--- title: 5 Stunning Sites Using Responsive & Adaptive Web Design description: Responsive, adaptive or a combination of the two? These are the considerations that many modern digi... image: https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/web-design_layout_100x100-3-1-1-1.png --- [Log In](https://www.websitemagazine.com/_hcms/mem/login) [Subscribe](https://websitemagazine.tradepub.com/free/w_webk05/prgm.cgi) [![Website Magazine Logo](https://www.websitemagazine.com/hs-fs/hubfs/gradient-regular@3x-1.png?width=586&height=145&name=gradient-regular@3x-1.png "Website Magazine Logo")](http://Website%20Services,%20Inc.) - [About](https://www.websitemagazine.com/about) - [FAQs](https://www.websitemagazine.com/about/faq) - [Advertise](https://www.websitemagazine.com/about/advertise) - [Editorial Staff](https://www.websitemagazine.com/about/editorial-publishing-staff) - [Resources](https://websitemagazine.tradepub.com) - [Newsletter](https://www.websitemagazine.com/newsletter-sign-up) - More - [Contact Us](https://www.websitemagazine.com/contact) [Log In](https://www.websitemagazine.com/_hcms/mem/login) [Subscribe](https://websitemagazine.tradepub.com/free/w_webk05/prgm.cgi) Search - [Latest](https://www.websitemagazine.com) - [Design](https://www.websitemagazine.com/web-design) - [Development](https://www.websitemagazine.com/web-development) - [SEO](https://www.websitemagazine.com/seo) - [Ecommerce](https://www.websitemagazine.com/ecommerce) - [Content](https://www.websitemagazine.com/content) - [Marketing](https://www.websitemagazine.com/marketing) - [Advertising](https://www.websitemagazine.com/advertising) - [Email](https://www.websitemagazine.com/email) - [Infographics](https://www.websitemagazine.com/infographics) - [View All Topics](https://www.websitemagazine.com/channels) # 5 Stunning Sites Using Responsive & Adaptive Web Design ![Peter Devereaux](https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/Peter_Devereaux.png) [by Peter Devereaux](https://www.websitemagazine.com/web-design/author/peter-devereaux) 21 Nov, 2014 - - - [mailto:?Body=https://www.websitemagazine.com/web-design/5-stunning-sites-using-responsive-and-adaptive-web-design](mailto:?Body=https://www.websitemagazine.com/web-design/5-stunning-sites-using-responsive-and-adaptive-web-design) - Link Copied! ![5 Stunning Sites Using Responsive & Adaptive Web Design](https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/web-design_layout_100x100-3-1-1-1.png) Responsive, adaptive or a combination of the two? These are the considerations that many modern digital enterprises are making today. Both responsive and adaptive have their fair share of advantages over the other, but some sites are getting the best of both worlds, like how J. Crew uses adaptive Web design (via Usablenet) but a responsive checkout ([read more here](https://www.websitemagazine.com/blog/follow-the-mobile-leader)). Listed below are five stunning sites using either responsive or adaptive Web design.  ### Adaptive To find out if a site is using adaptive Web design or not, drag the browser window to the size of a smartphone screen. If the site reformats in real-time then the site is responsive and not adaptive. If the site does not reformat, then use your smartphone to see if the site reformats for your mobile device. Then check to make sure that the site's URL did not change. If the site adaped to your smartphone but the URL did not change (e.g. it's not an m. site), then the site uses the adaptive Web design approach, like these top sites:   - USA Today - About.com - Avenue 32 - Amazon - Apple (Read more about all five in, "[5 Surprising Sites Using Adaptive Web Design](https://www.websitemagazine.com/blog/5-surprising-sites-using-adaptive-web-design).") ### Responsive To find out if a site is responsive or not, drag the browser window to the size of a smartphone screen. If the site reformats in real-time, then it's responsive. Here are five sites that do just that:  ### Starbucks ![](https://www.websitemagazine.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/starbucks-desktop-3-1-1-1.png?width=450&height=200&name=starbucks-desktop-3-1-1-1.png) ![](https://www.websitemagazine.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/starbucks-responsive-mobile-3-1-1-1.png?width=450&height=675&name=starbucks-responsive-mobile-3-1-1-1.png) ### Carter's ![](https://www.websitemagazine.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/carters-desktop-screenshot-3-1-1-1.png?width=450&height=256&name=carters-desktop-screenshot-3-1-1-1.png) ![](https://www.websitemagazine.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/carters-responsive-mobile-3-1-1-1.png?width=450&height=675&name=carters-responsive-mobile-3-1-1-1.png) ### Zendesk ![](https://www.websitemagazine.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/zendesk-desktop-screenshot-3-1-1-1.png?width=450&height=250&name=zendesk-desktop-screenshot-3-1-1-1.png) ![](https://www.websitemagazine.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/zendesk-responsive-mobile-3-1-1-1.png?width=450&height=675&name=zendesk-responsive-mobile-3-1-1-1.png) ### World Wildlife Fund ![](https://www.websitemagazine.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/wwf-screenshot-desktop-3-1-1-1.png?width=450&height=222&name=wwf-screenshot-desktop-3-1-1-1.png) ![](https://www.websitemagazine.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/wwf-screenshot-mobile-3-1-1-1.png?width=450&height=675&name=wwf-screenshot-mobile-3-1-1-1.png) ### MailChimp ![](https://www.websitemagazine.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/mailchimp-desktop-3-1-1-1.png?width=450&height=227&name=mailchimp-desktop-3-1-1-1.png) ![](https://www.websitemagazine.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/mailchimp-responsive-mobile-3-1-1-1.png?width=450&height=675&name=mailchimp-responsive-mobile-3-1-1-1.png) --- --- ![Peter Devereaux](https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/Peter_Devereaux.png) [Peter Devereaux](https://www.websitemagazine.com/web-design/author/peter-devereaux) As the Editor-in-Chief of Website Magazine and President of Website Services, Peter has established himself as a prominent figure in the digital marketing industry. With a wealth of experience and knowledge, Peter has been a driving force in shaping the landscape of digital marketing. His leadership in creating innovative and targeted marketing campaigns has helped numerous businesses achieve their revenue growth goals. Under his direction, Website Magazine has become a trusted source of information and insights for digital marketers worldwide. As President of Website Services, Peter oversees a team of talented professionals who specialize in SEO/SEM, email marketing, social media, and digital advertising. Through his hands-on approach, he ensures that his team delivers exceptional results to their clients. With a passion for digital marketing, Peter is committed to staying up-to-date with the latest industry trends and technologies, making him a sought-after thought leader in the field. - - - - - [mailto:peter.devereaux@websitemagazine.com](mailto:peter.devereaux@websitemagazine.com) #### Popular Post ### [6 Sexy Web Design Agency Websites ![6 Sexy Web Design Agency Websites](https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/gradient-regular-logo-mark-Jan-23-2023-02-19-54-9734-PM-Apr-10-2023-01-58-57-4342-PM-Apr-25-2023-03-47-11-5390-AM-May-01-2023-10-24-02-6643-PM.png)](https://www.websitemagazine.com/web-design/6-sexy-web-design-agency-websites) ### [Six User Testing Questions to Ask While Navigating Website Redesigns ![Six User Testing Questions to Ask While Navigating Website Redesigns](https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/question-mark483bf98ec5e163acbc5dff0000ff1aaa-3-1-1-1.png)](https://www.websitemagazine.com/web-design/six-user-testing-questions-to-ask-while-navigating-website-redesigns) ### [The Most Popular Fonts of 2015 ![The Most Popular Fonts of 2015](https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/serifshot-3-1-1-1.jpg)](https://www.websitemagazine.com/web-design/the-most-popular-fonts) #### Subscribe to Our Newsletter! 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All Rights Reserved - [Privacy Policy](https://www.websitemagazine.com/about/privacy) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Peter Devereaux", "url" : "https://www.websitemagazine.com/web-design/author/peter-devereaux" }, "dateModified" : "2023-05-01T22:31:49.430Z", "datePublished" : "2014-11-21T06:00:00.000Z", "headline" : "5 Stunning Sites Using Responsive & Adaptive Web Design", "image" : [ "https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/web-design_layout_100x100-3-1-1-1.png" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://www.websitemagazine.com/web-design/5-stunning-sites-using-responsive-and-adaptive-web-design", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/gradient-regular@3x-1.png" }, "name" : "Website Services, Inc." } } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "NewsArticle", "author" : [ { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Peter Devereaux" } ], "headline" : "5 Stunning Sites Using Responsive & Adaptive Web Design", "publisher" : { "name" : "Website Magazine", "url" : "https://www.websitemagazine.com/" } } ```