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Format

Portfolio website builder for photographers and other creatives

Free trial · from $10/moWebsite BuildersChecked Oct 18, 2026
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Format, as pictured on format.com
How Format presents itself. Image from format.com.

Format report card

2.4GPA

Fair · out of 4.0 · graded Oct 18, 2026

Best for photographers' portfolios with client galleries

Format is a portfolio builder for photographers and other creatives, and it brings the studio side along: proofing galleries, file transfers, contracts and a store that takes no commission. Basic is $10 a month billed yearly. But Basic stops at 70 images with no store, so most photographers will want Pro, and there's no free plan.

Who Format is for

  • Great if you deliver proofs and files to clients from your own site
  • Handy when you edit in Lightroom Classic and want to publish straight from it
  • Good for artists selling prints or downloads without a platform commission

Who Format is not for

  • Tight if you stay on Basic, at 10 pages and 70 images with no store
  • Skip it if you work from an Android phone, as the app is iPhone only
  • Pricey if you want email on your own domain, as Google Workspace is $100 a year extra

Why Format gets a 2.4

Five grades, each with its reason. The GPA is their average: an A is 4 points, an F is none.

  • BValue for moneyBasic is $10 a month billed yearly ($14 monthly), right at this category's cheaper quarter. It's capped at 10 pages and 70 images with no store, so many will move to Pro at $17. Pro's $12 offer needs a code, ends October 31, 2026 and covers the first year only.
  • CFree plan and trialNo free plan, but a 14-day free trial with no card needed, which is enough time to load a portfolio and see how it looks. Students can ask for a free year.
  • CFeaturesIt does the portfolio job fully: 90+ themes, Flex Block layouts, proofing galleries, file transfers, hosted video and a commission-free store. That's a smaller job than a general builder does, and Basic leaves out the store, video and image storage.
  • CEase of useThere's an iPhone app but no store rating on record. Themes do the heavy lifting, but you're still building a site, page by page and gallery by gallery.
  • BPlatforms and integrationsWeb and iPhone, with a Lightroom Classic plugin, Stripe, PayPal, Weglot, Google Workspace and Google Analytics. There's no Android app and no desktop app of its own.

What these grades rest on. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Format's own pages on 18 October 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews. How we review and grade.

Make Format? Put this grade on your site
Format: 2.4 GPA on ToolGPA

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<a href="https://toolgpa.com/tools/format#review"><img src="https://toolgpa.com/badge/format.svg" alt="Format: 2.4 GPA on ToolGPA" width="196" height="56"></a>

Where Format stands among website and landing page builders

Format's GPA of 2.4 is higher than 19 of the 34 other website and landing page builders we grade, and level with 9.

It stands best on value for money (B, above 24 of 34) and worst on ease of use (C, above 0).

Its paid plans start at $10 a month, against a middle price of $16 for the category: 8 of the 33 others that charge start lower.

On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.3 out of 4. 2 tools score higher and cost less.

Each grade against the category

Every bar is all 35 website and landing page builders we grade, cut by the letter each got. Format’s own letter is outlined.

  • BValue for moneyAbove 24 of 34, level with 8
  • CFree plan and trialAbove 7 of 34, level with 25
  • CFeaturesAbove 4 of 34, level with 16
  • CEase of useAbove 0 of 34, level with 28
  • BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 8 of 34, level with 25

Price against what you get

Each dot is one of 34 website and landing page builders. Further left costs less, and higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Point at a dot to see which tool it is.

Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged

D1.0C2.0B3.0A4.0$0.5$1$2$5$10$20$50$100$200$500More for lessCosts more, scores moreCosts less, scores lessCosts more, scores lessFormat

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
The full chart, and the best website and landing page builders at every price

Keep Format, or make your own?

Keep it

To replace Format you would be making a builder that other people can use without writing code. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.

It costs $120 a year.

What you could make

  • Templates: an app builder makes this well.

What you could not

  • A builder that other people can use without writing code.
  • Storing and serving files for other people.
  • A real app for iOS. Something home-made would be a web page.
  • It plugs into other products, Adobe Lightroom Classic, Stripe and PayPal among them.

What this rests on. Format’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.

What is Format?

Format is a portfolio website builder for photographers, artists, designers and filmmakers, with themes, a drag-and-drop layout tool and hosting included in every plan. Its Workflow tools add client proofing galleries, file transfers, contacts and contracts, and a built-in store sells prints, downloads and services without a platform commission.

Format is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $10 per month, billed annually ($14 billed monthly). See every plan

Good for

  • Photographers who deliver proofs and files to clients from their own site
  • Artists, designers and filmmakers who want a portfolio without coding
  • Creatives selling prints, downloads or bookings without a platform commission

Worth knowing

  • The $12 and $15 a month shown for Pro and Pro Plus need a checkout code, end October 31, 2026 and cover the first year only.
  • Basic has no store, hosted video, image storage or custom fonts, and stops at 10 pages and 70 images.
  • A domain costs $30 a year after a free first year on annual Pro and Pro Plus; Google Workspace email is $100 a year extra.
  • There is no free plan, and the mobile app is for iPhone only.

Key features

Themes and Flex Block layouts
Pick from more than 90 themes and switch without losing content, build custom layouts on a snap grid with Flex Block, and edit CSS and HTML on Pro and Pro Plus.
Client galleries and file transfers
Workflow, included free with every plan, adds proofing galleries with passwords, file transfers of 2 to 10 GB, contacts and moodboards; contracts and CRM Light need Pro.
Commission-free store
Sell physical products, digital downloads up to 100 MB and services through PayPal or Stripe with no Format commission: 15 products on Pro and 1,000 on Pro Plus.
Hosted video
Upload video straight to the site so visitors see no third-party ads: 15 minutes on Pro and 120 minutes on Pro Plus.
Lightroom plugin and iPhone app
Publish galleries from Lightroom Classic with the Format Publisher plugin, or upload and rearrange photos from the iPhone app.
SEO and translation
Edit page titles, meta descriptions and image alt text, and connect Weglot to translate the site into other languages.

Format pricing

Starts at
$10 per month, billed annually ($14 billed monthly)
Free plan
None
Free trial
14-day free trial, no credit card required
Basic$10per month, billed annually ($14 billed monthly)$120 a year. 10 pages, 70 images, 3 client galleries and 2 GB file transfers; no store, hosted video, image storage or custom fonts.
Pro$17per month, billed annually ($24 billed monthly)$204 a year. Unlimited pages, 1,500 images, 100 GB storage, 15 video minutes and 15 store products. Shown at $12 for a first year with a code until Oct 31, 2026.
Pro Plus$26per month, billed annually ($36 billed monthly)$312 a year. Unlimited images, 1 TB storage, 120 video minutes, 1,000 products and priority support. Shown at $15 for a first year with a code until Oct 31, 2026.

Read from format.com on Oct 18, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with Format before you buy.

Pricing in detail

Ways to pay less

  • Annual discountSave about 29% with yearly billing

    Pro costs $204 a year against $24 a month billed monthly; Basic is $120 a year against $14 a month and Pro Plus $312 against $36.

    Stated on help.format.com
  • EducationA free year for students

    Format's Student Program gives students a free year on the platform, requested through its education page; it also offers free access to partner schools.

    Stated on format.com
Every Format discount and ways to spend less

Works with

Format alternatives

All Format alternatives comparedAll website and landing page builders

Common questions

Is Format free?

No, Format is a paid product, but you can try it first. 14-day free trial, no credit card required.

How much does Format cost?

Format lists 3 plans. Basic: $10 per month, billed annually ($14 billed monthly). Pro: $17 per month, billed annually ($24 billed monthly). Pro Plus: $26 per month, billed annually ($36 billed monthly). Prices were read from format.com on Oct 18, 2026.

What platforms does Format work on?

Format is available on Web and iOS.

Does Format offer any discounts?

Format publicly lists the following: Save about 29% with yearly billing; A free year for students.

Does Format have an Android app?

No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 18, 2026. Format is listed for Web and iOS.

Does Format have a Windows app?

No Windows app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 18, 2026. Format is listed for Web and iOS.

Is Format open source?

Format is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 18, 2026.

What does Format integrate with?

Format's listing names Adobe Lightroom Classic, Stripe, PayPal, Weglot, Google Workspace, Google Analytics, Adobe Fonts and Google Fonts. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.

Does Format have a student discount?

A free year for students. Format's Student Program gives students a free year on the platform, requested through its education page; it also offers free access to partner schools.

Who makes Format?

Format is made by Ideaform Inc.

What are the alternatives to Format?

The closest alternatives to Format in our directory are Squarespace, Wix, Webflow, Strikingly and Carrd. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Format.

How does Format compare with other website and landing page builders?

Format's GPA of 2.4 is higher than 19 of the 34 other website and landing page builders we grade, and level with 9. It stands best on value for money (B, above 24 of 34) and worst on ease of use (C, above 0).

Is Format good value for money?

ToolGPA grades Format B for value for money. Its paid plans start at $10 a month, against a middle price of $16 for the category: 8 of the 33 others that charge start lower. On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.3 out of 4. 2 tools score higher and cost less.

Could I make my own version of Format?

To replace Format you would be making a builder that other people can use without writing code. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one. It costs $120 a year. What you could not make: A builder that other people can use without writing code. Storing and serving files for other people. A real app for iOS. Something home-made would be a web page. It plugs into other products, Adobe Lightroom Classic, Stripe and PayPal among them. This is a judgement from its listing. We have not built one.

Sources for this page

The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Oct 18, 2026.