Choosing a portfolio platform is one of the first decisions you’ll face, and one of the easiest to overthink. I’ve seen people spend weeks researching platforms and never actually build anything.

So let me cut through the noise. Here’s a practical comparison of the most popular options for Australian professionals, based on what I’ve seen work in the real world.

Free Options

Notion

Best for: Quick setup, non-visual portfolios, professionals who want something functional without design skills.

Notion lets you create a portfolio page in under an hour. You can embed images, PDFs, videos, and links. The built-in templates are clean and professional. You can share it with a public link or connect a custom domain.

Downsides: Limited design customisation. Pages can load slowly with lots of embedded content. Doesn’t look as polished as a dedicated portfolio site for creative roles.

Carrd

Best for: Simple, single-page portfolios. Freelancers who want a landing page with links to their work.

Carrd is incredibly simple. You pick a template, add your content, and publish. The free tier gives you three sites. The pro plan ($19 USD/year) adds custom domains and forms.

Downsides: Very limited in scope. Works as a hub page but not ideal for detailed case studies.

Google Sites

Best for: People who want zero friction and already use Google Workspace.

It’s basic, it’s free, and it works. You can build a multi-page portfolio with drag-and-drop simplicity. Not beautiful, but functional.

Downsides: Limited templates. Can look dated. Not great for SEO.

Mid-Range Options

WordPress

Best for: People who want full control, good SEO, and a wide range of themes.

WordPress powers a huge chunk of the web, and there are portfolio themes specifically designed for professionals. You can self-host or use WordPress.com. Elementor and other page builders make it possible to create impressive portfolios without coding.

Pricing: Free for basic WordPress.com. Self-hosted requires hosting ($5-15/month) plus a domain ($15-20/year).

Downsides: Can be overwhelming with options. Requires some maintenance (updates, security, backups).

Squarespace

Best for: Design-conscious professionals who want a polished look without hiring a designer.

Squarespace’s templates are genuinely beautiful. The editor is intuitive, and the results look professional. Great for photographers, designers, architects, and anyone whose work is visual.

Pricing: Starts at $23 AUD/month.

Downsides: Monthly cost adds up. Less flexible than WordPress for custom functionality.

Framer

Best for: Tech-savvy professionals and designers who want modern, interactive portfolios.

Framer has become increasingly popular for portfolio sites. It offers design flexibility that sits somewhere between Squarespace and custom-built. The AI layout generation is impressive for getting started quickly.

Pricing: Free for basic use. Paid plans from $10 USD/month.

Downsides: Steeper learning curve. Overkill for simple portfolios.

Premium Options

Webflow

Best for: Designers and developers who want pixel-perfect control without writing code from scratch.

Webflow is powerful. You can build complex, responsive portfolio sites that rival custom development. The CMS features are solid for portfolio content management.

Pricing: From $18 USD/month for site plans.

Downsides: Significant learning curve. Can be expensive for what it is.

Custom Development

Best for: Developers and tech professionals who want maximum control and a portfolio that itself demonstrates their skills.

Building with frameworks like Next.js, Astro, or even plain HTML/CSS gives you complete control. Hosting on platforms like Vercel or Netlify is often free for personal projects.

Downsides: Time investment. Requires technical skills. Easy to get lost in building the site instead of filling it with content.

My Recommendation

For most Australian professionals, I recommend starting with Notion or Carrd to get something live within a week. Once you’ve validated what content works and how you want to present yourself, you can upgrade to Squarespace or WordPress for a more polished result.

The best portfolio platform is the one you’ll actually use. A finished Notion page beats an unfinished Squarespace site every time.

Don’t let the platform decision become the reason you don’t have a portfolio. Pick one, build it, and iterate.