Format review: a portfolio website builder for photographers and creatives. See 2026 pricing plans, features, client galleries, and top alternatives.
Category
Website Builders
Pricing
Subscription, from $14/month (or $10/month billed annually)
Verified
Not yet
Last updated
July 18, 2026
Founded
2010
Headquarters
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Web AppiOSFree TrialNo-CodeTemplates
Overview
Format is a website builder purpose-built for photographers and visual creatives, offering portfolio templates, client proofing galleries, and commission-free e-commerce rather than the general-purpose feature set of a horizontal website builder.
Founded in 2010 in Toronto, Canada, Format is now owned by Zenfolio, a close competitor in the photography website space, though it continues to operate as a distinct branded product with its own pricing and templates.
Key Features
Every plan includes integrated e-commerce, blogging, and client proofing galleries, along with more than 90 customizable themes, Adobe Lightroom integration, and a mobile app for managing a site on the go.
The built-in online store is commission-free across all paid tiers, meaning Format does not take a cut of print or product sales, a meaningful differentiator for photographers relying on print revenue.
Pricing
Format offers three tiers: Basic at $14/month ($10/month annually), Pro at $24/month ($12/month annually), and Pro Plus at $36/month ($15/month annually), each stepping up storage, image counts, video minutes, and store product limits.
A 14-day free trial requiring no credit card is available across plans, and Format periodically runs promotions of up to 50 percent off annual subscriptions.
Key Features
Photography-focused portfolio themes — More than 90 professionally designed templates with thousands of customizable design variables built specifically around image-heavy portfolios.
Client proofing galleries — Dedicated galleries for sharing work-in-progress images with clients for selection and approval, included on every plan.
Commission-free online store — Built-in e-commerce for selling prints and digital downloads without Format taking a percentage cut of sales.
Adobe Lightroom integration — Publishes images directly from Lightroom to a Format portfolio without leaving the existing editing workflow.
Custom code editor — Available on Pro and Pro Plus tiers, letting advanced users customize beyond the built-in template design system.
Mobile app for site management — A companion mobile app lets photographers manage their site and view analytics on the go.
SEO tools and SSL security — Includes basic SEO tooling, SSL security, and copyright protection on every plan to help portfolio sites rank and stay secure.
Hosted video and high-storage tiers — Higher-tier plans include dedicated hosted video minutes and up to 1TB of storage for image-heavy portfolios.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Commission-free store means photographers keep 100 percent of print and product sale revenue on paid plans
Deep photography-specific workflow integration via Adobe Lightroom sync
Client proofing galleries are built into every plan rather than sold as an add-on
More than a decade of operating history and a large template library aimed specifically at visual portfolios
Annual billing offers a substantial discount versus month-to-month pricing
Cons
Higher standard monthly pricing than some general-purpose website builders if not committing to an annual plan
Feature set is narrowly focused on photography and visual portfolios, less suited to non-visual small businesses
Lower-tier Basic plan has meaningful limits on page count, images, and client galleries
Now owned by Zenfolio, which could eventually affect long-term product direction or brand independence
Pricing
Basic $14/month ($10/month billed annually) monthly or annual
Pro $24/month ($12/month billed annually) monthly or annual
Pro Plus $36/month ($15/month billed annually) monthly or annual
Frequently Asked Questions
Who owns Format?
Format is owned by Zenfolio, a competing photography website and print-sales platform, though Format continues to operate as its own branded product.
How much does Format cost?
Format's Basic plan starts at $14/month ($10/month billed annually), with Pro at $24/month ($12/month annually) and Pro Plus at $36/month ($15/month annually).
Does Format take a commission on print sales?
No, Format's built-in online store is commission-free on all paid plans, meaning Format does not take a percentage cut of print or product sales.
Is there a free trial for Format?
Yes, Format offers a 14-day free trial with no credit card required.
Does Format integrate with Adobe Lightroom?
Yes, Format integrates directly with Adobe Lightroom, letting photographers publish images to their portfolio from within their existing editing workflow.
Who is Format best suited for?
Format is best suited for photographers, artists, and other visual creative professionals who need an image-first portfolio site with client proofing and print sales, rather than a general small-business website.