Parallax Starter is a free, one-page HTML CSS template from TemplateMo that uses JavaScript-driven parallax scrolling to move five full-screen background sections at different speeds, creating a depth effect for creative studios, agencies, and portfolios.
What is Parallax Starter?
Parallax Starter is a free, single-page website template designed by TemplateMo, built with standard HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript. It takes content sections — a hero with call-to-action, an about section with thumbnails, a services section with SVG icons, a stats counter, and a contact form — and outputs a complete responsive landing page that runs on any static web host. The template is distributed as a ZIP download from the Templatemo website, and the same page provides links to a live preview, a full-size screenshot, and an optional PHP contact form script.
Key Features
- Parallax engine — Uses requestAnimationFrame to animate background positions at up to 60fps, with per-section parallax speed and transition duration adjustable through data attributes and CSS values.
- Five full-screen sections — Hero with a call-to-action button, two-column about layout with thumbnail images, services with SVG icons, a stats section, and a contact form, all in one page.
- Mobile-adaptive scrolling — Parallax is automatically disabled on mobile devices to keep touch scrolling smooth, and the menu collapses into an overlay that supports landscape orientation.
- Fixed navigation bar — The nav stays visible at the top of the page while content scrolls beneath the parallax backgrounds.
- Typography and overlays — Clean white uppercase headings using Oswald and Source Sans 3 Google Fonts sit over dark overlay backgrounds for a minimal, modern look.
- Free commercial license — The template is 100% free to download, edit, and use for commercial or non-commercial sites; the download page only asks you to share it with friends.
- AI-customizable — The ZIP files can be uploaded to Claude or ChatGPT to personalize the template for a specific project.
Who is it for?
Parallax Starter is aimed at anyone who needs a visually strong one-page presence with minimal code. Creative studios and agencies can use it to present services, team stats, and a contact form in a single scroll. Portfolio owners can showcase project thumbnails against full-screen parallax backgrounds. Freelancers and web designers can use it as a clean starting point and tune the parallax behavior through data attributes without touching heavy JavaScript. The template is also marketed as AI-customizable, so people experimenting with Claude or ChatGPT can have the AI modify the HTML and CSS for a tailored result.
Use cases
- Creative studios: Launch a one-page site that leads with a hero call-to-action, then walks visitors through about, services, stats, and contact sections.
- Freelance designers: Create a personal portfolio with thumbnail-based about images and a contact form to collect inquiries.
- Marketing landing pages: Use the full-screen parallax sections to highlight a product or campaign, with stats to reinforce impact.
- Developers learning parallax: Inspect the requestAnimationFrame implementation and customize speed/transition values via data attributes.
How does the parallax effect work?
The template's parallax effect is powered by requestAnimationFrame, which updates background positions at the display refresh rate for smooth motion. Each section's background moves slower than the foreground, and the speed and transition duration are controlled by data attributes and CSS values on the section elements. On mobile devices, the effect is automatically disabled to avoid janky touch scrolling.
Pricing
Parallax Starter is free. TemplateMo offers the template at no cost for both commercial and non-commercial projects, with no stated usage limits or required attribution.
FAQ
Is Parallax Starter free?
Yes, it is 100% free to download from TemplateMo. The license permits editing and use on commercial or non-commercial websites, and the download page does not require fees or attribution.
Can I use Parallax Starter on a mobile website?
Yes, the layout is fully responsive and includes a mobile-friendly overlay menu. The parallax effect is automatically disabled on mobile devices so that scrolling stays smooth on touch screens.
How do I change the parallax speed?
Each section's parallax speed and transition duration are set through data attributes and CSS values. You can edit those values directly in the HTML and CSS files after downloading the template.
What fonts does Parallax Starter use?
The template loads Oswald and Source Sans 3 from Google Fonts. Headings appear in white uppercase Oswald, while body text uses Source Sans 3, all placed over dark overlay backgrounds.
Does the template include a working contact form?
The template includes a contact form UI. TemplateMo provides a separate link to a simple PHP contact form script that you can download to make the form functional on a PHP server.
