Building a stunning portfolio to wow future clients? You’re going to need the right tools for the job. Development agencies no longer rely on cookie-cutter templates. Today, website builders offer powerful, innovative features that help agencies shine online.
TLDR:
Modern website builders like Webflow and Editor X help agencies create dynamic, engaging portfolios with ease. They’re flexible, stylish, and perfect for showing off your best work. Many include animation features and client-friendly CMS tools. It’s never been easier—or more fun—to impress online.
Why Portfolios Matter More Than Ever
Your website is your front door. First impressions count. In a crowded market, you need to stand out. A flashy, functional portfolio lets potential clients know what you’re made of—fast.
Luckily, there are new website builders made just for devs and designers who want total control over their vision. No more clunky systems. No more code struggles (unless you want them).
What Makes a Website Builder “Innovative”?
An innovative builder goes beyond drag-and-drop. It offers creative freedom while supporting responsive design and interactive functionality. Plus, a good builder should let you:
- Customize everything with little or no code
- Create animations and transitions
- Collaborate with teams smoothly
- Provide easy updates for clients through a CMS
We looked at features, ease of use, design flexibility, and pricing to find top builders that help agencies look amazing online.
1. Webflow – Designer’s Playground
Best for: Designers who love control and clients who want easy updates.
Webflow is like Photoshop meets front-end code. You design visually but get clean, production-ready code under the hood. Want scrolling animations? No sweat. Need CMS power? Built right in.
You can create things like:
- Beautiful case studies
- Team bio pages
- Interactive sliders
- Sneaky navigation menus
Pros:
- Total design freedom
- CMS for blogs, projects, and more
- Great hosting and performance
Cons:
- Slight learning curve
- A bit pricey for small teams
2. Editor X – Made for Teams
Best for: Agencies working in teams who need pixel-perfect sites.
Editor X is like Wix’s cooler, edgier sibling. It’s sleek. It’s powerful. It’s designed with pros in mind. You get advanced responsive tools, grid layering, and seamless collaboration features.
This makes it great for bigger agency teams where designers, developers, and content managers work together.
Standout features include:
- Live breakpoint editing
- Flexible design grid
- Built-in CMS
Pros:
- Powerful for responsive layouts
- Team-focused tools
- Sleek UI and flexibility
Cons:
- Still newer compared to others
- Can feel overwhelming at first
3. Framer – Lightning-Fast Sites with Flair
Best for: Developers who want to build fast, interactive sites without wrestling code.
Framer blends design and function like magic. You can draw your components, use smart animations, and even plug in data. Then, publish it live with one click. It’s super fast, and the results feel like custom-coded sites.
Key perks:
- Real-time interactive design
- Lottie animation support
- Mobile-first features
Pros:
- Super quick to build and deploy
- Smooth scrolling and animations
- Perfect for showcasing tech-savvy projects
Cons:
- Limited CMS features (for now)
- Better suited to designers comfortable with prototyping
4. WordPress + Elementor – Familiar but Fresh
Best for: Agencies that want full plugin access and robust SEO options.
Still the king of the web, WordPress becomes even better with Elementor, its drag-and-drop builder plugin. You can create custom layouts, animations, and interactions, all without touching the code (unless you want to).
Use it to:
- Build flexible layouts
- Integrate third-party tools easily
- Support big content sites
Pros:
- Familiar and trusted
- Open-source with tons of flexibility
- Gigantic plugin ecosystem
Cons:
- Can get cluttered if unmanaged
- Requires routine maintenance
5. Squarespace – Sleek and Stylish
Best for: Small creative agencies that want quick, trendy results.
Squarespace may not be the most flexible, but its elegance wins hearts quickly. The templates are built by top designers, and whether you’re showcasing photos, brand stories, or work samples… it looks great.
It may not please hardcore developers, but for fast, minimal setups? It’s a dream.
Why you’ll love it:
- Quick setup
- Stunning templates
- Reliable hosting included
Pros:
- All-in-one simplicity
- Modern designs
- Easy for non-developers
Cons:
- Limited advanced design freedom
- Rigid templates compared to others
Bonus: Notion + Super (or Potion)
Best for: Experimental portfolios and content-driven showcases.
This one’s unconventional. Write your portfolio in Notion, then use tools like Super or Potion to turn it into a fully responsive site. Think of it as a productivity-meets-portfolio hack. Modern. Clean. Minimal. And kind of fun.
Just keep in mind:
- This isn’t great for animation
- Not idea for complex designs
- But perfect for lean, simple sites
Final Thoughts – Which One Should You Pick?
It depends on your team and your projects! Here’s a quick wrap-up to help:
- Webflow – Great for creative freedom and complex visuals.
- Editor X – Perfect for agencies with multiple collaborators.
- Framer – Ideal for animation lovers and fast prototypes.
- WordPress + Elementor – Best for content-heavy sites and SEO pros.
- Squarespace – Quick, beautiful, and hassle-free design.
- Notion + Super – For minimalist lovers who want something clever.
Whatever you pick, remember: your portfolio is your calling card. It should speak your agency’s voice, show off your best work, and impress future clients. These tools will let you do all that—and have fun while you’re at it!