The Best Squarespace Alternative for Photographers
For most photographers, the best Squarespace alternative is a platform that includes both a portfolio website and client gallery delivery in one subscription. Squarespace is a general-purpose website builder — excellent at what it does, but not built for the specific needs of photographers who also need private client galleries, shoot briefings, and project tracking. This page breaks down the best alternatives and who each one is right for.
Why Photographers Look for Squarespace Alternatives
Squarespace is popular among photographers as a portfolio platform. But it comes with real gaps:
1. No private client galleries Squarespace's gallery blocks are public-facing. You can't password-protect a gallery for client delivery or create a private download experience. Photographers using Squarespace for their portfolio still need a separate gallery tool (Pixieset, Picdrop, etc.) for client delivery.
2. You end up paying for two tools
Squarespace (€13/mo) + gallery tool (€8–€15/mo) = €21–€28/month minimum. That's before briefing tools or project tracking.
3. Manual portfolio updates Every time you complete a shoot worth showing, you have to manually update your Squarespace portfolio page. For photographers doing 20+ shoots per year, this is a significant time cost.
4. Not photography-specific Squarespace is built for everyone — restaurants, businesses, coaches, photographers. The features photographers actually need (sectional galleries, shoot briefings, booking overview) aren't on Squarespace's roadmap because photographers aren't their only audience.
5. Ongoing pricing increases Squarespace has raised prices several times. What started as affordable becomes less so at scale.
The Best Squarespace Alternatives for Photographers
1. Lumeny — Best for photographers who want portfolio + client delivery in one
What it does: Portfolio website (auto-built from your delivered galleries), private client galleries with sections and download PIN protection, shoot briefings, and a booking overview.
Why it's the best Squarespace alternative: Lumeny replaces the Squarespace portfolio and the separate gallery tool in one subscription — at €9–€19/month vs. €21–€28/month for the equivalent stack. The portfolio updates automatically every time you deliver a gallery, so there's no manual work.
Best for: Photographers currently on Squarespace + Pixieset (or similar) who want to simplify and save money.
Price: €9/mo (Solo) | €19/mo (Pro)
2. Format — Best for design-focused photographers
What it does: Premium portfolio website builder with client gallery delivery.
Why it works: Format has beautiful, editorial templates. If your portfolio is the primary client acquisition tool and design quality is non-negotiable, Format is worth the premium.
Best for: Photographers for whom the public-facing website is a core part of their brand.
Price: ~$12/mo (annual)
3. Pixieset — Best for photographers who want a print store
What it does: Client galleries, portfolio website, online store, Studio Manager.
Why it works: Pixieset has a portfolio website builder and client galleries in one platform, plus a built-in print store.
Best for: Photographers who want gallery delivery + portfolio + print sales.
Price: Free tier; paid from ~$8/mo
4. Zenfolio — Best for unlimited photo storage
What it does: Portfolio website, unlimited photo archive, print store, client gallery delivery.
Why it works: If you want to host your entire photo archive (not just client work) alongside your public portfolio, Zenfolio's unlimited storage model is compelling.
Feature Comparison
| Lumeny | Format | Pixieset | Zenfolio | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portfolio Website | Auto-built | Yes (custom) | Yes | Yes |
| Private Client Galleries | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Shoot Briefings | Yes | No | No | No |
| Booking Overview | Yes | No | Via Studio Mgr | No |
| Auto-updated Portfolio | Yes | No | No | No |
| Print Store | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Blog | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| EU Hosting | Yes (DE) | No | No | No |
| Price (entry) | €9/mo | ~$12/mo | ~$8/mo | ~$5/mo |
The Stack You're Trying to Replace
Most photographers on Squarespace are running a stack that looks like this:
| Tool | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|
| Squarespace (Basic) | ~€13 |
| Gallery tool (Pixieset, Picdrop) | ~€8–€15 |
| Briefing system (ad-hoc) | Time cost |
| Total | €21–€28/month |
Lumeny replaces this entire stack for €9–€19/month, and adds shoot briefings that weren't part of the stack at all.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Lumeny instead of Squarespace for my photography website? Yes. Lumeny auto-builds a portfolio from your delivered galleries. It won't match Squarespace's design customization, but for most photographers it's more than sufficient — and it's always up to date.
Is there a Squarespace alternative that includes client galleries? Yes — Lumeny, Format, and Pixieset all include both a portfolio website and client galleries. Lumeny is the only one that also includes shoot briefings and booking overview.
What's the cheapest Squarespace alternative for photographers? Lumeny at €9/month is the most affordable all-in-one option. Pixieset has a free gallery tier but requires separate tools for portfolio and workflow. See cheap photography software for a detailed breakdown.
Is Squarespace worth it for photographers? For photographers who need a blog, a store, or extensive design control — yes. For photographers who primarily need a portfolio and client gallery delivery — Lumeny is likely a better fit.
Replace Squarespace + your gallery tool with one platform
Lumeny covers your portfolio website, private client galleries, shoot briefings, and booking overview — for less than Squarespace alone. Try it free for 14 days.
Try Lumeny FreeWritten by Christian Bauer, founder of Lumeny. He built Lumeny to replace his own Squarespace + gallery tool + briefing document stack — and cut his monthly photography software bill in half in the process.