Updated November 2026. Written by Portfoliobox, so we're one of the options below. We've tried to be fair: here's what each one is best at, what it costs, and who it's for.
Short answer: for a polished all-round site, Squarespace. For design-led sites with animation, Framer. For photographers who deliver to clients, Format or Pixpa. If you're already paying for Creative Cloud, Adobe Portfolio. If you want a portfolio specialist with a free plan forever, an online store with no commission and the lowest yearly price, Portfoliobox.
At a glance
| Builder | Free plan | Paid from (billed yearly) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portfoliobox | Yes, forever | $8.90/month | Photographers, artists, designers, models and makeup artists who want a free start and a store with 0 % commission |
| Squarespace | No (14-day trial) | about $18/month | A polished all-round site with little effort |
| Format | No (14-day trial) | $10/month | Photographers who need client galleries and contracts |
| Pixpa | No (15-day trial) | about $7 to $13/month | Photographers who want galleries and a store in one plan |
| Framer | Yes (framer.website address) | $10/month | Designers who want custom layouts and animation |
| Wix | Yes (Wix address and ads) | about $18/month | Anyone who wants an AI to draft the whole site, plus lots of apps |
| Adobe Portfolio | With Creative Cloud only | about $10/month (Photography plan) | Creative Cloud users who want a quick site synced with Behance |
| Cargo | Limited | about $13/month | Art students and experimental layouts |
Prices change often; check each builder's pricing page before you decide.
How to choose
- Do you need it free to start? Portfoliobox, Wix and Framer have free plans with no time limit (Cargo has a limited one), and of those only Portfoliobox is made for portfolios.
- Do you deliver work to clients? Photographers who send proofing galleries should look at Format and Pixpa, which include client galleries in their plans.
- Do you want to sell? Portfoliobox charges 0 % commission and has no product cap; Format and Pixpa cap products per plan.
- Do you want to design every pixel? Framer and Webflow give the most control, with a learning curve.
- Do you want an AI to do the first draft? Wix builds a site from one prompt; Portfoliobox's editor has an AI assistant that changes the site when you ask; Framer has AI translation and agents.
The builders
Portfoliobox
A portfolio website builder made only for creatives: photographers, artists, designers, illustrators, architects, models and makeup artists. Free plan forever (30 images, 5 pages, a portfoliobox.net address). Paid plans add your own domain (free the first year on yearly plans), unlimited images and pages, an online store with 0 % commission, bookings, invoicing and an email address at your domain. You can use a different template on every page, and an AI assistant in the editor changes the site when you ask it to. Students at partner schools get 90 % off. Best for: creatives who want to start free and grow into a real business site. Less good for: client proofing galleries (use a dedicated tool alongside) or heavy custom animation.
Squarespace
The most-recommended all-round builder: beautiful templates that work well for visual work, and solid commerce. No free plan; a 14-day trial. Best for: a polished site with little effort. Less good for: a free start, and portfolio-specific tools like client galleries.
Format
Built for photographers: client galleries, file transfers, a store and simple contracts. No free plan; a 14-day trial. Best for: working photographers. Less good for: non-photographers and anyone on a tight budget.
Pixpa
An all-in-one for photographers: website, client galleries and a store in every plan. 15-day trial, no free plan. Best for: photographers who want everything in one subscription.
Framer
A design tool that publishes websites, with animation, a CMS and AI translation. Free plan on a Framer address. Best for: designers who want custom layouts. Less good for: a quick gallery site.
Wix
The biggest builder, with an AI that drafts a full site from a prompt and thousands of apps. Free plan with Wix branding. Best for: anyone who wants many features and an AI first draft. Less good for: a focused portfolio without distractions.
Adobe Portfolio
Included with Creative Cloud; quick to set up and synced with Behance and Lightroom. Best for: people already paying for Creative Cloud.
Cargo
Distinctive, experimental templates loved by art schools. Best for: artists who want a site that doesn't look like a template.
Our honest take
If you are a working photographer who delivers to clients, start with a Format or Pixpa trial. If you are a designer who wants every pixel, try Framer. If you want something beautiful with no effort and don't mind paying from day one, Squarespace. If you want to start free, sell your work without giving away a commission and grow into your own domain, start a free Portfoliobox site.
Find a builder for your field: photographers, artists, designers, models, makeup artists, architects, illustrators.
