Alternatives · Website Builders
SmugMug alternatives
As of Nov 13, 2026, the best SmugMug alternative for most people is Carrd (2.6 GPA), third in our ranking of website and landing page builders. It's also the best free one. The catch, in its listing's words: "Up to 3 one-page sites per account on Carrd-branded addresses."
SmugMug compared with 5 alternatives: Pixpa, Format, Squarespace, Carrd and Adobe Portfolio.
SmugMug is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $20 per month, billed annually (Direct). 1 of the 5 alternatives is free or has a free plan. 3 more offer a free trial.
Listings checked up to Nov 12, 2026 · Where the facts come from
Black Friday: is there a SmugMug sale?
At a glance
| Tool | Price | Free plan | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| SmugMugThis tool | Free trial · from $20/mo | Trial only | Web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android |
| Pixpa | Free trial · from $5.40/mo | Trial only | Web |
| Format | Free trial · from $10/mo | Trial only | Web, iOS |
| Squarespace | Free trial · from $19/mo | Trial only | Web, iOS, Android |
| Carrd | Free plan · from $9/yr | Yes | Web |
| Adobe Portfolio | Paid | No | Web |
Price against what you get
SmugMug starts at $20 a month and scores 2.7 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. 1 of the 4 alternatives on this chart scores higher and starts lower: Squarespace.
Pixpa, Format and Carrd start lower without scoring higher.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
How each one differs from SmugMug
Pixpa
Portfolio sites, client galleries and a store in one plan
- Pixpa starts at $5.40 per month, billed yearly ($9 billed monthly).
- Pixpa lists no macOS, Windows, iOS and Android apps, which SmugMug has.
- Pixpa also covers popups.
- Pixpa does not cover no-code, which SmugMug does.
Suits: Photographers who deliver and sell images to clients
Format
Portfolio website builder for photographers and other creatives
- Format starts at $10 per month, billed annually ($14 billed monthly).
- Format lists no macOS, Windows and Android apps, which SmugMug has.
- Format does not cover online store and digital downloads, which SmugMug does.
Suits: Photographers who deliver proofs and files to clients from their own site
Squarespace
Template-based website builder with an online store and invoicing
- Squarespace starts at $19 per site / month, billed annually ($25 billed monthly).
- Squarespace lists no macOS and Windows apps, which SmugMug has.
- Squarespace also covers forms and invoicing.
- Squarespace does not cover no-code, file sharing, online store and digital downloads, which SmugMug does.
Suits: Creatives and small businesses who want a polished site from a template
Carrd
One-page website builder with yearly plans from $9
- Carrd starts at $9 per year for up to 3 sites (Pro Lite).
- Carrd has a free plan, which SmugMug lacks.
- Carrd lists no macOS, Windows, iOS and Android apps, which SmugMug has.
- Carrd also covers forms.
- Carrd does not cover file sharing, online store and digital downloads, which SmugMug does.
Suits: Personal profiles, link-in-bio pages and simple portfolios
Adobe Portfolio
Portfolio website builder included with Creative Cloud
- Adobe Portfolio lists no macOS, Windows, iOS and Android apps, which SmugMug has.
- Adobe Portfolio also covers digital business card.
- Adobe Portfolio does not cover no-code, file sharing, online store and digital downloads, which SmugMug does.
Suits: Photographers and designers who already pay for Creative Cloud
Limits worth knowing in SmugMug
- RAW file storage is an add-on: $10 a month for up to 1 TB, then $6 a month for each extra TB.
- Selling prints and downloads, and website templates, need the Portfolio plan or higher.
- Multiple pricelists, coupons and packages need the Pro plan at $37 a month.
- The page shows yearly prices only; the monthly-billing price loads separately and was not readable.
Common questions
What are the alternatives to SmugMug?
The alternatives to SmugMug in this directory are Pixpa, Format, Squarespace, Carrd and Adobe Portfolio. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with SmugMug.
Is there a free alternative to SmugMug?
Yes. Carrd has a free plan alongside paid ones.
When were these prices checked?
Each listing shows its own date. On this page they run from Oct 17, 2026 to Nov 12, 2026. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.