7 Best Website Builders for UX Designer Portfolios in 2024

The wrong builder can leave you with a portfolio that doesn’t present your work at its best. This can mean fewer leads and job offers, which will negatively impact your earnings and long-term growth potential. You also don’t want to find out when you’re already deep into the design process that the builder you chose doesn’t measure up.

That’s why I’ve tested dozens of popular builders to find the best ones for creating a UX portfolio that gets results. These builders offer well-designed templates and project galleries, sufficient storage for high-quality images and content, and great SEO tools to help you get found online.

Among them, Wix shines for UX portfolios, offering the largest selection of stellar templates and full customization for those starting from scratch. Any UX designer will appreciate how user-friendly and well-designed Wix is as a platform. Explore Wix and six other builders to find your best fit.

What We Look For in the Best Website Builders for UX Designer Portfolios

Whether you’re looking to build your first UX portfolio or replace an existing one, the builder you choose should offer certain essential features. These are the features I focused on when compiling my list:

• Good-looking portfolio templates. Nearly every builder on my list offers 10 or more templates for UX portfolios. This gives you a choice of various layouts, so you can make a website that’s as unique as you are.
• Responsive and mobile-friendly design. In today’s mobile-first world, it’s crucial that your UX portfolio looks great and functions seamlessly on all devices. This feature not only enhances user accessibility but also contributes positively to your site’s SEO performance.
• Engaging project galleries. These website builders make it easy to feature your work in attractive galleries that potential clients and recruiters can navigate with ease. Visitors can jump from your project photos to your detailed case studies with a simple click.
• Plenty of storage and bandwidth. I only included builders that offer plans with enough storage for content-heavy UX portfolio websites. Most also give you plenty of bandwidth, so you don’t have to worry about frustrating your visitors with slow loading pages or other performance issues.
• Analytics and SEO. A great portfolio won’t get you leads and offers if clients and recruiters can’t find you. These builders give you useful data on your site’s visitors and effective SEO tools to improve its ranking on search engines.

1. Wix: Flexible Portfolio Design For Beginners and Pros Alike

Wix gives you lots of options for designing your site, making it an excellent choice for creating a portfolio that reflects who you are. This starts with choosing a template. Wix offers 50+ templates for portfolios, and they all come with different layouts and styling.

You also get the creative freedom to change and rearrange your template’s design elements however you please. What’s more, Wix’s intuitive interface and drag-and-drop editing functions make personalizing quick and easy, leaving you more time to refine your content.

Wix also gives you an impressive range of built-in features, even on its free plan. For instance, you can automate a live chat greeting, gather leads with custom forms, and access pre-built templates for social posts. You can also turn to the Wix App Market to add even more features and functionality to your site.

Wix lets you build a UX portfolio for free. However, you’ll need to upgrade to a paid plan to remove branded ads, get a custom domain, and add premium features, like the ability to accept payments through your website.

Features

• Interactive photo galleries. The free Wix Pro Gallery app gives you a choice of 12 responsive gallery layouts you can enhance with dynamic elements and interactive prototypes and videos. This allows visitors to experience your design projects firsthand.
• Custom SEO plan. The AI-powered Wix SEO Wiz will design a personalized step-by-step plan to help you improve your site’s search engine ranking.
• Mobile-friendly tools. The Wix mobile editor creates a mobile version of your site that includes all your desktop content. You can then fine-tune how it looks and add mobile-only features, like a sticky quick-action navigation bar to make it easier for potential clients to contact you.
• Improved site accessibility. Wix gives you tools to help make your site more accessible. Its Accessibility Wizard scans your site and flags any issues it finds, such as missing alt text descriptions that highlight photo and video links to visually impaired users.

Read our expert Wix review for more details.

2. SITE123: Present Your Creative Work With Portfolio-Specific Tools

SITE123 offers an array of portfolio-specific tools that I find particularly useful for showcasing creative work. You can adjust almost every template to meet the needs of your portfolio, incorporating essential features such as galleries that display both videos and images, a testimonial page to highlight accolades from clients or colleagues, and contact forms to facilitate easy communication with potential clients or collaborators.

It not only allows you to present your work but also enables you to share and presell your services internationally. You can offer interested clients a custom quote or tiered packages with SITE123’s e-commerce features, which include a selection of currencies and payment platforms.The platform is already optimized for web traffic, which significantly aids in reaching a wider audience.

However, I think it’s worth noting that SITE123 might be more suited for smaller portfolios. Even on a paid plan, the storage is capped at 3 GB, which can be quite limiting for those with extensive collections of work. In my opinion, it’s ideal for beginners who are looking for a simple, straightforward way to build and manage their portfolio.

Features

• Schedule booking tool. SITE123 includes a scheduling tool that coordinates appointment reservations directly from your UX portfolio. It’s a convenient feature, especially if you schedule and consult on user testing sessions.
• Timeline page. You can create a timeline page to chronologically showcase your UX projects and professional growth. This visual representation can effectively highlight your journey and milestones to prospective clients or employers​​.
• Create a digital business card. Crafting a digital business card on SITE123 gives you a compact, memorable way to share your contact details and professional summary, making networking seamless and impactful.
• Online course builder. You can diversify your income and share your UX expertise through subscription-based online courses. SITE123 provides the tools to build and market your knowledge effectively.

For more details, read our in-depth SITE123 review.

3. Squarespace: Best Looking Templates for UX Portfolios

Squarespace gives you the templates and tools to build an eye-catching UX portfolio that will encourage visitors to delve more deeply into your projects. It offers 36 stunning portfolio templates to choose from, which are all mobile responsive. You can customize your template’s layout, content, fonts, and colors, but you don’t get quite as much creative freedom as with Wix.

Squarespace lets you upload all your images at once and display them in striking photo galleries and project pages that showcase your work and achievements at their best. And you never have to worry about storage or bandwidth – they’re unlimited on every plan (but you can only upload up to 30 minutes of video).

While Squarespace doesn’t have a free plan, its image-forward designs and robust features make it an excellent choice for UX portfolios. Fortunately, you get a 14-day free trial. This lets you pick and customize a template, upload images and content, and see if Squarespace works for you before you commit.

Features

• Built-in image editor. Squarespace has some of the best image editing tools of any builder. For example, you can adjust aspect ratio, brightness, saturation, and more. You can even change an image’s focal point and add a lightbox effect.
• Third-party integrations. Squarespace gives you access to premium integrations and extensions that fit seamlessly into your site’s design. For example, you can link social media, add tools to improve SEO, and embed video/audio from third-party sites like YouTube.
• Easy password protection. You can password protect sensitive project pages or sections of your case studies to control who can access them.
• Useful website analytics. Squarespace gives you an overview of all activity on your site. You get stats on which keywords drive people to your website, the number of visitors you attract over time, and which of your content engages them most.

See our in-depth Squarespace review to learn more.

4. IONOS: Simple & Affordable Builder For Creating a Site Quickly

IONOS MyWebsite Now could be a good option for your portfolio if you’re on a tight budget. While it only offers a few templates for portfolios, its simple and straightforward editor will let you get your portfolio online fast without breaking the bank.

IONOS doesn’t offer the same level of customization as Wix or Squarespace, but your portfolio doesn’t have to look generic. You can make sitewide changes to colors and fonts and personalize your pages further with content blocks, such as text sections that share your design process. You also get the option to add image sliders and background video to make your portfolio more engaging.

You can create a UX portfolio with IONOS’s 30-day money-back guarantee. You’ll have to provide your credit card details, but you won’t be billed for 30 days. If you decide IONOS isn’t right for your portfolio, make sure you cancel during the trial period to avoid being charged.

Features

• Site analytics tool. IONOS gives you information on which elements of your portfolio attract and engage visitors most.
• Dedicated support consultant. IONOS lets you sign up for a free personal consultant who will be your point of contact for any support questions. You can email, call, or chat with your consultant during standard business hours.
• Business email. On any IONOS plan, you get a business email address aligned with your own custom domain, which tells clients you’re a professional.
• Logo generator. You can create a logo for free and use it on your website, marketing materials, business card, and more.

Learn more about IONOS in our in-depth review.

5. WordPress.com: Most Flexible Builder for Highly Personalized Portfolios

WordPress.com offers a large variety of free and paid themes for portfolios. For even more options, you can find thousands of themes on third-party marketplaces, but you’ll need to upgrade to a Creator plan to install them.

You can change virtually every element of your theme and add text, photos, and other content “blocks” wherever you like. Just be prepared to spend some time getting used to WordPress.com’s interface, which feels less intuitive than many other builders, such as Wix. You’ll also have to install thirty-party plugins to get certain features other top builders have built in, like video design tools.

WordPress.com has a free plan you can use forever. However, you’ll need to upgrade to a Creator plan or higher to unlock the best of what WordPress.com has to offer, including third-party plugins and themes.

Features

• Custom portfolio gallery. On any page, you can add a widget that displays and organizes your best work in a customized gallery. You can then add a custom excerpt to any project image to inspire your visitors to learn more.
• Helpful analytics. The Jetpack plugin (included with all plans) gives you useful data on your site’s traffic. For example, it tells you how many visitors you attract, the number of pages they view, and the search terms that bring them to your site. Just note you’ll need to upgrade to a Creator plan to unlock Jetpack’s full features.
• Thousands of plugins. You can install any of WordPress.com’s 50,000+ plugins to expand your site’s functionality and add enhanced design features. For instance, you can get tools that help with SEO and email marketing and others that give you advanced image galleries.
• Third-party builders. When you enroll in a Creator plan, you can install a third-party builder plugin like Elementor. This plugin will give you additional customization choices and enable you to edit your site using a user-friendly drag-and-drop interface, providing you with increased flexibility in designing your website.

See our WordPress review for a full analysis.

6. Hostinger Website Builder: Great AI Tools for Designing and Optimizing Portfolios

If you go with Hostinger Website Builder for your portfolio, you can choose from any one of its 43 pre-built portfolio templates. If none of these seem quite right, you can enter “UX portfolio” in the search bar to see additional options generated by its AI template builder.

Whichever template you choose, you’ll get a project gallery you can customize in various ways. For example, you can opt for a grid or masonry layout, specify the number of images per row, and control the amount of whitespace between images. You can even create gallery slideshows that auto-scroll with custom transition timings.

Unfortunately, Hostinger Website Builder doesn’t have a free plan. It also offers far fewer integrations than Wix or Squarespace. However, if you plan to upload lots of content, Hostinger’s entry-level plan is one of the cheapest you can find that offers unlimited bandwidth and storage. And unlike other builders, Hostinger lets you import content from an existing website on another platform, helping you get a new portfolio online faster.

Features

• Image optimization. Hostinger Website Builder gives you tools for editing each image you upload. These include some advanced functions like changing image backgrounds and removing distracting elements.
• AI insights to maximize conversions. Hostinger Website Builder Heatmap predicts how visitors will navigate your portfolio and what content will engage them most. This can help you place links to your contact details and other CTAs where clients and recruiters are most likely to see them.
• AI-powered content writer. Hostinger Website Builder’s AI Writer will suggest keyword-rich content for your site based on information you provide about your industry and needs. For example, it can suggest text for your About page, the services you offer, or your work history. Just be prepared to tweak any text it generates.
• Versatile media library. You can upload any file type – including PDF and PPT files – and link these to images in your project gallery. You can then allow visitors to download these with a single click.

Get more insight by reading our Hostinger Website Builder review.

Other Notable Website Builders for UX Designer Portfolios

7. Duda

Duda caters to professionals, making it a solid choice for UX designers seeking a platform that aligns with their high standards. With DudaFlex, you get to leverage its full editing capabilities alongside responsive technology, ensuring your portfolio looks great on any device. Plus, having access to the code grants you full control over your site’s design and functionality, a must-have for those who like to fine-tune every detail.

I placed it at the end of the list primarily due to its pricing. While Duda offers a robust set of features perfect for showcasing a UX portfolio, it comes with a higher price tag compared to others. This might be something to consider if budget is a key factor for you.

Choose the Best UX Portfolio Builder for Your Needs

Every one of these builders will enable you to construct a UX design portfolio. This will showcase your projects, design method, and professional abilities in a convincing visual layout.

I’d recommend Wix if creative freedom and ease of use are your priorities. Its custom approach to SEO is also a real plus when it comes to marketing your skills and talents online.

If you’re looking for simplicity with powerful portfolio tools, SITE123 is a great choice. It offers an intuitive interface and portfolio-specific features that let you present your work effectively without overwhelming you with options.

On the other hand, choose Squarespace for a visually striking portfolio that’s easy for potential clients to navigate on any device.

To help you decide, here’s a quick summary of the different builders I tested.

FAQ

Do I need a UX portfolio website?

While it’s a good idea to post your work on popular online social platforms for creatives, this won’t give you all the benefits of a professional website. For starters, it’s harder to stand out when you’re one of thousands of UX designers vying to attract clients and recruiters on a crowded platform.

If you’re undecided, I recommend trying SITE123. It’s simple to use, offers tools for your portfolio such as video and image galleries and SEO optimization, and you can build your portfolio in a day.

Can I build a UX portfolio website for free?

You can create a free website with Wix, WordPress.com, or SITE123, but Wix’s free plan is the most generous. It lets you choose any template and add apps for advanced features, whereas WordPress.com limits your choice of themes and requires a paid plan for plugins. As for SITE123, its free plan only offers 250 MB of storage, making it unsuitable for image-heavy portfolios.

Which builder offers the best overall value?

Wix has a broad variety of plans, so you’re bound to find one that offers good value for your needs. If you’re just starting out, the Unlimited Plan gives you everything you need to build a professional website, plus you get unlimited bandwidth and a free one-year custom domain. More established UX designers and agencies may want the added features that come with a Business plan, like the ability to process payments.

What is the best website builder for UX portfolios in 2024?

It’s really a tossup between Wix and SITE123. Both offer plenty of well-designed portfolio templates and ample features and functionality for showcasing your projects. That said, Wix has the edge when it comes to flexibility and ease of use, whereas SITE123 wins on simplicity.

If you’re struggling to decide which builder to go with, you can check out our review of the best website builders for 2024.