UGC creator portfolio guide for 2026: what to show and where to host it
A UGC creator portfolio is a page or document that shows the content you can make for brands, what you
offer, and how to contact you. Start with work samples, add a short introduction, and make the next step
clear. If you're pitching now, build something you can send now rather than waiting for a larger body of
work.
Heya is made by the team that wrote this guide, so read its row with that in mind. Prices come from each
company's own pages, checked between October 29 and November 9, 2026.
The short answer
-
Content and commerce Beacons suits creators who want a media kit alongside digital
products and affiliate links.
-
Designed portfolio files Canva suits creators who want to lay out their work and
export a portfolio as a PDF.
-
A standalone site Carrd suits creators who want a site with paid options for removing
branding and using their own domain.
-
Build on your phone Heya suits creators who want a small website they can build and
edit fully on a phone.
Where UGC creators host a portfolio
Compare Beacons, Canva, Carrd, Heya and Linktree side by side for their free options, paid plans and
ways to present your work.
| Builder |
Free plan |
Paid from |
Custom domain |
Best for |
| Beacons |
$0 plan, free forever |
$8.33/mo billed annually ($10 monthly) |
Free custom domain on Creator |
Creator media kits, stores and links |
| Canva |
Canva Free, US$0 |
Pro plan, billed monthly or yearly |
Not stated |
Designing graphics, PDFs and print pieces |
| Carrd |
Free Basic plan |
$9/year (Pro Lite, 3 sites) |
Pro Standard ($19/year) and Pro Plus |
One-page sites and landing pages |
| Heya |
Free: 3 sites, 5 pages each, yourname.heya.bio |
$3/mo (Pro Lite) |
Pro Standard (1) or Pro Plus (up to 10) |
Small sites built and edited on a phone |
| Linktree |
Free, unlimited basic links |
$7/mo billed annually ($9 monthly) |
Not stated |
Link-in-bio pages for social profiles |
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
Each option up close
Beacons
Free; Creator $8.33 a month billed annually
Beacons lets creators host a media kit and product pages at a custom domain, while its free-forever
plan includes unlimited digital products and affiliate links. Creator costs $10/month or $8.33/month
when billed annually at $100, and includes a free custom domain. Watch the sales commission: Free
and Creator charge 9%, while Creator Plus and Creator Max charge 0%.
- Better at
- Creator media kits, stores and links.
- Watch out
- A 9% commission applies to sales on Free and Creator.
Canva
Free; Pro and Business are paid plans
Canva Free includes a drag-and-drop editor, 1,000+ design types and 1.6M+ templates, and designs can
be exported as PDF, JPG, PNG and print-ready CMYK. It's an option for making a portfolio file; the
Free plan includes 1 Brand Kit limited to 3 colors and 5GB of cloud storage.
- Better at
- Designing graphics, PDFs and print pieces.
- Watch out
- The free plan has 1 Brand Kit and 5GB of storage.
Carrd
Free; Pro Lite $9, Pro Standard $19, Pro Plus $49 a year
Carrd has a free Basic experience, and its Pro plans include premium starting point templates,
custom user-built templates and removal of "Made with Carrd" branding. Pro Lite costs $9 / year for
up to 3 sites, but custom domains start with Pro Standard at $19 / year for up to 10 sites. There's
a free 7-day Pro trial with no payment or credit card required.
- Better at
- One-page sites and landing pages.
- Watch out
- Pro Lite does not include custom domains.
Heya
Free; Pro Lite $3, Pro Standard $6, Pro Plus $15 a month
Heya is a no-code builder for one-page and small sites, with full phone editing; you can start
without an account, and drafts stay in your browser until you publish. Its free plan has no time
limit or credit card requirement and includes up to 3 sites with up to 5 pages per site and a small
"Made with Heya" badge; publishing requires Google sign-in, the only sign-in option. Pro Lite costs
$3 a month and removes the badge, while Pro Standard costs $6 a month and includes 1 custom domain
per account.
- Better at
- Small sites built and edited on a phone.
- Watch out
- Free sites show a small "Made with Heya" badge.
Linktree
Free; Starter $7, Pro $14, Premium $30 a month (annual)
Linktree's Free plan includes unlimited basic links plus email and phone sign-ups, making it an
option for collecting links to work you've put elsewhere. Pro includes removal of Linktree branding
and costs $14 per month when billed annually or $17 monthly, with a 7-day free trial. Linktree says
transaction and processing fees may apply, and its prices appear in local currency and vary by
region.
- Better at
- Link-in-bio pages for social profiles.
- Watch out
- Removing Linktree branding takes Pro, $14/mo billed annually.
What brands want to see
Put your work near the top. Add a short introduction that says what kind of content you make and the
kinds of projects you want to take on, then move into samples rather than turning the page into a long
biography.
Choose samples you'd want someone to hire you to make again, and give each a plain label that names
the format, your part in making it and whether it was commissioned work or a self-directed sample.
Keep those distinctions clear.
No client work yet? Make samples, and call them samples. Don't present a practice project as a brand
partnership.
Alongside the work, include what someone can hire you for and a way to get in touch. Add client
feedback or results only if you have them and can describe them accurately. You don't need to fill
every section of a template (or keep a section that has nothing to say).
Showing your videos
Show finished videos you're willing to put your name to. Choose the opening sample deliberately, then
arrange the rest in an order you'd be happy for someone to watch without any explanation from you.
For each video, add a short label about the content and what you did. If you filmed and edited it, say
that; if your contribution was only part of the finished piece, name that part rather than leaving the
reader to guess.
Keep it playable.
Are you sending a PDF? Include a clear route to the videos, not just still images with no way to
watch. If you're using a link page, label each destination with the work it opens rather than
repeating "watch here."
Heya's embed block supports YouTube and Vimeo, so videos on those services can appear within the site.
Before sending your portfolio, open the version a brand will receive. Check the videos, check their
access settings, and try the page on your phone.
Rates, packages and how to reach you
You can put rates in your portfolio, or ask brands to contact you for a quote. Choose what you're
willing to send in a pitch today. Don't add a price just to fill a template.
If you show a package, describe what's included: the content you'll deliver, the editing you'll
handle, any revisions you're offering. State the usage terms you're offering too, and keep anything
that needs a separate agreement clearly marked rather than leaving it inside a vague package name.
Would you rather quote after hearing the brief? Say that, and ask the brand to send the deliverables
it needs, where it wants to use the content and its deadline.
Make contacting you straightforward. Put an email address or a clearly labelled inquiry route beside
your offer (not only in your social profile).
A Heya button can point to a Google Form or Tally form, and its socials block supports email.
Linktree's Free plan includes email and phone sign-ups. Choose the contact route you'll actually
check.
How we checked
We took every price, limit and feature from each company's own pages, collected on October 29, 2026.
We checked the Carrd and Linktree pages again on November 9, 2026. Heya's details come from its
pricing page and docs, checked on October 30, 2026. The facts come from
beacons.ai/i/pricing,
beacons.ai,
canva.com/pricing,
carrd.com/docs/pro/plans,
carrd.com/pro,
linktr.ee/s/pricing,
heya.page/pricing and
heya.page/docs.
Plans change often. If a number here is out of date, email hello@heya.page and we'll fix it.
FAQ
What is a UGC portfolio?+
A UGC portfolio is a collection of content samples you send to brands when pitching your services.
It can be a website or a document with a clear way to watch your work. Keep it focused on what you
make, what you offer and how someone can contact you about a project.
What should a UGC portfolio include?+
Start with a short introduction and selected work samples, then add your services and contact
details. Label each sample with your contribution and make self-directed work clear. You can
include packages, rates or client feedback if you have them. Leave out empty sections rather than
filling them with claims you can't support.
Can I make a UGC portfolio for free?+
Yes. Beacons has a free-forever plan, Canva has a Free plan for creating portfolio files, and
Carrd has a free Basic experience. Heya's free plan includes up to 3 sites with up to 5 pages per
site and a small badge. Linktree's Free plan includes unlimited basic links to work you've placed
elsewhere.
Should I put my rates in my UGC portfolio?+
You can, but you don't have to. If you publish rates, state what the price covers and the usage
terms you're offering. If you prefer to quote for each project, say that and give brands a clear
way to send a brief. Don't publish a package you aren't ready to offer.
Try Heya free
Pick one of 68 templates or a blank page, edit it on your phone or laptop, and publish on Heya's
Free plan for $0, with no time limit and no credit card.