best free portfolio website builders 2025 comparison
Quick, practical comparison of leading free options—Wix Free, WordPress.com Free, Carrd, Webflow (free sites), and GitHub Pages—for creatives who want a portfolio that looks and performs well.
Short on time? Read the table below for a one-glance recommendation, then jump to the builder details for pros, cons, and scaling tips.
In this comparison
Quick comparison: top free portfolio builders (2025)
| Builder | Free plan limits | Ease of use | Customization | SEO & analytics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wix (Free) | Wix branding, limited storage, wixsite.com subdomain | Very easy — drag & drop | High with templates & editor | Basic SEO tools; analytics locked behind paid |
| WordPress.com (Free) | WordPress branding, limited plugins, wordpress.com subdomain | Moderate — editor familiarity helpful | Moderate — themes, limited plugins | Good on-page SEO; analytics limited on free |
| Carrd (Free) | Single-page sites, carrd.co subdomain, limited forms | Extremely fast to set up | Good for single-page layouts | Minimal — manual tags, no built-in analytics on free |
| Webflow (Free sites) | Webflow branding, staging URLs, 2 projects on free | Steeper learning curve | Very powerful — visual CSS control | Strong SEO controls; analytics via integrations |
| GitHub Pages | Free hosting, your repo, custom domain supported | Technical — needs Git/CLI or static site generator | Complete control (code-based) | Depends on setup — best when combined with static-site SEO practices |
Tip: free plans are great for testing or a temporary portfolio. If you need remove-branding, better SEO, or professional support, consider a paid tier or a managed subscription that includes hosting, analytics and ongoing updates.
Wix (Free)
Best for creatives who want fast drag-and-drop design without coding.
Key features
- Intuitive editor and many templates
- Built-in media galleries and lightboxes
- Mobile editor preview
Pros & cons
Pros: Fast setup, visual control, templates tuned for portfolios.
Cons: Free plan shows Wix ads/branding and limits analytics and custom domain.
When to pick Wix: You want attractive templates and a no-code builder. If you later need advanced SEO or no-branding, upgrade or migrate.
WordPress.com (Free)
Best for creatives who want content-first portfolios with a blog.
Key features
- Excellent blogging and content management
- Wide theme selection
- Good on-page SEO basics
Pros & cons
Pros: Strong content tools; easy to scale to paid plans with plugins and analytics.
Cons: Free plan has WordPress branding, limited plugin access and restricted customization.
When to pick WordPress.com: You plan to publish long-form content, case studies, or a mix of blog + portfolio. Expect to upgrade for full plugin access and advanced SEO tools.
Carrd (Free)
Best for one-page portfolios, landing pages and a minimal online presence.
Key features
- Lightning-fast to launch single-page sites
- Clean responsive layouts
- Cheap paid upgrades for custom domain
Pros & cons
Pros: Simplicity, speed, low learning curve.
Cons: Single-page limits, basic SEO, less suited for galleries with many items.
When to pick Carrd: You want a beautiful one-page portfolio or contact landing that you can spin up in minutes.
Webflow (Free sites)
Best for designers who want pixel-level visual control and production-grade HTML/CSS without hand-coding.
Key features
- Visual design with CSS precision
- Clean exported code and CMS options on paid plans
- Advanced interactions and responsive controls
Pros & cons
Pros: High design fidelity, great SEO controls, production-ready layouts.
Cons: Steeper learning curve; free projects use Webflow staging URLs and branding.
When to pick Webflow: You want a portfolio with advanced layout/interaction control and plan to step up to a paid plan or export the site.
GitHub Pages
Best for technical creatives who prefer full control, versioning and free hosting via a repo.
Key features
- Free hosting, custom domains supported
- Works with static site generators (Jekyll, Hugo)
- Complete control over markup and SEO
Pros & cons
Pros: No platform branding, low cost, full developer control.
Cons: Requires Git knowledge or tooling; not beginner-friendly; manual updates unless automated CI/CD.
When to pick GitHub Pages: You or a collaborator can handle code, and you want the smallest possible running costs with maximum control.
How to choose: quick checklist
- Need a one-page portfolio fast? Carrd or Wix Free.
- Plan to blog or publish case studies? WordPress.com.
- Want pixel-perfect design and interactions? Webflow (then upgrade for a production site).
- Comfortable with code & automation? GitHub Pages delivers the most control.
Important: Free plans are great for prototyping, but branding, analytics and SEO features are often limited. If your goal is consistent leads and local search visibility, a managed approach that includes SEO, hosting and ongoing updates can save time and improve results.
Scaling from free to professional: what really matters for SEO and conversions
When to upgrade
- You need a custom domain without branding.
- You want to track visitors and conversions reliably (analytics + goal tracking).
- You need local SEO work (Google Business integration, schema, meta optimisation).
SEO priorities when scaling
- Unique page titles and meta descriptions for service and portfolio pages.
- Fast mobile load times and image optimisation.
- Local schema and Google Business Profile setup for local creatives.
Many creatives start on a free plan and later invest in a managed site or subscription that bundles SEO, hosting and updates. That saves hours and usually drives better lead volume than DIY upgrades alone.
Need speed + results without the technical hassle?
If you'd rather skip platform limitations and focus on clients, some modern managed services combine fast launches, on-page SEO, hosting and unlimited content updates for a predictable monthly fee. They remove branding, configure analytics and keep your site tuned for local search—so your portfolio not only looks great but gets found.
This hybrid approach is useful when you value time and conversions over learning platform quirks—common for photographers, illustrators and studios that need steady enquiries.
Frequently asked questions
Are free portfolio sites good enough for professionals?
Can I move from a free plan to a managed service later?
Which builder is the best SEO performer out of the box?
Choose speed, control, or the middle path
Free builders are excellent for prototypes and simple portfolios. If you want remove-branding, reliable analytics, local SEO and an easy way to request updates without learning the tools, a managed subscription is an efficient next step.
Try a managed portfolio demoNo pressure—compare a free plan first, then consider a managed option if you need more polish, discoverability and time back for your creative work.
