Tuesday, June 29, 2021

15 Best WordPress Portfolio Themes for Free (+ Portfolio Builder Plugins)

15 Best WordPress Portfolio Themes for Free (+ Portfolio Builder Plugins)

Are you looking for top portfolio themes for your WordPress website? Do you want to review some of the best portfolio builder plugins? Looking for free or low-cost items? If so, then read on!

What is a Portfolio Website?

At its most basic form, a portfolio is a visual representation of your experience. In other words, a portfolio is a showcase of the work (projects) you have done. When built as a  website, it is effectively your resume in online form.

Sample portfolio websiteSample portfolio websiteSample portfolio website

So whether you are an individual freelancer, a local service provider, a small business, or a huge company, you need to create a portfolio website to tell everybody who you are, what experience you have, and what you can do for your customers. There are a lot of benefits in creating a portfolio website, but in short, it helps individuals to get hired by companies and helps companies to attract more customers.

In this collection, I have rounded up some of the best free portfolio themes for WordPress websites. Furthermore, I will show you some portfolio builder plugins to help you create and customize a portfolio on different themes and websites. When you finish reading, you’ll be able to pick a free theme or plugin and create your portfolio website with ease.

Best Free Portfolio Themes for WordPress

The official WordPress website (WordPress repository) is the best source for developers to download free themes. At the time of writing this article, there are more than 8,400 free themes available on wordpress.org.

WordPress websiteWordPress websiteWordPress website

However, if you have enough budget to buy a premium theme, and if you like to use a professional theme for your website, then you can take a look at the premium themes available on ThemeForest.

Premium WordPress themes provide you with pre-made demos, widgets, add-ons, support, and plugins to help you create your portfolio website faster and easier.

ThemeForest websiteThemeForest websiteThemeForest website

If you’d like to find out more about premium themes or want to know what a paid theme offers, read the articles below:

Well, let’s get started with the first free item on this list!

1. Perfect Portfolio

Perfect Portfolio - well-designed WordPress themePerfect Portfolio - well-designed WordPress themePerfect Portfolio - well-designed WordPress theme

Perfect Portfolio is a powerful portfolio theme for WordPress. It comes with a free and premium version and it has also a free child theme (Elegant Portfolio) which helps you create your website with more options and customization.

The free version has almost everything you need and lets you build your entire portfolio website. But if you want to access more fonts, layouts, or color options, then you can upgrade your theme to the pro version.

2. Portfolio Web

Portfolio Web - a WordPress theme for professionalsPortfolio Web - a WordPress theme for professionalsPortfolio Web - a WordPress theme for professionals

Portfolio Web is a minimalist WordPress theme that comes with many options in its customizer. It has a pro version too but you can almost access everything you need on its free version. 

“This theme is perfectly fit for both Personal and Corporate Portfolio websites.”

3. RT Portfolio

RT Portfolio - beautiful WordPress theme for portfolio websitesRT Portfolio - beautiful WordPress theme for portfolio websitesRT Portfolio - beautiful WordPress theme for portfolio websites

There is no classic scrollbar on this modern theme. Visitors can scroll between different parts of the page by clicking on the left-hand menu. This amazing option avoids confusion and helps visitors to explore your portfolio website easier. Take a look at the live preview of the RT Portfolio theme to find out more.

4. Aperture Portfolio

Aperture Portfolio - simple WordPress theme for your portfolio websiteAperture Portfolio - simple WordPress theme for your portfolio websiteAperture Portfolio - simple WordPress theme for your portfolio website

Aperture Portfolio theme uses the WordPress posting system to showcase your portfolio items. This well-designed theme is a good choice for creative agencies and freelancers who want to show their work with grid layouts and large images.

5. Gute Portfolio

Gute Portfolio - Elegant WordPress theme to create portfolio websitesGute Portfolio - Elegant WordPress theme to create portfolio websitesGute Portfolio - Elegant WordPress theme to create portfolio websites

Gute Portfolio is a child theme for Gute theme. Using this child theme you can create your portfolio website in minutes. This theme provides a beautiful slider and a clean environment to introduce yourself, show your ability, and display your experiences on the homepage.

So if you’re looking for a simple and elegant WordPress theme for your personal portfolio website, this child theme can help you build what you need.

6. ePortfolio

ePortfolio - an elegant WordPress themeePortfolio - an elegant WordPress themeePortfolio - an elegant WordPress theme

Photographers, graphic designers, video producers, and web designers often look for a modern and different WordPress theme for their portfolio sites. ePortfolio provides an amazing homepage with a unique design for your website.

It has 3 independent columns on the home page, a static column on the left side, and two scrollable columns in the center and on the right side of the page.

7. BlogJr Portfolio

BlogJr Portfolio - a minimalistic portfolio themeBlogJr Portfolio - a minimalistic portfolio themeBlogJr Portfolio - a minimalistic portfolio theme

BlogJr is a popular lightweight theme for WordPress that comes with a child theme for creating portfolio websites. Using BlogJr Portfolio (the child theme) you can add a masonry portfolio to your website and create a simple portfolio gallery on your fast website.

8. CWW Portfolio

CWW Portfolio - beautiful portfolio theme for WordPressCWW Portfolio - beautiful portfolio theme for WordPressCWW Portfolio - beautiful portfolio theme for WordPress

CWW Portfolio is an easy-to-use theme for portfolio websites. Its modern design, simple hover effects, beautiful slider, and stunning color schemes make this theme one of the best items on this list. 

9. Portfolio Lite

Portfolio Lite - clean WordPress theme for portfolio websitesPortfolio Lite - clean WordPress theme for portfolio websitesPortfolio Lite - clean WordPress theme for portfolio websites

As a free theme, one of the best things about Portfolio lite is that the developer of this theme has paid great attention to the screen sizes and made it completely responsive and mobile-friendly. 

Portfolio Lite is a minimalist theme with a static left-hand menu and a big slider on top of the home page. Its smart design makes this theme a great choice for photographers, web designers, creatives, or anybody who needs to show a big slider on the home page. 

10. Draft Portfolio

Draft Portfolio is simple and fast WordPress themeDraft Portfolio is simple and fast WordPress themeDraft Portfolio is simple and fast WordPress theme

Just like the Aperture Portfolio theme, Draft Portfolio includes a dynamic portfolio gallery on its homepage. It is a very clean and minimalist WordPress theme and lets your visitors focus on the work and projects you have done before.

Many freelancers and companies use minimalism aspects in their portfolio websites. Minimalism helps your visitors to focus on your portfolio and avoid distractions. Take a look at the articles below to find out what a minimalist WordPress theme is and find premium portfolio themes with minimalistic design.

11. WP Portfolio

WP Portfolio - a classic portfolio theme for WordPressWP Portfolio - a classic portfolio theme for WordPressWP Portfolio - a classic portfolio theme for WordPress

WP Portfolio is a well-developed theme that is compatible with almost all popular plugins like WooCommerce and bbPress. Again, the static left-hand menu helps users to explore different parts of your website, and the simple grid layout lets you showcase your works in the best possible light. 

12. Portfolio Magazine

Portfolio Magazine - simple blog theme for portfolio websitesPortfolio Magazine - simple blog theme for portfolio websitesPortfolio Magazine - simple blog theme for portfolio websites

Simple and easy to use! This is a lightweight news and magazine theme, but as it has an eye-catching image gallery on the homepage, you can use it as a portfolio theme for your website. 

In other words, Portfolio Magazine lets you use the blog posts (WordPress posting system) as a portfolio builder and help you showcase the portfolio items in a blog style, on the home page.

13. CleanPortfolio

CleanPortfolio - a well-developed WordPress theme for portfolio sitesCleanPortfolio - a well-developed WordPress theme for portfolio sitesCleanPortfolio - a well-developed WordPress theme for portfolio sites

CleanPortfolio is another elegant portfolio theme for WordPress. It is absolutely free and has a clean structure that makes it a good choice for you to build your portfolio website.

“Its vast range of features makes it easier for creative people like photographers, bloggers, designers, illustrators, and more to showcase their experience and expertise to the world at large.”

14. Brix Portfolio

Brix Portfolio - a portfolio theme for creatives and designersBrix Portfolio - a portfolio theme for creatives and designersBrix Portfolio - a portfolio theme for creatives and designers

Large images, simple environment, minimalistic design, and an AJAX menu! Everything you expect from a simple portfolio theme. Brix Portfolio can be a beneficial choice for photographers, illustrators, web designers, and other content creators. 

15. Online Portfolio

Online Portfolio - a good theme for personal portfolio websitesOnline Portfolio - a good theme for personal portfolio websitesOnline Portfolio - a good theme for personal portfolio websites

And here is the last theme on this list: Online Portfolio. It is a classic WordPress theme for personal portfolio websites. Athletes, actors, models, or even programmers and other freelancers can use this theme for their portfolio websites.

Best Portfolio Plugins for WordPress (Free and Paid)

Having reviewed the best portfolio themes available on the WordPress repository, now let's go further and review some of the best portfolio plugins for WordPress. Using these plugins, you will be able to create a custom portfolio for your website on the different WordPress themes. All you need is to build your portfolio and add it to a page on your website.

There are different places for downloading free or paid portfolio plugins. As you may already know there are numerous free plugins available on the WordPress repository. But if you would prefer to use a premium plugin, then you can buy it from CodeCanyon or download it from Envato Elements.

1. Portfolio Gallery – Image Gallery Plugin

Portfolio Gallery is a free portfolio builder plugin for WordPressPortfolio Gallery is a free portfolio builder plugin for WordPressPortfolio Gallery is a free portfolio builder plugin for WordPress

This free WordPress plugin helps you create portfolio galleries and image grids. It has a pro version but the free version is still very usable and good enough to get your online portfolio started.

2. Go Portfolio - WordPress Responsive Portfolio

Go Portfolio - powerful portfolio plugin for WordPressGo Portfolio - powerful portfolio plugin for WordPressGo Portfolio - powerful portfolio plugin for WordPress

Go Portfolio is a pro plugin available on CodeCanyon you can use to create different things like portfolio galleries. This useful plugin lets you create new post types so you can make any other galleries for your website and use them to improve your websites in different ways.

3. Fast Portfolio & Grid Elementor WordPress Plugin

Fast Portfolio & Grid Elementor WordPress Plugin has many portfolio widgets for ElementorFast Portfolio & Grid Elementor WordPress Plugin has many portfolio widgets for ElementorFast Portfolio & Grid Elementor WordPress Plugin has many portfolio widgets for Elementor

The Elementor page builder is one of the best choices for creating portfolios on a WordPress website. Elementor has a live editor and lets you access add-ons and widgets that help you create awesome portfolios and galleries in minutes.

This plugin (Fast Portfolio & Grid Elementor WordPress Plugin) will add some more widgets to this popular page builder and make you able to create your portfolio website with more options.

4. WordPress Portfolio Builder – Portfolio Gallery

WordPress Portfolio Builder is a free and easy-to-use plugin for portfolio websitesWordPress Portfolio Builder is a free and easy-to-use plugin for portfolio websitesWordPress Portfolio Builder is a free and easy-to-use plugin for portfolio websites

As a free plugin, It is a professional portfolio builder with many options and features. Using this plugin you can create different portfolio layouts. You can also add videos to your portfolio from Vimeo or YouTube.

5. Portfolio (By RadiusTheme)

Portfolio - a useful portfolio builder for WordPressPortfolio - a useful portfolio builder for WordPressPortfolio - a useful portfolio builder for WordPress

Portfolio (by RadiusTheme) is an easy-to-use and useful portfolio builder plugin for WordPress. This plugin lets you create your portfolio and showcase your work and projects as a widget, slider, or a part of your pages.

Create a Free WordPress Portfolio Today

Pick a WordPress theme or plugin and start your portfolio website today. If you're still wondering, or if you need more collections to choose from, take a look at the articles below to find what you’re looking for.


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