Should You Build a Custom Portfolio Site or Use a Template?

The decision between building a custom portfolio site and using a template depends on your goals, timeline, and current skill level. Both approaches can produce excellent results — the key is choosing the right one for your situation.

Building from scratch

Building a custom portfolio site demonstrates technical skill, creativity, and initiative. It gives you complete control over design and functionality. If you're applying for frontend roles, a custom-built portfolio directly showcases your abilities. However, it takes significant time to build and maintain.

Using a template

Templates get you online quickly and let you focus on content rather than design and development. For backend developers or engineers who aren't frontend specialists, a well-customized template is perfectly professional. The most important thing is having a portfolio online — don't let perfectionism delay your launch.