Duda vs Format
Features, use cases, pros and cons, and pricing side by side — and which one to pick.
Quick verdict: Agencies and teams managing many client sites should pick Duda, while photographers and creatives building a portfolio should pick Format.
Best for: Digital marketing agencies managing many SMB client sites, Freelancers who want to white-label a builder as their own service
Read the full Duda reviewBest for: Photographers who want galleries, proofing, and delivery in one place, Artists, illustrators, and designers with image-heavy portfolios
Read the full Format reviewCommission may apply at no extra cost
Duda vs Format: features compared
Compare key features side by side
Feature Comparison Summary
Which should you choose?
Choose Duda if
- You manage many client sites from one dashboard.
- You need white-label branding, REST APIs, or MCP automation.
- You resell websites as recurring revenue at scale.
Choose Format if
- You're a photographer or creative building a portfolio.
- You want a commission-free store and password-protected client galleries.
Duda vs Format: pros and cons
Duda gives agencies one dashboard for hundreds of client sites, backed by white labeling, AI site generation, and API automation that hobby builders can't match. The trade-offs are real, though: per-site fees stack up, eCommerce costs extra, and headline claims lack independent proof. Overall, it's a strong pick for teams selling websites as a service.
Pros
- One centralized dashboard manages hundreds or thousands of client sites, with custom templates, reusable elements, and global themes that keep design consistent across an entire roster.
- End-to-end white labeling covers the editor, dashboard, and platform emails — and role-based permissions let clients review, comment, and request edits without owning the account.
- Duda Vibe generates full sites and full-stack web apps from a single prompt, while the in-editor Copilot adds elements, redesigns sections, creates pages, and analyzes site data through conversation.
Cons
- eCommerce and Bookings require separate paid subscriptions on top of your Duda plan, so client stores or booking sites increase your real monthly cost.
- Annual plans are billed upfront, and extra published sites cost $17–$19/month each — costs compound quickly for agencies with large rosters.
- Basic and Team include only one published site and email-only support; priority support via chat and screen share doesn't start until the Agency plan at $52/month billed annually.
Format
Format bundles a portfolio site, client proofing tools, and a commission-free store under one roof, with 90+ themes and direct video hosting up to 120 minutes. Annual billing up front, first-year-only intro discounts, and a contact-to-cancel process are the trade-offs. Overall, it's a solid pick for photographers and creatives who want selling built in.
Pros
- Zero-commission store — Format charges no platform fees or sales commission on products, services, or digital downloads, and you can self-fulfill orders worldwide.
- Direct video hosting up to 120 minutes on Pro Plus lets filmmakers play full-length work on their own site instead of embedding third-party players.
- The client workflow is built in—password-protected branded galleries, proofing, file transfers, and contracts all live inside the same dashboard as your portfolio.
Cons
- Plans are billed annually up front, and intro discounts apply to the first year only—Pro reverts from $12/mo to $17/mo and Pro Plus from $15/mo to $26/mo at renewal.
- The Basic plan caps you at 10 pages and 70 high-resolution images, and the online store isn't listed for that tier, so active sellers will outgrow it quickly.
- CSS and HTML editing is reserved for Pro and Pro Plus, leaving Basic users without code-level customization.
Duda and Format in detail
Duda
Duda is an AI-powered website platform designed for professionals, not hobbyists. Digital marketing agencies, SaaS companies, hosting providers, and freelancers use it to build, host, and manage client websites at scale. It combines a drag-and-drop visual editor with a chat-first AI builder called Duda Vibe, plus APIs, client permissions, and white-label options. More than 23,000 businesses use it to run their web presence services.
Standout features
- Build full sites by chatting with Duda Vibe 🤖
- A visual editor built for speed
- Automate the busywork ⚡
- Your brand, end to end
- Infrastructure that stays put
Use cases
- Agencies running many client sites
- SaaS platforms embedding a native builder
- Hosts offering in-house site building
- Freelancers selling white-label websites
Format
Format is an online portfolio website builder made for creatives—photographers, filmmakers, artists, designers, architects, models, and fashion designers. One subscription covers three jobs: a professionally designed portfolio site, client proofing and management tools, and a commission-free store. Hosting is included with every plan, you can connect a custom domain, and coding is optional. Format says its support staff are creatives themselves.
Standout features
- Start with a theme, then make it yours
- Build custom layouts with Flex Block
- Run client work in one dashboard
- Host full-length video, your way
- Reach a wider audience
Use cases
- Deliver client work in one place
- Host full-length video, your way
- Sell your work, keep every dollar
- Go multilingual in minutes
Pricing compared
List prices from each vendor's pricing page, before taxes and add-ons. Costs are per month.
| Pricing compared | Duda | Format |
|---|---|---|
| From (cheapest paid plan) | $25/mo Basic | $14/mo Basic |
| Free plan | No | No |
| Free trial | 14 days | 14 days |
| Money-back guarantee | Not stated | Not stated |
| Annual billing savings | Up to 26% | Up to 29% |
| Pricing model | Flat price | Flat price |
| Cost for 1 user | $19/mo Basic plan, billed annually | $10/moCheaper Basic plan, billed annually |
| Cost for 5 users | $19/mo Basic plan, billed annually · price per account (user limit not stated) | $10/mo Basic plan, billed annually · price per account (user limit not stated) |
| Cost for 10 users | $19/mo Basic plan, billed annually · price per account (user limit not stated) | $10/mo Basic plan, billed annually · price per account (user limit not stated) |
| Cost for 25 users | $19/mo Basic plan, billed annually · price per account (user limit not stated) | $10/mo Basic plan, billed annually · price per account (user limit not stated) |
| Plans | 5 | 3 |
| Prices checked | Prices not verified yet — see the vendor page. | Vendor page checked Oct 13, 2026 |
| Price history | No tracked prices yet | Tracking prices since Oct 1, 2026. No price change detected yet. |
- Cheapest plan that fits each team size. Per-user plans are multiplied by the number of users (respecting stated minimums and seat packs). Plans that include some users cost their base price plus the extra-user price for each user beyond those included. Flat-priced plans with no stated user limit are counted as one licence per user.
Cheaper for your team size
For 1 user (billed annually), Format costs $10/mo vs Duda at $19/mo.
Computed from published list prices on the dates shown. Excludes taxes, add-ons and promotions.
More comparisons
Frequently Asked Questions
Which tool is easier for beginners?
Format. It's built for no-code creative portfolios with 90+ themes and expert help. Duda's editor is approachable too, but its API and MCP automation assumes technical comfort.
Can both tools handle online stores?
Yes. Duda includes built-in eCommerce, though it needs a separate subscription. Format offers a commission-free store with zero platform fees on its Pro and Pro Plus plans.