Top 10 Read.cv Alternatives for Professional Networking in 2026
There was a major change in the professional networking sphere in early 2025 when Read.cv was sold to Perplexity AI and it was later closed down. This sudden shutdown was a shock, thousands of professionals were displaced in search of a solid read.cv alternatives to present their work and establish significant relationships.
As a designer, a developer, a content creator, or an entrepreneur, it is essential to find an appropriate platform where your work can be shown in the digital-first world. The positive thing is that many good read.cv alternatives have also surfaced where they all have different features to suit specific needs of professionals. These options offer new means to showcase your skills, experience and achievements, including visual portfolio builders, to full scale networking platforms.
What Was Read.cv?
Read.cv was a professional-networking platform that was launched in 2021 by Andy Chung, who was a former product designer at Facebook, Mozilla, and the Quip Salesforce-owned product. The platform was also differentiated from traditional professional networks with its emphasis on the “show, not tell” philosophy, as users created visually stunning profiles that went beyond normal resumes. Today, professionals exploring Read.cv Alternatives seek similar creative platforms that blend portfolio presentation with networking opportunities in a more visual and engaging way.
A variety of tools provided by Read.cv enabled the company to enable people to share their resumes and communicate with other people in their industries. The site was popular with designers, programmers, and other creative individuals that liked its clean design and focus on visual storytelling. The users were able to add the work of different platforms such as GitHub, Dribbble, and Medium and put it together into an extensive portfolio that fully represented their career and identity.
What Users Liked About Read.cv
- Minimalistic and beautiful design that made profiles appear professional and attractive to the eye.
- Simple profile development, through the simple drag and drop features and fast installation.
- Platform integrations to enable the user to post work using GitHub, Dribbble and others.
- Support of custom domain to allow professionals to have their portfolios placed on their own domain.
- Approach: Community-based based on maintaining real relationships and not transactional networking.
- No noise and clutter presence of a bigger professional network.
- Be more work showcases, but not merely providing job titles and companies.
Key Features to Look for in an Alternative
- Graphical ability to present projects, designs, and creative work in a proper way.
- User-friendly profiles with simple user interfaces and low level of technicality.
- Import feature to move pre-existing information in LinkedIn or other sites.
- Personal branding and professional credibility Custom domain support.
- The ability to be integrated with such popular platforms as GitHub, Dribble, Behance, and Medium.
- Mobile responsiveness that will make the profiles look excellent on every device.
- Connection options to share with other professionals with similar interests and potential partners.
- Interpretations and insights to monitor profile views and interest.
- Export that gives you the freedom to control your professional information.
- Low prices and no charges or fair subscriptions.
Comparison Table
| Name | Free/Paid | Import Capability | Ratings | Best For |
| Bento | Free with paid upgrades | LinkedIn, Social Links | 4.5/5 | Creators wanting beautiful link-in-bio pages |
| Peerlist | Free | LinkedIn, GitHub, Dribbble | 4.6/5 | Tech professionals and developers |
| Standard Resume | Freemium ($19/month) | 4.4/5 | Job seekers needing professional resumes | |
| Contra | Free with Pro ($29/month) | Dribbble, Behance | 4.4/5 | Freelancers wanting commission-free work |
| Cake Resume | Free with paid features | Multiple platforms | 4.5/5 | International job seekers |
| Freemium | Various platforms | 4.2/5 | General professional networking | |
| About.me | Free with paid options | Social media links | 4.0/5 | Personal branding and simple bio pages |
| Tini.bio | Free with upgrades | Social links | 4.4/5 | Content creators and influencers |
| Notion Portfolio | Free | Manual import | 4.5/5 | Customizable personal websites |
| Carrd | Paid ($19/year) | Manual setup | 4.3/5 | Simple, single-page portfolios |
Top 10 Alternatives to Read.cv
1. Bento
Bento is a link-in-bio platform, which enables one to build beautiful personal pages to display to their audience what they are and what they create in a single link. It is unique, it has a bento-box design layout that puts the content in visual grid formations.
The platform has received a great following within the designers, content and digital professionals who wish to express their personality and their work. Much like some of the popular Hotpot Alternatives, Bento does not only provide simple link aggregation, it also provides rich widgets and custom layouts that make each profile special and interesting.
What It Offers (Features):
- Beautiful bento-grid layouts with drag-and-drop customization
- Rich media widgets including images, videos, and embeds
- Social media integrations for seamless content display
- Custom subdomain support with personal branding options
- Analytics dashboard to track visitor engagement
Pros:
- Extremely user-friendly with intuitive design interface
- Highly visual and aesthetically pleasing profiles
- Free tier available with generous features
- Active community showcasing creative examples
Cons:
- Less focused on traditional resume elements
- Limited networking features compared to professional platforms
- May feel too casual for corporate professionals
- Advanced features require paid subscription
Pricing: Free with premium features available for enhanced customization
Best For: Creative professionals, content creators, and digital artists wanting visually stunning personal pages
Website: https://bento.me
2. Peerlist
Peerlist is a tech-professional network, specifically created to serve the needs of designers and developers, which has an all-encompassing profile of what one can offer on the internet. It is a platform that focuses on three key features of proof of work as opposed to conventional credentials where users can indicate their actual contributions by verifying projects, open-source work, and design portfolios. For professionals exploring modern networking platforms or Read.cv Alternatives, Peerlist stands out as a credible choice for showcasing verified skills and authentic professional achievements.
One may add work from platforms such as GitHub, Dribbble, Medium, and others to their profile and unify it all in a single location. Similar to how professionals explore Google Maps Alternatives for better navigation experiences, Peerlist allows users to explore alternative ways to present their digital identity—building an excellent community of authenticity and substance-driven professional relationships.
What It Offers (Features):
- Verified work experience and education credentials
- Integrations with GitHub, Dribbble, Substack, and Gumroad
- Project showcase with detailed case studies
- Custom domain hosting for personal portfolio websites
- Community features including project launches and challenges
Pros:
- Strong focus on tech community with relevant features
- Free to use with comprehensive functionality
- Verified credentials add authenticity to profiles
- Active job board for career opportunities
Cons:
- Primarily targeted at tech professionals only
- Smaller user base compared to established networks
- Limited international reach outside tech hubs
- Some features still in development
Pricing: Free platform with no subscription fees
Best For: Designers, developers, and tech professionals building proof-of-work portfolios
Website: https://peerlist.io
3. Standard Resume
Standard Resume is an effective resume-making application that could assist users in developing a professional resume with minimal effort in order to be superior to 99 percent of resumes in the market.
The portal places emphasis on ease and efficiency, and its templates are vetted by hiring managers in order to deliver the best practices. Much like some of the PDF Drive Alternatives that focus on user-friendly document creation and sharing, users have the option of imitating their LinkedIn profile, choosing a resume template, and publishing their resume both in the form of a PDF and a responsive website. Standard Resume is good enough to be not only professionally designed but also convenient to use.
What It Offers (Features):
- 12+ professionally designed resume templates reviewed by hiring managers
- LinkedIn profile import for quick setup
- Web resume with responsive design and custom URLs
- PDF export with perfect formatting preservation
- Cloud-based access for editing anywhere
Pros:
- Templates preferred by actual recruiters and hiring managers
- Simple, streamlined interface without overwhelming options
- Professional appearance that stands out positively
- Automatic formatting ensures consistency
Cons:
- Limited to resume-focused content only
- Fewer networking or social features
- Premium features require subscription
- Less suitable for creative portfolio showcasing
Pricing: Starting at $19 per month for Standard Resume Pro
Best For: Job seekers focused on creating traditional, professional resumes
Website: https://standardresume.co
4. Contra
Contra is a freelance platform that does not charge commission to professionals and enables an expert to display his/her work and get in touch with the clients without any payments going to waste on the platform fees. Incorporated in 2019, Contra has raised more than 1 million independent professionals around the world with the help of $45 million in investment.
The site is made of a combination of a beautiful portfolio creation and a freelance marketplace, where the user is provided with AI-powered capabilities to build beautiful portfolios with a few clicks and handle contracts and payments through a smooth experience — making it one of the top Read.cv Alternatives for freelancers seeking a commission-free creative platform.
What It Offers (Features):
- Commission-free payment system with 100% earnings to freelancers
- AI-powered portfolio builder with customizable templates
- Built-in contract management and payment processing
- Integration with Dribbble and Behance for project imports
- Custom domain support for professional branding
Pros:
- Zero commission fees for freelancers on all projects
- Beautiful, modern portfolio templates optimized for creatives
- Quality-vetted job postings reviewed before publication
- Built-in business tools for invoicing and client management
Cons:
- Smaller job marketplace compared to Upwork or Fiverr
- Pro subscription required for applying to most jobs
- Clients must pay processing fees instead of freelancers
- Better suited for US and European markets
Pricing: Free with Contra Pro available at $29 per month
Best For: Freelance designers, developers, and creatives wanting to keep 100% earnings
Website: https://contra.com
5. Cake Resume
Cake Cake is a detailed free resume-builder that offers over 50 professionally designed resume templates, and a drag-and-drop design. The site has become a successful talent matching site especially in the Asia-Pacific region. Cake also has job matching powered by AI and in-depth portfolio building as well as more traditional resume building. The site is targeted at both job seekers preparing their resumes and an employer seeking talent.
What It Offers (Features):
- 50+ ATS-optimized resume templates with various styles
- Portfolio builder with multimedia support (images, videos, links)
- AI-powered resume checker for detailed feedback
- Job search portal with global opportunities
- Free resume creation and download functionality
Pros:
- Completely free for basic resume creation and download
- Extensive template library covering all industries
- Strong presence in international job markets
- Portfolio and resume in one platform
Cons:
- Interface can feel overwhelming with many features
- Some advanced features require paid subscription
- Marketing emails can be frequent
- Better suited for Asian markets than Western ones
Pricing: Free with premium plans starting around $110 annually
Best For: International job seekers and professionals in Asia-Pacific region
Website: https://www.cakeresume.com
6. LinkedIn
LinkedIn continues as the most professional network in the world that has more than 900 million users worldwide. In spite of the mainstream fame, LinkedIn keeps on developing as a content creating, job searching and professional development tool. The site provides one ecosystem with detailed profile features, networking options, job boards, and learning tools.
With the rise of advanced LinkedIn Marketing Tools, professionals and businesses can now enhance engagement, track performance, and run targeted campaigns more efficiently. This is the case even though it might not be as visually attractive as other new options, as LinkedIn has an immense network effect that renders it essential to most professionals.
What It Offers (Features):
- Comprehensive professional profile with work history and skills
- Massive job board with millions of listings worldwide
- Content publishing platform for articles and posts
- Professional networking with connection recommendations
- LinkedIn Learning for skill development courses
Pros:
- Largest professional network with unmatched reach
- Established platform trusted by recruiters and employers
- Free tier provides substantial functionality
- Strong job search and recruitment features
Cons:
- Increasingly cluttered with social media-style content
- Less visually appealing than modern alternatives
- Premium features can be expensive
- Profile design limited and somewhat dated
Pricing: Free with premium plans ranging from $29.99 to $59.99 monthly
Best For: General professional networking and job searching across industries
Website: https://www.linkedin.com
7. About.me
About.me was the first to launch the idea of a personal landing page, which is a simple and refined bio page that users use to organize their presence on the Internet. The platform is great at offering one place where one can know more about you and have all your key links. That being said, the simplicity of About.me is its asset, and, though being not as elaborate as full-fledged portfolio solutions or modern Read.cv Alternatives, it provides a simple manner of creating a professional webpage without overwhelming users with a lot of features and cumbersome installation rules.
What It Offers (Features):
- Single-page personal landing page with clean design
- Social media link aggregation and display
- Basic analytics showing profile views and traffic sources
- Custom background images and branding options
- Simple contact form for inquiries
Pros:
- Extremely easy to set up in minutes
- Clean, professional appearance suitable for any industry
- Free basic version available
- No technical skills required
Cons:
- Very limited customization options
- Single-page format restricts content depth
- Fewer features compared to modern alternatives
- Analytics are basic and limited
Pricing: Free with premium features available for $8 per month
Best For: Professionals wanting simple, clean bio pages with link aggregation
Website: https://about.me
8. Tini.bio
Tini.bio is a zero-code web host that enables users to create their own websites within minutes with a combination of bio pages and microblogging features. Located as a holistic replacement of read.cv, Tini.bio is not intimate as a resume style profile because it also has the ability to share updates, thoughts, and followers. The platform focuses more on personal branding and building an audience, and it is the best place to showcase a portfolio and publish content to creators who prefer to have both.
What It Offers (Features):
- No-code website builder with quick setup
- Microblog feature for sharing updates and thoughts
- Project showcase with detailed descriptions
- Integrated social features for audience engagement
- Personal branding tools with customization options
Pros:
- Combines portfolio and blogging in one platform
- Easy to use without technical knowledge
- Free tier with meaningful functionality
- Focus on building personal audience and following
Cons:
- Newer platform with smaller community
- Less established than competitors
- Limited third-party integrations
- May require time investment to build audience
Pricing: Free with premium upgrades available
Best For: Content creators and thought leaders wanting to build audiences
Website: https://tini.bio
9. Notion Portfolio
Notion has also become a trendy site to build a personal portfolio website using its flexible database and page building features. Although it is not the purpose of an in-depth portfolio platform, the flexibility of Notion has enabled the possibility of designing highly specific and professional websites to be distributed in open access.
The template community on the platform has developed a myriad of portfolio designs, which can be copied and modified by the users. The Notion portfolios are especially effective with individuals that desire full control over the layout and the organization of the content, making it one of the most practical Read.cv Alternatives for professionals seeking customizable digital portfolio solutions.
What It Offers (Features):
- Highly customizable page layouts and designs
- Database functionality for organizing projects and work
- Public sharing with clean, accessible URLs
- Template gallery with ready-made portfolio designs
- Embedding capabilities for external content
Pros:
- Completely free for personal use
- Unlimited customization possibilities
- Can integrate your entire workflow and documentation
- Strong community sharing templates and tips
Cons:
- Requires manual setup and content organization
- No built-in networking or discovery features
- Learning curve for advanced customization
- Limited SEO capabilities compared to dedicated platforms
Pricing: Free for personal use with paid team plans available
Best For: Professionals wanting maximum customization and control
Website: https://www.notion.so
10. Carrd
Carrd focuses on the design of one-page websites, which are fully responsive and simple to build and use, all at once, ideal with personal portfolios, landing pages, and professional accounts.
The advantage of the platform is that it is easy to use and extremely cheap, providing users with professionally appearing websites without the intricacy of other web site builders. The templates used in Carrd are current and neat and the customization feature is sufficient to develop uncommon pages but does not pose a difficulty to the user. It is especially popular among those minimalists that desire a simple presence online.
What It Offers (Features):
- Simple one-page website builder with drag-and-drop interface
- Responsive templates optimized for all devices
- Custom domain support for professional branding
- Forms and widgets for functionality
- Fast loading times and clean code
Pros:
- Extremely affordable at $19 per year
- Very easy to learn and use
- Fast, lightweight websites with excellent performance
- Clean, modern design aesthetic
Cons:
- Limited to single-page format
- Fewer features than comprehensive platforms
- Manual content updates required
- Basic analytics only
Pricing: Free for basic features; Pro version at $19 annually
Best For: Minimalists wanting simple, affordable portfolio websites
Website: https://carrd.co
Tips for Selecting the Right Tool for Your Needs
- Establish your main purpose – Do you want to find employment, create your personal brand, network, or present artistic work?
- Think Industry – Tech workers can be drawn to Peerlist and creators can use Bento or visual building Portfolio.
- Ask about your level of technical ease – Select platforms within your capabilities including no-code builders to full-fledged platforms.
- Import check functionality – Find a solution that supports the importing of your invested LinkedIn or portfolio information to save time.
- Check networking features – In case the key is connecting with professionals, make sure to use the sites that have active networks.
- Try the free option- Most of the platforms have free versions that give you the opportunity to have a feel of it without making any financial commitments.
- Think long or short-run flexibility – Select platforms that can look out so that you are not locked in.
- Experience with mobile – Make sure that your profile appears professional on smartphones and tablets.
- Read user reviews – Find out what people have to say on the reliability of the platform and service quality of support.
- Consider discoverability – It is some platforms that assist in discoverability among recruiters as opposed to some platforms that work on posting your link.
Conclusion
The shutdown of Read.cv provided an avenue whereby professionals could choose among the various Read.cv alternatives that can be more useful to their needs. Depending on what you need for visual storytelling functions such as Bento, tech-driven networking with Peerlist, professionally-oriented resume construction with Standard Resume or the versatility of Notion portfolios, the current market is an incredible choice. All the read.cv options have their own advantages related to the multi-skilled professional orientation of Polywork or the global presence of Cake Resume.
What counts is to find out what can serve your professional aspirations best be it networking, job search, portfolio showcase, and personal branding. Lots of professionals use various platforms successfully in the combination of them: LinkedIn to access a wide range of people, Peerlist or Bento to create an impressive portfolio, and specialized options to fulfill a particular task. Exploit the free levels to choose among the alternatives of read.cv to make sure you are sure before making the commitment and bear in mind that online professional image of an individual should expand significantly along with the development of a career.
FAQs
What was the fate of Read.cv and why did it go out of business?
Perplexity AI acquired Read.cv in January 2025 and shut it down, and allowed users to export their data before it fully closed down, until May 16, 2025.
What is the most suitable alternative of read.cv among tech professionals?
Peerlist was created specifically to support tech professionals, though, which provide GitHub connectivity, confirmed work experience, and a developer-centric and designer-centric community.
Can you find absolutely free alternatives to Read.cv?
Indeed, some of them such as Bento, Peerlist, Polywork, and Notion have free options with considerable functionality that can at least be used by most of the professionals.
Is it possible to transfer my LinkedIn profile to these alternatives?
Lots of options such as Standard Resume, Polywork, Peerlist, Cake Resume provide functions of LinkedIn import to make a profile as fast as possible.
Which one is the most graphic and portfolio-oriented?
Bento is distinguished by visual presentation because of bento-grid layout, and Peerlist and Cake Resume are also superior at presenting creative work and portfolios.
