20+ Best 404 Page Examples: Inspiring, Funny, and More

What do users do next if they land accidentally on your 404 page?

Have you set any action to give them a direction or shared some links they can explore, or is it blank?

A well-crafted 404 page can direct your users to take action within your page rather than leaving in disappointment.

Here are the best 404 page examples to get inspired from and turn the seemingly negative experience into an opportunity to engage creatively.

Let’s explore them all!

Table of Contents

• What is a 404 Page?
• 20+ Best 404 Page Examples
• Key Takeaway From These 404 Page Examples
• Design a Custom 404 Page for Your Website

What is a 404 Page?

A 404 page is an error page that communicates to the user that the site they are trying to access doesn’t exist or is unavailable.

Here is an example of a default 404 error page that you might have seen.

There is no single reason why this page occurs. Some of the common reasons for a 404 error are:

• The user mistyped the URL
• The page is now deleted
• You have moved the page, but it is not properly redirected
• Another website made a spelling error while linking it to your page

It is clear that a 404 error is inevitable and can get frustrating for your potential customers while they are trying to learn more about your brand.

But with a customized page, you can take the reins and redirect them to where they want to go.

Now, let us take a step ahead and get inspired!

Here are the best 404 pages on the web you can draw inspiration from and create a stunning page for yourself.

20+ Best 404 Page Examples

1. Droplr

Droplr is a tool to instantly capture screenshots & screen recordings that have added a touch of animation to their 404 page. The copywriting is straightforward. The bold messaging conveys it is a 404 error. And encourage the users to search and get back on track.

Also, it earns some brownie points for the neat UI/UX of the page.

2. Discord

Discord is one of our personal favorites among the creative 404 pages.

The messaging and the little animation on the right tell a complete story. It acknowledges the user’s current situation and the need for some navigation. They empathize with the users and encourage them to stay on the page.

And at the end, they share some links the users can explore.

3. Ahrefs

This 404 page error of Ahrefs hits the nail on the right head.

The theme is on getting lost in space with a map alongside a dog correctly describing the current situation.

Their navigational element links to their free tool, explaining what it is in their copy.

4. Semrush

Semrush’s clean design and the clear 404 message draw all the attention as it keeps the entire focus on the center.

At times, simplicity is also the answer; in this case, it works perfectly.

Assuming the user might be feeling a little frustrated, simple messaging and a clear direction are all they need, and Semrush has flawlessly done that.

5. Meetanshi

 

Meetanshi provides Magento extensions and other extensions to maximize the potential of an e-commerce store.

The 404 page not found looks like a pit stop (an F1 reference) with a clever message about landing in the wrong pit. It gives the users the direction to make their way back, either by starting where they left off or clicking on any of the given links.

While Semrush kept it simple, Meetanshi gave their users different navigation options, and both ways work.

6. Moz

Moz kept their 404 page extremely simple with their mascot, Roger.

The 2 line copy is enough for the user to know that they have landed on a different link, and through the search bar, they can find their way back.

7. Screaming Frog

Another well-crafted 404 page that perfectly aligns with the brand offering.

Screaming Frog is a tool for finding and fixing broken links, and very smartly, they have included it in their page copy with a little bit of humor.

Though you might not find any search bar here, the header offers links to their blog section, contact page, and services. And the UI/UX doesn’t disappoint at all.

The bees flying around and the fish floating grab the attention and add a fun, dynamic element to the 404 page.

8. Mangools

Mangools cool 404 page example says a lot with less. Within a blink of a second, the users know exactly where they are.

The bold font clearly tells the users that it is a 404, and they can click on the button to navigate to the homepage.

There are no links in the header or footer if you try scrolling through. One diligently crafted page with one clear intention to bring back the interested users home.

And we think that is a master stroke!

9. Drift

Drift gives us a prime example of an on-brand 404 page. It uses words like conversions to match the main goal of the brand (Drift is a conversion tool).

To keep the users from drifting, it encourages them to scroll down and read some interesting blogs or learn more about their brand.

10. Help Scout

If you are a pet lover, the Help Scout 404 page will definitely make you smile.

Empathizing with the users, they redirect them to explore the platform or search help docs if they specifically need something.

But the cherry on the cake here is the last line, where they encourage pet lovers to send pictures of their pet, and we think that is a great way to keep up with the engagement.

11. Sprout Social

This custom 404 page of Sprout Social doesn’t overwhelm the user but instead offers a helpful tone by acknowledging that they might have landed on the wrong page.

And when you scroll down, there are a bunch of handy guides that the user can access and make their way ahead.

12. Big Commerce

We don’t think a space theme can ever go wrong, and Big Commerce does it in style.

With an astronaut lost in space, the straightforward messaging helps the users to get back home without getting lost in a million galaxies of thoughts.

The users can either opt to go to the homepage or, if they are not sure what to do, they can explore some store examples and their success stories.

Preciously aligned with their brand offering.

13. Slack

Slack decided to go completely animated with their 404 page with a short apologetic message.

The page looks completely navigational, with important links placed in the header and a help link in the middle. At times, a design speaks a lot, and in this case, this 404 page design completely does that.

14. Netflix

Netflix has a the best 404 page with a background image from their Lost In Space series.

With a single CTA, it drives the users to their homepage to avoid any sort of distraction. As we went through many 404 pages with such a format, it is safe to say a little done with a lot of intention can do the work perfectly.

15. Hulu

Hulu has made a good effort to match its 404 page with its brand color theme.

But the interesting thing to notice here is that Hulu took a different approach than Netflix when it comes to their CTA.

It offers a free trial CTA instead of taking the user to the homepage. And an existing Hulu user can navigate through the links in the header.

16. Pixar

Honestly, Pixar stands out from this list, taking a different approach for their 404 page.

It doesn’t offer any CTA but some navigational links in the header. And the illustration of the character Sadness from their famous Inside Out movie doesn’t fail to lighten up the mood.

17. Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor has a funny 404 page.

Reading the first line itself makes you a little giggly with a bang-on brand positioning. The navigational links brilliantly re-engages with the user and grabs their attention back to their trip planning.

18. Airbnb

Airbnb is a simple 404 sample page offering various options to the users to get back to their search.

The image on the side expresses the sadness the user can feel reaching here. Overall, the page is not complicated and offers the needed resources to get back to their search.

19. Uber Eats

The Uber Eats 404 page will make you hungry.

With a cool and casual tone, it focuses the user’s attention on exploring some delicious food items because what they are searching for is not found here.

And who can say no to delicious food, right?

20. Wendy’s

Wendy’s is truly among the fun 404 pages that can instantly change the mood, and that’s exactly what the Wendy’s page does.

The clever copywriting encourages the user to turn their 404 error into 444, which is an interesting game to collect points. And as you scroll down, you can find helpful links to navigate elsewhere as well.

21. Lego

Lego 404 page is extremely easy to understand, keeping its target audience in mind.

The illustration depicts worriness, which is something that is happening as the user is on the 404 page. With a single motto to get them back to a happy state, they offer their homepage CTA.

No distraction and easy navigation are what actually works here.

What to Add in a 404 Page?

Now that we have looked at some good 404 pages let us look at the key elements you must add to your 404 page.

• Add a clear message communicating to the visitor that they have landed on the 404 page. You can keep the tone funny or friendly, as we saw in the above examples.
• Add proper navigational links that will entice your visitors to explore more. The homepage link is a classic one, but you can also add links to different resources or customer support pages.
• With internal links to your homepage, you can also add a search bar to allow your visitors to find whatever they want.
• This is completely optional, but you can add a little animation and characters to lighten the mood of disappointment the visitor might feel. You can design the page as per your brand’s style, but a good design can speak for itself.

Design a Custom 404 Page for Your Website

And that’s all for today!

Picking the best 404 page ever can be hard but we hope these best 404 page examples made you laugh and gave you a fresh perspective on building your page.

If any 404 page ideas or a concept struck your mind while going through these error page examples, let our team of experts bring it to life.

With our comprehensive UI/UX services, transform your idea into reality at a price within your budget.

Thanks for reading through it. See you in the next blog!