Compare / Semirare vs Format
The Format alternative made for artists.
Format is a solid choice for photographers, but monthly plans cost far more than yearly ones. Semirare is free for up to 12 works and $6–8 a month after that.
Semirare
Free
then $72 a year for unlimited works
Format
Paid
from $120 a year
Semirare wins on
3 of 8
things artists ask for most
Semirare vs Format
| Semirare | Format | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan you can publish on | ✓ | ✕ |
| Unlimited works for under $10 a month | ✓ | ✕ |
| Your own domain, free on every plan | ✓ | ✕ |
| Your own website, not a profile in a feed | ✓ | ✓ |
| No other subscription or hosting needed | ✓ | ✓ |
| No ads on your site | ✓ | ✓ |
| Ready in minutes, no design skills needed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Made for artists, not businesses | ✓ | ✓ |
| Price | $0, or $6 / month | $10 / month billed yearly, $14 monthly |
Why artists switch from Format
- ✓ Free for up to 12 works, not a 14-day trial.
- ✓ Month to month is $8. No big penalty for not paying a year upfront.
- ✓ Themes for painters, illustrators and makers as well as photographers.
What holds Format back
- ✕ Paying monthly costs up to 2.4× the yearly price.
- ✕ Built mainly around photographers.
Switching takes an afternoon
- Step 1
Sign up free and pick one of 40 themes.
- Step 2
Upload your works and put them in series. Keep your Format site running meanwhile.
- Step 3
Point your domain at Semirare, free on every plan. HTTPS is set up for you.
A few Semirare themes
Salon for painting, fine art
Works hung together on a coloured gallery wall.
Folio for graphic design, editorial
An index of projects with a preview that follows the cursor.
Aperture for photography
One photograph at a time, full screen, with a frame counter.
Two plans. That’s all.
No add-ons, no bandwidth bills, no price that doubles after the first year.
Free
For getting started, and for small bodies of work.
$0
- Up to 12 works
- Every theme
- yourname.semirare.com
- Your own domain, with HTTPS
- Contact form and inbox
- PDFs of your work to send, with a share link
Pro
For working artists with a growing archive.
$6 / month, billed yearly
- Unlimited works
- Password-protected pages
- $8 month to month
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Format details as published on their website, checked 28 September 2026. Prices marked “about” are from third-party pricing sites. They may have changed since.