Free vs Paid Portfolio Websites: An Honest Comparison

"Why should I pay for a portfolio website when free options exist?"

It's a fair question. Free sounds great. But free has costs—just not in dollars.

Let's break down what you actually get with free versus paid portfolios, so you can make the right choice for your situation.

What "Free" Really Means

Free portfolio builders make money somehow. Here's how:

Ads on your site - Some free platforms display ads on your portfolio. Not a great look when impressing clients.

Platform branding - "Made with [Platform]" in your footer. Signals you're not willing to invest in yourself.

Limited features - Free tiers restrict pages, storage, bandwidth, or customization.

Upsells - Free gets you in the door. Then constant prompts to upgrade.

Your data - Some platforms monetize through your data or analytics.

Free isn't always bad. But understand the trade-offs.

Free Portfolio Options

Website Builders (Free Tiers)

Examples: Wix, Weebly, WordPress.com free tier

You get:

• Basic website functionality
• Simple templates
• Subdomain (yourname.wixsite.com)

You sacrifice:

• Custom domain
• Ad-free experience
• Full design control
• Sometimes speed and reliability

Developer Platforms

Examples: GitHub Pages, Netlify free tier

You get:

• Free hosting
• Custom domains (you buy separately)
• Full control

You sacrifice:

• Ease of use (requires coding)
• Time investment
• Design complexity

Portfolio Platforms

Examples: Behance, Dribbble free accounts

You get:

• Built-in community
• Industry exposure
• Easy setup

You sacrifice:

• Unique design
• Custom domain
• Full ownership
• Flexibility

Notion-Based Portfolios

You get:

• Quick setup
• Free hosting
• Easy editing

You sacrifice:

• Professional appearance
• Custom domain (extra cost)
• Limited design options

Paid Portfolio Options

Website Builders (Paid Plans)

Examples: Squarespace, Wix Premium, Webflow

Cost: $12-50/month

You get:

• Custom domain
• No platform ads or branding
• Full feature set
• Better templates
• E-commerce options
• Priority support

One-Time Payment Builders

Examples: Pastefolio, Carrd Pro

Cost: $9-49 one-time

You get:

• Custom subdomain or domain
• No monthly fees
• Professional appearance
• Simple maintenance

Custom Development

Cost: $500-5,000+ one-time, plus hosting

You get:

• Complete customization
• Unique design
• Full ownership

You sacrifice:

• Budget
• Time
• Requires ongoing maintenance

The Real Cost Comparison

Let's do the math for one year:

Option	Year 1 Cost	Looks Professional?
Free tier (Wix, etc.)	$0	Not really
Notion portfolio	$0-96	Minimal
Pastefolio	$9 one-time	Yes
Carrd Pro	$19/year	Yes
Squarespace	$144-192	Yes
Custom development	$1000+	Depends

When Free Makes Sense

You're experimenting - Not sure if you need a portfolio? Test with free first.

You're a student - Budget is tight. Focus on building skills, upgrade later.

It's temporary - Need something quick for one specific opportunity.

You'll upgrade soon - Free is a stepping stone, not a destination.

When Paid Makes Sense

You're job hunting - First impressions matter. Don't let a cheap-looking site cost you opportunities.

You're freelancing - Your portfolio is your sales tool. Invest in it.

You want to be taken seriously - Professional appearance signals professional work.

Long-term value - Even $9 spent once beats the hidden costs of free.

The Real Question

Don't ask "How much does this cost?"

Ask "What does this cost me if I don't have it?"

A missed job opportunity because your portfolio looked unprofessional costs far more than any website builder.

A client who chose someone else because their site looked more credible—that's an expensive "free" choice.

Making the Decision

If budget is truly the constraint: Start free, but plan to upgrade. Treat free as a trial, not a final destination.

If you have any budget: Spend $9-20 for a professional appearance. The ROI is massive.

If you're serious about your career: Invest appropriately. Your portfolio is your 24/7 salesperson.

The Bottom Line

Free portfolios have hidden costs: your time, your credibility, your opportunities.

Paid portfolios are an investment: in your career, your brand, your future.

The best portfolio isn't the cheapest one. It's the one that gets you results.

Choose accordingly.