Best Portfolio Website Builder for Freelancers (2026): Format vs Squarespace vs Wix
We compare Format, Squarespace and Wix as portfolio website builders for freelancers: project galleries, client proofing, custom domains, forms and cost.
For a freelancer, a portfolio is the sales pitch that works while you sleep. A prospective client lands on it from a referral, a LinkedIn post or a search, and in a minute or two decides whether you can do their project. A good portfolio website builder makes that minute count: your best work, large and fast, a short story about how you got the result, and an easy way to get in touch.
The software also has back-office jobs that matter more than the template. You need your own domain name, a contact or booking form that actually reaches you, and, if you are a photographer or designer, a private place where clients can review and approve work. We compared three portfolio builders on those jobs and on what they cost at list price.
Our picks at a glance
3 tools compared- ★ Best for photographers and visual artists
Format
Portfolio, client galleries, file transfers and contracts in one place.
From $10/mo (annual)Visit - Best for designers and case studies
Squarespace
Designer templates, strong forms and free invoicing on every plan.
From $16/mo (annual)Visit - Best free start and bookings
Wix
Free plan to build on, then scheduling and payments from Core.
Free; from $17/mo (annual)Visit
Quick comparison
| Software | Starting price | Client proofing | Custom domain | Bookings and forms | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Format | $10/mo annual ($14 monthly) | Client galleries and file transfers on every plan | Free first year on Pro and Pro Plus (annual) | Email subscriber form; CRM Light on Pro | Visit ↗ |
| Squarespace | $16/mo annual (Basic) | Not listed on the plan page; check | Free first year on annual plans | Form blocks and newsletter blocks, every plan | Visit ↗ |
| Wix | Free; Light $17/mo annual | Not listed on the plan page; check | Free first year on most yearly plans | Scheduling and payments from Core ($29/mo) | Visit ↗ |
How we chose
A freelancer’s portfolio website needs to:
- Show project galleries with large, fast-loading images or video that look right on a phone.
- Tell case studies: a page per project with the brief, your process and the result, not just pictures.
- Run on your own custom domain, such as yourname.com, so clients remember it and you keep it if you move.
- Capture inquiries with a contact form, and ideally let clients book a call or pay a deposit.
- Handle client proofing for photographers and designers: a private, password-protected gallery where a client can pick favorites, comment and download finals.
- Stay affordable for a business of one.
We read each vendor’s pricing page and plan details. Prices are US list prices before promotions. Read more about how we review.
The best portfolio website builders for freelancers
Format
Best for photographers, illustrators and other visual freelancers who deliver work to clients
What we like
- Built for creative portfolios, with designer themes and a Flex Block layout tool
- Client galleries and file transfers on every plan
- CRM Light and client contracts built in on Pro and Pro Plus
- Lightroom integration on every plan; commission-free store from Pro
- 14-day free trial with no credit card
Watch out for
- Basic allows only 10 pages and 70 high-resolution images
- Custom code editor and free first-year domain start on Pro
- Branded email is a $100 a year add-on
- Basic
- $10/mo annual, $14 monthly
- Pro
- $17/mo annual list, $24 monthly
- Pro Plus
- $26/mo annual list, $36 monthly
- Trial
- 14 days, no card
Format is an online portfolio platform made for working creatives rather than a general builder. Its themes put your images first, and its Flex Block tool lets you build custom layouts without code. What sets it apart for freelancers is the workflow side: every plan includes client galleries and file transfers, so you can deliver a shoot or a set of design files from the same account that hosts your portfolio. Pro and Pro Plus add CRM Light and client contracts.
Which plan to pick: Pro for most working freelancers. It lifts you to unlimited pages, 1,500 high-resolution images, 100 GB of storage, 15 minutes of hosted video, 50 client galleries, a store for up to 15 products with no commission, custom fonts and a free custom domain for the first year. Its list price is $17 a month billed annually; when we checked, Format was showing it at $12. Choose Pro Plus (list $26 a month annually, shown at $15) for unlimited images, 1 TB of storage, 120 minutes of video, 250 client galleries and priority support.
Watch out for: limits on Basic. Ten pages and 70 images is enough for a tight showcase but not for case studies plus client work. Domain registration is $30 a year after the free first year.
Squarespace
Best for designers, writers, developers and consultants who sell with case studies
What we like
- Designer templates and the Fluid Engine drag-and-drop editor
- Form blocks and a Contacts panel to capture and track inquiries
- Branded invoices you can send for free on every plan
- 24/7 support, and a 14-day free trial with no card
Watch out for
- No free plan
- Basic allows 2 contributors and 30 minutes of video
- Advanced code blocks and code injection need Core or higher
- Basic
- $16/mo, billed annually
- Core
- $23/mo, billed annually
- Plus
- $39/mo, billed annually
- Domain
- Free for 1 year on annual plans
Squarespace is the strongest choice when your portfolio has to look as considered as your work. Its templates handle long-form case studies well: a hero image, a few paragraphs on the brief and your approach, then the result. Every plan includes form blocks for inquiries, newsletter blocks, a Contacts panel that keeps everyone who gets in touch in one list, and, useful for freelancers, branded invoices with no invoice transaction fees.
Which plan to pick: Basic at $16 a month billed annually covers a portfolio with a contact form. Choose Core at $23 if you want advanced code blocks or code injection (for example, to embed a booking widget or analytics), 5 hours of video instead of 30 minutes, or a free Google Workspace email account for the first year.
Watch out for: two things. First, client proofing: we did not see it listed on Squarespace’s plan page, so photographers should check before buying or pair Squarespace with a separate gallery tool. Second, pricing: Squarespace’s pricing page showed us euros on this check, so the US prices here come from our September 29, 2026 check of Squarespace’s US pricing. Confirm them at checkout.
Wix
Best for freelancers who want to start free, or take paid bookings on their site
What we like
- Free plan to build and publish your portfolio before paying
- AI website builder plus more than 2,000 templates
- Scheduling and services, with payments, from the Core plan
- 24/7 customer care and a 14-day money-back guarantee on premium plans
Watch out for
- Free sites show Wix branding and a wixsite.com address
- Light does not include accepting payments
- Yearly plans are paid in full up front; prices vary by location
- Free
- Wix branding, wixsite.com URL
- Light
- $17/mo annual; 2 GB
- Core
- $29/mo annual; 50 GB
- Business
- $39/mo annual; 100 GB
Wix lets you build your whole portfolio for free and pay only when you are ready to go live on your own domain. Its AI builder can generate a first draft from a prompt, and you can then drag anything anywhere, which suits freelancers who want a layout no template offers. For service freelancers, the big plus is scheduling and services from the Core plan, so a client can book a discovery call or a session and pay a deposit on your site.
Which plan to pick: Light at $17 a month billed annually for a portfolio on your own domain with a contact form. Core at $29 if you want bookings or payments; it adds 50 GB of storage and 5 site collaborators.
Watch out for: client proofing is not listed on Wix’s plan page, so check before you rely on it for photo delivery. Wix’s plan page did not show us US prices on this check; the figures here match Wix’s own published US prices from our September 29, 2026 check and its plan guidance, and Wix says prices vary by location. Confirm the price at checkout.
Also worth a look
Pixpa is a portfolio builder aimed at photographers, artists and designers, with client galleries for proofing and delivery on every plan and a 15-day free trial with no card. Its pricing page showed us prices in euros only, so we could not confirm US prices and have not ranked it. If proofing is central to your work, it is worth pricing in your own currency.
Which one should you choose?
- You are a photographer or visual artist who delivers files to clients: Format, on Pro.
- You sell with case studies and your site has to look as good as your work: Squarespace, on Basic or Core.
- You want to start free, or let clients book and pay for sessions on your site: Wix.
Whichever you choose, register your domain in your own name, put your three best projects first, and send a test inquiry through your contact form to make sure it reaches you.
More for freelancers: CRM for freelancers to turn inquiries into signed projects, accounting software for freelancers and payroll software for 1 employee. New to building sites? See our website builder guide for beginners.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best portfolio website builder for freelancers?
For photographers and visual artists, Format, because its plans include client galleries for proofing and file transfers alongside the portfolio. For designers, writers and consultants who need case studies and a polished brand, Squarespace. For freelancers who want to start free or take paid bookings on their site, Wix.
Do I need a custom domain for my portfolio?
Yes, if you want clients to take you seriously and to keep your address when you switch platforms. Format, Squarespace and Wix all include a free custom domain for the first year on annual plans (Format on Pro and Pro Plus), then charge the normal renewal rate. Register it in your own name.
Which portfolio builder has client proofing?
Format includes client galleries and file transfers on every plan, with more galleries and transfer space on higher plans, plus CRM Light and client contracts on Pro and Pro Plus. Squarespace and Wix are general builders; check before you buy whether they cover proofing for you, or pair them with a separate gallery tool.
How much does a portfolio website cost?
About $10 to $30 a month billed annually. Format starts at $10 a month, Squarespace at $16 and Wix Light at $17 (Wix also has a free plan with Wix branding). Expect to pay more if you sell work, need more storage or want a branded email address.
Sources and updates
Prices and plan details in this guide were last checked against the vendors' own pages on . Vendors change prices often, so confirm the final price on the vendor's site before you buy. Spot something out of date? Tell us and we will re-check it. How we work: editorial policy.