I’ve spent longer than I care to admit testing different website builders, only to find most of them slowed me down or buried my work in a clunky website.

That’s when I tried beehiiv.

In just a couple of hours, I had a modern, visual portfolio that I was super proud of. No difficult code, just a streamlined process that made my work look as good online as it does in person.

And I’m not the only one - beehiiv has showcased 24 websites built entirely on the beehiiv website builder, proving that sleek, professional websites are possible without hiring a developer or writing a single line of code.

This article will explain my journey to finding the best portfolio website builder, from why I needed an effective builder in the first place, to how I built my own site with beehiiv.

Finding a portfolio website builder that wasn’t overcomplicated felt difficult.

Most of the tools I tried were overly cluttered with features I didn’t need, were slow to load, or obscured my work with generic templates that I’d seen 100 times before.

I knew that in 2025, web visitors would choose within seconds whether to keep browsing or explore a different site - after all, people form a first impression in just 0.05 seconds, so I knew I needed something easy to use that provided a speedy, super intuitive user journey, and ultimately left a lasting first impression with my audience.

After testing out some different layouts, I settled on one that emphasized visual hierarchy. It had a full-width hero image at the top, which displayed my best work, and then supporting work below in a minimalist style.

I found that minimal design worked best, removing distractions and ensuring my work featured center stage.

Here’s how I built my portfolio using beehiiv’s Styles, Layouts, and Settings to build a simple, sharp portfolio that I could use and easily update for years to come.

The first element I tackled in beehiiv’s Website Builder was the Styles panel.

I set global fonts that matched my brand guidelines for consistency, and added my brand colors so the site felt instantly recognizable to my audience.

This meant every heading, button, and link automatically matched the rest of my online presence - no manual tweaking needed.

I also used the mobile preview feature constantly to make sure my portfolio looks as sharp on a phone as it does on a desktop, since in 2025, more and more people check portfolios on smaller screens first.

I found that beehiiv’s drag-and-drop Layout tools made it simple for me to display the projects I wanted to showcase most.

I began by placing a Featured Projects section at the top, and used clear thumbnail images and concise titles. This helped my website visitors instantly get a feel for what I do.

Next, I added a short, friendly About Me bio section to give context about my brand without too much overwhelming copy. 

Keeping my home page lean allowed my work to take center stage, with no scrolling past filler content to get to the good stuff.

A good-looking site is great, but what I really needed was a polished site that left a lasting first impression - that’s where the Settings tab came in.

In beehiiv’s Settings, I was able to update the SEO title and meta description so search engines would know exactly what my site offers.

I added social media links to connect my portfolio to my other platforms, and uploaded a favicon so the tab matched my branding, too.

Before clicking publish, I double-checked all of my metadata. A few minutes of prep here can make all the difference when it comes to your presence in the search engine results pages - plus, it looks more professional when sharing.

Why Listen to Me? I have been working in the digital marketing space for nearly 10 years, predominantly helping brands with their email marketing and online presence. I now specialize in creating great content for beehiiv to help people nail their email strategies!

After testing several portfolio platforms, beehiiv stood out because it combines simplicity with extra tools that helped my work reach the right people.

Below are some of my favorite beehiiv features that make it excel over other website builders.

With beehiiv, I love that I can send portfolio updates, grow subscriber emails, and showcase my projects all from one dashboard. This meant I wasn’t having to juggle multiple services or worry about integrating clashing tools. 

Combining portfolio showcasing with email is particularly good for freelancers and creatives struggling with client outreach, as you can share your work instantly and invite potential clients to connect directly through your mailing list.

This all-in-one approach is a big reason creators trust beehiiv. For example, GRIT Capital migrated 360,000 subscribers to beehiiv, calling it a “Swiss Army knife for newsletters,” because it unified their publishing, emails, and growth tools in one dashboard. Check out the full case study here!

Adding new projects or blog-style updates is super quick with the beehiiv website builder. I like using beehiiv’s Preview Tool to check how each update looks, and then toggle to mobile view to make sure it looks good on smaller screens too.

I aim to post one fresh piece every week, keeping my portfolio current and giving both search engines and returning visitors a reason to return.

Two of the biggest frustrations I had with other builders were slow load times and cluttered templates. Something I love about beehiiv is that it keeps its designs lightweight and optimized, straight out of the box.

I didn’t have to tweak endless settings or strip away unnecessary elements - the site just worked. That speed and simplicity means my portfolio loads quickly for every website visitor, giving a stronger first impression and keeping people exploring my work for longer.

Creating a polished online portfolio used to feel like a job in and of itself. With beehiiv, I was able to launch a fast, professional site that highlighted my best work. I loved that I could do this without needing to hire a designer or spend weeks learning how to use a new platform.

Starting with a one-page layout made the process even smoother, and I was able to expand this later if I needed to. What mattered most was that my site would load quickly, look super modern, and give me a professional edge when sharing my work.

If you’ve been putting off building your portfolio, beehiiv’s website builder is a super-fast way to get started. Try it for yourself with a 30-day free trial, and see how easy it is to put your best work front and center.

The best portfolio websites load quickly and make work easy to find. 

Tools like beehiiv stand out as portfolio website builders because they combine simple design options with fast publishing, ensuring projects look great and load fast.

For most people, an all-in-one builder with hosting included is easiest. beehiiv, Squarespace, and Webflow all bundle hosting, so you don’t have to manage servers or settings separately. 

Wix can be good for portfolios thanks to its wide range of templates, but, in my experience, it can feel cluttered and tricky to customize. For speed, simplicity, and fewer distractions, lighter builders like beehiiv are better for building a sharp, professional portfolio site.

The best website builder depends on your needs. For example, beehiiv is a great choice for creatives who want to build a portfolio with a modern design quickly and with integrated email tools.