5 Best Portfolio Websites for Writers in 2024

When I first launched our online writing portfolio website builder in 2008, we were one of the only portfolio websites for writers of its kind. Nowadays, there are literally dozens of options out there for writers wanting to create an online portfolio for promoting their work. The agony of choice!

You have your generic website builders like Squarespace and Wordpress, then you have portfolio websites like Writer’s Residence and Clippings.me with tailor made offerings specifically for journalists, copywriters, content writers, freelance writers, ghostwriters, authors, you name it. People are also increasingly using sites like Medium.com to curate their writing samples.

In this post I’m covering writer portfolio sites like ours that specifically provide portfolio websites for writers. All of these services are tailor made for writers, but not all are made equal. I’ve trialled and tested all of these options to get the low down on the pros and cons of each, and which service might be best for you.

What are the best portfolio websites for writers in 2024? 

 In my research, the five best places currently on the market for writers to create an online portfolio are as follows. 

1. Writer’s Residence - Best for writers who need a platform for their brand and a straightforward means to share their work 
2. Journoportfolio - Best for tech-savvy digital creators (not just writers) who seek a stylish portfolio
3. Authory - Best for writers who publish heavily online and want to aggregate their content from various sources
4. Clippings.me - Best for writers looking for a free option with basic functionality
5. Copyfolio - Best for design-conscious copywriters looking for a full featured website and blog

Yes, there are other portfolio websites out there (I mention a few below). But my goal is to help you narrow down the options. In my trials of numerous options, these are the five very best writing portfolio websites out there at the moment. Now before we get to the comparisons, let's cover what all of them have in common, and the key areas where they differ. This should help you narrow down your options.

Features that all of these portfolio websites share

Here’s the challenge. All of these writer portfolio sties share a lot of the same features… this is good in a way because you KNOW that whatever portfolio website you sign up with, you're going to get the essentials. This includes: 

• ✅ A portfolio of your writing samples - duh! All of these portfolio websites are based on the premise of providing a reposity for your writing samples alongside other useful info like your resume, client testimonials, contact details, and pretty much anything you want. But those focus is on writing samples and showcasing your best work. (Learn more about how to create an impressive writing sample.)
• ✅ Password-protected options so you can keep your portfolio private, accessible by a unique password you create. This is handy if you're not quite ready to share your portfolio with the world, or you have proprietary published pieces that need to be kept private. 
• ✅ Custom domain - That means you can use your own URL like monicashaw.com instead of monica.writersresidence.com or clippings.me/monica. I'd argue that a custom domain is essential for a portfolio website - it speaks to your professionalism and your investment in your brand. All of these portfolio websites support custom domain names, but some at a cost (more on that below).
• ✅ Multiple themes with customization features. This is where we see some major differentiation in terms of complexity and sophistication. Some portfolio websites offer elaborate theme options, while some are fairly simple - but straightforward. This is where you can let your technical acumen guide your choice in a writing portfolio website. More on this when I get into the specific examples below.
• ✅ SEO features. This is really important if you want to be found in search engines on phrases like "chicago B2B copywriter". All of the services allow you to edit key SEO areas like page titles and meta descriptions so you can increase your chances of being found. Learn more in SEO Basics and Best Practices for Online Writing Portfolios.
• ✅ Analytics options. All of these services integrate with Google Analytics so you can track visitors to your website.  
• ✅ Customer support. Need help? All of these services have customer support available via email, and some by live chat and telephone.

Ok, so how do you ultimately choose the best portfolio website for you? 

Your deciding criteria: Price and Usability

The key areas where these portfolio websites for writers differ are price and usability. Only some of these services have a free option. And they all work differently. So for most writers, the choice will depend on your level of tech-savviness and how far you want to go with the design. So bearing this in mind, let’s get down to the comparisons… 

Portfolio Websites for Writers: How much do they cost?

	Monthly cost for all features	Free Version?	Free Trial?
Writer's residence	$9/month	No	Yes
Journoportfolio	$12/month	Yes	Yes
Authory	$18/month	No	Yes
Clippings.me	$9.99/month	Yes	No
Copyfolio	$15/month	Yes	No

How do the different portfolio websites for writers compare? 

Writer’s Residence 

https://writersresidence.com/

Best for writers who need a platform for their brand and a user-friendly means of sharing their work.

• Cost - $9 / month
• Free version - None
• Trial -  30 Day Free Trial

Pros of Writer’s Residence

• Easy step-by-step setup
• Generous 30-day free trial
• Themes are not excessively stylized, with a focus on readability - handy for sharing writing samples with editors and clients in a way that makes them look good but also read well
• Attentive and personal customer support, largely delivered by the founder of the platform

Cons of Writer’s Residence 

• No free option
• Focused purely on writing portfolios so not the ideal choice for designers and other creative professionals 
• Although it benefits from being very user-friendly, this does mean fewer extra features and design options than other services

Examples of Writer’s Residence Portfolios

• http://monicashaw.com
• https://zacharyquangmills.writersresidence.com/
• https://bobpickard.writersresidence.com/
• https://thenotedwriter.writersresidence.com/
• plus more examples of freelance portfolio websites built with Writer's Residence.

Build a portfolio with Writer’s Residence

Journoportfolio

http://journoportfolio.com

Best for tech savvy digital creators who seek a stylish portfolio.

• Cost - $12/per month (or $8/month when paid yearly)
• Free version - Limited to 10 portfolio items, 1 page, and no custom domain
• Trial -  7 Day Free Trial

Pros of Journoportfolio

• 50% discount for students
• Attractive themes with lots of personalization options
• Versatile portfolio for writers as well as artists and photographers
• It can generate PDF or JPEG backups of writing samples which is pretty cool!

Cons of Journoportfolio 

• Changing themes deletes your pages and content (though writing samples are saved)
• The themes look great (or can look great in the right hands!) but the wealth of theme and design options are impressive but could be overwhelming for anyone who's never worked with a website builder

Examples of Journoportfolio portfolios

• https://www.ahausten.com/
• https://www.katherinewittsjournalism.com/
• https://leahfinch.journoportfolio.com/ 

 

Authory

http://authory.com/

Best for writers who publish heavily online and want to aggregate their content.

• Cost - Standard tier is $15 month (or $12/month when paid annually)
• Free version - No
• Trial -  14 Day Free Trial

Pros of Authory

• Attractive themes
• Auto-aggregation makes it easy to automate updates to your portfolio

Cons of Authory

• Mainly geared towards content writers, journalists, and other writers who primarily publish online
• Not as great for copywriters, business writers, technical writers whose samples don't live somewhere with an RSS feed
• May be over complex for non tech-savvy users
• Themes are attractive but homogenous

Examples of Authory portfolios

• https://authory.com/ColleenFisherTully
• https://authory.com/BrandonHill
• https://authory.com/AnneliseKelly

 

Clippings.me

https://www.clippings.me/

Best for writers looking for a free option with basic functionality.

• Cost - $9.99/month (or $8.25/month when paid yearly)
• Free version - Yes, limited to 10 pieces of content and no custom domain
• Trial -  No free trial

Pros of Clippings.me

• Free version
• Easy setup

Cons of Clippings.me

• Basic themes with limited options for personalization
• Free version only allows for 10 writing samples
• Free version is heavily laden with Clippings.me branding

Examples of Clippings.me portfolios

• https://www.clippings.me/jakebleiberg
• https://www.clippings.me/caitlinreid
• https://www.clippings.me/naomiconrad

 

Copyfolio

https://copyfol.io/

Best for copywriters looking for a fully featured website.

• Cost - $15/month (or $9/month when paid yearly)
• Free version - Yes, limited to 3 website pages, 1 public portfolio project, and 1 public blog post
• Trial -  No free trial 

Pros of Copyfolio 

• Free version
• Easy sign-up and set up
• Blogging features
• Extensive theme options

Cons of Copyfolio

• Free version is very limited and wouldn't get you a website that would be suitable for sharing; it's really just a way to get your foot in the door to the paid version
• Sign-up is easy but editing the themes could be cumbersome for non tech-savvy writers
• The themes are arguably over-stylized, not focused on making the writing look good
• Default URL feels unprofessional, e.g. https://copyfol.io/v/gdk6m9rj

Examples of Copyfolio portfolios 

• https://copyfol.io/v/elysse
• https://copyfol.io/v/gdk6m9rj
• https://copyfol.io/v/katerainey

 

Even More Portfolio Websites For Writers

I've told you my top 5 portfolio websites for writers but I would be remiss in not mentioning these other options that didn't make my top 5. All of these are reputable website builders - just because they didn't make my cut, they might work for you! 

Carbonmade

Used by all types of creatives to create an online portfolio. The themes are highly visual making them more popular with visual artists, designers, and photographers, but writers use their portfolio builder, too.

https://carbonmade.com/

Muck Rack

A popular option for journalists; Muck Rack matches journalists with PR companies.

https://muckrack.com/ 

Medium

I don't really see Medium as a "writing portfolio" per say but it often comes up in the context of writing portfolios. In Medium's words, "Medium is a home for human stories and ideas." It's effectively a place to self-publish. So if you haven't been published before, Medium could be a good place to get your work out there.

Contently

Contently is a creative marketplace for content writers. They connect content writers with brands. If you're writing focus is in content marketing, then Contently could be a good choice for you. 

https://contently.com/

Final Verdict - What is the best portfolio website for writers in 2024? 

As ever it depends on your budget, time and web design skills. One thing I’ve noted in my trials - none of the free portfolio website options make it possible to create a result that is both complete and professional, so in a sense there are no good free options. And really, should there be? This is your personal brand as a professional writer, and it’s worth investing in.  

Writer's Residence: The Best Portfolio Website for Writers Who Need a User-Friendly Way to Share Their Work and Grow Their Brand

I’m of course a bit biassed here, having created one of the portfolio options listed above. I maintain that Writer’s Residence is the most user-friendly of all the services, a really great option if you want to get a portfolio going quickly and you don’t want to faff with design and other tech. All the features are available with the generous 30-day free trial so you can really test it out, upload as many samples as you want, set up a custom domain, and start promoting your work. 

Journoportfolio: The Best Portfolio Website for More Tech Savvy Writers Who Want Extensive Theme Options

Writer’s Residence doesn’t provide the wealth of design and customization features as other services. But remember, a portfolio is meant to showcase your writing. First and foremost, it should make your writing look great AND read well. When you send a writing sample to a potential editor or client, they should be able to read it without having to zoom or scroll past superfluous design elements. Some of the portfolio services out there favour form over function, in my opinion. But for the writer with a greater aptitude for web design and looking for theme options beyond Writer’s Residence, Journoportfolio would be my first choice above others. 

FAQs 

How does the SEO performance of each portfolio website compare, and which platform offers the best tools for writers looking to optimize their online visibility?

For SEO performance, each portfolio website has distinct features aimed at enhancing a writer's online presence. Some platforms offer robust SEO tools, including keyword optimization, custom URLs, and meta descriptions, to help writers rank higher in search results. Platforms with integrated blogging tools often provide additional SEO benefits, leveraging fresh content to improve visibility. Writers should evaluate each platform's SEO capabilities, considering how features like analytics, search engine guidelines compliance, and social media integration can support their visibility goals. FYI: Writer's Residence has SEO integration throughout the site and support for Google Analytics tracking so you can monitor your results.

Can users migrate their portfolio from one platform to another without losing content, and if so, what is the process for each of the mentioned platforms?

Regarding content migration, the process varies widely across platforms. Some offer straightforward export and import options, allowing writers to move their portfolios using built-in tools or simple file downloads and uploads. However, others may require more manual steps, such as copying and pasting content or using specialized software to transfer data. Writers should research each platform's migration support, looking for guides or customer service that can assist with the transition to ensure a smooth and lossless transfer of their work. Tip: If you're looking to migrate to Writer's Residence from another platform, get in touch with us by our support email and we'll step in to help! support@writersresidence.com

Are there any success stories or case studies of writers who have significantly benefited from using one of these platforms in terms of gaining visibility or landing writing gigs?

Success stories or case studies showcasing writers who have achieved visibility or secured gigs through these platforms are invaluable for potential users. While specific examples may not be prominently featured on the platforms' websites, many writers share their experiences on social media, forums, and personal blogs. These stories often highlight how features like customizable templates, networking opportunities, and the platform's user community have contributed to their professional growth. Writers considering a platform should look for such testimonials to gauge the potential benefits for their own careers. (Writer's Residence has excellent testimonials, just sayin'!)

Have your say! 

Join our Substack community to share what you think. Is there a portfolio website for writers that I missed in my review? I'd love to hear from you. Next best thing: build your own writing portfolio website with Writer’s Residence! I'm here to help.