Is Framer good for a design portfolio? An honest review
What it's like to build a design portfolio in Framer: how fast it clicks, what a portfolio needs from a builder, and what it costs, from a designer who used it.
By Talha Riaz, UI/UX designer and top-rated Upwork freelancer
Updated , 3 min read
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From my own work
Built my own portfolio in Framer, my first portfolio
It took me a little while to understand how things worked at the start. Once I joined the points together, it followed the same mechanism as Figma, and anyone with good Figma experience will understand it. It was my first portfolio, so it wasn't very good.
What to expect when you start
If you’re comfortable in Figma, expect a short adjustment and then familiar ground. Framer’s canvas, components and layout work the way Figma’s do, so the slow part is the first few sessions, before the pieces connect. Give yourself one session just to explore before you start building pages.
What a portfolio needs from a builder
Whichever tool you choose, a design portfolio needs the same few things:
- Your own domain. Framer’s free plan gives you a free Framer domain. A paid plan lets you connect your own, and Basic is $10 a month billed yearly.
- A place for case studies. Framer includes a CMS on paid plans. Basic gives you 2 collections and 1,000 items, which covers a set of case studies and a small blog. My guide to building a portfolio in Framer shows how to set it up.
- Room to grow. Pro is $30 a month with 10 CMS collections and 2,500 items, so you aren’t stuck if the site grows.
Cost
| Plan | Price (billed yearly) | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Building and testing on a Framer domain |
| Basic | $10/mo | A portfolio on your own domain |
| Pro | $30/mo | A larger site with more CMS room |
Prices are as listed on Framer’s pricing page on 18 October 2026. Extra editors are $20 a month each.
Who it isn’t for
Framer isn’t the best choice if the site will grow into a large content project, or if clients will update it all the time. For that, Webflow’s CMS is bigger, with 20,000 items on its Premium plan. I compare the two in Framer vs Webflow for designers.
The short version
What's good
- Works like Figma, so Figma users follow it quickly
- CMS included from the $10 Basic plan, enough for case studies
- Free plan to build on before you pay
What's not
- Takes a little while to understand at the start
- A custom domain needs a paid plan
- Basic is limited to 2 CMS collections and 1,000 CMS items
- Extra editors cost $20 a month each
Ready to choose?
- Try Framer(opens in a new tab)
Recommended for designers who use Figma
Framer
Questions people ask
Is Framer good for beginners?
If you already use Figma, yes. Its components and canvas are close to what you know. It took me a little while to understand how things worked at the start, so give yourself a first session just to explore.
Can I show case studies on a Framer portfolio?
Yes. Put each case study in a CMS collection and build one reusable detail page. The $10 Basic plan includes 2 CMS collections and 1,000 CMS items, which is plenty for a portfolio.
Do I need to pay to publish a portfolio?
No. The free plan publishes on a free Framer domain. To use your own domain you need a paid plan, and Basic at $10 a month (billed yearly) is the cheapest.
Should I use Framer or Webflow for my portfolio?
Framer is quicker to get comfortable in if you come from Figma. Webflow is more flexible and better for sites that clients will update. I compare them in detail in Framer vs Webflow for designers.
Written by Talha Riaz
UI/UX designer and top-rated Upwork freelancer
Designer with 8+ years across UI/UX, brand identity and packaging, and a top-rated Upwork freelancer since 2019. I built my own portfolio in Framer and work on client sites in Webflow.
More about me