9 Best E-Commerce Platforms for Artists: Top Picks for 2024
Whether you’re a new or an established artist, you need an all-in-one solution to help you showcase, market, and sell your work. Unfortunately, few e-commerce platforms combine effective presentation features with online store tools such as inventory management and secure payment gateways.
In addition to attractive templates and e-commerce capabilities, you’ll also want search engine optimization (SEO) and marketing tools to help you promote your work and social media integrations to reach a broader audience.
To help you navigate so many elements, I tested the most popular e-commerce platforms based on their design flexibility, ease of use, and comprehensive feature sets tailored to artists. Among these, Wix stood out as the top choice, offering an impressive combination of stunning templates and e-commerce functionalities that artists need while staying beginner-friendly.
Keep reading to discover more about Wix and other excellent platforms that might suit your artistic and business needs.
Short on Time? These Are the Best E-Commerce Platforms for Artists in 2024
- Wix – Diverse, customizable templates with an integrated online store for artists.
- Shopify – Plenty of built-in and third-party tools to help you boost your sales.
- BigCommerce – Multilingual store features for artists with an international audience.
What We Look For in the Best E-Commerce Platforms for Artists
A good e-commerce platform for artists should tick a lot of boxes, from ease of use and affordability to effective portfolio and marketing tools. Here are some things I considered:
- Built-in e-commerce tools. All platforms on my list come with built-in e-commerce tools that allow you to manage inventory, track sales, and process payments without needing third-party services. This ensures you can focus on your art rather than technical details.
- Customizable, responsive templates. I selected platforms with well-designed templates to help you create a visually appealing online store that looks great on any device. That way, you can reflect your unique style and make your site accessible to all potential buyers.
- Ease of use. You want to spend your time creating art rather than learning how to code. I’ve chosen platforms that offer drag-and-drop editors and clear tutorials to make setting up and maintaining your site hassle-free.
- Marketing and SEO tools. Effective marketing and SEO tools are necessary to reach a wider audience. I only included platforms that offer integrated marketing features like email campaigns, social media integrations, and SEO to help your work get noticed.
- Variety of pricing options. A range of pricing options ensures you can find a plan that fits your budget and needs. From free plans with basic features to premium plans with advanced tools, having choices allows you to scale your business as it grows.
Out of all the platforms on this list, Wix has the most versatile templates for artists. You’ll find some amazing options in the Creative and Store categories, but you can add an online shop to any Wix template. And since you get 800+ fully customizable designs, you can create a truly unique layout to showcase your art.
Wix’s native online store app, Wix Stores, comes with all the essential tools to help you display, promote, and sell your work. You can present your products in attractive galleries, offer your customers a secure online checkout, and add popular dropshipping integrations like Printful and Spocket. Many Wix templates come with Wix Stores pre-installed, but you can easily add it through the Wix App Market.
Though Wix has a generous free plan, you’ll need a Wix Premium subscription to get e-commerce functionality. Still, Wix premium plans are reasonably priced and include plenty of storage space and advanced marketing tools. You can try a premium plan with Wix’s 14-day money-back guarantee.
Features
- Wix SEO Setup Checklist. This built-in tool makes it easy for people to find your online store. It provides a checklist, tips, and tutorials on how to help your site rank well on Google.
- Free Wix apps. Wix has 50+ native apps you can install for free, such as Wix Loyalty Program to reward returning customers and Wix Members Area to offer exclusive content access.
- Wix Ascend. Wix offers an impressive set of business tools you can access from one dashboard to streamline all your processes. These include a social post builder, a price quote creator, form tools, and more. Wix Ascend requires an extra fee, but the prices are fairly reasonable.
- Wix Video. You can install the free Wix Video app and get 10 GB of storage space for your videos. You can organize your videos into channels, upload to and from social media, and stream up to 10-minute-long live videos.
Want to learn more? Read our expert Wix review.
| Storage Space | 500 MB – Unlimited |
| Product Catalog | Up to 50,000 products |
| Transaction Fees | 2.9% + 0.30 USD per transaction (credit/debit card) |
| Starting Price of an E-Commerce Plan | $29.00 |
Compared to Wix, Shopify offers less creative freedom, but it has a simple interface that allows you to easily set up your store, from making design changes to adding payment gateways. You also get top-notch themes with useful features built in, such as image slideshows, event calendars, and countdown timers to generate buzz before announcing new products or content.
Being a dedicated e-commerce platform, Shopify has extensive tools to simplify the selling process, especially when it comes to shipping and fulfillment. With Shopify’s built-in shipping software, you can print labels in bulk and save up to 88% on shipping, thanks to access to the lowest rates. Also, Shopify Fulfillment Network automatically sends your orders to the closest fulfillment center based on where the orders come from.
Shopify isn’t the cheapest option on the market, but it provides great value – even the entry plan gives you access to advanced features like unlimited products and 24/7 chat support. But, if you’re just starting out or simply want to test a business idea, you can try out Shopify’s Starter plan. It lets you sell instantly on social media or messaging apps by simply sharing a link to your product.
Shopify is now only $1.00 for the first month!
Take advantage of this special offer to try out any Shopify plan.
Features
- Built-in payment tools. If you already sell your art in person, Shopify has a built-in point of sale (POS) tool to help you sync your physical and online stores. If you sign up for its proprietary payment solution, Shopify Payments, you won’t have to pay transaction fees.
- Third-party apps galore. Shopify’s extensive app store has over 8,000 free and paid apps. You’ll find integrations for invoices, loyalty programs, SEO, and much more.
- In-house email marketing. Shopify’s native email marketing tool lets you send up to 10,000 monthly emails for free. Also, you can customize your emails to reflect the look of your store and promote your brand image.
- Multichannel selling. Regardless of your plan, you can sell your products on various channels, including Instagram, Amazon, and Walmart.
Find out more about Shopify in our comprehensive review.
| Storage Space | Unlimited |
| Product Catalog | Unlimited |
| Transaction Fees | 2% – 0.6% + 0.30 USD per transaction, depending on plan; none if you use Shopify Payments |
| Starting Price of an E-Commerce Plan | $5.00 |
3. BigCommerce: Best for Artists With an International Audience
While Shopify caters to both budding and experienced artists, BigCommerce works best if you already have a large catalog and regularly add new products to your store. You can categorize products, edit them in bulk, and add product filters for easy browsing. Though you get a lot of control over your products, it also means there’s a learning curve – especially if you’ve never built an online store before.
BigCommerce allows you to build multilingual sites and have separate site versions and catalogs for different areas. This makes it a great choice if you want to sell your work internationally.
BigCommerce’s Standard plan will likely be enough for most online stores. You get unlimited products, multichannel selling, reporting tools, and more. To get access to features like customer groups and product filtering, you’ll need to upgrade. You can always use BigCommerce’s 15-day free trial to see if the platform is right for you.
Save up to 10 % on your BigCommerce plan!
Limited-time offer – Don’t miss it!
Features
- No transaction fees. Regardless of your subscription, BigCommerce doesn’t charge additional transaction fees, which can be a game changer for small and large online stores alike.
- Persistent cart. You can improve your customers’ experience by saving their shopping cart to their account. If they switch devices, the items in their cart are still there.
- Customer segmentation. This feature allows you to sort customers into groups (pricing, promotions, or product access) to create differentiated experiences on your site.
- Multi-currency selling. BigCommerce allows you to integrate payment gateways like Apple Pay and Google Pay and accept payments in over 100 currencies.
Our expert BigCommerce review has more on features and pricing.
| Storage Space | Unlimited |
| Product Catalog | Unlimited |
| Transaction Fees | None |
| Starting Price of an E-Commerce Plan | $29.00 |
Squarespace’s trademark is sleek, elegant templates with ample space for high-resolution images, making it particularly well-suited for photographers and graphic designers. Using Squarespace’s intuitive drag-and-drop editor, you can easily customize layouts by adding content blocks for social media, sign-up forms, and other elements.
Squarespace is an excellent option for creatives thanks to its effective set of social media tools. For instance, with the Unfold app, you can make your Instagram posts stand out by using custom graphics, filters, and effects. Another nifty feature for artists is Bio Sites, which lets you create a one-page website and use it as a link in the bio on your social media profiles.
Squarespace’s Business plan comes with unlimited bandwidth, customer accounts, and promo popups. However, I recommend trying out the Basic Commerce plan to make the most of Squarespace’s e-commerce capabilities. You won’t have to pay transaction fees, and you get access to features like product reviews and social media selling.
Features
- Squarespace Blueprint. This feature lets you choose pages, sections, colors, and fonts one at a time to build your own template. Plus, you get expert tips to guide you through the process.
- Squarespace plugins. If you’re selling services in addition to products, Squarespace’s Acuity Scheduling tool lets your clients book appointments directly on your site. Also, with Squarespace’s email marketing add-on, you can create campaigns to keep your customers up-to-date on the latest developments.
- Free logo maker. Squarespace’s completely free logo-making tool can help you create a recognizable brand image.
- Member-only content. If you run creative workshops, you can design your course with Squarespace’s templates and offer exclusive access with memberships.
Curious to learn more? Read our expert Squarespace review.
| Storage Space | Unlimited |
| Product Catalog | Unlimited |
| Transaction Fees | 3% on the Business plan, none on the Basic Commerce plan and up |
| Starting Price of an E-Commerce Plan | $23.00 |
Though it doesn’t offer advanced customization options, SITE123’s point-and-click editor is even easier to use than Wix. It lets you rearrange your page layout and customize colors and fonts in minutes.
SITE123 works particularly well if you need a single-page website, such as a portfolio, and you need it fast. You just move all your content blocks to the homepage, and then SITE123 automatically adjusts your site navigation accordingly. You can sell all kinds of digital products, from art to music. Though SITE123’s app market is limited compared to other platforms on this list, you can still connect useful tools like photo galleries and live chat apps.
SITE123 offers a free plan but doesn’t give you access to online store tools. If you upgrade to the affordable Professional plan, you’ll get e-commerce functionality, plus a free domain for one year and 35 GB of bandwidth and storage, among other features.
Features
- Versatile gallery layouts. If you’re a photographer, you can use SITE123’s attractive gallery layouts, such as slideshow, carousel, and even rounded to let your photos shine.
- Multilingual features. If you want to reach an international audience, SITE123 lets you display your site in up to unlimited languages. Plus, you get built-in multilingual SEO features to help you rank higher on search engines in your chosen languages.
- Event management. If you’re involved in performing arts, you can use SITE123’s built-in ticket system to set up and sell different ticket types and prices and offer coupons for your events.
- Accessible support. SITE123 is very easy to use, but if you get stuck, live chat support is available in English (24/7) plus 16 other languages (at various times).
Read our in-depth SITE123 review for more features.
| Storage Space | 250 MB – 100 GB |
| Product Catalog | Unlimited (but order quantity limits may apply depending on the plan) |
| Transaction Fees | None |
| Starting Price of an E-Commerce Plan | $12.80 |
6. Webador: Best E-commerce Platform for Artists on a Budget
Webador’s drag-and-drop editor is fairly easy to use. Every element you place onto your page automatically snaps to a grid, which limits your creative choices to a degree but ensures your layout stays clean and appealing.
Blogging is an excellent way to drive more traffic to your store, whether your art concerns writing or you need effective copy to complement your photos. Webador’s blog editor is beginner-friendly and offers all the essential tools. You can organize your posts, add photo albums and videos, and engage your readers with comments and social media sharing.
Webador’s affordable Pro and Business plans include online store tools. The downside of the Pro plan is that it only lets you sell up to 10 products, so it makes more sense to use it as a trial of your store. As your business grows, you can upgrade to the Business plan, which includes unlimited products (physical and digital) and video hosting.
Features
- Built-in media sharing tools. Webador offers handy widgets for media streaming, such as audio and video players.
- Rating system and comments. Webador lets you add a five-star rating system and a comment box anywhere on your site (not just under blog posts), which makes it easy to encourage audience discussions.
- Forever free domain name. Most website builders charge an extra fee for a custom domain after the first year, but Webador includes the price of your domain name in your plan.
- Unlimited photo albums. On the Pro and Business plans, you can upload unlimited photos to your store, which is particularly useful for photographers and illustrators.
Read our in-depth Webador review to learn more about the platform.
| Storage Space | Unlimited |
| Product Catalog | 10 products – Unlimited |
| Transaction Fees | None |
| Starting Price of an E-Commerce Plan | $9.00 |
Other Notable E-Commerce Platforms for Artists
If you’re still undecided about which e-commerce platform is the best for your artistic needs, here are a few more options to consider.
7. IONOS
IONOS has some excellent features for artists, such as the ability to edit images with a built-in photo editor and a free business email on all plans for a professional look. You also get a performance-checking tool to get an insight into your site’s speed and responsiveness.
That said, IONOS offers somewhat limited template selection and customization options compared to other platforms on this list. Still, it’s quite affordable and worth considering if you’re on a budget and looking to build a simple online store.
8. Hostinger Website Builder
Hostinger Website Builder is another affordable option for artists who are just starting out. It has an intuitive drag-and-drop editor and an effective set of AI tools to help you get online quickly.
However, compared to other similar options, Hostinger’s third-party integrations are quite limited. Since there’s no app market, you won’t be able to do much to extend your store’s functionality.
9. WordPress.com
WordPress.com excels at blogging and gives you plenty of design freedom. That said, the platform has a learning curve, and different themes allow you to customize different elements, so it’s important to check before you make a final decision.
If you’re using WordPress.com, you can also use WooCommerce, an e-commerce plugin specifically built for WordPress to build your online store. However, WooCommerce and all other WordPress plugins are only available on the higher-tiered (and more expensive) plans.
Maximize Your Sales With The Best E-Commerce Platforms for Artists
All e-commerce platforms on my list offer versatile tools for artists, from attractive templates and gallery designs to marketing apps to help spread the word about their work. But which one is best for your needs?
If you want a balance between ease of use and creative freedom, Wix is my top recommendation. Wix offers 800+ templates to choose from, with specific categories for e-commerce and creatives. Using its intuitive editor, you can tweak them as much as you want.
On the other hand, if you want plenty of native tools and integrations to simplify the process of selling your work, Shopify has what you need. It comes with built-in shipping and payment tools, and you can add more functionality through its extensive app market.
If you want to reach an international audience, BigCommerce is a great option. It lets you build multilingual online stores, and it doesn’t charge additional transaction fees.
If you’re still unsure which solution to choose, here’s a quick comparison of the different e-commerce platforms for artists I tested.
| Free Plan | Best Feature | Best For | Starting Price | ||
| Wix | ✔ | Diverse e-commerce templates for artists | Having plenty of creative freedom to personalize your store | $29.00 | |
| Shopify | ✘ | Extensive built-in and third-party tools | New and established artists looking to grow | $5.00 | |
| BigCommerce | ✘ | Multilingual sites | Selling your work internationally | $29.00 | |
| Squarespace | ✘ | Ultra-modern templates and social media tools | Creating consistent social media content | $23.00 | |
| SITE123 | ✔ | Incredibly easy editor | Getting a portfolio online quickly | $12.80 | |
| Webador | ✔ | Easy blog editor and media-streaming tools | Engaging with your audience | $9.00 |
FAQ
Which e-commerce platform has the best templates for artists?
Wix has a dedicated template category for creatives, with designs for photographers, writers, performing artists, and more. You can customize any template as much as you like and add an online store with just a few clicks.
How much does an e-commerce platform for artists cost?
E-commerce platforms tend to offer a range of pricing plans to suit different budgets. For instance, Shopify offers a low-cost plan for artists who are just starting out and more feature-rich options for online stores looking to grow.
Do e-commerce platforms integrate with social media?
Yes, all e-commerce platforms give you easy access to social media to help you promote your work. For example, Shopify lets you sell on social media and other online marketplaces regardless of the plan you choose.
Which e-commerce platform for artists is the easiest?
SITE123 has an ultra-easy editor that works great for getting online fast, but it’s best suited for simple sites like portfolios. Wix, on the other hand, has an intuitive but much more powerful editor with advanced customization options. If you want to review more easy-to-use e-commerce platforms, check out our list of the best website builders in 2024.
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