The best portfolio website builders are an important business tool for a freelancer or anyone looking to showcase their skills. But, selecting the perfect portfolio builder can be very tricky.
With a portfolio website builder, you have everything you need to create a unique and attractive design for your business or service. The best website builder can act as both a powerful web design tool and an easy-to-use content management system.
Browse my top 9 picks to discover which platform offers the best toolset for you to get your project off the ground.
What is a portfolio website builder?
A web portfolio is a website that showcases the skills, specialties, and talents of an individual. It can range from freelance web designers to psychologists to artists.
It serves as both an online resume and an interactive way of communicating creative work with potential clients. To create your own professional-looking portfolio website, check out the website builders below.
1. Squarespace
The ideal portfolio website builder.
Squarespace is an excellent portfolio website builder. It is best known for creating stunning, mobile, and responsive websites. It is very popular among photographers and artists for its affordability and lovely template designs. Some of its key features include SEO, storage tools, and marketing tools amongst others.
Though Squarespace is not so user-friendly, it’s pretty easy to use. You only need to exercise a little patience and confidence, the result will prove that it is worth it. It uses section-based drag-and-drop editing, thereby making coding skills unnecessary.
Template designs
Its templates are clean, sleek, and full of white-space that gives your website a professional feel. Also, they are very mobile-responsive, making sure your work looks good regardless of the device used to view it.
They also come with already installed helpful features such as a blog, about page, and contact forms through which new visitors can use to get in touch.
Pricing and plan
It has four paid plans, with the cheapest starting at $12 per month. It grants you access to a wide range of features with the inclusion of unlimited storage and bandwidth which is suitable for image-heavy portfolios.
Furthermore, you can market through the Business plan which starts at $26 per month. It is a decent amount in case you want to grow traffic on your site.
You can still make use of the 14-day free trial, to know what exactly you are signing up for.
2. Weebly
Perfect for affordability.
Weebly is perfect for its affordability and ease of use. This makes it a perfect choice if you want a simple portfolio creation experience. Some of its key features include SEO, storage space, and marketing tools (quite similar to that of Squarespace).
Its editor is a simple drag-and-drop editor that allows you to move around elements on-page as much as you like. Besides, It includes an already installed form editor, making it easy to add a form that encourages visitors to contact you.
I recommend it for small portfolios or anyone who desires to create a portfolio website fast and easily. Editing on it is super simple and the SEO options are good.
Template designs
The template designs have increased over the past months and even though they are not as appealing as Squarespace, they offer a simplicity other builders don’t seem to have. They are also clean, basic, and mobile responsive.
With the aid of online outlets that specialize in creating its fancy templates, the building process is simple yet, the result is amazing.
Pricing and plan
One of Weebly’s strengths is its prices. It comes with a free plan, so you are free to publish without paying a cent. Its cheapest plan, the Personal plan, costs $6/month which is also very affordable.
But, you would need to upgrade to the Professional plan at $12/month, to access features like ads removal, unlimited storage, and a free domain. It also has loads of apps which is a great way to scale your site without upgrading your plan.
3. Wix
Perfect for SEO support
Wix is excellent for SEO support, making it an easy-to-use builder. It has a user-friendly editor that assists you in creating a lovely portfolio website on time. Besides, it is affordable.
When using Wix, there are hover-over tooltips that are on hand to shed light on what the features are. The drag-and-drop editor makes designing your portfolio very simple and easy.
Template designs
Wix has more than 500 templates, with 41 installed specifically created for use in portfolios. The drag-and-drop editor gives you full creative control over your site. Some enjoy this freedom and some don’t seem to know how to use it.
Pricing and plan
Wix offers a free plan. But, if you aim at creating a memorable impression, you should consider spending a little bit of your money to move your portfolio to the next level.
Its paid plan starts at $14 per month. It grants you access to a custom domain name or a web address. It also removes ad distractions visitors may have. You also get up to 20GB of storage and unlimited bandwidth on all paid plans.
Besides, you also access more templates, more tools, and apps from Wix App Market. From this market, you can find various cool apps that apply to things like digital marketing, extra design styles, and other interesting features.
4. Duda
Stunning portfolio designs.
Duda is excellent for its super stunning portfolio designs. Its templates are very structured, which means your portfolio’s design will be professional and always be consistent, though with no creative freedom.
It is also easy to use, with special thanks to its structured templates and section-based drag-and-drop. You are allowed to edit within your template’s designs, making it easy for those who do not wish to be delayed or stressed by designing.
Template designs
Duda has over 90 templates for you to select from, all of which are very stylish and simple. Your site is quite dependent on the template design you select. Also, unlike other builders, you can’t redesign your layout.
So be very conscious and make sure you pick what you like. All templates are mobile responsive, so your site will work great on any mobile as well as desktops.
Pricing and plan
Duda has three paid plans. The cheapest is the Basic plan, costing $14/month with features like multi-language options, HTTPS encryption, and lets you build one website.
So if you are looking to create several business portfolios, the Agency plan is a suitable option as it allows you to build up to eight websites for $74/month (billed annually).
5. GoDaddy
The fastest way to build a portfolio.
GoDaddy is one of the quickest ways to build a website. It is an ideal place to go when you want to secure a domain name, but also offers a decent website creation toolset.
GoDaddy’s interface is user-friendly and efficient. Its drag-and-drop editor allows you to move images and texts around as much as you want. Its ADI ensures that it does all the work for you, which makes website creation easy.
Template designs
Instead of picking a template, GoDaddy asks you a few questions about your site and uses your answers to automatically set up your website!
You can then effect changes and customize as much as you want. This method is ADI (Artificial Design Intelligence) and helps boost GoDaddy’s reputation as a fast and easy builder.
Pricing and plan
GoDaddy’s has four paid plans ranging from $9.99 per month to $19.99 when billed annually.
For a professional portfolio, you will likely need the Standard plan costing $14.99 per month, as it is the cheapest with SEO.
Also, all plans come with a one-month free trial.
6. Strikingly
Perfect customer help and support for portfolio beginners.
Strikingly gives one of the best help and support for portfolio beginners. It is a simple website that focuses on making it easier for anyone who wants to create a website. This welcoming trait is reflected in its beginner-friendly editor and helpful support resources.
In a nutshell, it is very simple but stylish. The only drawback is that it can be quite limiting for anyone with a lot of tech experience, as it is focused on better accessibility by those who are tech-novices. So if you have big dreams for your portfolio, you may probably want to try out another website.
Its 24/7 live chat, helpful starter videos, articles, an idea forum, plus the option to submit a message to Strikingly’s support staff, are all features that contribute to putting Strikingly forward as an excellent builder for help and support on the market.
Pricing and plan
Strikingly is also very popular for its value for money. It has three paid plans, the Pro plan being the only suitable one that lets you build a multi-page website. This is not so with other builders as their cheapest plans allow you to do this.
7. WordPress
Perfect for running a blog alongside a portfolio.
WordPress is perfect for running a blog alongside a portfolio. It is a simplified version of the WordPress.org content management system. WordPress is primarily built for blogging.
It isn’t a very intuitive builder as editing your portfolio takes a lot of clicking and trying to search for the tools, which would have been easier with a drag-and-drop builder. The platform does try to help you out though, giving you a checklist of tips that will assist you in creating your site.
Though it lacks the speed associated with other builders, so you will need patience to work with it.
Template designs
It comes with 38 specialized portfolio themes to choose from, out of which 12 are free to use, and are mobile-friendly.
Some themes are more stylish than others, so take your time when selecting the one you want. That’s why it is advisable you preview the theme you prefer by clicking the ‘Open Live Demo’ button, to know what your site will look like.
Pricing and plan
WordPress.com offers fantastic prices. It has four paid plans plus its free plans, ranging from $5 to $45 per month.
The cheapest plan, the Personal plan unlocks 24/7 support while the Premium plan gives you access to marketing and monetization devices such as SEO, advanced social media, and PayPal buttons.
8. Jimdo
Perfect for hobby portfolios not looking for growth.
Jimdo is perfect for creating hobby portfolios looking to stay small. It is very straightforward and leans towards eCommerce users. If you are looking to monetize your site by promoting your work, then Jimdo is a suitable choice.
Jimdo used to be a clunky builder, but it is not always the smoothest editor. Therefore, its use of ADI has greatly improved to assist in swiftly creating your site. So, you can choose whether to use its ADI builder (Jimdo Dolphin) or its traditional, more manual editor (Jimdo Creator).
The first option is best for beginners, while the second option is targeted at “coding experts”. But in reality, it is quite similar to other builders on this list. With the two builders, you can build for free.
Template designs
Jimdo cannot be said to have the best template designs, and you won’t find much for creative freedom in its editor. But it has some lovely designs, don’t just expect to be blown away.
Though the choice is limited, the designs were designed putting creatives in mind, full of large images and a wide selection of elements to help in showing off your work in a beautiful manner.
If you use Jimdo’s ADI builder, you don’t need to select a template because Jimdo creates a website for you according to your needs. It’s very easy to mix text and image to add context to projects, show-off designs in a gallery, or even add a shopping cart to help make shopping faster.
Pricing and plan
Jimdo Dolphin has a free plan and four paid plans ranging from $9 to $39 per month (billed annually). The $9 per month Start Plan lets you build up to 10 pages, while the $15 per month and lets you build up to 50 pages.
Jimdo Creator also has a free plan, but its paid plans are a little more expensive, ranging from $10 to $40 per month.
9. SITE123
Simple to use, but very limited.
SITE123 is simple to use, but limited. It is a fairly basic portfolio builder that aims at making website building very easy. If you desire to keep things small and manageable without spending so much time on them, SITE123 is a very suitable choice.
The builder is pretty straightforward to use, as long as you don’t attempt anything too advanced. As soon as you start trying to push the limit of this builder, it becomes tasking to customize your site exactly how you prefer.
Template designs
Its templates are not as stunning as Squarespace’s, as they look dated and clunky. Besides, the customization is very limited, so editing will be a struggle. You can also filter by industry, such as photography, music, creative arts, and more.
You can’t switch templates once your site is live, so be careful when selecting your templates. Also, all the designs are responsive on mobile and you can edit the mobile view to ensure your site appears lovely on any device.
Pricing and plan
It has two main plans, the free and $12.80 per month Premium plan, if you want to connect a professional domain, remove ads, and market products on your site, the Premium plan is the one for you.
FAQs
Is blogging important for your portfolio?
Yes, blogging is important for your portfolio/resume. It can actually be one of the best ways to market yourself. If you have a personal site it can become a stream of income with very low overhead (cost).
Once you have a blog you can use it to display your best design work and encourage others such as clients or potential employers to view it.
What to consider when choosing a website builder for a portfolio?
When choosing a website builder for a portfolio, consider which features you need. Will you need to create multiple sites? Will they all be in different languages? Are you looking for hosting or do you have one in mind?
Do you prefer drag-and-drop tools or something more complex and feature-rich? Is cost a big factor in your decision, or are you looking for something dependable and long-lasting?
It is in answering these questions that you can tailor your needs to know which website builder will be best for you.
Can I cancel at any time?
Yes, the plans can be canceled at any time. There is no contract or commitment when deciding to sign up for a plan.
Do you need a website builder for your portfolio?
Yes. Most people don’t think of using a website builder for their portfolio, but it’s a great idea to use a website builder.
You can create sites that are not only clean and elegant but also completely customizable. It’s the best way to highlight your work without getting lost in the shuffle.
Final thoughts
Finally, I believe that you’ve made up your mind on the builder that best suits your needs. Some are better than others, but what matters is you and what you want.
A portfolio site is the cornerstone of an online presence for creative professionals. More than just a website, a good portfolio site can serve as a kind of resume for your skills.
The best portfolio website builders for users are those that provide solid core features and functions. Those features and functions keep the website content organized and accessible to visitors in an easy-to-understand format.
Users who create high-quality portfolio websites with these tools can greatly influence potential clients.
Why not get started today on Squarespace. Good luck creating a portfolio that gets noticed by your prospects!