Best website builders for architects in 2026: Format ($120/yr), Pixpa ($4.05/mo), Squarespace ($19/mo), Wix ($0 or $204/yr), Cargo, and Heya ($0 or $3/mo) compared

The short answer

Best for large image portfolios Format Pro costs $12 per month billed annually for 1,500 high-resolution images, 100 GB of storage, 50 client galleries, and built-in client contracts.
Cheapest paid portfolio site Pixpa starts at $4.05 per month billed 2-yearly for 10 pages, 200 images, and client proofing galleries, or $6.75 per month billed 2-yearly for unlimited images.
Best all-in-one studio site Squarespace starts at $19 per month and includes the Fluid Engine drag-and-drop editor, an Asset Library, Acuity Scheduling, and invoicing for proposals and contracts.
Best quick free project page Heya Free costs $0 for up to 5 pages and up to 200 images per site at 2048 pixels on the long edge, with 68 templates.

Architect website builders compared side by side

Here is how the six platforms compare on free plans, starting prices, custom domains, image and storage limits, and client tools.

Builder	Free plan or trial	Cheapest paid plan	Custom domain	Image and storage limits	Client galleries and contracts
Heya	Free plan ($0, up to 5 pages)	$3/mo (Pro Lite, 20 pages)	On Pro Standard ($6/mo, 1 custom domain per account, up to 5 sites)	Up to 200 files/site, 20 MB each, 2048 px	Image blocks; link out to your client portal
Format	14-day free trial	$10/mo billed annually ($14/mo normal)	Free for 1 yr on Pro/Pro Plus annual	70 to unlimited images; up to 1 TB storage	10 to 250 client galleries; contracts on Pro+
Pixpa	15-day free trial	$4.05/mo billed 2-yearly (from $9)	Free for year 1, renews at Ionos rates	200 to unlimited images; 3 GB to 100 GB	Client galleries with proofing and comments
Squarespace	14-day free trial	$19/month (Basic)	Free custom domain on Basic plan	Asset Library, unlimited bandwidth	Invoicing for proposals, contracts, invoices
Wix	Free plan ($0, Wix domain)	$17/mo billed yearly (Light)	Free for 1 yr on annual Premium plans	2 GB (Light) to unlimited (Business Elite)	Built-in CRM, unified inbox, scheduling
Cargo	Not stated	Not stated	Not stated	Not stated	Peer showcase network and community

Swipe the table sideways to see every column.

Not stated means the provider's supplied materials did not list that detail on October 28, 2026.

Detailed breakdown of each website builder

Format

14-day trial; from $10/month billed annually

Format is a portfolio builder with a Flex Block drag-and-drop canvas, Lightroom integration, copyright protection, and a 14-day free trial. Format Basic is $10 per month billed annually, Pro is $12 per month billed annually, and Pro Plus is $15 per month billed annually.

Better at: High-resolution image storage up to 1 TB, Lightroom integration, client galleries, and client contracts.
Watch out: Basic plan allows only 70 high-resolution images, no custom fonts, and no custom code editor.

Pixpa

15-day trial; from $4.05/month billed 2-yearly

Pixpa gives you 200+ templates, client galleries with proofing, and a 15-day free trial. The Basic plan costs $4.05 per month billed 2-yearly for 10 pages and 200 images, while Creator at $6.75 per month billed 2-yearly includes unlimited images.

Better at: Low 2-yearly introductory pricing, student discount up to 55%, and client proofing galleries.
Watch out: Lowest advertised prices require a 2-year billing commitment and include a 25% first-period discount.

Squarespace

14-day trial; from $19/month

Squarespace pairs its Fluid Engine drag-and-drop editor and Blueprint AI generator with an Asset Library, Invoicing, and Acuity Scheduling. After a 14-day free trial, paid plans start at $19 per month for Basic and $29 per month for Core.

Better at: Built-in invoicing for proposals and contracts, Acuity Scheduling, unlimited bandwidth, and custom domains.
Watch out: No permanent free plan, and paid plans start higher than Pixpa, Format, or Heya.

Wix

Free; paid from $17/month billed yearly

Wix has over 2000 customizable templates, a drag-and-drop editor, and a built-in CRM. You can use the $0 Free plan with Wix branding, or upgrade to Light at $17 per month (2 GB storage) or Core at $29 per month, both billed yearly.

Better at: Over 2000 templates, up to 100 collaborators on Business Elite, built-in CRM, and free tier.
Watch out: Cheapest paid plan ($17 per month billed yearly) caps storage at 2 GB, which fills quickly with large renders.

Cargo

Pricing not stated

Cargo is a site builder made for designers and artists who want to display their work and bring in jobs and clients. Along with its templates, Cargo runs a peer network and community that showcases member sites and projects.

Better at: Designed specifically for artists and designers, with a built-in peer showcase community.
Watch out: Pricing, storage limits, and custom domain details are not stated in the supplied data.

Heya

Free; Pro Lite $3/mo; Pro Standard $6/mo

Our builder, Heya, is made for small sites and includes 68 templates. Heya Free is $0 for up to 5 pages per site at yourname.heya.bio, while Pro Lite costs $3 a month for up to 20 pages per site.

Better at: Free plan, paid upgrades starting at $3 a month on Pro Lite, 68 templates, and phone editing.
Watch out: Custom domains require Pro Standard ($6 a month), Free sites show a small badge and allow up to 5 pages per site, and images resize to 2048px.

What an architect website needs: project photos and image limits

Architectural portfolios depend on detailed photos, floor plans, and renderings, so image and storage caps decide which plan you need. On Format, Basic ($10 per month billed annually) caps you at 70 high-resolution images and 10 pages, while Pro ($12 per month billed annually) holds 1,500 images and Pro Plus ($15 per month billed annually) has unlimited images and 1 TB of storage. Pixpa's Basic plan ($4.05 per month billed 2-yearly) fits 200 images, and Creator ($6.75 per month billed 2-yearly) allows unlimited images.

Wix ties storage to tiers, from 2 GB on Light ($17 per month for a yearly subscription) to unlimited on Business Elite ($159 per month for a yearly subscription), while Squarespace starts at $19 per month with unlimited bandwidth. For a compact showcase, Heya takes up to 200 files per site (up to 20 MB each), resizing images to 2048 pixels on the long edge in WebP.

When a dedicated platform is worth paying for

Established architecture practices often need custom domains, client portals, proposals, and multi-staff access that basic builders skip. Format Pro and Pro Plus give you 50 to 250 client galleries, client contracts, CRM Light, and custom code access. Pixpa includes client galleries with proofing and secure file delivery on every plan, while Squarespace offers Invoicing for proposals and contracts, Acuity Scheduling, and unlimited contributors on its $29 per month Core plan. Wix adds a built-in CRM, a unified inbox, and 2 to 100 collaborators.

By contrast, our builder, Heya, is made for one-page and small sites, though Heya Pro Standard costs $6 a month and includes up to 5 sites and 1 custom domain per account. Heya lets you link a button to a Google Form or Tally form for client inquiries, or embed Google Maps and a Calendly scheduling page.

Free plans vs paid plans for architecture portfolios

Only two builders here let you publish a live site for $0: Wix and Heya. Wix's $0 Free plan requires no credit card and gives you its drag-and-drop editor and templates on a Wix domain with Wix branding. Heya Free also costs $0 with no credit card and no time limit, giving you up to 3 sites and 5 pages per site at yourname.heya.bio with a small Made with Heya badge.

Squarespace and Format only offer 14-day free trials before you have to pay, while Pixpa has a 15-day free trial and up to 55% off for students and educators. If you just want to drop the branding and add pages, Heya Pro Lite is $3 a month for up to 20 pages per site, while removing Wix branding starts at $17 per month billed yearly.

How to set up an architect site on Heya with the template

If you want a clean project overview without monthly bills, you can start building on Heya right in your browser on a computer or phone, without making an account. Pick a template from our 68 templates and customize it using 42 fonts, 14 theme presets, and a 5-color palette. You can arrange up to 40 sections per page, upload up to 200 images (up to 20 MB each), and embed YouTube or Vimeo videos, Google Maps, and a Calendly page.

When you're ready, sign in with Google to publish at yourname.heya.bio with automatic HTTPS, sitemap.xml, and robots.txt.

Open the architects template in the editor or see what it includes.

How we checked

We compared Format, Pixpa, Squarespace, Wix, Cargo, and Heya using each platform's published plan features, pricing tiers, storage and image rules, and portfolio tools. Every number and feature in this guide comes directly from those verified product specifications. The facts come from cargo.site, format.com/pricing, pixpa.com/pricing, squarespace.com/pricing, squarespace.com/websites, wix.com/plans, wix.com, heya.page/pricing, heya.page/docs.

Plans change often. If a number here is out of date, email hello@heya.page and we'll fix it.

FAQ

Which website builder is best for high-resolution architectural photography?

Format and Pixpa are best because they are built around image limits and original file storage. Format Pro ($12 per month billed annually) holds 1,500 high-resolution images, and Pro Plus ($15 per month billed annually) allows unlimited images and 1 TB of storage. Pixpa gives you unlimited images from $6.75 per month billed 2-yearly on Creator, with up to 100 GB for original files on Advanced ($11.25 per month billed 2-yearly).

Can I build an architecture portfolio website for free?

Yes, Wix and Heya both have $0 free plans with no credit card required. Wix Free uses a Wix domain and Wix branding, while Heya Free has no time limit and gives you up to 5 pages per site and 200 images at yourname.heya.bio with a small Made with Heya badge. Squarespace and Format have 14-day free trials, and Pixpa has a 15-day free trial.

Is there a student discount for architecture students building a portfolio?

Yes, Pixpa gives students and educators up to 55% off all of its plans. If you only need up to 5 pages and 200 images, you can also use Heya Free for $0, or pay $3 a month for Heya Pro Lite to get up to 20 pages and remove the Heya badge.

Does Heya support custom domains and project inquiries for an architecture firm?

You can connect a domain you own on Pro Standard ($6 a month, 1 custom domain) or Pro Plus ($15 a month, up to 10 custom domains), while Free ($0) and Pro Lite ($3 a month) sites publish at yourname.heya.bio. For client inquiries, link a button to a Google Form or Tally form, add your email and phone in the socials block, or embed a Calendly scheduling page.

How does Heya handle large architectural renderings and photos?

Heya takes uploaded images up to 20 MB each, up to 200 files per site. We automatically resize every image to 2048 pixels on the long edge and convert it to WebP. If you need to store or deliver unresized original files, look at Format (up to 1 TB storage) or Pixpa (up to 100 GB for original files).

How does Heya handle project images on an architecture portfolio?

Heya supports up to 200 files per site and up to 20 MB per image. Uploaded images are automatically resized to 2048 pixels on the long edge and converted to WebP for fast loading.

Best website builders for architects and architecture portfolios in 2026