Best Website Builder for Artists in 2023

There’s no denying that artists of all stripes are brilliant. But when it comes to navigating a new website, how many are genuinely tech-oriented?

Choosing the right website builder for artists can help you translate your brilliance into a web-based form, even if HTML and coding skills are outside your area of expertise.

Website builders for artists

They make it easy to place your designs where you want them. Whether you want to showcase your creative work or plan to sell the pieces, we recommend making your work easier.

The best website builder for artists features customization, the ability to showcase an online portfolio, and eCommerce features for those who want to sell their pieces.

If you want amazing design flexibility, easy Search Engine Optimization (SEO), and plenty of features, no matter your budget, check out our recommendations for the best website builders for artists showcasing their work and the top website builders for artists who are selling.

These are our top picks for website builders for artists who want to showcase their work:

Squarespace – A website builder that’s intuitive for all
WordPress – Endless customization
Weebly – The artist on a budget’s best friend
Wix – All about SEO so your art gets found
GoDaddy – Points for ease of use
Strikingly – Get all the help you need to get started
Duda – Pick a template and go

Here are our top choices for a website for artist selling:

Shopify – Your place to sell anything and everything
Squarespace Ecommerce – Amazing designs for all
Weebly Ecommerce – An excellent value
Wix ECommerce – A site tool with an eCommerce angle
BigCommerce – Endless features in one package

Before we get started, you’ll want to think critically about whether you plan to sell your art or merely want a site that can house artists’ portfolios and make it easy to share.

You may plan a showcase-only site to:

Grow an online following of other professionals and creatives.
Share artwork with friends, family, and far-flung followers who can’t see your art shows in person.
Start a dialogue with fans about your art or other aspects of your life.
Begin blogging and share your artistic process and art portfolio.
Exhibit your art to earn professional work or recognition from an art or school program.

Not sure whether to choose a website for art for showing versus selling? In some cases, a site or online store can evolve with you—but in other cases, the builder you select might not have an eCommerce function.

Some reasons you may decide to sell your art and want a website builder to accommodate can include:

Selling in person isn’t earning you the visibility you need.
Navigating cash sales and pickup doesn’t suit your lifestyle.
You’d rather spend time creating art than attending shows to try and make a living.
There’s fan demand for the chance to buy your pieces.

Consider why you may want to sell later—and choose a website builder accordingly.

Read further: The Best Free Ecommerce Website Builders for 2023

7 Best Portfolio Websites for Artists Showcasing Artwork

1. Squarespace – The top website builder for creatives

What We Like About Squarespace

Squarespace has tons of templates and designs that will catch an artist’s eye.
Formatting is simple because you can drag and drop elements while formatting.
You have the option to add a selling platform, too.

What Could Be Better About Squarespace

You can’t customize every aspect of your site with Squarespace (dragging and dropping only get you so far).
A free trial is available, but all the other plans are paid.

Squarespace has a reputation for being the best site builder for artists, and we can’t argue with that. Our favorite aspect is the collection of templates you can choose from; there’s something for everyone.

Plus, the ease of use is a highlight—you can choose different elements to create the layout that works for you. At the same time, sliding sections around on the screen means you can’t customize every minute detail. More technically inclined users may feel a little limited by the format and lack of design flexibility.

With the free trial, you can check out Squarespace’s features and eye out some of the artistic templates. A trial lasts two weeks—and then you’ll need to pay up for a monthly plan, and Squarespace pricing plans start at $12 each month (billed annually).

We think it’s a good deal for endless templates, a customized domain name, and tech support that’s available around the clock. Plus, you can upgrade if you decide you want a business site for selling, too.

2. WordPress – Do what you want, how you want

What We Like About WordPress

You can start designing with WordPress on the cheap with a free plan.
Nearly everything is customizable—WordPress has the best design flexibility.
WordPress is widely recognized and reliable, too.

What Could Be Better About WordPress

You might need to exercise more technical skills than comparable builders.
It can take a while to get going (especially if you hone every design detail).

Special Note About WordPress:

It’s worth noting that WordPress.com is different from WordPress.org. WordPress.com is the website builder we’re discussing here. In contrast, WordPress.org is a content management system (CMS) that involves far more technical aspects than the .com option.

To use WordPress.org, you will need to purchase separate hosting services. The two platforms have many differences, so tread carefully unless you’re an expert with coding knowledge and web development experience.

Related: 10 Best WordPress Themes for Photographers

WordPress is a leader in the web design world, not just for web designers. The platform is customizable for any business or product, but we love it for art. It won’t necessarily earn points for ease of use, as there’s a lot that goes into prepping your site for launch.

You might need to know a bit about coding before you can really excel with WordPress. It’s worth the effort, though, because you can achieve a highly personalized website that looks amazing and runs impressively, too.

Also, check these 52 Best Free WordPress Themes for Blogs in 2022 (Expert Pick)

Plus, WordPress starts out with a free plan, so you can check things out before fully committing. Then, if you choose to upgrade, Personal plans (with a custom domain name) start at $4 per month if you pay for a year at a time. WordPress plans offer varying levels of support and customization, including eCommerce website builders.

Read further: How to Choose the Best WordPress Hosting in 2023

3. Weebly – Amazing design on a budget

What We Like About Weebly

Ease of use is a top perk with Weebly—there’s no technical expertise necessary.
Weebly plans are affordable.
SEO support is built-in, so your Weebly site has better odds of ranking on search engines (and attracting more traffic).

What Could Be Better About Weebly

The design choices are a bit limited in scope and customization.
A free plan exists, but you can’t achieve a whole lot with it.

Weebly is one of the best beginner platforms for showcasing artwork because you can jump right in without any technical knowledge. Especially for creatives who are hoping to get found online, the built-in SEO support is a clear benefit over other website builders.

Of course, the basic, free plan won’t get you too far when it comes to either getting found by search engines or design. In fact, free plans include advertisements on your site—you’ll need to pay for a higher-level subscription to remove them.

In fact, though there’s a $6/month Weebly pricing plan, you’ll need to choose the Professional one at $12/month to remove ads.

Still, for the SEO support and ease of use, Weebly remains a competitive choice for websites for art. While the designs aren’t as competitive as some other platforms (like Squarespace, for example), Weebly has a lot going for it in terms of optimization.

4. Wix – Gives an SEO edge

What We Like About Wix

Wix has a drag-and-drop capability that makes it intuitive.
There’s a built-in option for creatives (Wix Art Store).
You can use a free plan for nearly every function.

What Could Be Better About Wix

Swapping out templates is impossible—so you need to be sure about the one you select.
With so many design templates, it can be tough to choose one and get started.
The free plan option involves advertisements on your site, which isn’t the most professional option.

Check our comprehensive Wix review

Wix became popular because of its ease of use, but it’s also one of the best website builder choices because of the built-in design features. First, there’s the Wix Art Store, which helps highlight your work as well as lets you sell it (hence the inclusion in both our showcasing and selling categories).

Related: Wix Ecommerce Review 2023: Is the Online Store Any Good?

The Wix Art Store lets you sell or print art from your site, as it connects to an on-demand print service. Adding this free plan element can take your site to the next level if you decide to sell your art.

Wix may appeal to many creatives because of its supreme focus on art, first and foremost. Plus, you can start building a free website. Then, Wix pricing plans start at $13 each month for “personal use.”

5. GoDaddy – A top pick for its ease of use

What We Like About GoDaddy

GoDaddy is super easy to use, and you’ll have 24/7 support, too.
Getting started is quick, and there’s little to no learning curve.
Tons of features come with the Basic (cheapest) subscriptions.

What Could Be Better About GoDaddy

The template options may not be impressive to all users.
Your choices with GoDaddy are somewhat bare-bones compared to alternatives.
Plans that include SEO start at $15/month, so it’s not the cheapest interface.

GoDaddy is another well-known website builder, but you might not think of it as an ideal home for creatives. But one significant benefit of using GoDaddy for your art is that it’s a super-fast way to get your work online.

If you don’t want to mess around with hundreds of template choices, plugins, and more, GoDaddy might be the perfect fit for you. You can quickly drop portfolio examples on your site with no fuss.

Plus, their tech team is on hand 24/7 if you have any questions, like whether you need an SSL Certificate or how to install an Adobe Portfolio. We like GoDaddy for the non-tech creatives among us because they make it simple to get everything online with no fuss.

That said, the subscriptions aren’t the cheapest—GoDaddy plans (after your one-month free trial) start at $10/month (when billed annually). The Basic plan doesn’t include SEO support; you only get one social media listing platform.

6. Strikingly – For creatives who need help getting online

Related: In-Depth Analysis of Strikingly – The Easiest Solution for Single Page Layouts?

What We Like About Strikingly

The ease of use is a huge perk, especially for non-techies.
Grabbing a site with Strikingly means you also have a built-in blog feature.

What Could Be Better About Strikingly

Strikingly doesn’t have a ton of design options.
You might hit a wall if you decide to expand or modify later.

Strikingly is a bit of a misnomer when it comes to the design offerings, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a viable option for an art website. You can get started quickly, and Strikingly supports blogging platform functions on your site—a helpful built-in feature. So alongside your image galleries, you can write about your creative process.

Strikingly is an excellent compromise for a website for the artist who wants to blog but also showcases their pieces. Especially if you don’t want to shell out cash for an online home for your art, we think Strikingly is worth checking out.

Graphic design options aren’t limitless, but that means you can get started quickly and affordably. Customer support is some of the best with Strikingly, though you may not need the technical help since the platform is so easy to use.

Another perk with Strikingly is that you can use it for free. With this option, you can list one product in the Site Store, but your storage is a bit limited (and you’ll have a Strikingly domain name).

But if you want more functionality, Strikingly plans start at $8 per month and involve a free custom domain. You can even list five products via a Simple Store interface with this level plan. If you want to list a few items but don’t want an entire storefront, Strikingly could be a smart compromise.

7. Duda – Tons of templates you can grab and go with

What We Like About Duda

Duda has a range of widget and app market options to add more features to your site.
Designing your site is easy—even without any website-building knowledge.
You can have 500 items in an online store—making Duda a dual showcase and selling builder option..

What Could Be Better About Duda

There’s very little support for incorporating SEO—Duda is more about the imagery.
Plans are pretty expensive after your free trial ends.
Support is only via email unless you pay more for a higher-tier subscription.

Duda is a designer’s paradise, so you’ll find a template or design element you love no matter what type of art you produce. Plus, there’s a long list of apps and widgets you can install on your site—a lot like WordPress offers. For example, image galleries are a must for many artists, and Duda knows this.

You’ll be able to switch up your designs and customize your entire site from top to bottom. However, Duda plans aren’t cheap. That said, in exchange for near-endless designs, we can’t complain.

You’ll need to pay at least $15 per month for a Basic site with email-only support. However, you can add 500 products to your site, so you won’t need a separate eCommerce option.

Scaling up from Basic, however, will cost a pretty penny: a Team plan with branding, logos and other features will cost $22 per month. Beyond that, there’s an Agency option that costs a whopping $74 each month—but most solo creatives won’t have a need for those services.

5 Best Website Builders for Artists Selling Their Pieces

1. Shopify – The experts in eCommerce

What We Like About Shopify

Shopify is seamless with both Instagram and Facebook, so your art can be everywhere at once.
You can use a mobile app (and sell via the app) to manage transactions and inventory.
Shopify has a built-in inventory system that helps you stay organized.

What Could Be Better About Shopify

A 14-day free trial isn’t quite enough to learn the ins and outs of Shopify (and decide whether you want a subscription).
It’s expensive, and there’s no free or low-priced option (plus, there are additional fees for a custom domain name and other upgrades).
You’ll find there are transaction fees for some methods of payment.

Shopify is one of the best-selling solutions for all types of products, and it lends itself to artwork, too. Since Shopify has been around for a while (and has seen plenty of success), you can’t go wrong with selecting this hosting service for your art portfolio and other creative designs.

With a mobile app for buyers and sellers, Shopify is a great way to showcase your artwork to nearly anyone. Their customer support is accessible, so if you need help, you won’t have to wait for it. You can have unlimited products with the Basic Shopify plan, plus a blog for promoting your wares or brand, and even free email address forwarding.

That said, Shopify pricing plans start at $29.99/month, which is more than standalone websites for artists’ showcases. And since the focus is on selling, there’s a little less showmanship when it comes to highlighting your art.

Read further: Wix vs Shopify (2023) – Pros and Cons

2. Squarespace Ecommerce – The artist’s design guru

What We Like About Squarespace Ecommerce

The templates with Squarespace are still a highlight over other website-building tools.
Working with Squarespace feels seamless and intuitive.

What Could Be Better About Squarespace Ecommerce

A lack of extra features (there’s no app store) means you might hit a wall eventually.
Payment options are somewhat limited, which could narrow your pool of potential buyers.

If you’re already working with a Squarespace site, expanding to the eCommerce option might be the best fit. While Squarespace doesn’t support an endless inventory, it does have sales tools to support marketing efforts.

You won’t find built-in apps, but Squarespace offers support for your online gallery without making it tough to find your way around. One highlight with Squarespace eCommerce functions is that you can list product variants, which is a perk for creatives with a range of similar yet distinctive items.

Squarespace plans for eCommerce start at $18/month, which makes this one of the more affordable options for website editor tools for selling artwork. If you’re already enjoying your website with Squarespace, you probably won’t regret upgrading to an eCommerce plan.

3. Weebly Ecommerce – A budget buy with plenty of features

What We Like About Weebly eCommerce

Weebly eCommerce is pretty intuitive and easy to use (drag-and-drop capabilities are a plus).
Subscription tiers are inexpensive and include a ton of features.
You can sell items even on a Free plan (albeit with limited functionality).

What Could Be Better About Weebly eCommerce?

We don’t like that a Performance plan is necessary to accept PayPal payments.
Weebly doesn’t integrate with social media selling platforms.
Access to some tools is limited until higher price points.

Weebly online stores involve customizable designs, a simple drag-and-drop site tool, and many marketing tools to support your advertising goals. Elements like SEO support and site stats help you target the right audience for your artwork, and the shipping and inventory tools keep track of what’s coming and going.

Weebly pricing starts at Free for basic use, including the eCommerce option. So, it’s possible to start out without paying any fees—and still start making money selling your wares. However, to get access to categories like item reviews, eCommerce insights, and even the ability to accept PayPal payments, you’re looking at $26/month.

That said, compared to other options, Weebly’s online store model is still pretty cheap, making it one of the best choices in terms of affordability.

4. Wix Ecommerce – Style you want with eCommerce features you need

What We Like About Wix Ecommerce

Wix Ecommerce is easy to navigate and implement—the tool goes step-by-step.
There’s product video integration, a feature not found on every eCommerce site.
Social media and blog integration is a highlight—blogging plus Pinterest and Facebook can boost sales.

What Could Be Better About Wix Ecommerce

If you use the free plan (with the Wix Art Store), your site will still have ads.
The cheapest commerce plan is a bit pricier than other options.
Swapping templates isn’t possible once you get everything set up.

A simple selection for those wanting to sell their work is the Wix Art Store option. You can choose this app with free subscriptions, too. Of course, selecting an eCommerce site (the paid plan) gives you tons more than just print-on-demand shopping options for your visitors.

It’s worth nixing the ads, too, since you can then earn affiliate commissions on your site more easily.

With eCommerce via Wix, you can sell on multiple sales channels, accept a variety of online payments, and select from over 500 professional store templates. That said, we don’t like that you can’t change templates later if you change your mind—you’ll lose the content you’ve already created.

Business and eCommerce Wix plans start at $23/month for the Business Basic. With that, you get multiple apps (Site Booster and Visitor Analytics) to see how your site is performing. Plus, you receive a free domain name for one year and $300 in Ad Vouchers, along with an email address at your custom domain.

5. BigCommerce – Everything you need (and maybe some you don’t)

What We Like About BigCommerce

Tons of built-in SEO help to get your products found, and a blog lets you create content to draw customers in.
You can sell across multiple channels—including Amazon, Facebook, Instagram, and even Google shopping.
Live agent support is available 24/7 if you have questions.

What Could Be Better About BigCommerce

There’s a lot to learn to get started with Big Commerce.
The cheapest plan isn’t really cheap for most consumers.

If you want to focus on selling, BigCommerce is a great alternative to other sites that treat sales as an afterthought. Features like discounts, gift cards, shipping quotes, and more help BigCommerce give an authentic store experience. And with Google shopping, Facebook, Instagram, eBay, and Amazon sales channels, you can scale your sales higher than ever.

BigCommerce pricing begins at $29.95, which isn’t the cheapest option of all our hosting services for artists. Still, unlimited storage, no transaction fees, and a customized branded online store are all part of the package. Plus, your site comes with a blog, too, so you can install a contact form and other items to connect with your audience.

Of course, only those users who are super-serious about sales will want to shell out for BigCommerce. It can also be a bit challenging for users who are new to online sales, even if they have a bit of website-building know-how.

Final Thoughts on the Best Website Builders for Artists

Creating a portfolio website for your artwork doesn’t take a ton of effort. With a few hours of time, you can:

Buy a custom domain name (or grab a free one from your hosting provider)
Create an account with a website builder (start with a free trial)
Choose from the available template designs
Upload your artwork and write up descriptions
Fill out additional website pages (or not) or start a blog to round out your online portfolio
Connect to social channels so your fans can find you
Promote your portfolio—or upgrade to a paid plan to continue tweaking your online branding

Choosing the best website for artists isn’t always easy. You may have your eye on design, but other things matter, too.

Do you want to sell or showcase your art—or both?
Might you change your mind about showcasing versus selling in the future?
Can you make the changes you want, or is the platform inflexible?
Are the templates bland, or are they highlighting your art’s best attributes?
Is the price manageable, or not worth the cost for your needs?
What are the fees (if you’re selling), and what payments can the site accept?
Do you plan to grow an audience (via ranking in search results) or do you already have a brand following?
Does the website builder offer technical support (if you need it)?
Do you want advanced features like a savable shopping cart?
How hard is it to make changes (like adding new artwork) later?

Since selecting a platform is a big commitment, you may want to take advantage of the free trials these website builders offer. Trying out the product can give you better insight into whether an online store platform or website builder will work for you (and your art).

Creating an online example portfolio to showcase and even sell your artwork can be easier than ever—with the right website builder.

And of course, artists know that appearance matters. But what about the back end of your site, where SEO, Google Analytics, HTML, and other technical elements influence how well the site works and looks? To that end, it’s worth choosing a reliable website builder to support your goals.

Choosing the right builder grants you access to all the features you need to showcase your art portfolio the way you want. Once you have your website built, creating your portfolio examples and sharing them online is simple (and even cheap, with a free plan).

These Website Builders Are Best for Artists Showcasing Their Work

Squarespace – A website builder that’s intuitive for all
WordPress – Endless customization options
Weebly – The artist on a budget’s best friend
Wix – All about SEO so your art gets found
GoDaddy – Points for ease of use
Strikingly – Get all the help you need to get started
Duda – Pick a template and go

These Website Builders are Ideal for Artists Selling Their Work

Shopify – Your place to sell anything and everything
Squarespace Ecommerce – Amazing designs for all
Weebly Ecommerce – An excellent value
Wix ECommerce – An artist website builder with an eCommerce functionality
BigCommerce – Endless features in one package

Finding an online home for your art can feel daunting. Fortunately, we’ve rounded up the best website builders for artists that fulfill every need. From showcasing the nuances of your most recent work to selling pieces you have piled up, the ideal website will let you do everything.

Ultimately, sharing your art with the world requires that you delve into the digital depths. And even if you’re decidedly non-tech-savvy, the right website builder can help you reach audiences you never knew existed. It takes a few clicks to get started and build your site using these tools.