Welcome to my guide on the Best Website Builder for Artists. I'm Stuart Kerr Spindlow, a digital marketing consultant with 20 years of experience. For artists, having an online portfolio is essential for showcasing your work, reaching new audiences, and attracting potential buyers or clients. The right website builder can make it easy to create a stunning, professional portfolio that highlights your unique artistic style. With so many options available, choosing the best platform can be overwhelming. Let’s explore the top website builders designed specifically for artists, helping you find the perfect tool to elevate your online presence.
Selecting the best website builder for artists involves considering several key factors, including ease of use, design flexibility, customization options, and features tailored to showcasing artwork. This guide will delve into the top website builders like Wix, Squarespace, Weebly, Format, and SmugMug. Each of these platforms offers unique features to help you create a visually appealing and functional portfolio, enhancing your ability to attract clients and showcase your creativity effectively. Whether you're a painter, photographer, sculptor, or digital artist, finding the right website builder is crucial to building a professional online presence.
⏳ Do you want to skip the read and get right to my top picks? The best website builder for artists for most people is Squarespace.
Our Pick List for the Best Website Builder for Artists:
We made a shortlist of best website builder for artists based on their capabilities, price line, and overall benefits to users. Rankings prioritise eCommerce capabilities, gallery options, and tools that can help artists showcase their work effectively.
- 🥇 Squarespace: Best overall website builder for artists
- Wix: Best flexible website builder for creative freedom
- Pixpa: Best artist portfolio builder with client galleries and ecommerce
- Format: Best portfolio website builder for visual artists and photographers
- Shopify: Best website builder for artists selling prints, products, or merch
- Webflow: Best advanced design-control option for professional artist websites
- WordPress.com: Best managed blogging and portfolio option for artists
- Weebly / Square Online: Best simple artist website builder with basic selling tools
- GoDaddy Website Builder: Best quick setup option for local artists
- SITE123: Best ultra-simple website builder for beginner artist portfolios
Quick Comparisons Table
This table compares portfolio website builders for creatives, freelancers, agencies, consultants, and professionals who need a polished online presence. Use it to compare pricing, design flexibility, templates, portfolio features, and which platform is best suited to different portfolio goals.
| Platform | Price / Basic Plan + CTA | Best For | Key Features | Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🥇 Squarespace | Free trial / Paid from $16/mo+ | Check Pricing | Best overall portfolio builder | Polished templates, image galleries, blogging, ecommerce, scheduling, client-friendly layouts | Squarespace Review |
| 2. Wix | Free / Paid from $17/mo+ | Check Pricing | Best flexible portfolio builder | Drag-and-drop editor, portfolio templates, AI tools, app marketplace, bookings, ecommerce options | Wix Review |
| 3. Webflow | Free / Paid site plans from $14/mo+ | Check Pricing | Best for designers | Advanced visual design control, CMS, animations, responsive layouts, custom interactions | Webflow Review |
| 4. Pixpa | Free trial / Paid from $5/mo+ | Check Pricing | Best dedicated portfolio builder | Portfolio websites, client galleries, ecommerce, proofing, image sales, no-code setup | Pixpa Review |
| 5. Format | Free trial / Paid from $10/mo+ annually | Check Pricing | Best for professional creatives | Client proofing, galleries, ecommerce, blogging, portfolio templates, creative workflow tools | Format Review |
| 6. Adobe Portfolio | Included with most paid Creative Cloud plans | Check Pricing | Best for Adobe users | Adobe Creative Cloud integration, simple portfolio sites, Lightroom import, clean layouts | Review Coming Soon |
| 7. WordPress.com | Free / Paid from $4/mo+ | Check Pricing | Best for content-heavy portfolios | Themes, portfolio blocks, blogging, SEO control, plugin options on higher plans | WordPress.com Review |
| 8. Framer | Free / Paid from $10/mo+ | Check Pricing | Best modern design portfolio | Visual editor, fast publishing, CMS, SEO tools, custom domain on paid plans | Review Coming Soon |
| 9. Hostinger Website Builder | Paid from $2.99/mo+ | Check Pricing | Best budget portfolio builder | AI builder, hosting, SSL, templates, simple editor, portfolio-friendly site setup | Hostinger Review |
| 10. Carbonmade | Free trial / Paid from $9.99/mo+ | Check Pricing | Best for visual creatives | Portfolio grids, unlimited image/video uploads on paid plans, simple blocks, creative layouts | Review Coming Soon |
| 11. Fabrik | Free trial / Paid from $10.42/mo+ annually | Check Pricing | Best for filmmakers and artists | Portfolio grouping, themes, video/audio support, custom domains, SSL, creative layouts | Review Coming Soon |
| 12. Journo Portfolio | Free / Paid from $5/mo+ | Check Pricing | Best for writers and journalists | Writing clips, article imports, unlimited articles on paid plans, custom domain on Pro | Review Coming Soon |
| 13. Clippings.me | Free / Paid from $9.99/mo+ | Check Pricing | Best simple writing portfolio | Writing samples, custom domain on paid plan, analytics, password protection, contact form | Review Coming Soon |
| 14. Carrd | Free / Pro from $9/year+ | Check Pricing | Best cheap one-page portfolio | One-page sites, lightweight editor, custom domains on higher Pro plans, forms and embeds | Carrd Review |
| 15. Behance | Free / Pro from $9.99/mo+ | Check Pricing | Best for creative discovery | Adobe-backed creative network, project showcases, freelance services, job board access | Review Coming Soon |
| 16. Dribbble | Free / Pro from $4/mo+ annually | Check Pricing | Best for UI/UX designers | Design profile, creative discovery, client leads, job exposure, Pro profile upgrades | Review Coming Soon |
| 17. Dorik | Free / Paid from $39/mo+ annually | Check Pricing | Best lightweight no-code portfolio | No-code builder, unlimited sites, custom domains, SEO tools, AI website generation | Review Coming Soon |
| 18. SITE123 | Free / Paid from $10.80/mo+ annually | Check Pricing | Best quick setup | Simple website builder, templates, hosting included, multilingual support, easy editing | SITE123 Review |
| 19. Strikingly | Free / Paid plans | Check Pricing | Best simple one-page portfolios | Mobile-friendly one-page sites, fast setup, templates, basic site editing | Strikingly Review |
| 20. Weebly | Free / Paid from $13/mo+ annually | Check Pricing | Best basic free portfolio option | Simple builder, free plan, custom domain on paid plans, basic ecommerce, Square ecosystem | Weebly Review |
The Best Artist Website Builder Reviewed
1. Squarespace – My Top Pick Of The Best Website Builders For Artists
Squarespace ranks high among creatives because of its elegant, polished look of its templates that call to mind a brochure for a high-level artistic event like the Venice Biennale or a spectacularly well-produced arts culture magazine. The fact that Squarespace is eCommerce-ready (it is, after all, one of the favourite platforms of those building online stores) enables artists to make a living off their work or through commissions and virtual gallery walkthroughs.
We do, however, have a couple of issues regarding Squarespace: one, its site builder isn’t very intuitive, and users need time to learn how to use it; and two, it’s among the pricier site builder options.
Pros and Cons of Squarespace:
Pros:
- Exquisite selection of templates for artistic use;
- Ecommerce functionality enables users to sell both works and services (commissions);
- Easily swap templates for a custom look;
- Users have access to the source files
Cons:
- Definitely not for artists on a tight budget as it sets you back between $12-40 monthly;
- Not very user friendly as the builder isn’t very intuitive;
- No preview function, so it’s hard to review your site before going live;
- Layouts aren’t very flexible.
What is it best for?
As one of the best website builder for artists, Squarespace is ideal for artists selling their work online, but particularly those who want a clean, sophisticated, and minimalist look for their sites that don’t detract from their work.
Pricing
Raring to create your own website through Squarespace? Squarespace trial comes in 14 days of free testing of the Business Plan. Read through their terms of service page before you commit.
Format:
Need to build a portfolio with an art website builder fast? That’s where Format comes in. Created with artists and designers in mind, this contender for best website builder for artists offers responsive templates to create a stunning, attention-grabbing portfolio. Users are also spoilt for choice when choosing fonts and layouts, but Format tends to fall flat when it comes to options for building interactive forms, and it’s pretty challenging to arrange elements when you use one of their pre-built templates.
Pros and Cons of Format:
Pros:
- Wide choice of highly-intuitive web templates;
- Specifically created for creatives;
- Easy to use and has its own onboarding process and tutorials;
- Basic but effective functionality for blogs and eCommerce.
Cons:
- Layouts are fairly rigid, and it’s a challenge to place elements;
- No free plan for the budget-constrained;
- Limited options for building online forms and custom pages
What is it best for?
If you just need to make an artist website for portfolio-building, Format is an excellent choice among the best website builder for artists options.
Pricing
Still, it’s very reasonably priced for a premium product: just $6 to $12 a month, as a matter of fact! Format’s entry-level subscription plan allows users to create up to fifteen pages, display up to 100 images, and put three items up for sale.
The Pro plan – a great buy if you ask us – allows you to have an unlimited number of pages, store up to 1,000 images, and sell up to 20 products.
If you’re wondering what other Format pricing options exist, the company offers a free two-week trial. Concerning refunds, however, in this Format review, it needs to be clarified that only annual plans are subject to the 30-day money-back guarantee. As stated on their legal page it doesn’t apply to the monthly billing.
Smugmug:
Shutterbugs rejoice! Smugmug – what legacy photo-hosting platform Flickr eventually became – was specifically created for professional photographers and photography enthusiasts. The cool part about Smugmug is its photography-specific third-party app integrations, including Adobe Lightroom. Also, you get unlimited storage for both photos and videos and eCommerce functionality if you’re selling your work.
We aren’t keen on the fact that it doesn’t offer many options for displaying your wares for a photography site builder – its gallery layouts are somewhat limited in that context.
Smugmug Pros and Cons:
Pros:
- Specifically created for photographers;
- Extensive array of photography-specific apps;
- Enables users to sell their work online;
- Unlimited storage
Cons:
- No blogging function
- Can be challenging to use
- No free plan offered
- Layouts have limited flexibility
What is it best for?
If you want a photography website that is bare-bones simple, Smugmug would be the platform for you. However, it may not suit you if you want additional functionality such as a blog.
Pricing
Price-wise, it’s also reasonable with subscription prices starting at $7 monthly, but those who want the eCommerce feature have to spring $27 a month as it is part of the more advanced Portfolio plan.
There is a 14-day SmugMug free trial. Use this opportunity to test SmugMug and find out if it works for you. As shown on the terms of service page, the company also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Pixpa:
Pixpa has been touted as a more flexible alternative to platforms like Smugmug, but it’s a platform that caters to a whole spectrum of creative types and not just photographers. While the layouts tend to be on the rigid side, the platform UI is actually straightforward to use once you get used to it.
Pixpa also offers some of the most visually stunning templates in the industry, along with a host of functions that include being able to add IPTC metadata to your images (a vital thing for SEO), image editing capabilities, image compression control, and templates for guest galleries.
Pixpa Pros and Cons:
Pros:
- Elegant-looking page templates;
- Allows for the inclusion of IPTC metadata;
- Varied functionality for image hosting and editing, blogging, and eCommerce;
Cons:
- Rigid layouts;
- No free plan;
- Editorial UI isn’t very intuitive
What is it best for?
Pixpa’s guest gallery function is great for photographers, artists, and creative agencies who need their clients to go over proofs without having to dig through their entire portfolio online.
Pricing
It doesn’t come for free, but you can try the platform out for fifteen days, then opt to pay $7 monthly for their Start subscription plan.
As per the terms of use page, the platform also comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee but only for annual plans. This guarantee does not apply to monthly payments.
Zenfolio:
Like Smugmug and PhotoShelter, Zenfolio is a photography-centric site-building platform. However, the difference lies in the fact that Zenfolio is, essentially, easier to use with its more intuitive editor – and it’s quite an eCommerce-savvy platform, making it an ideal choice for agency work, particularly for professional photographers, graphic designers, and advertising agencies. However, we’re talking about basic functionality here; the issue we have with Zenfolio is that it’s great as an all-in photography tool, but it hardly ever goes beyond basic functionality.
Zenfolio Pros and Cons:
Pros:
- Guest galleries enable clients to see and comment on proofs before signing off;
- Extensive eCommerce functionality;
- Blogging function is built-in;
- Mid-tier plans offer extensive functionality
Cons:
- While the builder is easy enough to use, users do not get a proper onboarding process to show them all the capabilities of the platform;
- Limited flexibility in terms of templates;
- Tools are not optimised for eCommerce or design
What is it best for?
Zenfolio is great for photographers who want an extensive site but have little to no knowledge of coding. It’s easy enough to use and, if you’re not hankering for anything more advanced, it works fine.
Pricing
You have to admit that it does offer bang for your buck: the Pro plan offers payment processing, watermarking, as well as marketing functionality – not a bad deal, we think.
The terms of service page states no refunds however it does offer a free 14-day trial period.
Here's How to Choose the Best Website Builder for Artists:
Before selecting an artist website builder and/or host for your creative portfolio, ask yourself first:
- What do I intend to show on my website? For visual artists, will the portfolio include scanned prints, photos of freestanding or built-in-place sculptures, or collections of photography? Knowing exactly what you want to display helps determine the kind of layout that you will need for the site and the level of interaction for anyone visiting it.
- Which visitors do I want on my website? Is your site a place where fellow artists can come in and collaborate, or is it strictly a virtual exhibition hall for your work where you’d like art patrons, curators, and collectors to visit?
- Am I planning to do anything beyond simply holding virtual exhibitions with my website? Some artists simply need a showplace for their work, and the best free website builder for artists should suffice. But, as mentioned above, many also need a place where clients and patrons can interact with them for commissions or the purchase of existing pieces. Ask yourself which one you’ll need.
- What criteria should I be looking at when choosing an artist website builder? As with any site builder, take into consideration the following:
Our Criteria:
- Ease of Use: Is the artist site builder tough or simple to use? Do you need to have coding knowledge to use it?
- Features and Flexibility: The best website builder for artists are packed with features such as themes and templates, hosting, backups, third-party apps integration, and migration.
- SEO and Mobility: What tools does the artist site builder have to improve your search engine rankings?
- eCommerce Tools: How powerful are its sales and marketing features if any?
- Support and Resources: If you need help or assistance using the artist site builder, is support available?
- Pricing: How affordable is it?
Best Free Website Builders for Artists:
All of the programmes we presented in this review are premium services with free trials only. After trials some of which are beyond the budget of student artists and small-scale artistic endeavours. But some old standbys in the site-building scene offer free artist website builder options.
Note, however, that free artist website builders usually have minimal functionality, and in-site ads will be peppered throughout your pages. But if you feel that these won’t hamper your creative stride, then they are certainly worth considering.
Compare free website builders for launching a simple website without upfront cost. This table highlights free plan limits, branding, storage, features, and upgrade paths so you can choose a free builder without misunderstanding the tradeoffs.
| Platform | Price / Free Plan | Best For | Key Features | Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🥇 Wix | Free plan available Check Pricing | Best overall free website builder | Drag-and-drop editor, templates, AI tools, free hosting, Wix-branded subdomain, paid upgrade path for custom domains and ad removal | Wix Review |
| 2. Google Sites | Free with Google account Check Pricing | Best truly simple no-cost site | Simple site builder, Google Drive integration, collaborative editing, free publishing, custom domain support, best for basic informational sites | Google Sites Review |
| 3. WordPress.com | Free plan available Check Pricing | Best free blog and content site | Hosted WordPress, free subdomain, themes, block editor, easy publishing, strong upgrade path for custom domains and advanced features | WordPress.com Review |
| 4. Webflow | Free Starter site Check Pricing | Best free builder for designers | Advanced visual design control, responsive layouts, staging on webflow.io, CMS testing, strong professional design workflow | Webflow Review |
| 5. Carrd | Free plan available Check Pricing | Best one-page websites | Simple responsive one-page builder, clean templates, fast publishing, ideal for profiles, portfolios, link pages and landing pages | Carrd Review |
| 6. Square Online | Free plan available Check Pricing | Best free ecommerce starter | Online store builder, product pages, payment processing, pickup and local selling tools, paid plans for advanced ecommerce features | Square Online Store Review |
| 7. Dorik | Free plan available Check Pricing | Best generous no-code free plan | No-code website builder, templates, AI features, CMS, forms, free SSL, custom domain support and strong free-plan value | Review Coming Soon |
| 8. Weebly | Free plan available Check Pricing | Best simple legacy beginner builder | Drag-and-drop builder, free hosting, SSL, basic pages, simple ecommerce path through Square, easy setup for small sites | Weebly Review |
| 9. Framer | Free plan available Check Pricing | Best modern design-led free builder | Visual website builder, responsive layouts, animations, CMS features, built-in SEO tools, free framer.website publishing | Review Coming Soon |
| 10. Jimdo | Free plan available Check Pricing | Best simple local business presence | Guided setup, free site publishing, templates, HTTPS, basic SEO settings, beginner-friendly editor for small local sites | Jimdo Review |
| 11. Webnode | Free plan available Check Pricing | Best basic multilingual starter site | Simple editor, free publishing, templates, multilingual options, upgrade path for custom domains and more resources | Webnode Review |
| 12. SITE123 | Free plan available Check Pricing | Best guided setup for very basic sites | Beginner-friendly editor, free subdomain, hosting included, templates, simple setup wizard, limited free storage and bandwidth | SITE123 Review |
| 13. GoDaddy Website Builder | Free plan available Check Pricing | Best for fast business setup | Quick site setup, templates, SSL, marketing dashboard, appointment tools and business features on paid plans | GoDaddy Website Builder Review |
| 14. Strikingly | Free plan available Check Pricing | Best stylish microsites | Mobile-friendly templates, one-page site focus, simple store features, free subdomain, quick launch workflow for small sites | Strikingly Review |
| 15. Canva Websites | Free plan available Check Pricing | Best simple visual websites | Drag-and-drop visual builder, templates, Canva design assets, mobile-friendly pages, quick publishing for simple brand pages | Review Coming Soon |
| 16. Ucraft | Free plan available Check Pricing | Best basic landing pages | Website builder, templates, free hosting, SSL, simple landing page creation, upgrade path for business and ecommerce features | Ucraft Review |
| 17. Mobirise | Free app available Check Pricing | Best offline website builder | Downloadable website builder, responsive blocks, Bootstrap-based sites, offline editing, publish to your own hosting | Review Coming Soon |
| 18. GitHub Pages | Free Check Pricing | Best free static sites for developers | Static site hosting, GitHub repository integration, custom domains, HTTPS support, documentation and developer portfolio sites | Review Coming Soon |
| 19. Cloudflare Pages | Free Check Pricing | Best free static site performance | Global edge hosting, Git integration, custom domains, free SSL, unlimited static requests, strong developer deployment workflow | Review Coming Soon |
| 20. Netlify | Free plan available Check Pricing | Best free Jamstack websites | Static hosting, Git-based deploys, deploy previews, forms, serverless functions, free SSL, developer-friendly workflow | Review Coming Soon |
Conclusion and Recommendation
All five of the artist site builders discussed in this review have so much to offer creatives. Squarespace wins our test as Best artist website builder for fast sole portfolio building. While it isn’t the easiest platform to use, it’s actually the one that will enable users to show off their work to the very best level. Its eCommerce capabilities allow users to make a tidy living off their work.
Along with the programmes and apps featured in this review, there is a whole world of potential options for the best website builders for artists. We recommend that you keep an eye out and be sure to shop around to see what different platforms have to offer. We also invite you to try out the best free website builder for artists if your demands aren't that high.
FAQ:
What free artist website builder do you recommend?
If you'd like to try the best free website builder for artists, choose Webflow. Aside from art-focused themes and templates, the platform offers a free forever plan. You will have zero expenses, but need to live with ads and limits on functionality.
Which would you recommend in terms of app integrations?
That would be a toss-up between Squarespace and Smugmug. The former offers a diverse 3,000 integrations through its Squarespace Extensions online marketplace, while the latter presents a veritable treasure trove of photography-specific applications to work with.
That’s all for now:
If you've read our article on the Best Website Builder for Artists, we are grateful. Remember always to keep abreast of the latest developments on website builders, eCommerce, and other articles, such as the ones below;
- best website builders for small business
- Squarespace vs WordPress
- webflow vs wordpress
- best website builder and hosting
- best ecommerce credit card processing
I’m Stuart Kerr Spindlow, Founder, Publisher and Principal Reviewer of StuartKerrs.com, an independent publication helping website owners, marketers, creators, publishers and businesses worldwide choose and use digital tools. I hold a degree in Computer Science from The Open University and began my career in financial technology, developing and supporting production software systems, banking intranets and web platforms. My background in digital marketing consultancy, including continuing work with a small number of clients, informs my reviews of hosting, website builders, SEO, email marketing, analytics and automation. I assess tools through relevant hands-on experience, documented facts and comparisons, explaining their strengths, limitations, costs and suitability for different readers. Commission rates do not determine my rankings or conclusions. Read my full background and publication profile.
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