How to Create a Free Portfolio Website Using Notion
In today’s competitive job market, having a professional portfolio website is no longer optional—it’s essential. But not everyone has the technical skills to build one from scratch or the budget to hire a developer. That’s where Notion comes in. This powerful productivity tool has evolved into one of the easiest and most flexible ways to create a stunning portfolio website without spending a dime.
Why Notion for Your Portfolio Website?
Let’s be honest traditional website builders can be overwhelming. Between choosing hosting, learning design principles, and figuring out how to make everything mobile-responsive, the process can quickly become frustrating.
Notion simplifies everything by offering an all-in-one solution that feels more like working in a document than building a website. And honestly? That’s where most people go wrong—they overcomplicate their portfolio when what they really need is something clean, functional, and easy to update.
The Real Benefits of Using Notion for Your Portfolio
| Benefit | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Zero Cost | No hosting fees, domain costs, or premium templates needed |
| No Coding Required | Build everything with simple drag-and-drop blocks |
| Easy to Update | Change content in seconds without FTP or CMS headaches |
| Professional Design | Clean, minimal aesthetics that focus on your work |
| Responsive by Default | Looks great on all devices without extra effort |
| Built-in Analytics | See who’s viewing your portfolio with simple integration |
Getting Started: Setting Up Your Notion Account
Before diving into building your portfolio, you’ll need to set up your Notion workspace. Here’s what worked for me when getting started:
- Create a free account at notion.so
- Familiarize yourself with the basic block system (text, images, tables, etc.)
- Create a new page specifically for your portfolio website
Most people overlook this, but it really matters: keep your portfolio in a separate page from your personal notes and projects. This creates a cleaner workspace and makes it easier to publish only what you want the world to see.
Designing Your Portfolio Structure
The beauty of Notion is its flexibility, but this can also be overwhelming if you don’t have a plan. Let’s break down a proven structure for a portfolio that works across most creative fields.
H3: Essential Pages for Your Portfolio
1. Homepage/About Your homepage should include:
- A professional headshot or brand logo
- Your name and professional title
- A brief bio (aim for 2-3 sentences that capture your unique value)
- Links to your main portfolio sections
2. Projects/Work Showcase This is the heart of your portfolio. For each project, include:
- High-quality visuals of your work
- Brief description of the project scope
- Your specific role and contributions
- Results or outcomes when applicable
- Client testimonials (if available)
3. Skills and Expertise Don’t just list skills—contextualize them:
- Group skills by category (e.g., technical, creative, soft skills)
- Consider using progress bars or star ratings for proficiency levels
- Include relevant certifications or specialized training
4. Contact Information Make it easy for potential clients or employers to reach you:
- Professional email address
- Links to relevant social media profiles
- Contact form (can be embedded using tools like Typeform)
Step-by-Step: Building Your Portfolio in Notion
Now that you have your structure planned, let’s build it out in Notion. I’ll walk you through the process using techniques that have worked well for me and many others.
1. Creating Your Homepage
The homepage sets the tone for your entire portfolio. Here’s how to make it stand out:
- Start with a cover image that represents your brand or work style
- Add a clear headline with your name and professional identity
- Include a professional photo or logo (sized to around 150x150px for best results)
- Write a concise bio that highlights your experience and specialties
- Create a navigation section using a table or buttons that link to your other pages
Pro Tip: Use Notion’s “Callout” block to highlight special achievements or current availability. Something like “Currently accepting new clients for Q3 2025” can create a sense of timeliness and exclusivity.
2. Showcasing Your Projects
This section deserves the most attention, as it’s what potential clients or employers will focus on:
- Create a new page for your projects section
- Use a gallery view to display project thumbnails
- Create individual pages for each project
- Structure each project page with consistent sections:
- Project overview
- Challenge/problem
- Solution/approach
- Results/impact
- Images and media
Key insight: Don’t overwhelm visitors with too many projects. Quality always beats quantity. Choose 4-6 of your best works that demonstrate your range and expertise.
3. Customizing the Design
Notion’s minimalist aesthetic is perfect for portfolios, but you can still add personality:
- Choose a consistent color scheme (I recommend selecting 2-3 colors maximum)
- Use custom icons for different sections (Notion’s built-in icon library is excellent)
- Create visual hierarchy through font sizes and formatting
- Add spacing between sections for better readability
- Include subtle animations with embedded content where appropriate
Important note: While Notion’s design options are somewhat limited compared to traditional website builders, this constraint actually helps create a more cohesive, professional result. Embrace the minimalism!
Publishing Your Notion Portfolio
Once you’ve built out your portfolio, it’s time to make it public. Here’s how:
- Go to the top-right menu and click “Share”
- Toggle “Share to web” to make your page public
- Copy the public link provided
- Test the link in an incognito browser window to see exactly what visitors will experience
Custom Domain Options
While not free, adding a custom domain elevates your portfolio’s professionalism:
- Purchase a domain from any provider (GoDaddy, Namecheap, etc.)
- Use Super.so or Fruition to connect your domain to your Notion page
- Update your portfolio link on all your social profiles and documents
These services cost around $12/month, but they provide additional features like faster loading times and better SEO control.
Optimizing Your Notion Portfolio for Discovery
While Notion pages aren’t naturally SEO-friendly, there are several techniques to improve visibility:
- Use descriptive page titles that include your name and profession
- Add alt text to images through captions
- Include relevant keywords in your bio and project descriptions
- Create backlinks by sharing your portfolio on social media and relevant platforms
- Add meta descriptions if using a custom domain service
Reality check: Notion portfolios won’t rank as well as traditional websites, but for most freelancers and job seekers, direct sharing with potential clients or employers is more important than organic search traffic.
Can I Use Notion to Create a One-Page Portfolio Website Like I Would with Carrd?
Notion can be a versatile tool for organizing your content, but if you want to create a one-page portfolio website like you would with Carrd, you’ll find Carrd’s simplicity and features superior. In fact, you can create a onepage website with carrd quickly, ensuring a polished presentation in no time.
Advanced Tips for Notion Portfolio Success
If you want to take your Notion portfolio to the next level, consider these advanced techniques:
Embedding Interactive Elements
Notion supports various embeds that can make your portfolio more engaging:
- Twitter posts showcasing client testimonials
- YouTube videos of your work process or results
- Spotify playlists (great for audio professionals)
- Interactive prototypes from Figma or InVision
- Live calendars for booking consultation calls
Tracking Portfolio Performance
Want to know who’s viewing your work? Here’s what worked for me:
- Create a free Plausible or Google Analytics account
- Add the tracking code to your portfolio (requires Super.so or similar)
- Monitor key metrics like page views, time on page, and referral sources
- Optimize based on data by featuring your most-viewed projects more prominently
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Through helping dozens of people create Notion portfolios, I’ve noticed several common pitfalls:
- Overcrowding pages with too much information
- Inconsistent formatting across different sections
- Poor navigation that makes it hard to find important information
- Missing contact details or calls to action
- Outdated information that doesn’t reflect current skills or availability
Remember: Your portfolio should be a curated experience, not an exhaustive archive of everything you’ve ever done.
Conclusion: Is a Notion Portfolio Right for You?
A Notion portfolio won’t replace a fully custom website for everyone, but it’s an excellent option if you:
- Need something professional up quickly
- Don’t have technical skills or the budget for a custom site
- Want something easy to update and maintain
- Prefer a clean, minimalist aesthetic
These free Notion portfolios won’t magically transform your career overnight, but they’ll definitely make showcasing your work easier and more professional. Try it out and see if it clicks with your workflow and personal brand.
Remember that the best portfolio is one that you’ll actually keep updated. Notion’s ease of use means you’re more likely to maintain and improve your portfolio over time—and that consistent attention is what truly sets apart memorable portfolios from forgotten ones.
