Website Platform Guide

These are our favorite platforms for artist websites / portfolios in order of preference.

1. Squarespace

Pros:

  • Beautiful, customizable templates specifically for portfolios and galleries

  • All-in-one platform (hosting, domains, and design tools)

  • Integrated e-commerce for selling art

  • Responsive design and easy drag-and-drop interface

Cons:

  • Takes a little time and effort to build your site

  • Monthly cost can add up ($16–$23/month for personal and business plans)

4. Format

Pros:

  • Built specifically for creatives and portfolio websites

  • Simple drag-and-drop interface

  • Includes client proofing and store options for selling prints

Cons:

  • Fewer templates than competitors

  • Starts at $7/month, but features are limited in the basic plan

6. WordPress

Pros:

  • Highly customizable with thousands of themes and plugins

  • Affordable, with free and low-cost options

  • Great for combining a portfolio with blogging or content creation

Cons:

  • Steeper learning curve than drag-and-drop builders

  • Free version has limitations and ads

2. Wix

Pros:

  • Very user-friendly with a drag-and-drop editor

  • Wide range of templates, including artistic and creative styles

  • Affordable plans starting at $16/month

  • Flexibility in design and layout

Cons:

  • Can feel overwhelming with too many customization options

  • Not as polished as Squarespace for portfolios

8. Cargo

Pros:

  • Designed for artists and creatives

  • Offers unique and visually interesting templates

  • Affordable at $9/month

Cons:

  • Interface can be tricky to learn

  • Limited e-commerce functionality

3. Adobe Portfolio

Pros:

  • Free with an Adobe Creative Cloud subscription

  • Simple and quick to set up

  • Clean, portfolio-specific designs

  • Integrates well with Behance and Lightroom

Cons:

  • Limited to portfolio use—no e-commerce or blogging

  • Requires an Adobe Creative Cloud subscription ($20.99/month for a single app)

5. Weebly

Pros:

  • Affordable with a free plan available

  • Easy drag-and-drop builder

  • E-commerce features

Cons:

  • Limited template designs

  • Not as modern or artistic as Squarespace or Wix

7. Behance

Pros:

  • Free to use and part of Adobe's creative community

  • Great for exposure within the creative industry

  • Simple to upload and share work

Cons:

  • Not a standalone website—limited customization

  • More of a social portfolio than a professional website

9. Big Cartel

Pros:

  • Great for artists looking to sell their work online

  • Free plan available (up to 5 products)

  • Simple and straightforward setup

Cons:

  • Limited design and portfolio features

  • Best suited for e-commerce rather than full portfolios

11. Ucraft

Pros:

  • Free plan available with a custom domain

  • Simple drag-and-drop builder

  • Includes e-commerce features even in the free version

  • Easy integration with print-on-demand services for selling art

Cons:

  • Limited template designs compared to competitors

  • Free plan includes Ucraft branding

  • Some advanced features require higher-tier plans ($10+/month)

10. Carbonmade

Pros:

  • Designed specifically for portfolios

  • Easy to use, minimal setup

  • Templates cater to artists and designers

Cons:

  • Limited customization compared to other platforms

  • Starts at $9/month, with fewer features in the basic plan