Best Website Builder for Designers in 2024

In today's world, a stunning website is a designer's calling card. It's your platform to showcase your talent, connect with potential clients, and establish yourself as a creative force. But building a website shouldn't feel like wrestling a code monster.

This blog is for designers who want a website builder that brings their vision to reality. We'll explore top options that offer a rich buffet of design elements, user-friendly interfaces, and the flexibility to truly customize your creation.

Whether you prioritize drag-and-drop simplicity or design flexibility that matches your creative work, there's a perfect website builder waiting to be discovered. From showcasing stunning portfolios to setting up online stores for your designs, we'll guide you through the features, ease of use, and pricing of each website builder.

So, buckle up and get ready to craft a website that reflects your unique design genius!

Best Website Builder for Designers 2024

1. Pixpa
2. Wix
3. Squarespace
4. Hostinger
5. SITE123
6. GoDaddy
7. Weebly
8. Duda
9. Strikingly
10. Webflow
11. Adobe Portfolio
12. Shopify
13. Jimdo
14. Fabrik

1. Pixpa: Best website builder for designers overall

Overview:

Pixpa is a powerful website builder specifically designed with designers in mind. Pixpa’s powerful, no-code artist website builder has everything you need, from showcasing visually stunning design galleries to getting noticed and landing gigs.

It boasts an intuitive no-code interface with drag-and-drop functionality, making it easy for anyone to create a professional website. Gorgeous templates and powerful features like client galleries, ecommerce galleries, photo gallery apps, and marketing tools help create a design portfolio that sells.

24/7 customer support is also available to answer any questions you may have. Pixpa’s customer success team is known for its responsiveness! They typically respond within 5 minutes, no matter when you reach out.

Pixpa doesn't offer a free plan, but you get a 15-day free trial if you are looking for the best free website builder to explore all the features before committing.

Pros:

• Effortless website creation: No coding knowledge required! Build a beautiful website with pre-designed layouts and content blocks using Pixpa's drag-and-drop interface. Explore real-world examples of designer websites built with Pixpa for inspiration.
  Gorgeous templates tailored for designers: Over 150 mobile-friendly templates ensure your work shines on any device. Plus, you can switch templates later, even after the site is live, for added flexibility. Browse Pixpa's library of designer portfolio templates to find the perfect starting point.

• Showcase your work in style: Add photos and videos of your designs to impress your audience.. Pixpa offers 25+ customizable gallery layouts to present your designs in the best possible light. From full-screen slideshows to lightbox pop-ups, you can create beautiful, eye-catching design galleries and collections.

• Sell your designs online: Turn your website into an online store! Sell prints (both digital downloads and physical prints) directly through your website with Pixpa's built-in e-commerce tools. You have complete control over pricing, and Pixpa doesn't charge any commissions or transaction fees. Learn more about the online store and ecommerce galleries in Pixpa.

• Keep clients happy with client galleries: Manage client feedback and collaboration with password-protected client galleries. Impress them further with Pixpa's mobile gallery app, allowing them to easily browse your work on the go. Learn more about client galleries and mobile gallery app in Pixpa.

• Mobile-first approach: Pixpa ensures your website offers a seamless user experience so that it is easy to navigate, loads quickly, provides maximum uptime across desktops, tablets, and smartphones.

• Boost your reach: Pixpa includes built-in marketing tools and SEO tools to promote your business and improve search engine ranking.

• Share your story with blogs: Connect with your audience by sharing insights and updates about your creative process using Pixpa's built-in blogging tools. Learn more about built-in blogging capabilities in Pixpa.

• Third-party app integrations: Extend Pixpa's functionality by integrating it with various apps and platforms for payments, social media, scheduling, and marketing. Learn more about apps and integrations available in Pixpa.

• 24/7 support: Never get stuck! Pixpa offers live human chat and email support to answer any questions you may have. To access our knowledge base, visit the Help Center.

Cons:

• No free plan: While Pixpa offers a 15-day free trial, there's no permanent free plan available if you are looking for the best free website builder. Use the trial period to explore all the features before committing.

• Limited template selection: Pixpa offers spectacular, designer-made website templates. However, compared to website builders like Wix and Squarespace, Pixpa offers a limited selection.

Explore Pixpa for graphic designers and UI/UX designers to create a portfolio website in seconds.

2. Wix: Best website builder for extensive template library

Overview:

Wix is a versatile website builder known for its user-friendly approach and robust design features. This makes it a compelling choice for designers of all backgrounds. Wix boasts a drag-and-drop interface, enabling you to build a website that aligns perfectly with your vision, with no coding required.

However, be mindful of a learning curve and restrictions when switching templates post-launch. Also, pricing is on the higher side compared to some website builders.

Pros:

• Effortless drag-and-drop editing: Showcase your creativity and design a website exactly how you envision it using Wix's intuitive drag-and-drop editor.

• Template library: Over 900 professionally designed templates cater to various industries, including design portfolios, offering a launchpad for your creative project.

• AI-powered help: Wix leverages AI tools to assist you with various tasks, including onboarding, website design, content creation, email marketing, and more.

• SEO advantage: Wix provides personalized search engine optimization tools to optimize your website for search engines, ensuring your design work gains maximum visibility.

• Built-in e-commerce: Turn your website into an online store! Wix offers built-in e-commerce functionality to sell online.

• Free plan to experiment: If you are looking for the best free website builder, Wix's free plan allows you to explore the platform and its features before committing to a paid plan.

Cons:

• Learning curve: While user-friendly, the vast array of features and tools can be overwhelming for beginners.

• Storage limitations: Only Wix's most expensive plan offers unlimited storage space.

• Template lock-in: After launching your website, you cannot switch to a different template.

• Pricing considerations: Wix's paid plans can be more expensive compared to some competitors.

• Scalability limitations: Wix may not be the best fit for very large online stores or highly specialized niche websites requiring industry-specific features.

3. Squarespace: Best website builder for visually aesthetic websites

Overview:

Squarespace is a website builder known for its beautiful aesthetics and user-friendly approach. It's a popular website builder among designers, artists, photographers, and small businesses looking to create professional-looking websites.

Squarespace goes beyond just website building, offering domain purchasing, logo creation tools, and video makers, all under one roof.

However, expensive pricing model and design limitations can be blocker for designers who prefer design freedom.

Pros:

• Effortless website creation: Squarespace's user-friendly interface makes it easy for beginners to build professional websites. The grid-based editor simplifies creating visually balanced and professional-looking websites.

• Gorgeous templates: A library of beautiful, professionally designed templates provides a strong foundation for your design portfolio website.

• Mobile-friendly design: Squarespace ensures your website looks fantastic on any device with its responsive design features.

• Web hosting and domain: Integrated web hosting and domain registration streamline the website creation process.

• Built-in e-commerce: Sell your designs directly through your online stores with Squarespace's ecommerce tools.

• SEO optimization: Squarespace includes built-in SEO tools to improve your website's search engine ranking.x

• Modern aesthetics: Squarespace templates are known for their modern and stylish design aesthetic.

Cons:

• Limited add-ons: Squarespace offers fewer add-on options compared to some website builders on this list.

• Design flexibility limitations: While Squarespace offers customization options, it may not provide the same level of design flexibility as some other site builders.

• Premium pricing: Squarespace's pricing plans can be on the higher end compared to some site builders on this list.

4. Hostinger: Best budget-friendly website builder

Overview:

Hostinger Website Builder is a budget-friendly website builder ideal for designers seeking an affordable way to create a professional portfolio website. It boasts a user-friendly interface and offers features that cater specifically to designers' needs.

With its modern templates, user-friendly editor, built-in marketing features, and client communication tools, Hostinger can help you create a professional website to showcase your design work and attract new clients.

However, a lack of design customizations and phone support can be troublesome.

Pros:

• Easy on the wallet: Hostinger's website builder plan starts at just $2.69/month, making it a very attractive option for cost-conscious designers.

• Effortless editing: The intuitive drag-and-drop editor makes website creation a breeze, even for beginners with no coding experience.

• Beautiful templates: Over 130 modern templates provide a solid foundation for your design portfolio website. Many templates feature clean layouts that keep the focus on your work, while still being visually appealing.

• Client communication boost: Easily integrate contact forms and live chat functionalities to improve communication with potential clients.

• SEO & marketing advantage: Built-in marketing and SEO tools help your website rank higher in search results and attract more visitors who are looking for your design services.

• Showcase your work in style: Hostinger offers flexible gallery layouts, allowing you to present your design portfolio in a visually stunning way. Choose between grid or masonry layouts, and customize spacing and arrangement to perfectly suit your needs.

Cons:

• Limited design flexibility: While Hostinger offers customization options, the editor prioritizes ease of use and a polished look, which may limit creative freedom for designers seeking a highly customized website.

• Slow control panel: Users have reported that the control panel can be slow at times.

• No phone support: Hostinger Website Builder does not offer phone support, which may be a drawback for some users who prefer phone troubleshooting.

5. SITE123: Best website builder for launching websites quickly

Overview:

SITE123 is a website builder known for the quick setup process. While it boasts features that benefit designers, like SEO and marketing tools, its customization options might be limiting for some.

Designers seeking extensive design freedom and highly customized websites may find SITE123's limitations restrictive.

Pros:

• Effortless setup: Creating a website with SITE123 is a breeze due to its straightforward process and user-friendly interface. SITE123's editor is simple to use, even for beginners. You can edit basic elements like images, text, colors, and fonts.

• SEO & marketing advantage: Built-in SEO and marketing capabilities help your website rank higher in search results and improve brand awareness.

• E-commerce on all Plans: Even the most basic plan allows you to sell your designs or services online through your online store.

• Template selection: SITE123 offers over 160 templates, with a "Creative Arts" category containing templates suitable for designers. While variety might be limited, you can customize these templates to reflect your style.

Cons:

• Limited customization: While SITE123 offers customization options, they may be limiting for designers seeking a highly personalized website. The editor lacks the flexibility of drag-and-drop functionality found in other site builders.

• Long billing cycles for discounts: Cheaper pricing options require longer billing commitments, locking you in for a longer period.

• Template similarity: Although there are over 160 templates, they share many similarities in layout and design. While some cater to creative fields, you may struggle to achieve a truly unique look.

• Free plan limitations: If you are looking for the best free website builder, SITE123 provides one. But, the free plan is restricted and includes ads. Upgrading is necessary for a professional-looking designer portfolio website.

6. GoDaddy: Best website builder for integrated marketing solutions

Overview:

GoDaddy Website Builder caters to business-oriented designers seeking a user-friendly website builder to create a professional website. It offers clean, modern templates and built-in features that can benefit designers. These include art and design templates, marketing capabilities, integrated SEO, and scheduling (premium).

The smaller collection of templates and lack of design flexibility can pose challenges in customizing your website to your liking.

Pros:

• Effortless setup and use: GoDaddy's website builder is known for its user-friendly interface, making it easy to create a website even for beginners.

• Designer-friendly templates: A dedicated selection of templates specifically designed for showcasing design portfolios.

• Marketing and SEO tools: GoDaddy Websites + Marketing includes email marketing tools, social media tools, and SEO optimization features to help you reach a wider audience and improve search engine ranking.

• Online appointment booking (Premium): Schedule consultations and client meetings directly through your website (available on Premium plans).

Cons:

• Limited design flexibility: While GoDaddy offers customization options, they may be limiting for designers seeking extensive creative control.

• Fewer templates compared to others: The overall template selection is smaller compared to some website builders.

• Limited customization for advanced users: The section-based editor, while user-friendly, might not provide the level of customization needed for highly personalized websites.

7. Weebly: Best website builder for beginners

Overview:

Weebly is a popular website builder among designers due to its clean interface, powerful editing tools, and attractive templates that cater to creative portfolios and businesses.

However, it's important to consider the limitations of the free plan and potential drawbacks regarding outdated templates, scaling challenges, and social media integration.

Pros:

• Designer-friendly templates: Weebly offers a collection of modern, customizable templates that are ideal for showcasing design work.

• Drag-and-drop editing: The user-friendly drag-and-drop editor simplifies website creation and allows for easy customization.

• E-commerce functionality: Weebly includes built-in e-commerce tools for designers who want to sell products or services via an online store, including features like inventory management and a mobile app for store management.

• Third-party app integrations: Expand your website's functionality by integrating various third-party applications for features like appointment scheduling or customer feedback forms.

Cons:

• Outdated templates: While customizable, some users report that the template selection can feel outdated.

• Limited free plan: If you are looking for free website builders, note that the free plan has limitations and may not be suitable for professional design portfolios.

• Scaling challenges: Weebly's marketing capabilities might be limited for designers aiming to scale their website's reach.

• Social media integration issues: Integration with social media platforms might not be as seamless as with other website builders.

8. Duda: Best website builder for design agencies

Overview:

Duda is a powerful website builder tailored for design agencies seeking tools to manage multiple client projects efficiently.

The website builder offers client management features, reusable templates, and automation tools to streamline workflow.

However, the lack of a free tier, potentially limited SEO tools, and difficulty with complex customization might be drawbacks to consider.

Pros:

• Built for agencies: Duda's features are specifically designed to streamline workflow and collaboration for design agencies managing multiple client projects.

• Client management advantage: The client management system simplifies communication, billing, and access control for a smoother design process.

• Template efficiency: Save time and ensure brand consistency by creating and reusing custom templates for different client projects.

• Automation boosts productivity: Features like auto-publishing and page duplication help agencies work more efficiently.

Cons:

• High cost: Duda's pricing plans start at $19/month, with no free tier available, which can be a barrier for some agencies.

• Limited SEO tools: While templates are SEO-optimized, Duda might not offer the most advanced SEO functionalities compared to other website builders.

• Customization limitations: While offering a good level of design control within templates, achieving highly customized websites might be challenging.

9. Strikingly: Best website builder for one-page websites

Overview:

Strikingly can be a good option for designers seeking a simple and quick way to create a one-page portfolio website. This makes Strikingly ideal for designers who want to create sleek, modern portfolios showcasing their work on a single, easily navigable page.

However, its limitations in customization, e-commerce, and website speed might make it a less suitable choice for complex websites or designers needing extensive online sales functionalities.

Pros:

• One-page focus: Specializes in one-page website creation, perfect for showcasing design portfolios in a clear and concise format.

• Fast & easy setup: Strikingly's website builder allows for quick and efficient website creation, ideal for designers who want to get their portfolio online fast.

• Basic e-commerce & SEO: Strikingly offers a basic e-commerce option to sell a limited amount of products or services directly from your online store. Additionally, it includes essential SEO tools and analytics for tracking visitor behavior and optimizing website performance.

• Free plan to try: If you are looking for best free website builders, Strikingly offers a free plan with limited features allows you to explore the website builder before committing to a paid plan.

Cons:

• Limited complexity: Strikingly might not be suitable for complex websites that require multiple pages or extensive functionalities.

• Limited Value for Paid Plans: Considering the basic features and design options, the paid plans might not offer the best value for money compared to other website builders.

• Restricted E-commerce: Selling a large volume of products or services online might be challenging due to Strikingly's limited e-commerce capabilities. Upgrading to a higher tier plan is necessary for more advanced e-commerce features.

• Slow website performance: Strikingly's website speed performance is lower compared to other website builders, which could affect user experience.

10. Webflow: Best website builder for design flexibility

Overview:

Webflow is a good option for professional designers and developers seeking complete creative control over their website projects.

The visual editor provides a no-code approach to building websites with advanced design, complex animations, and scalable web hosting.

However, the steeper learning curve and limited direct support options might be drawbacks for beginners or those needing extensive hand-holding.

Pros:

• Unparalleled design flexibility: Webflow grants designers exceptional control over every aspect of the website's appearance and functionality without needing to write code. Webflow's visual editor allows for detailed design control without manual coding. Your design choices are translated into clean, standards-compliant HTML and CSS.

• Template variety: A wide range of templates caters to different website needs, including e-commerce and dynamic content.

• Free plan to experiment: If you are looking for best free website builders, Webflow offers a free plan allows you to explore Webflow's capabilities before committing to a paid plan.

• Scalable web hosting: Webflow offers scalable web hosting solutions with features like automatic scaling, fast content delivery, and robust security, ideal for websites with fluctuating traffic.

Cons:

• Learning curve: Webflow has a steeper learning curve due to its advanced features.

• Limited support: Webflow primarily relies on user-generated content and third-party solutions for support, with no built-in live chat or phone support options.

11. Adobe Portfolio: Best for Adobe Creative Cloud users

Overview:

For creative professionals already using Adobe Creative Cloud, Adobe Portfolio is a compelling solution for building an online portfolio. It seamlessly integrates with popular Adobe applications like Photoshop and Lightroom, streamlining your workflow.

However, the requirement for a Creative Cloud subscription, limitations for text-heavy content, and video embedding challenges might be drawbacks to consider.

Pros:

• Effortless setup: The website builder is known for its ease of use, allowing designers to create a professional online presence quickly.

• Visually-driven layouts: Adobe Portfolio offers a selection of layouts specifically designed to showcase high-resolution images and design work.

• Customization options: Layouts can be customized to match your personal brand and style.

• Creative Cloud integration (for subscribers): A significant advantage for Creative Cloud subscribers is that Adobe Portfolio is included in the subscription, offering a cost-effective solution and a streamlined workflow.

• Responsive design: Your portfolio will look great on any device, thanks to responsive design optimization.

Cons:

• Creative Cloud dependency: To use Adobe Portfolio, you need a paid Creative Cloud subscription, which might not be suitable for everyone's budget.

• Limited text content: The website builder is primarily focused on visuals and might not be ideal for portfolios that require extensive text content.

• Video embedding challenges: Embedding videos within your portfolio can be cumbersome compared to other site builders.

• Social media integration issues: Linking your portfolio to social media accounts can be unnecessarily complex.

12. Shopify: Best for ecommerce

Overview:

Shopify is a popular e-commerce platform designed to streamline online sales. While not exclusively for designers, its robust features make it a strong contender for selling your designs online.

Its e-commerce features, multi-channel selling, and integrated marketing solutions are top-notch.

However, the emphasis on e-commerce, limited free design options, and higher costs might make it less suitable for designers solely looking to showcase their portfolio online.

Pros:

• E-commerce leader: Shopify boasts industry-leading e-commerce functionalities, including a robust product management system, multi-channel selling options (including social media platforms), and support for selling both physical and digital photos (with additional apps).

• Marketing strength: Shopify integrates seamlessly with marketing tools, particularly advertising and automation features, allowing designers to promote their work effectively online. A recent update introduced "Shop Campaign" to target your audience with promotions.

• Scalable platform: Shopify can handle significant product volumes and sales growth, making it suitable for designers selling a large collection of photos.

Cons:

• E-commerce focus: Shopify's core strength lies in e-commerce, which might be excessive if you simply need a portfolio website. Other site builders might offer a more streamlined solution.

• Limited design flexibility: Shopify has a smaller selection of free design themes compared to some competitors. While some free themes can work, most professional-looking themes require purchase. Additionally, the design editor offers less flexibility for customization compared to other site builders.

• Higher costs: Shopify plans are generally more expensive than some site builders. While a free trial is available, monthly fees can add up, especially considering potential transaction fees and app costs.

13. Jimdo: Best for code-savvy users

Overview:

Jimdo stands out for its user-friendly interface, making it a good option for designers. The easy-to-use interface and free trial plan allow for easy exploration.

However, the lack of visually appealing templates, limited customer support, and Jimdo branding on the free plan might be drawbacks for serious designers seeking a more professional and customizable online presence.

Pros:

• Perfect for beginners: Jimdo's website creation process is very straightforward, with clear prompts and guidance. Even those new to website building can get started quickly.

• Free trial option: If you are looking for best free website builders, it offers you a free plan that allows you to explore the website builder's features before committing to a paid plan. However, keep in mind that the free version displays Jimdo branding on your website.

• Customization for code-savvy users: If you're comfortable with HTML and CSS coding, Jimdo allows you to add code widgets for further design customization.

Cons:

• Limited design appeal: Jimdo's templates tend to be on the simpler side and might not offer the design flexibility needed for creating a visually striking design portfolio website.

• Restricted support: Jimdo lacks phone or live chat support. For assistance, you'll need to use a contact form, and response times may vary depending on your plan.

• Free plan limitations: The free plan displays Jimdo branding and limits some features.

14. Fabrik: Best for AI-based assistance

Overview:

Fabrik can be a good choice for artists and designers seeking an AI-powered solution to create beautiful portfolio websites.

The focus on visuals, mobile-friendliness, and customizable AI-generated layouts are appealing.

However, the lack of built-in e-commerce functionality, limited customer support options, and absence of a live website preview might be drawbacks for some users.

Pros:

• AI-powered design assistant: Fabrik's intelligent themes analyze your design samples and automatically generate layouts that showcase your work in the best way possible, saving you time and effort.

• Visually-striking websites: The website builder prioritizes creating beautiful websites that focus heavily on visuals, perfect for designers.

• Creative control with customization: While AI suggests layouts, you maintain creative control over the final design and can customize it to your preferences.

• Mobile-friendly design: Your website will look great on any device, ensuring a seamless user experience across desktops and smartphones.

• Customizable URL redirects: Create user-friendly links to direct visitors to specific pages within your website.

Cons:

• Limited e-commerce functionality: Selling artwork directly through your website requires installing a separate e-commerce plugin (although Fabrik provides tutorials).

• Restricted support: Live chat support is only available during UK business hours, which might be inconvenient for users in other time zones.

• No free trial: Unlike some site builders, Fabrik doesn't offer a free plan, so you'll need to commit to a paid plan to try it out.

Limited live preview: There's no live website preview function while you're building your site. Changes require saving and then viewing the site to see the final result.

Quick Comparison

Website builder	Templates	Affordability	Design flexibility	Customer support
Pixpa	Limited but designer-friendly templates	15-day free trial; cost-effective paid plans	Excellent	Excellent
Wix	Excellent; template lock-in disadvantage	Free plan available; can get expensive	Limited	Average
Squarespace	Excellent	14-day free trial; expensive	Limited	Good
Hostinger	Excellent	Freemium not available, cost-effective plans	Limited	Average
SITE123	Limited; no variety	Free plan with limitations; can get expensive	Limited	Good
GoDaddy	Limited	30-days free trial; cost-effective plans	Limited	Good
Weebly	Limited	Freemium available; cost-effective plans	Limited	Poor
Duda	Good	14-day free trial; Expensive plans	Limited	Good
Strikingly	Good	Freemium available; Cost-effective plans	Limited	Good
Webflow	Excellent	Freemium available; Expensive plans	Excellent	Poor
Adobe Portfolio	Good	Free for Adobe Creative Cloud users; Expensive	Good	Good
Shopify	Poor	3 days free trial; Very expensive	Limited	Excellent
Jimdo	Good	Free plan available; can get expensive	Poor	Poor
Fabrik	Good	14-day free trial; can get expensive	Excellent	Poor

How to choose the right website builder for designers

Choosing the ideal site builder can feel daunting with the vast array of options available. This guide simplifies the process by outlining crucial considerations to ensure you select a site builder that helps with your creative vision and streamlines your workflow.

• Intuitive interface and drag-and-drop editor: Prioritize a site builder with a user-friendly UI. Drag-and-drop editor allows you to visually craft your website without complex coding, thereby offering a seamless creative process.

• Customization-friendly templates: Pre-designed templates can jumpstart your project, but true creative expression lies in customization. The ideal site builder offers a vast library of modifiable templates, along with granular control over layouts, typography, and color schemes. This ensures your website reflects your unique design identity.

• Multimedia storytelling: Integrate high-resolution images, engaging videos, and immersive audio to bring your design projects to life.

• Animation elements: Engage visitors with subtle yet impactful animations and interactive elements. Highlight key information, guide users through your design journey, and leave a lasting impression.

• Third-party app integrations: Don't be limited by the core features of the website builder. Integrate third-party tools and plugins to enhance functionality. Consider SEO plugins for search engine visibility, social media integrations to amplify your reach, and analytics tools to understand how visitors interact with your website.

• Mobile-first design: The modern web is dominated by mobile devices. Ensure your website adapts seamlessly to various screen sizes. Look for website builders that offer mobile-responsive templates.

• Transparent pricing and scalability: Free plans often have limitations. Paid plans offer advanced features like custom domains, e-commerce capabilities, and increased storage – crucial for professional designer websites. Consider subscription models, trial periods to test-drive the website builder, and upgrade paths to accommodate future growth.

• Reliable customer support: An intuitive interface is great, but reliable customer support is essential. Look for website builders with multiple support channels like live chat, email, phone support, and a comprehensive knowledge base.

• Protect your work and client data: Prioritize website builders that offer robust security features like SSL certificates for data encryption, automated backups for disaster recovery, and high uptime guarantees to minimize website downtime. Additionally, consider platforms that incorporate Just-in-time (JIT) compilation to enhance performance and security, especially when dealing with complex web applications.

In the competitive world of design, a strong online presence is no longer a luxury, it's a necessity. While social media profiles and generic portfolio website builders have their place, a dedicated website offers a unique set of advantages that can significantly benefit your design career.

By investing in a dedicated portfolio website, you're not just showcasing your work but building a powerful tool for your design career. It's a space to express your creativity, connect with potential clients, and continuously develop your design skills.

Here's why having your own website is a strategic move:

1. Establish a distinct online identity:

• Professionalism through domain ownership: Move beyond generic web hosting sites and claim your own space on the web with a custom domain name. This demonstrates professionalism to potential clients and employers, showcasing your commitment to your craft.

• Building brand recognition: Your custom domain name, website title, and content all work together to create a memorable brand identity. It establishes a clear online destination specifically for your design expertise.

• Cohesive digital presence: Your website acts as the central hub for your online brand. It seamlessly connects with your social media channels, ensuring a consistent brand message across all digital touchpoints.

2. Unleash your design creativity with full control:

• A site builder for your design showcase: With your own website, you have complete control over the design elements, allowing you to integrate features that reflect your unique style and capabilities.

• Showcase your skillset: Website designers can use their website to demonstrate their ability to create visually compelling homepages with strategic layouts and typography. User experience (UX) designers can showcase their talents through interactive features and clear user flows.

• Tell the design story: A dedicated website allows you to go beyond simply displaying final design products. You can create detailed narratives for each project, highlighting your design process and problem-solving skills, providing valuable insights to potential employers.

3. Put your work in the spotlight:

• Undivided attention for your designs: On generic portfolio sites, your work competes with countless others. A dedicated website eliminates distractions and allows visitors to fully immerse themselves in your design creations, giving your work the focused attention it deserves.

• Deeper client engagement: With more space and control, you can create detailed narratives for each project, providing a comprehensive overview of your design process and the value you bring to clients.

• Sell online: You can create an online store to sell your products and services and expand your design business online.

4. Enhance your discoverability by potential clients:

• SEO for visibility: Optimize your website for search engines to ensure potential clients searching for your specific design skills can easily find you.

• Targeted audience reach: You have complete control over website elements like meta tags and image descriptions, allowing you to target your ideal audience effectively and ensure your website appears in relevant search results.

• Increased credibility: A custom domain name adds legitimacy and establishes a strong online presence, increasing your website's ranking in search results and conveying professionalism to potential clients.

5. Growth and development:

• Welcome constructive feedback: Sharing your portfolio opens the door for valuable feedback. Client interviews and critiques from the design community provide fresh perspectives, allowing you to refine your design skills and approach future projects with a sharper edge.

• A website bulider for collaboration: Your business website can be a platform for collaboration with other design professionals. Share your work and solicit constructive feedback to continuously evolve as a designer.

Conclusion

This comprehensive guide has equipped you with the knowledge to select the ideal website builder for your design needs. Remember, the perfect site builder allows you to create a stunning online presence that reflects your unique design identity and attracts your target audience.

Here are some key takeaways to keep in mind:

• Prioritize your needs: Carefully assess your design requirements. Consider factors like ease of use, portfolio functionality, design flexibility, and budget to find the best fit.

• Showcase your talent: Your website is your digital portfolio – a platform to transform your design passion into a thriving small business. Use it to showcase your unique style and exceptional skills.

  Start building your online design portfolio today

  Get Started

FAQs

1. Why should I use a website builder for my designer website?

A site builder allows you to quickly and easily create a professional portfolio to showcase your design work, attract clients, and establish your brand online. Website builders like Pixpa offer intuitive tools, customizable templates, and specialized features for designers, enabling you to create a visually appealing website without any coding knowledge.

2. How much does a designer's website cost?

The cost of a designer's website can vary based on the site builder and features you need. With Pixpa, you can build a designer website starting at just $3.60 per month, offering affordable plans with comprehensive features, including portfolio templates, design freedom, blogging tools, and e-commerce options.

3. What website builder do designers use?

Designers often use website builders like Pixpa, Squarespace, and Webflow due to their visual-centric templates, customization capabilities, and design-friendly features.

4.What should I include on my designer website?

Your designer website should include:

• Portfolio galleries: Showcase your best and most recent design projects.

• About page: Share your background, design philosophy, and experience.

• Services: Clearly outline the design services you offer.

• Testimonials: Include feedback from satisfied clients.

• Contact information: Make it easy for potential clients to reach you.

• Blog or news section: Share design insights or case studies to establish your expertise.

5. How to create a design portfolio website?

1. Choose a website builder: Select a site builder like Pixpa that offers design-centric templates.

2. Pick a template: Choose a template that matches your design style and showcases your portfolio effectively.

3. Customize your site: Add portfolio galleries, about page, services information, blogs, and contact details.

4. Upload your work: Add high-quality images of your best projects and include detailed descriptions.

5. Optimize for SEO: Add relevant keywords, meta descriptions, and tags to improve search engine visibility.

6. Promote your site: Share your portfolio website across social media platforms and include it in your email signature.

7. Keep it updated: Regularly add new projects and blog posts to keep your website dynamic and relevant.

6. What's the best free website builder for designers?

While fully free website builders have limitations, Wix and Weebly offer free plans with some basic features. However, for a more professional presence, Pixpa provides a 15-day free trial with designer-made templates and tools tailored for designers, with an affordable subscription plan to upgrade post-trial.

7. What's the best cheap website builder for designers?

If you are looking for the cheapest website builder, Pixpa offers competitive pricing plans that are perfect for designers on a budget, providing high-quality design templates, portfolio features, and e-commerce tools at an affordable monthly rate. See Pixpa's pricing here.