Format 2026: Benefits, Features & Pricing

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On this page

Overview
Pricing and Plans
Features
User Reviews

Overview

Format

4.7

(207)

Pricing

Starting at $7.00 per month

About Format

Format is a web-based portfolio-building platform that combines the capabilities of cloud storage, client proofing, and portfolio designing tools. It’s primarily used by photographers, videographers, illustrators, architects, models, graphic designers, influencers, and other creatives.

Besides portfolio management and media enhancement, this tool also includes data protection, website creation, and search engine optimization capabilities. Users can upload their images and videos from the centralized dashboard, select their layout and preferred theme from the media reels, build standalone websites, and develop mobile-responsive online stores with custom templates.

Format does away with the need for coding with its built-in design editor. It lets content producers create gallery pages with space for displaying, promoting, and sharing artwork. Integrating with Capture One and Adobe Lightroom, the platform facilitates data-sharing while also offering the option to collaborate via photo proofing.

Format Screenshots

Format Pricing and Plans

Starting price: $7.00 per month

Free Trial

Free Version

Portfolio Basic

$7.00

per user, per month

Plan includes:

10 Client Galleries
24/7 Customer Support
2 GB File Transfers
Award-Winning Templates (Starter Theme)
Client Contracts
Copyright Protection
CRM Light
Free Mobile App
Gallery Password Protection
High-Resolution Images (100)

Portfolio Pro

$8.00

flat rate, per month

Plan includes:

100gb Photo Storage
1500 High-Resolution Images
15% Format Market Commission
15 Minutes of Hosted Video
All Features of Portfolio Basic
Commission Free Online Store (3 Products)
Free Custom Domain
Template Themes
Unlimited Webste Pages

Portfolio Pro Plus

$13.00

flat rate, per month

Plan includes:

120 Minutes of Hosted Video
5% Format Marketplace Commission
All Features of Portfolio Pro
Commission Free Online Store (1000 Products)
Email Subscriber Form
Photography Business Masterclass
Plus: Priority Support
Premium Design Features
Unlimited High-Resolution Images
Website Build Service (Free With Annual Plan)

Workflow Free

Pricing available upon request

Plan includes:

10 Client Galleries
24/7 Customer Support
2gb File Transfers.
Client Contracts
CRM Light
Gallery Password Protection

Workflow Pro

Pricing available upon request

Plan includes:

50 Client Galleries
5 GB File Transfers
All Features of Workflow Free Plan
Free Custom Domain.
Plus: Unlimited Contacts for CRM Light

Workflow Pro Plus

Pricing available upon request

Plan includes:

10 GB File Transfers.
250 Client Galleries
All Features of Workflow Pro
Plus: Priority Support

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Format Features

Popular features found in eCommerce
CRM
Data Security
Inventory Management
Mobile Access
Multi-Channel Marketing
Multi-Store
Promotions Management
Returns Management
SEO Management
Shipping Management
More features of Format
Activity Dashboard
Activity Tracking
Alerts/Notifications
Auto Update
Content Library
Content Management
Customizable Templates
Data Import/Export
Design Management
Drag & Drop
Image Editing
Image Library
Landing Pages/Web Forms
Online Store Builder
Photo Proofing
Pre-built Templates
Project Management
Real Time Editing
Real-Time Updates
SSL Security
Templates
Website Management

Format User Reviews

Overall Rating

4.7

Ratings Breakdown

78%

19%

Secondary Ratings

Ease of Use

4.7

Value for money

4.6

Customer support

4.8

Functionality

4.4

Lydia B.

Verified reviewer

Photography

2-10 employees

Used daily for more than 2 years

Review source

Reviewed October 2019

Best website service out there!

I’m able to use this service for all my online display needs. As a photographer, it’s critical to be able to display my professional portfolio as well as individual client galleries, a contact and services page and list of qualifications. This service allows me to EASILY customize and provide all of these.

Ratings Breakdown

Ease of use

Value for money

Customer support

Functionality

Pros:

There’s nothing I don’t like about about this software. I can’t wait to be completely switched over from my current website provider. My favorite thing about this service is the ability to easily manipulate my website from the app.

Cons:

Honestly I can’t think of a single thing I don’t like about Format. Other than maybe the fact that everything in life can’t be this easy and friendly.

Reasons for switching to Format

More affordable, better customer service, much more user friendly

Heather F.

Verified reviewer

Graphic Design

Self-Employed

Used monthly for more than 2 years

Review source

Reviewed November 2022

There are better options now

At the time I started my website, Format's pricing was competitive with the market. It seemed to offer enough features and service quality to be worth the price. Now that a few years have passed, it seems there are more cost effective options.

Ratings Breakdown

Ease of use

Value for money

Functionality

Pros:

It seemed to be really designed with creative professionals in mind. I liked that I didn't have to skim through tons of templates and features for blogs and other non-portfolio based website structures. It also has a great design sensibility. I felt I could easily create a clean looking portfolio that emphasized my artwork, as opposed to distracting the user with a flashy design.

Cons:

For the price I was paying, I felt that I wasn't getting the most out of my investment. The caps on the number of images or projects I could include felt very limiting, but the next tier of subscription felt above my budget and was filled with other perks and features that I didn't need and didn't want to be paying for.

Reasons for switching to Format

Squarespace increased their prices at the time.

Chi L.

Verified reviewer

Photography

Self-Employed

Used weekly for more than 2 years

Review source

Reviewed August 2019

Portfolio for Artists

Ratings Breakdown

Ease of use

Value for money

Previously 4

Customer support

Functionality

Pros:

- Easy to navigate - Inexpensive - Simple to use - Many templates and themes that fit your style

Cons:

To be honest? None. Because the pricing and customer service are better than anywhere else.

Jay L.

Verified reviewer

Photography

Self-Employed

Used weekly for less than 12 months

Review source

Reviewed November 2019

The ABSOLUTE BEST WEBSITE BUILDER for artists, photographers, and creatives!

CUSTOMER SERVICE is top notch, and many of them are artists themselves. I love those folks, they’re all very friendly and helpful.

Ratings Breakdown

Ease of use

Value for money

Customer support

Functionality

Pros:

GORGEOUS, BEAUTIFUL, and CREATIVE themes made for artists. The themes feel like you walked into a web site gallery! No unnecessary clutter that distracts the viewer from the artwork. The software is kept up to date and its easy to use.

Cons:

No problems , I like it once I learned how to navigate it.

Reasons for choosing Format

The customer service was much better at Format.

Reasons for switching to Format

Format is built for artists and is a much better portfolio platform.

Verified

Reviewer

Photography

Self-Employed

Used daily for more than 2 years

Review source

Reviewed October 2018

Great Marketting Tool but in need of updates for photographers

Really incredible, their customer service is second to none, everyone in the team is very knowledgeable about their software and willing to walk you through anything you need to know

Ratings Breakdown

Ease of use

Value for money

Customer support

Functionality

Pros:

This is a great visual software that showcases my work really well

Cons:

The best photography display option for me does not go fully across the screen- it would be great to have a bit more flexibility with the software to enable this and other updates so that the display matches the current trends.

Verified

Reviewer

Broadcast Media

2-10 employees

Used daily for more than 2 years

Review source

Reviewed December 2018

Beautiful website for creatives

Ratings Breakdown

Ease of use

Value for money

Customer support

Functionality

Pros:

Easy to use, simple, designs up to date and responsive

Cons:

Even though the company is based in Canada (Toronto), there is no option to be charged in $CAD.

Greg G.

Verified reviewer

Photography

2-10 employees

Used monthly for more than 2 years

Review source

Reviewed May 2019

Basic photo sharing site with tons of issues

Ratings Breakdown

Ease of use

Value for money

Customer support

Functionality

Pros:

I used Format to set up a photo portfolio site for someone who is very technology-phobic. He uses Lightroom to edit photos and wanted something easy that integrated with LR and allowed him to upload photos directly to the app. Format does this - and has nice enough galleries.

Cons:

Don't use Format if you want to do much customization. There are limits on everything, and it seems that the people who created it don't truly understand the needs of photographers who want something a little beyond the box. While you can change font sizes and such, you are stuck with their minimal design options and if you like something from one design/theme, you can't have it in another.

Verified

Reviewer

Retail

51-200 employees

Used weekly for more than 2 years

Review source

Reviewed December 2017

My time with Format has been amazing. The customer service has gone above and beyond!

Ratings Breakdown

Ease of use

Value for money

Customer support

Functionality

Pros:

I love that this website is catered to creatives and allows for maximum options for refining the website to your needs.

Cons:

Better options for the online store within their price plans. I would like to see a partnership with external online shops (e.g. SmugMug)

Sam D.

Verified reviewer

Higher Education

1001-5000 employees

Used weekly for less than 2 years

Review source

Reviewed June 2018

Fantastic ease of use

A great website at a fantastic cost.

Ratings Breakdown

Ease of use

Value for money

Customer support

Functionality

Pros:

The best thing about this software is the price, I went from livebooks to format and will never go back.

Cons:

There is very very little I don't like about the software. It is very easy to use. If I had a complaint it would be for more variety and more options but this is minor.

Nic G.

Verified reviewer

Food Production

2-10 employees

Used daily for less than 6 months

Review source

Reviewed January 2019

Great for opening an online store!

Ratings Breakdown

Ease of use

Value for money

Customer support

Functionality

Pros:

The main factor that brought us to Format was the ability to easily setup and maintain an online store to sell our products. All the payments go thru Paypal, so there is no worries of unsecured transactions happening! Format also makes it really easy to set up discount codes for customers to use. The price per year is also really hard to beat for the features that are included.

Cons:

I've been using Format for about 4 months and haven't ran into any issues so far!

Showing 1 - 10 of 207 Reviews

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