Best Portfolio & Photography Site Builders 2024

Find the perfect website builder for your creative portfolio. Compare visual galleries, client proofing features, and sales capabilities - no coding required.

What This Guide Solves:

• Confusion about which builder offers the best image galleries
• Uncertainty about client proofing and sales features
• Pricing comparisons for creative professionals
• Technical setup complexity for non-developers

Product Overview

Wix

A versatile drag-and-drop website builder with extensive photography templates and built-in design tools. Best for photographers who want complete creative control and don't mind a learning curve.

Best for: Creative Control

Squarespace

Premium designer templates with built-in commerce features and professional aesthetics. Perfect for photographers who prioritize beautiful design and seamless user experience.

Best for: Design Excellence

SmugMug

Purpose-built for photographers with unlimited photo storage, advanced privacy controls, and professional selling tools. Ideal for serious photographers focused on image protection and sales.

Best for: Photo-First Business

Pixpa

All-in-one platform combining portfolio, e-commerce, and client galleries with built-in blogging and SEO tools. Great for creative professionals who want everything in one affordable package.

Best for: All-in-One Value

Quick Comparison Table

Feature	Wix	Squarespace	SmugMug	Pixpa
Starting Price	$16/mo	$18/mo	$7/mo	$8/mo
Storage	10GB-500GB	100GB-Unlimited	Unlimited	50GB-500GB
Gallery Templates	100+	50+	20+	150+
Client Proofing	Via Apps	Limited	✓ Built-in	✓ Built-in
E-commerce	✓ Full	✓ Full	✓ Photos Only	✓ Full
Image Protection	Basic	Basic	✓ Advanced	✓ Good
Free Trial	Forever Free Plan	14 Days	14 Days	15 Days

Detailed Pricing Analysis

Wix

$16/mo

Combo Plan

✓3GB Storage
✓Custom Domain
✓Remove Wix Ads
✗E-commerce

Pro: $27/mo - 10GB, E-commerce

VIP: $45/mo - 35GB, Priority Support

Try Wix Free

Squarespace

$18/mo

Personal Plan

✓Unlimited Storage
✓Custom Domain
✓SSL Security
✗E-commerce

Business: $26/mo - E-commerce

Commerce: $40/mo - Advanced Commerce

Try Squarespace Free

Best Value

SmugMug

$7/mo

Basic Plan

✓Unlimited Storage
✓Custom Domain
✓Privacy Controls
✓Mobile App

Power: $12/mo - E-commerce

Portfolio: $18/mo - Custom Pages

Try SmugMug Free

Pixpa

$8/mo

Starter Plan

✓50GB Storage
✓Custom Domain
✓Client Galleries
✓Basic E-commerce

Growth: $15/mo - 250GB, Marketing

Pro: $25/mo - 500GB, Advanced

Try Pixpa Free

Gallery Features Deep Dive

Template Quality & Customization

Wix

100+ photography templates with extensive customization options. Drag-and-drop editor allows pixel-perfect positioning.

• Advanced animation effects
• Parallax scrolling galleries
• Mobile-responsive design tools
• Custom CSS code injection

Squarespace

50+ award-winning designer templates with built-in responsive design and professional aesthetics.

• Magazine-style layouts
• Automatic image optimization
• Cover pages and indexes
• Built-in lightbox galleries

SmugMug

20+ photo-focused templates designed specifically for photographers with emphasis on image presentation.

• Full-screen slideshow mode
• Automatic EXIF data display
• Advanced sorting options
• Password-protected galleries

Pixpa

150+ mobile-responsive templates covering all creative industries with built-in gallery styles.

• Multiple gallery layouts
• Masonry and grid options
• Video gallery support
• One-click style switching

Client Proofing & Collaboration

Feature	Wix	Squarespace	SmugMug	Pixpa
Built-in Client Galleries	Via Apps (PhotoDeck)	Limited Password Protection	✓ Native Feature	✓ Native Feature
Image Selection/Favorites	Third-party Apps	❌	✓ Heart/Star System	✓ Selection Tools
Client Downloads	App Dependent	Manual Setup	✓ Controlled Downloads	✓ ZIP Downloads
Expiry Dates	Limited	❌	✓ Auto-Expiry	✓ Time-based Access
Client Communication	Contact Forms	Contact Forms	✓ Built-in Messaging	✓ Comments System

E-commerce & Sales Features

Wix E-commerce

• Full online store functionality
• Print-on-demand integration
• Digital product delivery
• Subscription products
• Multi-currency support
• Abandoned cart recovery

Transaction Fees: 2.9% + 30¢ (Business plan)

SmugMug Commerce

• Photo-specific pricing tools
• Print fulfillment partnerships
• Digital download protection
• Bulk pricing discounts
• Commission-based selling
• Event photography tools

Commission: 15% on print sales, 0% on digital

Squarespace Commerce

• Integrated shopping cart
• Inventory management
• Customer accounts
• Product variants
• Promotional codes
• Real-time shipping

Transaction Fees: 3% (Business), 0% (Commerce)

Pixpa Commerce

• Built-in store functionality
• Photo printing integration
• Digital downloads
• Tax calculations
• Order management
• Payment gateway options

Transaction Fees: 0% (all plans)

SEO & Mobile Optimization

Wix SEO

✓ SEO Wiz tool
✓ Custom meta tags
✓ Schema markup
✓ Site speed optimization
✓ Mobile-first indexing
⚠️ Limited URL structure

Squarespace SEO

✓ Built-in SEO checklist
✓ Clean URL structure
✓ Auto-generated sitemaps
✓ Image optimization
✓ AMP support
✓ Google Search Console

SmugMug SEO

✓ Image-focused SEO
✓ EXIF data indexing
✓ Custom descriptions
⚠️ Limited page SEO
✓ Fast image loading
✓ CDN optimization

Pixpa SEO

✓ Advanced SEO tools
✓ Blog SEO features
✓ Social media tags
✓ Google Analytics
✓ Fast loading times
✓ Mobile optimization

Pros & Cons Summary

Wix

Pros

• Extensive customization options
• Large app marketplace
• Forever free plan available
• Strong e-commerce features
• Advanced animation capabilities

Cons

• Steeper learning curve
• Can't switch templates
• Limited client proofing built-in
• Page loading can be slow

SmugMug

Pros

• Unlimited photo storage
• Advanced image protection
• Built-in client proofing
• Photo-centric commerce tools
• Excellent mobile app

Cons

• Limited design flexibility
• Photo-only focus
• Commission on print sales
• Fewer template options

Squarespace

Pros

• Beautiful designer templates
• Excellent mobile responsiveness
• Strong SEO capabilities
• Professional aesthetics
• Good customer support

Cons

• Limited customization options
• No client proofing built-in
• Higher pricing for e-commerce
• Fewer third-party integrations

Pixpa

Pros

• All-in-one platform
• Built-in client galleries
• Excellent value for money
• No transaction fees
• Good customer support

Cons

• Smaller brand recognition
• Limited third-party apps
• Fewer advanced features
• Storage limitations

Who Should Use Which Platform?

Choose Wix If You...

• Want maximum design flexibility and customization
• Plan to sell various products beyond just photos
• Don't mind a learning curve for advanced features
• Need specific third-party app integrations
• Want to start with a free plan

Best for: Creative agencies, multi-product businesses, advanced users

Choose Squarespace If You...

• Prioritize beautiful, professional design
• Want excellent SEO and mobile optimization
• Prefer simplicity over extensive customization
• Don't need advanced client proofing features
• Value brand reputation and support quality

Best for: Professional photographers, artists, design-focused creatives

Choose SmugMug If You...

• Are a serious photographer focused primarily on photos
• Need unlimited storage and advanced image protection
• Want built-in client proofing and sales tools
• Sell prints and need fulfillment partnerships
• Value photo-specific features over general web building

Best for: Professional photographers, wedding photographers, stock photographers

Choose Pixpa If You...

• Want an all-in-one solution at great value
• Need client galleries and e-commerce combined
• Are budget-conscious but need professional features
• Don't want to pay transaction fees
• Prefer simpler, more streamlined tools

Best for: Freelance photographers, small studios, budget-conscious creatives

Quick Reference Guide

Use Case	Best Choice	Alternative
Best Overall Value	SmugMug	Pixpa
Most Beautiful Designs	Squarespace	Wix
Best Client Proofing	SmugMug	Pixpa
Most Customization	Wix	Pixpa
Best for Beginners	Pixpa	Squarespace
Best E-commerce Features	Squarespace	Wix

Frequently Asked Questions

Which platform is best for wedding photographers?

SmugMug is ideal for wedding photographers due to its built-in client proofing, password-protected galleries, unlimited storage, and specialized photo selling tools. Pixpa is also excellent with its client gallery features and more affordable pricing.

Can I sell prints directly from my portfolio website?

Yes, all four platforms support print sales. SmugMug has the most specialized photo commerce features with print lab integrations. Squarespace and Wix offer full e-commerce functionality, while Pixpa provides built-in e-commerce without transaction fees.

Do these platforms protect my images from theft?

SmugMug offers the most advanced image protection with right-click protection, watermarking, and download controls. Pixpa also provides good protection features. Wix and Squarespace have basic protection but are more focused on general web building than photo-specific security.

Which platform has the best mobile experience?

Squarespace leads in mobile responsiveness with automatic optimization and beautiful mobile designs. SmugMug has an excellent mobile app for photographers. All platforms are mobile-responsive, but Squarespace consistently delivers the best mobile user experience.

Can I migrate my website between these platforms later?

Migration difficulty varies. Content can usually be exported/imported, but design work typically needs to be redone. SmugMug and Pixpa focus on photos, making them easier to migrate between. Squarespace and Wix require more manual recreation of designs. Always export your content before making changes.

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Disclaimer

We strive to keep information accurate and up to date. However, prices, features, and offers may change. Please verify details on the official product websites. We do not take responsibility for discrepancies. This article contains affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission if you make a purchase through these links at no additional cost to you. For more information, see our affiliate disclosure.