What a portfolio site needs
A portfolio has a narrower job than a business site. Reviewers want to see a few strong projects fast, open one, and read the problem, process and result. That leads to five requirements: large images that load well, a page per project (or a clear section per project), a way to add new projects without rebuilding layouts, a way to hide confidential work behind a password, and your own domain.
The three builders handle these differently. The table summarises what each official pricing page or doc listed on 30 October 2026.
| Need | Carrd | Framer | Webflow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Site structure | One-page sites | Multi-page; Basic 30 pages, Pro 150 | Multi-page; Basic 300 static pages |
| CMS for projects | Not listed | Basic: 2 collections, 1,000 items | Premium site plan: up to 40 collections, 20,000 items |
| Password protection | Pro Plus: whole site, one password | Listed as a feature; confirm plan at checkout | Site and page protection from Basic site plan |
| Custom domain | Pro Standard and up | Paid plans; complimentary domain on yearly billing | Basic site plan and up |
| Lowest plan with custom domain | $19/year | $10/month listed | $15/month billed yearly ($180/year) |
Carrd: one strong page
Carrd describes itself as simple, fully responsive one-page sites. Pro plans allow images and GIFs up to 16 MB and videos up to 64 MB, and all paid plans list no element limit. Pro Standard at $19 a year adds custom domains with SSL, contact forms and embeds. [1][2]
Password protection needs Pro Plus at $49 a year. It protects the whole site with one password and an optional username that defaults to guest; there are no separate credentials per viewer. [2][3]
Fits: a designer or illustrator with a tight selection of work who wants one scrolling page. Skip it if each project needs its own long case-study page with a shareable URL.
Framer: visual editing with a light CMS
Framer help says Basic is usually the best fit for portfolios and personal sites that need a custom domain. Basic was listed at $10 a month with 30 pages, 2 CMS collections, 1,000 CMS items and 50 GB bandwidth; yearly billing includes a complimentary domain. The free plan runs on a Framer domain with a Made in Framer banner. [4][5]
Two collections are usually enough for a portfolio: one for projects, one for writing or testimonials. Framer lists password protection among its features but the pricing page did not show a clear per-plan breakdown, so confirm it on your plan before you rely on it. [4]
Fits: designers who want animation and layout freedom and a project template that new entries fill automatically. Skip it if you need more than 2 collections on a budget; Pro is $30 a month.
Webflow: the biggest CMS, the steepest price for it
Webflow Basic at $15 a month billed yearly includes a custom domain, 300 static pages, unlimited form submissions and password protection; the comparison table lists both site and individual page password protection. Webflow describes Basic as for sites that do not need a CMS. [6]
The Premium site plan at $25 a month billed yearly adds Webflow CMS, site search and form file uploads, with up to 20,000 CMS items. All prices are in USD per site, plus taxes at checkout. [6]
Fits: a studio or senior designer with a large archive, case studies that share a template, and confidential pages that need their own password. Skip it if you have under a dozen projects and do not want to learn a more technical editor.
Worked examples: 6 projects versus 30
Designer A has 6 projects, all shareable, and wants a custom domain. Carrd Pro Standard covers it at $19 a year; adding one confidential case study behind a password means Pro Plus at $49 a year. Framer Basic would cost $120 a year at the listed price and gives each project its own page. [2][4]
Designer B has 30 projects and adds two a month. Hand-building 30 pages is slow on any builder, so a CMS template is worth paying for. Framer Basic holds them in one collection for $120 a year. Webflow Basic could hold them as 30 static pages for $180 a year but without CMS; Premium with CMS and site search is $300 a year. [4][6]
| Portfolio | Lowest fitting option | Listed year-one cost | Upgrade trigger |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 projects, all public | Carrd Pro Standard | $19 | Need a separate page per project |
| 6 projects, 1 confidential | Carrd Pro Plus | $49 | Need per-viewer access |
| 30 projects, growing | Framer Basic | $120 at $10/month listed | More than 2 collections or 30 pages |
| 30+ projects, search and page passwords | Webflow Premium | $300 billed yearly | Bandwidth or CMS item limits |
Portfolio launch checklist
Whichever builder you pick, run these checks before you send the link to a hiring manager or client.
- Lead with 3 to 6 best projects; archive the rest lower on the page or in the CMS.
- Export images at the size they display; check file-size limits on your plan.
- Give each case study a problem, your role, process and outcome in plain words.
- Test the password page from a private browser window before sharing it.
- Connect your custom domain and confirm the free-plan banner is gone.
- Open the site on a phone and check every project link.
Questions before you decide
Can Carrd password-protect a single project?
Carrd password protection needs Pro Plus and protects the whole site with one password and an optional username. The docs do not describe per-page protection.
Which plan does Framer suggest for a portfolio?
Framer help says the Basic plan is usually the best fit for portfolios and personal sites that need a custom domain. Basic was listed at $10 a month with 30 pages and 2 CMS collections.
Sources & verification
Product details and prices can change. Check the linked provider before buying.
- Carrd home page Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Carrd Pro plan comparison Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Carrd docs: adding password protection Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Framer pricing Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Framer help: best use cases for each Framer plan Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Webflow pricing Accessed 30 Oct 2026
Sources link directly to providers. Product buttons may use separately labeled affiliate links. Read our disclosure.