Websites for artists need to accurately capture the quality and magic of their work. To do this you need to use a website builder that provides features with visual impact to create an eye-catching website portfolio or a place to sell art online. Whether you’re a printmaker, painter, illustrator, textile designer, photographer, graphic designer, or sculptor, you’ll need a website that can showcase your work. But not all website builders are geared towards artists. Some site builders simply don’t have the features to reflect your talent. We’ve saved you some time and compiled this list of the best artist website builders for paid and free websites for artists.

Free Artist Website Builders

Free website portfolios usually have limited storage and minimal features. This is fine if it is your first time making an artist’s site, or if you know you won’t need your site to grow. But for a professional-looking impressive digital portfolio, it is best to opt for the paid plans.

• WordPress

WordPress is the world leader in website building and is used for creating a wide range of websites – not specifically art websites for artists. You should be aware that there is WordPress.com and WordPress.org. If you’re looking for a free artist website or free website portfolio, WordPress.com is one of the best. It is simple and functional but does not carry the clout or features of WordPress.org. Another important distinction is that with WordPress.org you’ll be hosting your own website.

Templates: Huge range of templates, not all suitable for artists, and customization requires some skill. On WordPress.org there are no limitations as to how much you can edit and customize the templates. Use the endless plugins to add a myriad of features.

Support: Support can be found through online articles, YouTube videos, and extensive WordPress community forums where fellow site owners help each other.

Cost: You can build free websites for artists, but they have limited features. The WordPress.com paid plans range from $25-$209 per month. WordPress.org is “free” but requires you to pay for hosting services ranging from $5-$15 per month (for example BlueHost) and a domain name that costs about $10 a year.

Best For: If you have the time and patience to learn how to use WordPress, if you already have site-building skills, or if you want the most professional looking site possible, then use WordPress.org.

• Pixpa

Pixpa specializes in building websites for artists, so their templates and tools are all geared towards making your website visually impressive. They offer a range of template categories for different types of visual artists. With Pixpa you won’t need any third-party plugins as it is an all-in-one solution. You can share, proof, and deliver your work with client proofing galleries. There is the option to add IPTC data (commonly used for photo metadata).

Templates: Although there is a wide range of artist-relevant templates, customization and layout flexibility are limited. The more tech-minded artists can include HTML and CSS.

Support: 24/7 customer support.

Cost: Pixpa does not offer a free artist website plan (although you can test their site building platform for free for 15 days). The payment plans range from $7 to $16 per month.

Best for: Most useful to those who want to make use of the client-proofing galleries.

• Smugmug

This website builder is specifically for photographers and facilitates the sale of print and digital media. One of the main advantages of Smugmug is unlimited storage. There is integration with a number of photography apps such as Adobe Lightroom and you can upload photos directly from your mobile or desktop. Client gallery and proofing are available but only with the most expensive payment plan.

Templates: The templates are not as intuitive as other site builders on this list. The display options are excellent but layout options are limited. If you have the skills, you can build your photographer’s website using HTML and CSS. For a professional site, you’ll need more than the basic plan.

Support: 24/7 with real humans.

Cost: Price plans range from $7 per month to $42 per month. You can’t build a free artist website with Smugmug.

Best For: Format is only good for photographic artists wanting an online portfolio and to sell their images online. If you are a professional photographer using Smugmug you’ll need the most expensive payment plan to take advantage of all the features.

• Format

Of all the artist website-building platforms on this list, Format is the one most dedicated to showcasing creative work. This site builder focuses on eye-catching design features. Format is dedicated to creating professional online photography (and art) portfolios. Their unique “Workflow” option offers tools to help you organize and run a professional artist’s business.

Templates: Whether you’re an architect, illustrator, photographer, or graphic artist, you’ll find a template that suits you. The templates are responsive but the feature options are not as extensive as with other artist website builders such as Squarespace. The sections of each web page are pre-built and you can’t move them around freely. No coding skills are required but tech-savvy artists can use HTML and CSS.

Support: 24/7 customer service.

Cost: Format has no free website portfolio plan but you can try it for free for 14 days. You can opt for a portfolio website ($7 – $25 per month) or their “Workflow” option which includes the tools you need to run an artist’s business (contracts, client galleries, etc). The best option for professional photographers and artists is the “bundle” of $40 per month where you get the portfolio plus Workflow.

Best For: Format is best for those who want to run a professional business selling art online. Their format print lab can handle the production and shipping of online print sales. However, if you think your site might grow in the future, rather use WordPress or Squarespace.

• Squarespace

Squarespace is probably the best website builder for capturing an accurate impression of creative work, but it comes at a price. Their templates give artistic work the space it needs to stand out. Squarespace templates are created with artists in mind and it is a one-stop solution. You can choose from a website portfolio or an advanced eCommerce artist’s site.

Templates: A good selection of stylish templates with several specifically geared towards artists and photographers. There are drag and drop tools plus more advanced features. However it is not the easiest site builder to use and there is no preview mode, so changes go live immediately. With Squarespace, you have access to source files.

Support: 24/7 support via email, webinars, blog, help center, plus live chat support Monday to Friday 4:00-20:00 EDT.

Cost: Make use of Squarespace’s 14-day free trial as there is no version for free websites for artists. Prices start from $12 per month and go up to around $40 per month. For selling your art you’ll need one of the pricier payment plans.

Best For: There is a slight learning curve with Squarespace so only use it if you have the time to invest or the tech know-how. Squarespace is best if you want a highly professional slick artist’s website.

Choose your Artist Website Builder Today

With any one of the above website builders, you’ll be able to create a powerful visual resume for your artwork. With most of the website builders listed here, you can start a free website portfolio. Use these top artists’ website builders to get your site up and running today.