How to Download an Entire Website for Offline Viewing (2026)
Last updated 16 October 2026
Need a copy of a website that opens without the internet? Maybe you are moving away from a website builder, your hosting is about to expire, a developer left without handing over the files, or you simply want a backup before a redesign. This guide shows how to download an entire website for offline viewing, compares the three common approaches, and explains which one still works on modern websites built with JavaScript.
Before you start: what you can (and can't) download
A website downloader saves what your browser receives: the HTML pages, images, CSS stylesheets, JavaScript files and fonts. That is enough to see and click through the site exactly as it looks today. It is not the same as a full server backup. These parts stay behind:
- Pages behind a login (member areas, dashboards, admin panels).
- Databases and server code. Contact forms, search, shopping carts and payments won't work offline.
- Content loaded from other services, such as embedded videos or chat widgets, which still need the internet.
Only download websites you own or have permission to copy. Website content, images and code are protected by copyright. Backing up your own site or a client's site (with their consent) is fine; copying someone else's site to republish it is not.
Method 1: Use an online website downloader (easiest)
The quickest way is an online website downloader: there is nothing to install, it works the same on Windows, Mac, Linux and phones, and you get one ZIP file you can store or send. Here is how it works with The Scrap AI:
- Enter your website address on the homepage and press Scrape Website.
- Check the free homepage demo. In a few seconds you get your homepage with all its images and styles. Preview it or download it for free to see the quality before paying anything.
- Choose the pages you want. The tool lists the pages it found (from your sitemap and menu links). Keep everything ticked for the whole website, or search and untick pages you don't need. The exact price updates as you go.
- Download your ZIP. When the crawl finishes, pay once and download a single ZIP with every page, image, CSS file, script and font, with links rewritten so the site works from your computer.
Why this method handles modern sites: many websites today are built as JavaScript apps or include 3D and animation effects. Simple copiers often save these as blank pages because the content is created by JavaScript. The Scrap AI detects these sites, keeps their original file structure, also downloads the files their code loads (code chunks, 3D models, videos), and adds a Start Website file so the copy runs on your computer.
Cost: the homepage demo is free. A full download is ₹99 for the first page plus ₹5 for each extra page (JavaScript-app sites: ₹199 + ₹5 per extra page), paid once — no subscription and no account. Files are deleted from the server automatically about 2 hours after the crawl.
Method 2: Desktop copier software
There are also free and paid desktop programs that copy a website into a folder on your computer. You install the program, enter the address, adjust settings such as how deep to follow links, and wait while it downloads.
- Good: often free, and fine for simple, older websites made of plain HTML pages.
- Limits: most of them don't run JavaScript, so modern app-style websites come out empty or broken; there are many settings to get wrong; large sites can take hours; you have to install software; and you need to zip the folder yourself if you want a single file.
Method 3: Save pages one by one in your browser
For a single page you don't need any tool: right-click the page, choose Save as… and pick the Webpage, Complete option. You get an HTML file plus a folder with its images and styles.
It works one page at a time and doesn't connect the pages to each other, so it isn't practical for a whole website.
Which method should you use?
| Method | Ease | Whole website | Modern JavaScript sites | One ZIP file | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Scrap AI (online) | Very easy | Yes, or chosen pages | Yes | Yes | Free demo, then pay per page |
| Desktop copier software | Medium | Yes | Often broken | No (zip it yourself) | Free or paid |
| Browser "Save as" | Easy | No, one page | Partly | No | Free |
Short answer: for a single page, use your browser. For a whole website — especially a modern one — or when you want a single ZIP without installing anything, use The Scrap AI. For a step-by-step walkthrough, see how to download a website as a ZIP file.
How to open the downloaded website offline
- Unzip the file (double-click it on Mac, or right-click → Extract All on Windows).
- Normal websites: open the folder and double-click
index.html. The site opens in your browser and the links between pages work. - JavaScript apps: browsers block these when opened straight from a file, so double-click the included Start Website file (
Start Website.commandon Mac,Start Website.baton Windows). If your computer blocks it the first time, right-click it and choose Open.
Troubleshooting
Images or styles are missing
Some files are loaded from other domains (for example a font or image service). Those still load when you are online but not offline. Also check that you opened the copy from inside the unzipped folder, not from inside the ZIP preview.
The page is blank
The site is probably built as a JavaScript app. Use the Start Website file instead of double-clicking index.html.
Some pages are missing
A downloader can only find pages that are linked from the site or listed in its sitemap. Pages behind a login, or only reachable through search or forms, can't be found.
The download is very large
Big sites have thousands of pages and images. Download only the sections you need — search the page list and untick the rest.
Frequently asked questions
Is it legal to download an entire website?
Downloading your own website, or a site you have the owner's permission to copy, is fine. Website content, designs and code are protected by copyright, so copying someone else's site to republish or sell it is not allowed. When in doubt, ask the owner.
Can I download a whole website for free?
With The Scrap AI the homepage demo is free. A full download costs ₹99 for the first page plus ₹5 per extra page, paid once — no subscription.
Does it work with websites made with website builders or CMS platforms?
Yes, the public pages of websites made with builders and content management systems can be downloaded. Sites built as JavaScript apps are supported too, and come with a Start Website file to open them offline.
Will forms, search and logins work in the offline copy?
No. These need the website's server and database. The offline copy shows every page as it looks, but anything that sends data to the server (contact forms, search, carts, member areas) won't work.