Creating a strong web developer portfolio is essential, whether you're a beginner, an experienced pro, or coming from a non-developer background. A portfolio helps to showcase your skills and impress potential clients or employers.
In this post, we’ll show you the 10 best platforms to build your portfolio. We'll guide you through the features of each one of them, including the pros and cons of each portfolio-building site.
1. GitHub Pages
GitHub Pages allows developers to host static websites directly from a GitHub repository, it’s ideal for those who know Git and version control. It’s completely free and gives full access to the source code.
GitHub Pages offers full control over your website’s source code. You can modify the code as needed, and because it integrates directly with GitHub repositories, allowing for easy updates and version control.
How to Create a Portfolio with GitHub Pages:
- Create a repository in GitHub
- Upload your HTML, CSS, and JS files
- Enable GitHub Pages from settings
- Choose the main branch to deploy
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Free hosting.
- Full access to HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
- Easy to integrate with other GitHub repositories.
Cons:
- Requires knowledge of Git and GitHub.
- Limited to static websites (not suitable for dynamic sites).
2. CodePen
CodePen is an online code editor designed for front-end development. It’s widely used for displaying HTML, CSS, and JavaScript code in real-time.
CodePen helps you to showcase your whole projects or code snippets in a portfolio.
Why It’s Great for Developers
CodePen allows developers to write live code that others can view and fork. It’s great for showcasing interactive and experimental web development projects.
- Instant Preview: CodePen provides real-time previews, so you can see how your design looks immediately as you make changes.
How to Use CodePen
- Create a new "Pen" for each of your projects.
- Organize your pens into collections to form a portfolio.
- Share or embed them in your portfolio page.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Live preview of code.
- Great for showcasing your front-end skills.
- Easy to share or embed your work.
Cons:
- Limited in terms of creating complete websites (best for smaller projects or snippets).
- Cannot host a full, production-ready website.
3. Behance
Behance is a popular platform for creatives, including web developers, designers, photographers, and students.
Behance enables users to showcase their work, gain exposure, and connect with potential clients or employers.
As part of the Adobe Creative Cloud suite, Behance also offers seamless integration with Adobe products, making it an excellent choice for creatives who use Adobe tools.
How to Use Behance for Portfolio Creation (In 4 Steps):
- Create an Account: Sign up for a free Behance account or link it to your Adobe Creative Cloud account to get access to more features.
- Set Up Your Portfolio: Choose a professional layout and customize your profile by adding a bio, skills, and a profile picture. Behance allows you to categorize your projects (e.g., web development, UI/UX, etc.).
- Upload Projects: Upload images, code snippets, project descriptions, and even videos of your work. You can display each project as a standalone case study.
- Publish & Share: After organizing your projects, publish your portfolio. Share your Behance profile on social media, and personal websites, or use it for job applications to increase visibility.
Pros of Using Behance for Portfolio Creation:
- Wide Exposure: Behance has a large creative community, making it easier to connect with like-minded professionals and potential clients.
- Professional Design Templates: Discover beautifully crafted templates that are super easy to set up, making sure your portfolio shines with a polished and well-organized look!
- Integration with Adobe Tools: Seamlessly integrates with Adobe Creative Cloud, making it easy to upload work from apps like Photoshop, Illustrator, and XD.
Cons of Using Behance for Portfolio Creation:
- Limited Customization: While the templates are aesthetically pleasing, there is limited flexibility for full customization compared to self-hosted platforms.
- Competitive Environment: As one of the largest creative platforms, Behance can be very competitive, which might make it harder to stand out without unique, high-quality projects.
- Focus on Visual Arts: While Behance is mostly aimed at visual artists and designers, web developers may find it less suited for showcasing their coding skills.
4. Stackbit
Stackbit helps you create websites using JAMstack (a modern architecture that uses JavaScript, APIs, and Markup), leveraging static site generators like Gatsby and Next.js.
Stackbit connects with GitHub, giving you full access to your portfolio’s code.
Why It’s Great for Developers
- It gives you full code and site structure control, with powerful integration with static site generators.
- Seamless integration with GitHub repositories for easy code management.
How to Use Stack Bit for Portfolio
- Sign up and choose from a variety of JAMstack templates.
- Customize the design and structure of your portfolio.
- Publish your site and link it to your GitHub repository.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Full access to the source code.
- High-performance static websites.
Cons:
- Requires knowledge of static site generation (Gatsby, Next.js).
- It has a complex setup compared to other tools.
5. Webflow
Webflow is a design tool that allows you to create websites visually, without needing to know code. You can drag and drop elements to build your site which makes it one of the best options for new developers.
For developers, it also provides options to export HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, so they can make more advanced customizations if needed.
How to Use Webflow to create a portfolio
- Webflow's visual editor lets you design your portfolio without needing to write code.
- You can customize your design without writing any code by dragging and dropping it or exporting the generated code for further adjustments.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- An easy-to-use visual editor.
- It has the option to export code for further customization.
Cons:
- However, the exporting code is available only on paid plans.
- Webflow may have limitations when it comes to implementing complex interactions.
6. WordPress (SelfHosted)
WordPress is a well-established platform for creating blogs, websites, and portfolios. With self-hosted WordPress, developers gain full access to the full source code, create custom themes, and use plugins.
This makes it one of the best options for both newbie and expert developers and even for people with zero coding knowledge.
Why It’s Great for Developers
- WordPress gives you complete control over both the front-end and back-end code.
- Large selection of themes and plugins to enhance functionality.
How to Use WordPress (Self-Hosted) briefly
- Set up a WordPress website on your hosting provider.
- Use themes or create custom themes using PHP, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
Pros and Cons of WordPress:-
Pros:
- It gives you full customization options.
- It has an extensive plugin ecosystem for easy workflow.
Cons:
- It does require hosting and setup knowledge to build websites and portfolios.
- For simple portfolios, WordPress can feel overly complex.
7. Bootstrap
Bootstrap is a front-end framework that helps developers create responsive websites quickly. It comes with prebuilt components, which are perfect for building a clean, professional portfolio.
Why It’s Great for Developers
- Bootstrap offers a built-in responsive design, so your site will automatically adapt to different screen sizes.
- It is easy to customize with CSS.
- It is fast to deploy due to prebuilt components.
Steps to Create a Portfolio with Bootstrap:
- Set Up Bootstrap: Download or link to the Bootstrap CSS and JS files in your HTML project.
- Create the Layout: Use Bootstrap’s grid system to structure your portfolio (e.g., header, about, portfolio grid, and contact sections).
- Add Portfolio Items: Use Bootstrap's cards or grid classes to display images, descriptions, and links for each project.
- Style and Customize: Customize colors, fonts, and spacing using Bootstrap’s utility classes or custom CSS.
- Ensure Responsiveness: Use Bootstrap’s responsive classes to make sure your portfolio looks great on all devices.
Pros of Bootstrap:
- Responsive Design: A built-in grid system ensures your site is mobile-friendly and adapts to different screen sizes.
- Faster Development: Bootstrap includes pre-designed components such as buttons, forms, and navbars, saving time when creating UI elements.
- Customization & Flexibility: It can easily be customizable through variables, CSS overrides, or theme adjustments to fit unique project needs.
Cons of Bootstrap:
- Uniform Appearance: Default styling can make sites look similar unless you invest time in customization.
- Larger File Size: The full framework can be bulky, potentially affecting site performance if not optimized.
- Learning Curve: Mastering its grid and components may take time, especially for beginners.
8. Wix (Code Integration)
Wix is an intuitive drag-and-drop website builder. It allows developers to add custom code via its Velo platform, which enables the integration of JavaScript and other dynamic content.
Why It’s Great for Developers
- Developers can use custom JavaScript to add complex features or integrate APIs.
- Wix is easy to use and allows quick deployment of your portfolio.
How to Create a Portfolio with Wix (Code Integration):
Choose a Template: Select a portfolio template from Wix’s collection that suits your style, or start from scratch using the Wix Editor.
Enable Developer Mode: Activate Velo by Wix (formerly Wix Code) from the Dev Mode in the Wix Editor to access advanced code features and integrations.
Customize Layout & Design: Use the drag-and-drop editor to add text, images, and other elements to your portfolio pages. Customize sections like "About Me", "Projects", and "Contact."
Add Interactivity with Code: Use JavaScript and Wix APIs (e.g., for dynamic content, interactive galleries, or form submissions) to create custom features on your portfolio.
Publish & Optimize: Test the site for responsiveness and functionality, then publish it. Optionally, use Wix SEO Tools to optimize the site for search engines.
Pros of Wix Code Integration for Portfolio:
- Custom Functionality: It allows you to add custom JavaScript, APIs, and dynamic elements (e.g., custom forms, galleries, or filters) to your portfolio.
- No Hosting Hassles: It handles all hosting, server management, and updates, allowing you to focus solely on design and functionality.
- Easy Learning Curve: Wix provides an intuitive editor with a mix of drag-and-drop tools and code integration, making it accessible for both beginners and developers.
Cons of Wix Code Integration for Portfolio:
- Limited Backend Control: Wix allows you to add custom code through its Velo platform but doesn’t offer full backend control like self-hosted solutions, limiting some advanced customizations.
- Performance: Portfolios with complex code or excessive interactivity may lead to slower load times, especially if not optimized properly.
- Vendor Lock-In: It is harder to migrate your portfolio to another platform if you want more control or scalability in the future.
9. Squarespace (Custom Code Blocks)
Squarespace is a website builder known for its beautiful templates. Squarespace lets you enhance your site by adding custom HTML, CSS, and JavaScript via Code Blocks.
Squarespace allows you to mix predesigned templates with custom code for enhanced functionality.
How to Create a Portfolio with Squarespace (Custom Code Blocks) in 4 Steps:
- Choose a Template: Select a portfolio-friendly Squarespace template that fits your style and needs.
- Add Custom Code Blocks: In the page editor, use Code Blocks to embed custom HTML, CSS, or JavaScript to add unique features like custom galleries, animations, or interactive elements.
- Customize Your Content: Use Squarespace’s drag-and-drop tools to add your portfolio content (images, text, etc.) and adjust the layout, fonts, and colors.
- Publish & Test: After adding your custom code and content, preview the site on different devices for responsiveness and performance, then publish your portfolio.
Pros of Using Squarespace (Custom Code Blocks):
- Customization: Custom code blocks allow for advanced personalization, adding features and designs that go beyond template limitations.
- Elegant Templates: Squarespace offers high-quality, visually appealing templates, perfect for showcasing portfolios with minimal effort.
- Integrated Hosting & SEO: Built-in hosting, security, and SEO tools simplify the setup and optimization of your portfolio.
Cons of Using Squarespace (Custom Code Blocks):
- Limited Backend Control: It has limited Backend customization compared to self-hosted platforms.
- Learning Curve: If you’re not familiar with coding, integrating custom code can be challenging and time-consuming.
- Performance Issues: Complex custom code may affect loading times and site performance, especially if not optimized properly.
10. Cargo
Cargo is a platform designed for creatives, offering beautiful templates and customization options.
Developers can use its code editor to access the source code. Cargo offers a user-friendly interface with extensive customization options.
It also offers full control over the code and allows the uploading of custom JavaScript.
How to Create a Portfolio with Cargo in 4 Steps:
- Sign Up and Choose a Template: Create an account on Cargo and select from their modern, portfolio-specific templates designed for creatives.
- Customize Your Site: Use Cargo’s intuitive interface to customize the design, layout, and structure of your portfolio. Drag and drop your images, text, and other elements into place.
- Add Projects: You can easily upload your portfolio items, organize them into delightful categories, and take advantage of our handy tools to showcase them in a clean and professional manner.
- Publish & Optimize: Preview your site on desktop and mobile, optimize it for performance, and then publish it to your custom domain.
Pros of Using Cargo:
- Creative Flexibility: It offers a high degree of customization for visually-driven portfolios, with extensive design options and features.
- Unique Templates: It also provides modern, artist-focused templates that are aesthetically pleasing and customizable.
- Built-In E-Commerce: You can sell your work directly from the platform, including prints or digital downloads.
Cons of Using Cargo:
- Learning Curve: While flexible, Cargo’s interface can be complex for beginners, especially if you want to customize beyond the basics.
- Pricing: Cargo's subscription fees can be higher than other portfolio platforms, especially for the more advanced features.
- Limited Integration: While you can embed code, Cargo doesn't offer as many integrations or plugins as more established platforms like WordPress.
Conclusion
Choose a platform that best suits your technical skills, customization needs, and the level of control you require over your portfolio and its code. For developers with coding experience, GitHub Pages, Stackbit, and WordPress offer full control over both the design and source code, allowing for deep customization.
Beginners or those seeking ease of use may prefer Webflow, Wix, or Squarespace. These platforms provide intuitive drag-and-drop interfaces but offer limited control over the underlying code.
CodePen and Bootstrap are excellent for showcasing smaller, front-end projects with direct access to the code.
Behance and Cargo are ideal for visually focused portfolios but offer limited access to the source code.
Select a platform that best suits your technical skills, customization needs, and the level of control you require over your portfolio and its code.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
Can I make a portfolio website for free?
Yes, you can create a portfolio website for free using platforms like GitHub Pages, WordPress, and Wix.
Where can I build a coding portfolio?
You can build a coding portfolio on platforms like GitHub, GitLab, and CodePen, or use website builders like Wix or Squarespace.
What is a good coding portfolio?
A good coding portfolio showcases your best projects, highlights your skills, provides code examples, and demonstrates problem-solving abilities, all with a clean, easy-to-navigate design.
What is a full stack developer?
A full-stack developer is proficient in both front-end and back-end development, handling everything from user interfaces to server-side logic and databases.