TL;DR:
- Dribbble is the leading visual portfolio platform for designers — UI, UX, illustration, branding, motion.
- Sign up free; post "shots" (small portfolio pieces); follow other designers; get hired via Dribbble Pro Business.
- Pro membership ($96/year) unlocks featured placement, advanced stats, custom branding, freelance gig access.
What Is Dribbble?
- Founded 2009.
- ~5M+ designers in 2026.
- Community of UI/UX designers, illustrators, motion designers, brand designers.
- "Shots" (portfolio pieces) form the feed.
- Hub for design inspiration + freelance gigs + jobs.
How to Sign Up for Dribbble
- Go to dribbble.com.
- Click Sign Up.
- Choose: I'm a Designer / I'm Hiring.
- Set up profile: name, headline, location, bio, links.
- Upload your first "shot" (portfolio piece).
Setting Up Your Dribbble Profile
| Field | What to add |
|---|---|
| Avatar | Professional headshot or branded logo |
| Cover image | 1280x720 px showcasing your style |
| Headline | "Senior UI Designer @ Stripe" or "Brand designer for tech startups" |
| Bio | ~250 chars about you + niche |
| Location | City + country |
| Skills | 5-10 tags (UI, motion, illustration, etc.) |
| Links | Portfolio, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram |
| Hourly rate | For freelancers (Pro Business) |
How to Post a Dribbble Shot
- Click Upload.
- Upload image (1600x1200 px recommended) or attach to a video.
- Title (keyword-rich).
- Description (process, tools, details).
- Tags (5-10 relevant).
- Add color palette.
- Publish.
Dribbble Shot Best Practices
- 1600x1200 px standard size; 4x larger for retina.
- Visual focus — one main element per shot.
- Story-telling captions — explain the why.
- Color palette — auto-detected, but verify.
- Tags — boost discoverability.
- Series — group related shots.
- Animations — Lottie, GIF, video for motion designers.
How to Get Hired on Dribbble
- Pro Business plan ($96/year) — unlocks Hire Page features.
- Hire Page — set hourly rate, availability, services.
- Browse jobs — Dribbble's job board.
- Pitch — message clients directly via Dribbble.
- Direct messages — Pro Business unlocks unlimited.
Dribbble vs Behance — Quick Comparison
| Feature | Dribbble | Behance |
|---|---|---|
| Owner | Independent | Adobe |
| Size | ~5M designers | ~30M users |
| Best for | UI/UX, illustration shots | Larger projects, full case studies |
| Layout | Single shots, tight feed | Multi-image projects, deeper |
| Pricing | Free + Pro $96/year | Free |
| Hiring features | Strong (Pro Business) | Adobe Talent network |
How to Grow Your Dribbble Following
- Post 2-3 shots/week consistently.
- Use 5-10 relevant tags.
- Comment thoughtfully on others' shots.
- Follow designers you admire.
- Share shots on Twitter/IG with link to Dribbble.
- Get featured (post quality + popular niches).
- Run series + collaborate with other designers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dribbble free?
Yes — sign up + post free. Pro Business ($96/year) unlocks hire features, advanced stats, custom branding.
Do I need an invite to join Dribbble?
Anyone can sign up free. The "invite-only Pro" status was retired years ago. Now it's open.
Can I make money on Dribbble?
Yes — freelance via Pro Business hire page. Top designers earn $1K-$50K+/month from Dribbble-sourced clients.
What's a Dribbble shot?
A 1600x1200 image (or video) showing one piece of your design work. Like an Instagram post but for design portfolios.
Dribbble or Behance — which is better?
Dribbble for UI/UX shots + freelance hiring. Behance for full case studies + Adobe ecosystem. Many use both.
Key Takeaways
- Dribbble = visual portfolio for designers.
- Free + $96/year Pro Business for hire features.
- Post shots (1600x1200), use tags, follow others.
- Top niche: UI/UX, illustration, branding, motion.
- Make money via Pro Business hire page + freelance.
One link covers Dribbble + portfolio + clients
Add a UniLink URL to your Dribbble bio — features your portfolio site, Instagram, contact form. Free with click analytics.