Format Review and verdict 2026

Online portfolio builder for photographers, with built-in client gallery and proofing.

From 20€/mo.

Our take

Understanding Format.

Format replaces three tools for a photographer: the portfolio, client gallery, and proofing app, with high-resolution image handling, gallery delivery, and an automatically generated sitemap for SEO.

Less flexible than Squarespace for non-portfolio pages and with more basic e-commerce features than Shopify, Format remains deliberately simple and focused on creatives' visual needs, at the cost of a smaller template library.

Practical uses

Publish a professional photo portfolio.
Deliver private galleries to clients.
Sell prints or services online.

Pros and cons

What Format does especially well — and the limits to anticipate.

Pros

Elegant, visual-first themes.
Built-in client galleries and proofing.
Native online store.
Quick to set up, no code needed.

Cons

No permanent free plan.
Less versatile than a general builder.
Limited code customization on lower tiers.

Format: when it makes sense.

Format fits a turnkey creative portfolio with client galleries; for a general or free site, another builder fits better.

Keep if

You're a photographer or creative wanting a polished portfolio.. You need client galleries and proofing.

Format becomes worthwhile when

You use it at least once a week
The monthly cost (€20) is small next to the time it saves you

Challenge if

You want a general-purpose site rather than a portfolio.. You're looking for a free solution.

Format becomes too expensive when

You use it less than once a month
A simple free version or a tool already in your stack would do

Our verdict on Format.

Why this verdict

Decent

Format is fairly easy to replace with an alternative, no free tier to test before paying, clearly documented use cases.