friends. Oeh la la! Continue this loop for a while, and your website is actually going viral.
Viral Loops is a referral marketing tool that helps you to explode your website with new visitors.
We’ve used Viral Loops to create virality with multiple websites. It allows you to build a sustainable referral scheme that helps you to grow your website rapidly.
2. Use local SEO
SEO is a great way to attract local clients. SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization and helps you to get free website traffic through search engines.
Check out these articles about local SEO if you want to learn more about this:
3. Do a press release
Yikes! A press release? That’s not for your website, right?
Well. It is actually. Journalists LOVE small businesses and the entrepreneurs behind them. It makes sense – if you’re at a birthday party, friends are probably always asking how your business is doing.
Everybody loves entrepreneurs.
Write a press release about a milestone your company achieved. It doesn’t really matter what it is your company did, just make it juicy and interesting.
Create a list of journalists and reach out to them. The key in this process is the follow-up. If you’re just sending them just one email you’re probably not going to have a lot of success. Remind them at least once within a period of 7 days.
Being featured by local news outlets actually is good for your SEO. The more websites mention you on their website, the higher you’ll rank in the search engine.
FAQ
What makes a good dark website?
A great dark website should have a clean design, be easy to navigate and include a lot of social proof. Have a look at this page for great example websites.
How to create a dark website?
1. Analyze the best dark websites on this page
2. Make notes of what you like – and what you don’t like
3. Design your own site with this drag & drop website builder (includes free themes)
4. Publish your website with a cheap hosting plan (includes free domain + SSL)
How much does a dark website cost?
A dark website will cost you anywhere between $1200 and $5000. Of course, it’s cheaper to do it yourself. Have a look at the tools I recommend in this article to get started for under $100.

