Types of websites – which kind of website should your business choose?
The main difference between types of websites is their purpose. Some are designed to showcase a company and generate inquiries, while others sell products, accept bookings, publish content, or serve customers after they log in. The website’s structure, features, technology, and budget all depend on its purpose.
We describe 12 types of websites with examples of how they’re used, explain how they differ in terms of technology and ownership, and suggest which type of website to choose for your business so you don’t overpay or limit your options for future growth.
There is no single best type of website. The right website is one tailored to how customers buy from your company and how your company wants to grow.
Key takeaways
Types of websites at a glance
Websites are most commonly categorized by purpose because it determines everything else. A website designed to generate service inquiries looks different from an online store, an article portal, or a platform that requires users to log in. Another important distinction is technology—how the website is built and who can make changes to it later.
The short recommendation:
- one service or event: a brochure website or landing page,
- several services and customers from Google: a business website with a separate page for each service,
- selling products online: an online store,
- appointments and accommodations: a website with a booking system,
- courses, a client portal, or a community: a platform with user accounts.
Overview
12 types of websites by purpose
The types below can easily be combined. A business website often includes a blog, an online store may have campaign landing pages, and a portal may sell access to content. Even so, it’s important to identify the primary goal because it determines the homepage layout and the customer journey.
Websites that showcase a company
Business card website
One or more sections presenting the offer, building trust, and providing contact details. A good place to start for a single service or a local business. Learn more on our brochure website page.
Business website
Several or more than a dozen pages covering services, our work, about the company, a blog, and contact information. Each service has its own page, allowing the website to appear on Google for a wide range of searches.
Portfolio
A gallery of completed projects with descriptions. Commonly used by photographers, architects, designers, and contractors whose clients primarily want to see the results of their work.
Websites that sell and generate leads
Landing page
A single page focused on one offer and one action, usually created for an ad campaign. No extensive menu to distract visitors. Learn more in our guide: what is a landing page.
Online store
A product catalog, shopping cart, payments, and shipping. It requires more work on content, photos, and order fulfillment than a standard website.
Booking website
An availability calendar, online booking, and reminders. A great fit for medical practices, beauty salons, apartments, schools, and rental businesses.
Websites that publish content
Company blog
Guides and articles that answer customers’ questions. It is usually part of a company website and continues to attract traffic from Google long after publication.
Portal or content platform
A large volume of content, categories, and authors, such as an industry publication, local news portal, or knowledge base.
Event website
A website for a conference, launch, or seasonal campaign, complete with a schedule, registration, and ticketing. It has a short lifespan but must work flawlessly during the crucial weeks.
Websites with user accounts
Course platform
Lessons, resources, and participant progress available behind a login, often with paid access or a subscription.
Classifieds website or marketplace
Multiple sellers or advertisers, search functionality, profiles, and content moderation.
Web application
A browser-based tool, such as a client portal, ordering system, or subscription service. It is closer to software than a standard website.
The type of website is one thing; the industry is another. Websites for law firms, medical practices, and real estate developments are usually company websites, but each needs different sections and different trust signals. We cover this on our pages about websites for law firms, websites for doctors, and websites for real estate developers.
Technology
Types of websites by technology and ownership model
The same type of website can be built in several ways. The technology determines who can update the content, how much further development will cost, and whether the website can be transferred to another provider in the future.
| Build method | How it works | Who it’s for | Constraints |
|---|---|---|---|
| Static website | Ready-made HTML files without an editing dashboard. | Simple websites that rarely change. | Every content change requires a developer. |
| A CMS-based website, such as WordPress | You edit content in the dashboard, while the theme and plugins provide the design and functionality. | Most business websites, blogs, and online stores. | Requires regular updates and ongoing security maintenance. |
| A website builder, such as Wix or Squarespace | Templates, an editor, and hosting bundled into a single subscription. | A quick launch or a trial website. | The website stays on the platform and cannot be fully transferred elsewhere. |
| Custom website | Code written from scratch for specific needs. | Custom features, high traffic, and applications. | The highest cost and reliance on the team familiar with the code. |
The most popular system is WordPress, which powers around 40% of all websites according to W3Techs. It offers extensive flexibility for future development and does not lock you into a single provider. You can read more about this technology on our WordPress websites page, while our WordPress, Wix, or Webflow article compares the platforms.
One-page or multi-page website?
A single-page website, also known as a one-page website, guides users through every section at a single URL. It works well for one service, an event, or a campaign. However, if a company offers several services and wants to attract customers through Google, a structure with a separate page for each service is a better choice because each page can target different searches.
Owned outright or subscription-based?
You can purchase a website outright or use it under a subscription model, paying monthly for the website, hosting, and support. A subscription lowers the upfront cost, but if you cancel, the website usually remains with the provider. We discuss the pros and cons of both models in our subscription-based or fully owned website article.
Choosing a website
What type of website should you choose for your business?
The easiest way to start is by asking what you want customers to do after visiting your website. Calling, submitting a form, making a purchase, booking, and logging in are different user journeys that require different types of websites.
| Your goal | Website type | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Local inquiries about a single service | Business card website | Quickly presents your offer, reviews, and contact details without unnecessary pages. |
| Nationwide inquiries about multiple services | Business website | Separate service pages attract traffic from a wide range of searches. |
| Ad campaign results | Landing page | A single offer and one button increase the chances of generating leads from an ad. |
| Product sales | Online store | A shopping cart, payments, and shipping options allow customers to buy without speaking to a salesperson. |
| Appointments, treatments, and accommodations | Booking website | Clients choose their own time slot, reducing the number of calls to the front desk. |
| Showcasing the quality of your work | Portfolio | Photos and project descriptions are more convincing than claims. |
It’s also important to think ahead. A small business doesn’t need an extensive website right away, but it’s worth starting with a platform that lets you add pages, a blog, or a store without rebuilding everything from scratch. In our guide on how to prepare a website design brief, we explain how to prepare for a conversation with a web design company.
Our work
Website types in practice—examples from our work
Each of the websites below was created with a different goal in mind, which is why they differ in layout, functionality, and how they guide customers.
Siemianowski Law Firm
An extensive business website with 14 service pages and appointment scheduling. Six months after launch, the law firm’s impressions in local Google results had increased by 178%, and the website now generates 32 consultations per month.
Apartament Piękna
A beauty and aesthetic medicine salon website with a custom booking system and SMS reminders. It generates an average of 96 bookings per month and received 212% more clicks from Google in the first six months than the previous website.
Świat Grilli
A WooCommerce online store built from the ground up alongside the brand. It includes categories for grills, smokers, and accessories, as well as product pages, a shopping cart, and online payments. We describe it in our Świat Grilli online store case study.
All three projects have one thing in common: they began by asking what the customer should do, not by choosing a template. You can find more projects in Our work.
What to avoid
The most common mistakes when choosing a website type
A website type usually turns out to be the wrong choice when:
- a company offering several services has only a one-page website, so it doesn’t appear in Google for most searches,
- a campaign landing page replaces the business website, so customers can’t find information about the company,
- an online store is built even though customers still need to request a quote, when a catalog with a form would be enough,
- a website builder was intended as a temporary solution, but years later the site is difficult to expand or migrate,
- a portal or blog is launched without a content plan and stops growing after a few posts,
- every feature is commissioned at the outset instead of first checking what customers actually use.
If your current website no longer fits your business, you don’t always need to rebuild it from scratch. In our article on when to redesign your company website, we explain when expanding it is enough and when it’s worth starting over.
Zaprojektowani • Websites • WordPress
Not sure what type of website to choose?
We design business websites, brochure websites, landing pages, and WooCommerce stores for companies throughout Poland. First, we define the goal and customer journey. Only then do we choose the type of website, its structure, and the technology. Our website design starts at PLN 3,999 and usually takes 2–4 weeks.
Questions and answers
Frequently asked questions about website types
What are the types of websites?
Based on their purpose, the most common types are business card sites, company websites, portfolios, landing pages, online stores, booking sites, blogs, portals, event sites, course platforms, classified ad sites, and web applications. In terms of technology, websites are divided into static, CMS-based, built with website builders, and custom-developed.
What’s the difference between a business card site and a company website?
A business card site consists of one or a few sections with the most important information and contact details. A company website has separate subpages for services, portfolio, company information, and often a blog, which allows it to appear in Google for many more search queries.
What’s the difference between a website and a web application?
A website primarily provides information and collects leads or orders. A web application is a tool that users interact with after logging in, such as a client panel or an ordering system. Its development is similar to building software and usually costs more.
Which type of website should a small business choose?
If you offer a single service and target local clients, a business card site is often enough. If your company offers several services and wants to attract clients from Google, a company website with separate service subpages is a better choice—ideally on a system that allows for future expansion.
Can a business card site be expanded later?
Yes, if it’s built on a system like WordPress. You can then add service subpages, a blog, or an online store without rebuilding everything from scratch. With a site built in a website builder, expansion depends on the platform’s capabilities.
Static or dynamic website—which should you choose?
A static website is fast and simple, but any content change requires a developer. A dynamic website, for example on WordPress, has an admin panel for editing content and is easy to expand. For most companies, the latter is a better fit.
How much does a website cost?
The cost depends on the type of website, number of subpages, features, and content. We design websites starting from PLN 3,999. We explain what makes up the price in our guide how much does it cost to create a website for a company.
Summary
Types of websites—what’s worth remembering?
It’s best to distinguish types of websites by their purpose: presenting a company, selling, bookings, publishing content, or serving clients after login. The second distinction concerns technology and ownership, which affect development costs and independence from the provider.
Start your choice by considering what you want your client to do after landing on your site. For a single service, a business card site is enough; for several services, a company website with separate subpages is better; and selling products requires an online store. Regardless of the type, it’s worth choosing a solution that lets your website grow along with your business.
