Are free mockups safe to use for client work?

Check each licence. Many free mockups allow commercial use with attribution; some are personal-use only. Paid mockups remove the ambiguity, which matters when the client will reuse the image.

Do I need Photoshop for mockups?

For PSD mockups, yes, or an editor that handles smart objects such as Photopea. Browser tools like Smartmockups and Mockuuups Studio need no software.

How many mockups should a logo presentation include?

Three to five relevant surfaces. Enough to show the logo works as a system; few enough that the client focuses on the design rather than the props.

8 Mockup Websites Designers Use to Present Work

Why mockups matter

Clients are not trained to imagine. A mockup does the imagining for them and answers the question they actually have: what will this look like in the world? In our rebranded project, hoodie, cap and shoe mockups were what turned a logo file into an approved identity.

At a glance: the sections of 8 Mockup Websites Designers Use to Present Work — What this article covers.

The sources

1. Freepik

Huge library of PSD mockups, free with attribution or paid without. Quality varies; sort by the premium set for client work.

2. Mockuuups Studio

Drag a screenshot in and get hundreds of device scenes without opening Photoshop. Subscription, fast, good for app and web presentations.

3. Smartmockups

Browser-based, wide range of products and apparel, integrates with Canva. The quickest route from a logo to a merchandise line-up.

4. Mockups Design

Free, well-photographed PSDs of stationery, packaging and print. Our first stop for business card and letterhead presentations.

5. PSD Repo

Curated free mockups from various designers. Smaller library, consistently usable.

6. Graphberry

Free PSD mockups, icons and templates. Older library, still useful for classic print pieces.

7. Ls.graphics

Premium device and scene mockups with a Figma plugin. The best-looking option for web and app presentations if the budget allows.

8. Figma Community

Free device frames and mockup kits inside the tool you already use. Search the community, duplicate, drop in your frames. Ideal when the whole project lives in Figma.

Using mockups well

Match the scene to the client: a construction company's logo belongs on a hard hat and a site sign, not a coffee cup.
Check the licence: many free mockups are personal-use only.
Do not present one mockup: show three to five surfaces so the client sees a system.
Keep the file: the mockup becomes the client's social media asset after approval.

Common questions

Are free mockups safe to use for client work?: Check each licence. Many free mockups allow commercial use with attribution; some are personal-use only. Paid mockups remove the ambiguity, which matters when the client will reuse the image.
Do I need Photoshop for mockups?: For PSD mockups, yes, or an editor that handles smart objects such as Photopea. Browser tools like Smartmockups and Mockuuups Studio need no software.
How many mockups should a logo presentation include?: Three to five relevant surfaces. Enough to show the logo works as a system; few enough that the client focuses on the design rather than the props.