How to Download a Website as a ZIP File (Step-by-Step)
Last updated 16 October 2026
A ZIP file is the easiest way to keep a complete copy of a website: one file you can store, email, upload to cloud storage or hand to a developer. In this guide you'll learn how to download a website as a ZIP file in a few minutes, what you get inside the ZIP, and how to open it on any computer or phone — no software to install and no technical skills needed.
Why download a website as a ZIP?
Website files are usually spread across hundreds of addresses: pages, images, stylesheets, scripts and fonts. A ZIP packs all of them into a single file with the same folder structure, so the copy keeps working when you open it later. People use it to:
- Back up their own website before a redesign, a hosting change or the end of a subscription.
- Move away from a website builder and keep the existing pages as a starting point.
- Hand a site to a new developer or agency when the original files are missing.
- Keep an offline archive of a client project, a campaign site or a site that is about to be shut down.
Only download websites you own or have permission to copy — website content, images and code belong to their owners.
How to download a website as a ZIP (4 steps)
With The Scrap AI the whole process happens in your browser:
- Enter the website address. Paste your site's URL on the homepage and press Scrape Website.
- Check the free homepage demo. Within seconds you get your homepage with all of its images, styles and scripts. Preview it or download the demo ZIP for free to check the quality.
- Choose your pages. You see every page that was found (from your sitemap and menu links). Keep them all ticked for the whole website, or search and untick the ones you don't need — the price updates instantly.
- Download the ZIP. When the crawl is finished, pay once and download one ZIP with everything inside. There is no account and no subscription.
Your files are deleted from the server automatically about 2 hours after the crawl, so download your ZIP soon after it is ready.
What's inside the ZIP file
The ZIP keeps the structure of your website, so links between pages and to images keep working:
- HTML pages — one file per page, with links rewritten to point at the local copies.
- Images — photos, logos, icons and background images used by the pages.
- CSS stylesheets and fonts — so the copy looks exactly like the live site.
- JavaScript files — sliders, menus, animations and, for app-style websites, the code and files the app loads.
- A start file for app-style websites — some modern sites only run from a web server, so the ZIP includes a Start Website file that runs a small local server for you.
What is not included: anything that lives only on the server, such as the database, admin area, pages behind a login, contact forms or payments. The ZIP is a copy of what visitors see.
How to unzip and open the website
On Windows
- Right-click the ZIP and choose Extract All…, then Extract.
- Open the new folder and double-click
index.html.
On Mac
- Double-click the ZIP — a folder appears next to it.
- Open the folder and double-click
index.html.
On a phone or tablet
Open the ZIP in your phone's file manager, extract it, and tap index.html. Simple websites open fine; app-style websites need a computer because they run from the Start Website file.
App-style websites
If index.html shows a blank page, double-click Start Website instead (Start Website.command on Mac, Start Website.bat on Windows). If your computer warns about the file the first time, right-click it and choose Open.
How big will the ZIP be?
Most of the size comes from images and videos, not from the pages. A small business website is usually a few megabytes; a large site with hundreds of photos can be several hundred megabytes. You pay per page, not per megabyte, so a heavy homepage doesn't cost more. If you only need part of a big website, untick the sections you don't need before downloading.
Tips for a perfect copy
- Check the free demo first. If the homepage looks right, the rest of the site will too.
- Make sure the site is public. Pages behind a password or login can't be copied.
- Keep the folder together. Don't move single HTML files out of the folder — the images and styles are linked relative to it.
- Store the ZIP in two places, for example on your computer and in cloud storage.
Want the full background on offline copies? Read how to download an entire website for offline viewing.
Frequently asked questions
Can I download a whole website as a ZIP for free?
The homepage demo is free: you can preview it and download it as a ZIP at no cost. Downloading the full website costs ₹99 for the first page plus ₹5 for each extra page, paid once.
Do I need to install any software?
No. Everything runs in your browser. You only need a normal ZIP extractor, which is built into Windows, Mac and most phones.
Will the links between pages work in the ZIP?
Yes. Links between the pages you downloaded are rewritten to point at the local files, so you can click through the copy offline. Links to pages you did not download open the live website.
Can I download only some pages?
Yes. After the free demo you see a list of all pages found on the website. Search it, untick what you don't need, and you only pay for the pages you keep.