Your portfolio is a street mural: bold colors, no apologies, signed in spray paint.
Now, imagine three alleys vying for that masterpiece:
- Contra’s indie strip
- Dribbble’s hype corridor
- Behance’s gallery lane
Each promises eyeballs, but which one keeps your colors loud and your signature uncensored?
Grab a fresh marker. In this article, we will put Contra in one hand and Dribbble and Behance in the other.
Note: Earlier, we listed Contra alternatives in another article. You can also see it to discover more options.
Comparison of Contra, Dribbble, and Behance portfolios
1. Portfolio structure and layout
Dribbble & Behance: Two different faces of the classic portfolio layout
Graphic designers like using Dribbble and Behance as portfolio platforms. They actually have similar functions but differ in the experience they offer.
Dribbble operates much like an "Instagram for designers," where you can share short and impactful posts (called "Shots"). The profile clearly displays the user's name, job title, and portfolio sections.
Additionally, through the "Liked Shots" and "Collections" tabs, you can draw inspiration from other designers or showcase your own work by categorizing it. Creating categories such as Web, Mobile, or Illustration is quite simple.
Behance, on the other hand, provides a more comprehensive presentation space.
You can showcase your projects in detailed pages, adding descriptions, images, videos, and process content. It is a mini-blog.
Metrics such as total views, likes, and followers are also visible. Both platforms feature social media links, contact buttons, and a follow system.
In summary:
- Dribbble is fast and visually focused.
- Behance offers a more detailed and project-based presentation.
Contra: The next-generation portfolio for freelancers
The first thing that stands out when you visit a Contra profile is its simple and clean structure. The page is divided into these four main sections:
- Overview
- Work
- Services
- About
Thanks to this structure, clients can quickly understand who you are, what services you provide, and which projects you have completed. It's also possible to feature your best work using the "Featured Work" option.
Your Contra profile functions like a link-in-bio. You can connect your social media accounts, allowing potential clients to get to know you better. The "Follow" and "Get in touch" buttons also facilitate the user experience.
In summary,
While Dribbble is suited for quick, instant visual shares, Behance provides a comprehensive presentation space where you can exhibit your projects in full detail.
Contra, on the other hand, differs from these two by offering a modern, client-focused alternative. It directly integrates your portfolio with the services you provide.
If you like Contra’s approach, also see Ruul Space. Because here, there is more than what Contra offers.
Here is the link to this sample Ruul Space portfolio so that you can take a look at the features.
2. Customization & pro plans
Dribbble and Behance
Dribbble offers features like customizable portfolios, a personal website, and a custom domain. However, these are only available with a Pro membership, which costs $16 per month (or $8 per month if you pay annually).
One of the standout features included with the Pro plan is "Pitch."
This innovative feature, not found on Contra or Behance, allows you to create a short video introduction for your profile.
Additionally, you can create a personal portfolio site using ready-made templates tailored to different disciplines (graphic designers, mobile UI designers, web designers, etc.).
Behance, on the other hand, offers basic customization for free. However, if you want to design everything to your liking, you need to use Adobe Portfolio. This is possible with a Pro membership that costs $9.99 per month.
Being able to access Adobe Portfolio at this price, which is typically included in more expensive plans like Creative Cloud, is a significant advantage.
With this membership, you can
- connect your custom domain,
- benefit from private hosting, and
- create up to five branded web pages.
Furthermore, it's more affordable than Contra and Dribbble and comes with the assurance of Adobe. Access to Adobe products also enhances your creative credibility and authenticity.
As a Pro member, you also pay no commission on sales, get access to job listings, and can use market analytics to set competitive pricing.
And yes, while Dribbble and Behance charge even for portfolio customization, they compensate for it with the additional benefits they provide.
Contra
Contra offers customizable templates to reflect your personal brand. The ability to change the color palette, font, and page layout is an excellent opportunity to showcase your style and design sense to clients.
You can also get a custom domain. But only if you get Contra Pro ($29/month). It's not surprising that custom domains aren't free. But portfolio customization and access to the designer community require a Pro plan. The free features are not sufficient for this.
In summary,
Contra is positioned as more expensive compared to Dribbble and Behance. It offers a simpler, more "freelancer-focused" structure. Still, whether it's worth the price difference just for portfolio customization and community access is debatable.
I am not saying Contra Pro offers no benefits, but it places features that are free on most other platforms behind its Pro plan.
3. Discoverability & visibility
Dribbble and Behance
The most effective way to be visible on Dribbble is to use the platform like social media actively. In particular, sharing instant "Shots" is very effective for drawing attention.
Of course, there are also visibility advantages that come with a Pro membership. If you subscribe to Dribbble Pro, your profile can be featured, and you gain access to job postings, which means more visibility.
But it's not just about having a Pro membership.
On Dribbble, the search engine works well.
Just like SEO: if you don't use the right keywords and descriptions when sharing your project, your visibility can drop significantly.
Behance, on the other hand, is a more crowded platform compared to Contra and Dribbble. The number of portfolios is much higher, which means the competition is fiercer. Some users say that the platform is "saturated," making it more challenging to generate traffic.
Still, Behance claims that Pro subscribers get 3 times more clients and job opportunities. So, the situation is similar to the other two platforms: if you're not a Pro member, you're less visible and have to chase organic traffic.
It's unknown how much it affects discoverability, but on your Behance profile, you can specify your expertise levels in Adobe programs. For example, Adobe Photoshop "6," Adobe Illustrator "8," and so on.
This makes it easier for a potential client to see if you are the right person for the job. Especially if you work within the Adobe ecosystem, these details can put you several steps ahead.
Contra
There are several ways to stand out on Contra, but the most effective one is: Verified expertise. If you can claim to be an expert in a specific field, you can pass certain tests to get an expertise badge for your profile. This sets you apart from others.
Additionally, if you have a Contra Pro subscription, you will likely get more views than a free user. The price of using the platform for free, unfortunately, is less visibility. That said, this is also true for the other platforms.
However, the best way to increase visibility is to highlight your expertise in specific tools. As a result of its partnerships with companies like Framer and Relume, Contra features freelancers who focus on these particular tools.
If you have expertise in these tools, you can gain a significant advantage in terms of visibility.
In summary,
For maximum visibility, paying for a subscription is a necessity on all three platforms.
However, on Dribbble, you can stand out by applying SEO practices and using keywords, thanks to its precise search engine.
Additionally, on both Contra and Behance, you can earn badges that highlight your expertise.
Which one to choose?
This entirely depends on who you want to reach and what you want to present:
- If you want to stand out with short and impressive visuals, Dribbble is for you.
- If you want to explain your projects in detail and also show the process, Behance is a perfect fit.
- If you want to both showcase your work and directly offer your services, facilitate easy communication, and increase your chances of getting hired, Contra will represent you better.
If you're thinking, "Showcasing my designs isn't enough. I need to sell my services too," then Contra offers a far more comprehensive solution, but it is the most expensive of the three.
However, if your goal is to introduce your portfolio to a broad audience and gain visibility in the design world, Behance and Dribbble remain powerful tools.
For a solution where constant Pro fees won't tie you down, check out Ruul Space: Everything from your portfolio and service/product sales to invoicing and tax compliance is covered for a flat 5% per transaction—no hidden fees, ever.
4. What do users think?
Contra
G2 Rating: 4.9 ⭐
Although Contra stands out, especially with its "zero commission" feature, users complain that many features are included in the Pro plan.
Also, considering that Contra is a relatively newer platform compared to others, it's understandable why job opportunities might be fewer. A few users have mentioned that even after upgrading to the Pro plan, the job postings are not up-to-date.
If you are choosing Contra solely for finding a job, it might not be the right choice.
However, if you plan to use it just for creating a portfolio instead of finding work, I don't see any problem other than the Pro monthly subscription being $29.
Dribbble
G2 Rating: 4.2 ⭐
What users love most about Dribbble is that the platform operates like a global social media network. The "Shot" shares, likes, and comment features here also strengthen this aspect of the platform, making Dribbble far from boring.
Freelancers who prioritize their budget will also appreciate that Dribbble's Pro fee is more affordable compared to Contra.
Because while Contra charges $29, Dribbble reduces the Pro membership fee to as low as $8 with annual billing.
Behance
G2 Rating: 4.3 ⭐
Regarding Behance, users discuss how saturated the platform is and how challenging it is to stand out truly.
But, if your main goal isn't actually to find clients through Behance itself, but more to direct clients you've got from other places to your portfolio there, then the whole saturation thing isn't really going to be a problem for you.
A big part of why Behance is so popular among portfolio sites is definitely its Adobe integration. You know, a lot of designers are already subscribed to Creative Cloud, so it just makes sense that they'd want to take full advantage of the Adobe Portfolio integration.
How can Ruul Space help you?
Ruul Space brings aesthetic, function and affordability together for global independents.
Services and products stand next to your portfolio. Page visitors can buy with just a click on the portfolio.
And guess what? Your clients don't even need to sign up! Getting paid is super easy.
Check out these awesome features:
🧾 Automated invoicing: Say goodbye to manual paperwork.
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FAQ
1. Can portfolios be customised for free?
Contra, Dribbble, and Behance offer basic portfolio customizations for free, but for more freedom, the Pro plan is required.
2. Is Behance a good portfolio site?
Behance is the best portfolio site for personal brand building with Adobe integration
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