Site For Web Designers

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You’ve just finished a project you’re proud of. Where do you post it? Who will see it? Will it actually help your career?

These questions matter more than most designers realize. The best sites for web designers to showcase work include Behance for detailed project case studies, Dribbble for quick visual showcases and job opportunities, and Awwwards for recognition of outstanding design work. For building your own portfolio website, Squarespace is rated the top choice in 2026 for its visually stunning templates optimized for creative work. Web designers benefit most from using both a personal portfolio website (for brand control) and hosted platforms like Behance or Dribbble (for community discovery and exposure).

Key Takeaways:

• Portfolio sites significantly impact career success: According to Profy.dev research, 65% of hiring managers look at portfolios when evaluating candidates, and Wave Connect reports that 85% say personal brand influences their hiring decisions
• Use both hosted platforms AND your own site: Behance and Dribbble provide community exposure and job opportunities, while your personal site gives you full brand control and professional credibility
• Squarespace leads for portfolio builders: Consistently rated #1 for web design portfolios thanks to its stunning templates and ease of use, though Framer excels for interactive portfolios
• Quality beats quantity: Showcase 3-5 of your absolute best projects with detailed case studies rather than displaying everything you’ve ever made

Why Your Portfolio Site Matters

Your portfolio site is more than a collection of screenshots— it’s your professional identity in digital form. In 2026, 65% of hiring managers say they would definitely look at a portfolio website when evaluating candidates, and 85% report that a strong personal brand influences their hiring decisions.

That’s not theoretical. That’s hiring managers telling you what they actually do when your name comes across their desk.

But here’s what most guides won’t tell you. Self-promotion doesn’t come naturally to everyone. Choosing platforms can feel overwhelming. And the stakes are real— 44% of employers have hired someone because of their personal brand, while 54% have rejected candidates because of poor online presence.

The good news? You don’t need to be everywhere at once. What you need is a strategic approach— one platform for community discovery, one site for brand control, and the confidence to showcase your best work.

Research.com reports that web design careers are growing 13% between 2020-2030. As the field expands, your portfolio becomes the differentiator. Not just what you’ve done, but how you present it and where people can find it.

Two Types of Sites for Web Designers

Sites for web designers fall into two distinct categories: showcase platforms where you display work for community visibility (like Behance, Dribbble, and Awwwards), and portfolio website builders where you create your own branded site (like Squarespace, Wix, and Framer).

Think of showcase platforms as gallery exhibitions. They have built-in foot traffic. People come looking for design work, and if you’re there, they find you.

Portfolio builders are your own studio space. You control everything— the layout, the domain, the brand experience. You own the relationship.

The functional difference? Discovery versus brand control. Showcase platforms get you seen by recruiters and creative directors who browse for talent. Portfolio builders give you professional credibility and a place to convert interest into work.

Most successful designers don’t choose one or the other. They use both strategically.

Top Showcase Platforms for Web Designers

Behance, Dribbble, and Awwwards lead the showcase platform landscape, each serving a distinct purpose in your portfolio strategy.

Behance: Detailed Case Studies

Behance is owned by Adobe and integrates directly with Adobe Creative Cloud products. That makes it a natural choice if you’re already in that ecosystem.

What sets Behance apart? Depth. This is where you document your entire design process— research, wireframes, iterations, final work. According to Shopify’s portfolio guide, Behance allows detailed project breakdowns that show how you think and work, not just what you produce.

The audience here skews toward agencies and studios looking for designers who can handle complex projects. If you want to demonstrate expertise, Behance gives you the space.

Best for: Building authority through in-depth work documentation, especially if you work in Adobe tools daily.

Dribbble: Quick Showcases & Job Opportunities

Dribbble functions as both a visual showcase and job board. Companies like Google, Apple, and other major tech firms recruit designers here.

The format is “shots”— quick visual posts that capture attention fast. You’re not writing case studies. You’re showing finished work and building a following.

Shopify notes that Dribbble’s built-in job board is one of its biggest advantages. You can showcase work and apply for positions in the same place. Premium membership unlocks additional features like advanced portfolio customization and priority visibility.

Best for: Getting discovered by recruiters, networking with other designers, and accessing job opportunities at top companies.

Awwwards: Recognition & Credibility

Awwwards operates differently. This is a curated platform where outstanding web design work gets recognized through awards, badges, and “Site of the Day” features.

It’s selective. That’s the point. Getting featured on Awwwards signals to clients and employers that your work meets a high bar. Hatchwise describes Awwwards as one of the most prestigious showcases in web design.

You submit your work for consideration. If selected, you get recognition that carries weight in the industry.

Best for: Designers seeking professional recognition and credibility through awards and curated features.

Other Notable Showcase Sites

A few more platforms worth knowing:

• Godly curates over 1,000 outstanding websites across categories
• Cofolios focuses specifically on design intern portfolios at tech giants— useful if you’re early career
• One Page Love and Typewolf serve niche showcases for single-page sites and typography-focused design

Don’t try to be everywhere. Pick 1-2 showcase platforms where your ideal clients or employers actually look.

Best Portfolio Website Builders

Squarespace is consistently rated the best portfolio website builder for web designers in 2026, thanks to its visually stunning templates optimized for creative work and intuitive interface that doesn’t require coding knowledge.

Squarespace: The Gold Standard

According to Website Builder Expert, Squarespace is the top choice for designers who want beautiful results without coding. Here’s why it leads.

The templates are curated. Squarespace offers 195 templates versus Wix’s 2,700+— and that’s actually an advantage. More templates doesn’t mean better. Squarespace’s curation makes choosing easier because everything is design-forward and high quality.

Pricing runs $16-99/month depending on features. You get custom domain support, responsive design, and built-in analytics. The interface is intuitive enough for beginners but flexible enough for experienced designers.

If you’re a UI designer who wants your portfolio live by next week without touching code, Squarespace is your answer.

Wix: Maximum Flexibility

Wix offers over 2,700 templates and massive customization options. That’s both a strength and a potential overwhelm factor.

Best for: Designers who want maximum control and don’t mind spending time exploring options. Wix has a good free tier to start, which makes it accessible for designers just building their first portfolio.

Framer: Interactive Portfolios

Framer excels at interactive, motion-heavy portfolios. Website Builder Expert notes it’s favored by UX and product designers who want to showcase animations and interactions.

The learning curve is steeper than Squarespace or Wix, but the results are powerful. Pricing ranges from $5-30/month.

Best for: Designers comfortable with code who want to create portfolios that feel like interactive experiences.

Other Builders Worth Considering

• WordPress: Maximum control and flexibility, but requires more technical skill
• Adobe Portfolio: Free with Creative Cloud subscription, though features are limited
• Webflow: For designers comfortable with code who want professional-grade control
• Cargo ($66/year or $9/month) and Carbonmade ($9-12/month): Specialty options with loyal followings

How to Choose Your Portfolio Platform Strategy

Your ideal portfolio platform strategy depends on three factors: your career stage (junior designer, senior designer, or freelancer), your primary goal (getting hired vs. landing clients), and how much control you want over your brand.

Here’s what people get wrong. They try to maintain profiles on five platforms and update none of them.

Pick two. Do them well.

Career Stage Considerations

Junior designers benefit most from high-visibility showcase platforms like Dribbble to get discovered. You’re building a name. You need exposure.

Mid-level designers need both— a presence on showcase platforms plus a personal site that demonstrates you’re serious about your craft.

Senior designers and freelancers? Your own site is critical. According to a 20i survey, only 51% of web designers have their own website for lead generation. That’s your opportunity. When you have a custom domain and a professional portfolio, you signal credibility that converts interest into client work.

The Optimal Stack

For most designers, the optimal approach is:

• One showcase platform for discovery (Behance OR Dribbble, not both initially)
• One personal site for brand control (Squarespace for most)
• LinkedIn profile linking to both

That’s it. Three places. All connected.

Budget Considerations

Start with free tiers if needed. Behance is free. Dribbble has a free account option. Wix has a free tier.

When should you invest? A custom domain costs $10-20/year and significantly increases credibility. Wave Connect’s research found that 44% of people were hired because of their personal brand— and having your own domain is part of that equation.

A paid portfolio builder ($16+/month) becomes essential when you’re actively freelancing or job hunting. Before that, it’s optional.

A neglected personal site is worse than no site— it signals you don’t care about your brand. Only build what you’re willing to maintain.

What Makes a Portfolio Site Effective

An effective portfolio showcases 3-5 of your absolute best projects with detailed case studies, not everything you’ve ever made. Quality beats quantity every time.

Hiring managers and clients want to see your best work and understand your process. Elementor’s analysis of top portfolios emphasizes that case studies showing how you solve problems matter more than polished final screenshots.

Quality Over Quantity

Show 3-5 projects. Not 20 mediocre ones.

Update regularly— at minimum every 6-12 months. Remove outdated work. If you wouldn’t be proud to send that project to your dream client today, take it out of your portfolio.

The Case Study Approach

For each project, include:

• The problem you were solving
• Your approach and design decisions
• The solution you delivered
• The outcome or impact if available

This structure shows your thinking, not just your aesthetic skills.

Professional Presentation Elements

• Custom domain: Significantly increases credibility versus a subdomain
• Responsive design: Test on mobile— people will check your work on phones
• Clear CTAs: Make it obvious how to contact or hire you
• Professional bio and photo: Put a human face on your work

According to Webflow’s portfolio examples, the “show, don’t tell” principle matters. Use abundant visual examples, not long paragraphs of self-description.

Technical Best Practices

• Fast load times: Optimize image file sizes
• High-quality images: But compressed for performance
• Clear navigation: People should find your best work in seconds
• Social proof: Testimonials or client logos if you have permission

Here’s the truth. Hiring managers spend 30 seconds on your portfolio. Make those 30 seconds count.

Your Portfolio as Professional Identity

Your portfolio site isn’t just about getting hired or landing clients— it’s how you express your professional identity and take ownership of your creative voice in the world.

The work you choose to showcase says as much about who you are as a designer as the work itself. It’s a statement of what you value and what you want to create more of.

I’ve watched designers hesitate to put their work out there. Self-promotion can feel uncomfortable. But here’s what I know: having a portfolio you’re proud of changes how you show up professionally. It gives you confidence. It opens doors. It starts conversations.

Personal branding isn’t about performance. It’s about authenticity. The Good Trade emphasizes that personal websites and audience ownership matter more than ever in 2026, as algorithm-dependent platforms become less reliable. When you control your domain and your portfolio, you control your career narrative.

According to Wave Connect, 77% of people say personal branding has helped their careers. That’s not theory. That’s real people getting hired, landing clients, and building their personal brand in ways that matter.

Remember that project you were proud of? Now you know where to show it— and why it matters.

Start with one platform. Showcase your best work. Build your own website when you’re ready. And trust that your work has something to say.

You have something to say through your work. Your portfolio is where you say it.

Looking for more guidance on finding work you love and building a career with purpose? That’s what we’re here for.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best free portfolio site for web designers? Behance and Dribbble offer free portfolio hosting with built-in community exposure and job boards. For building your own site, Wix offers a free tier with portfolio templates, though a custom domain ($10-20/year) significantly increases credibility.

Is Behance or Dribbble better for web designers? Both serve different purposes rather than one being universally better. Behance excels for in-depth case studies showing your design process, while Dribbble is better for quick visual showcases and getting discovered by recruiters from major tech companies.

How many projects should I include in my portfolio? Focus on quality over quantity— include 3-5 of your best, most relevant projects with detailed case studies rather than showing everything you’ve made. Update your portfolio every 6-12 months, removing outdated work to keep content fresh.

Do I need a custom domain for my portfolio? A custom domain significantly increases credibility and professionalism with clients and employers, though a platform subdomain (like yourname.squarespace.com) is acceptable when starting out. Once you’re serious about freelancing or job hunting, invest the $10-20/year in a custom domain.

Can I use both a personal website and showcase platforms? Yes— this is actually the recommended strategy. Use showcase platforms like Behance or Dribbble for community discovery and networking, and maintain your own website for complete brand control and client conversions.