A simple client portal
your clients actually use.
Send every client a branded portal link. They upload files, answer questions, and sign off on work — without creating an account. Jotask sends automatic reminders until everything is in. Free to self-host.
What is a client portal — and why do freelancers need one?
A client portal is a private, branded web page you create for each client. Instead of asking for files over email, WhatsApp, or a shared Drive folder, you send one link. The client sees a clear checklist of exactly what you need, and fills it in at their own pace.
For freelancers and small agencies, a client portal solves the single biggest source of project delays: waiting for the client to deliver their part. Without a portal, that wait happens over a dozen disorganised email threads. With one, it happens in a single place, with a deadline and automatic reminders.
Jotask is an open-source client portal built specifically for this workflow. Unlike generic tools, every Jotask portal is branded (your logo, your colours), requires zero sign-up from your client, and chases them automatically when the deadline passes.
Why most freelancers still don't have a real client portal
Email threads become the portal by accident
You ask for a logo. The client sends a JPEG in a reply. You ask for the hosting login. That arrives in a different thread three days later. By the time the project starts, you've lost an hour just locating files.
Shared Drive folders have no memory
Google Drive tells you what arrived, not what's missing. You still have to manually check every item, then write a follow-up email listing what's left. That's your time, every project, every client.
Client-facing tools ask clients to sign up
Most client portals require your client to create an account. For a freelancer's client — a local dentist, a shop owner — that's enough friction to kill the request. They'll answer next week. Or never.
How Jotask client portals work
- 1
Build your portal checklist
Add items: file upload, text answer, secure credentials, URL, or approval checkbox. Mix and match freely. Save the result as a reusable template.
- 2
Send a branded portal link
Enter your client's name and email, hit send. They receive an email with a unique link. They click it — no account, no password — and see your branded portal.
- 3
Automatic reminders chase for you
Jotask follows up at D+3, D+7, and D+14. If the deadline passes, work can pause automatically until the client delivers. You stay focused on billable work.
- 4
Everything lands in your dashboard
Files, answers, credentials, and sign-offs appear in real time. Review each item, request changes with a comment, mark complete. One dashboard, every client.
Client portals for every freelance workflow
One tool, four professional contexts. Build a template once, reuse it for every new client in under a minute.
Web designers
Send a portal at project kick-off: logo files, brand guidelines, hosting credentials, copy per page. No more 'where did that SVG go?' midway through a build.
Accountants & bookkeepers
Request bank statements, invoices, contracts, and the signed engagement letter in a single portal. Chase automatically — you never have to be the bad guy.
Marketing agencies
Collect product photography, brand assets, social media access, and campaign brief approval before kick-off. Clients deliver everything; you start on time.
Photographers & creatives
Get the shot list approval, model releases, and location details sorted before the shoot day. No last-minute surprises on-site.
Jotask vs other ways to share a client portal
| Feature | Jotask | Email / Drive | Notion page |
|---|---|---|---|
| No client sign-up required | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ |
| Branded with your logo & colours | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Automatic follow-up reminders | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Tracks what's still missing | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Secure credential collection (AES-256) | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Collect files, text, and sign-offs together | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Automatic project pause on deadline | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Reusable templates | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Free to self-host | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ |
Pricing — free to self-host, no card required
Self-hosted
Free
All features, unlimited clients and portals. One Docker command on any VPS.
Self-host on GitHub →Looking for a comparison with Content Snare? Jotask vs Content Snare →
Client portal — frequently asked questions
- What is a client portal?
- A client portal is a private, branded web page you share with each client. They use it to upload files, answer questions, submit credentials, and sign off on work — all in one place. Instead of chasing documents over email or WhatsApp, you send one link and everything comes back organised in your dashboard.
- Do clients need to create an account to use the portal?
- Not with Jotask. Your client receives a personalised link by email. They click it and open a branded portal directly in their browser — no sign-up, no password, no app to install. Removing that friction means dramatically fewer ignored requests.
- What is the best free client portal for freelancers?
- Jotask is a free, open-source client portal. You can self-host it on any VPS with a single Docker command — unlimited clients, unlimited portals, all features included. Hosted plans start at 12 €/month if you'd rather not manage a server. Unlike Notion shared pages or Google Drive folders, Jotask sends automatic reminders and tracks exactly which items are still missing.
- How is a client portal different from a shared Google Drive folder?
- A Google Drive folder stores files but doesn't tell you what's missing, doesn't chase your client automatically, and doesn't handle text answers, credentials, or sign-offs. Jotask combines file uploads, questionnaire answers, secure credential collection, and approval checkboxes in one branded portal — with automatic reminders if the client misses the deadline.
- Can I brand the client portal with my own logo and colours?
- Yes. Every portal your client sees carries your logo and your brand colours. Clients interact with your brand, not Jotask's. This is included in all plans — self-hosted and hosted.
- What types of content can clients submit through the portal?
- Clients can upload files (any format, any size up to your storage limit), answer short or long text questions, securely submit passwords and credentials (AES-256 encrypted), provide URLs, and confirm approvals or sign-offs with a checkbox. You mix these item types freely when building each portal.
- What happens if the client doesn't fill in the portal on time?
- Jotask sends automatic reminders at D+3, D+7, and D+14, escalating from polite to firm to urgent. You can also enable automatic project pause: if the deadline passes, the client sees a clear message that work is on hold until they deliver their part. You never have to send a 'just checking in' email again.
- Can I reuse the same portal structure for multiple clients?
- Yes. In Jotask, you build a checklist once, save it as a named template (e.g. 'Web Design Onboarding' or 'Monthly Bookkeeping Pack'), and then create a new portal for each client from that template in under a minute. Every client gets their own private link; nothing is shared between them.
Your client portal is ready in 2 minutes.
Build a checklist, save it as a template, send a branded link. Your client delivers everything without creating an account. Jotask chases them until the job is done.