Where to Sell Art Online in 2024? (Top 10 Websites)
The internet has brought the world closer, and there's almost no limitation in the world of commerce — and that includes artists in the art industry. Years ago, artists had a hard time figuring out how, when, and where to sell their art items. Strong limitations existed in the industry until the advent of the Internet and modern-day websites.
Nowadays, one of the best places to sell art is online. Selling art online helps artists quickly reach out to their customers, and get their art items into their hands.
When it comes to selling art online, you could either opt to launch a custom art website or sell your art items on already existing platforms (or websites).
Selling your art items on existing websites helps you take advantage of the traffic the website attracts, and other sales tools that are available on the website. These websites serve as online marketplaces, and they attract tens of thousands of people every day.
No two websites are the same. They're unique, and you need to have some basic knowledge of how these websites work before using them.
In this guide, you will discover the 10 best websites to sell art. You will also discover how these websites work, and how to get the most out of them.
In This Article
- 10 Best Websites to Sell Art
- FAQs on Where to Sell Art Online
- Conclusion
10 Best Websites to Sell Art
1. Fine Art America
Fine Art America is arguably the largest online art marketplace in the world. The website comes with print-on-demand technology. It's easy to set up, and also has a global audience. It was launched in 2006 and has been the go-to platform for artists who are looking to sell home decor, wall art, apparel, and other art items.
With the website, the artist can sell their art directly to customers. It also gives customers the option of transforming their art into a T-shirt, art print, greeting card, or an iPhone case. To get started, you will have to open an account on the platform, and upload your product photos onto it. After that, you will need to choose the products that will be featured on the platform and set your product prices.
Product prices are usually set by Fine Art America. But you will have to set a markup — and that's the amount you'll receive when the product is sold. Artists who sell digital products on the website keep 100% of the product's asking price. However, a 30% markup will be added — and that's the amount Fine Art America receives as commission. Artists who sell original pieces of artwork keep 100% of their sales.
2. Artsy
Artsy is a digital art gallery that hosts hundreds of galleries. Unlike other platforms on this guide, Artsy doesn't work directly with artists — they partner with museums, galleries, and art institutions. Buyers on the platform get access to global art galleries. Collectors can buy some art pieces, while art enthusiasts can get some art for their homes.
Artists can not sell directly on the Artsy platform. The platform is designed for art institutions, auction houses, and galleries. Artists who are looking to sell their artwork online should try other online art marketplaces on this list.
However, if you manage an art gallery, Artsy can help you reach a new audience. But hosting your art items on the platform comes at a cost — and you have to send in your application as a gallery partner. The larger your art gallery is, the more chances of succeeding on the platform.
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3. Society6
Society6 is a good fit for artists who want their work to be plastered on a wide range of products. The print-on-demand platform has a wide assortment of products in the art industry. It's a great platform for artists who are looking to earn a decent income from their creative work. Uploading your artwork onto the platform is easy. Artists retain rights to their work, but the platform handles logistics like shipping, printing, marketing, and packaging.
After uploading your art onto the platform, you will have to choose the right category to feature your artwork. For instance, you may have an artwork that works well on the art wall and another that will be a good fit on furniture.
Artists on the platform earn a commission of 10% on each sale. However, you can increase your earnings using affiliate programs. You also have the chance to set a high markup for your framed prints, art prints, and canvas prints.
4. Pixpa
Pixpa is an all-in-one platform where artists can display, sell, and share their art items. With Pixpa, you can easily create and manage an art online portfolio. Interestingly, no advanced technical (or coding) skills are needed. You can use any of the sleek 150 templates to create your art portfolio. Pixpa comes with some features like a blog, online store, and client gallery.
As a newbie, you could opt for the 15-day trial. The trial period is a good time to get familiar with the platform, and figure out if it's a good fit for your art business. If you're comfortable with what you see, you could upgrade to the paid plan.
Paid plan comes as a basic plan or the Creator plan. The basic plan is priced at $8 per month (or $5 per month for those who will be paying biannually). An online store is not supported by the basic plan. To get an online store, you will have to opt for the Creator plan — and that starts from $15 per month. There's also the professional and advanced plan. The professional plan is about $20 per month, while the advanced plan is about $25 per month.
Selling on the Pixpa website attracts no commissions. Artists who sell on the platform take everything they earn. However, you will have to pay the regular payment processing fees if you're integrating payment gateways like PayPal or Stripe into your online store.
5. Shopify
Creating a custom art website is easy with Shopify. Shopify helps you create a sleek e-commerce website by using a simple drag-and-drop model. And it can be used for selling any kind of artwork. The Shopify platform comes with marketing tools and website templates to help you get your e-commerce store up and running in no time.
Shopify subscription fee ranges from $32 per month (for the basic plan) to $399 per month (for the advanced plan). After setting up your art shop, you will have to integrate a payment gateway. Shopify payment gateway comes at no extra fee, but if you're considering using an external payment gateway, you'll have to figure out the transaction fees of your preferred payment gateway.
To figure out if Shopify is the right fit for your art business, you can consider opting for the free 90-day trial. If the platforms appeal to you, proceed with any of the paid plans.
6. UGallery
UGallery is an online art marketplace that's committed to displaying new and exciting art. It's one of the best platforms for new and mid-level artists to showcase their art. However, only original arts are showcased on the platform — and these arts are exclusive to the platform.
UGallery is aimed at recreating the experience of shopping (or visiting) a premium art gallery. But this time, the art lover gets to have such experience in the digital space, and not in a physical location.
Getting your art showcased on UGallery is somewhat tough. You'll have to go through an application process. The application process involves submitting digital copies of your art with your artist statement. You also need to submit the completed application plus a one-time application fee of $5. If you get approval from the platform, the platform will market your art to its existing audience. Sales made through the platform are split 50/50 between the platform and the artist.
When a buyer shows interest in your artwork, you will be sent a custom box by the team at UGallery. The custom box will be used for packaging the artwork, and all shipping and packing costs will be covered by UGallery.
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Learn More7. Saatchi Art
Saatchi Art is an ideal fit for artists who are looking for massive exposure. The online art marketplace boasts of about 1.6 million visitors and 12 million page views per month. Their social media following is staggering — 1 million followers on Instagram, and about 500k followers on Facebook. The platform has a global audience and can help artists showcase their art items to the world. Saatchi Art has sold art to collectors in 80+ countries across the globe.
Selling at Saatchi Art is somewhat easy. All you need to do is create your profile, take eye-catching pictures of your artwork, and upload them onto the platform. After making a sale, you will have to package the item. Shipping of the art item is handled by the platform, and Saatchi Art also takes a 35% commission on each sale.
8. TurningArt
If you're like most people, you've probably walked down an upscale corporate building with some large halls. And as you walk down these large halls, you've probably come across a few paintings. Artists who envision their art on these hallways should take a close look at TurningArt. TurningArt sells and rents artworks to large commercial clients. Artists can earn from the platform in any of these three simple ways.
- Art sales: Artists sell their artwork on the platform to earn a commission
- Leasing: When an artwork of an artist gets leased, the artist earns an agreed percentage every month
- Commissions: Artists are paid when a client commissions them for a project
There are various commission structures in TurningArt. For instance, artists get paid 60% when an original artwork is sold. However, only 20% is paid to the artist when a canvas print is sold. TurningArt has an Affiliate Artist Program and a Partner Artist Program for artists on the platform.
9. Zazzle
Zazzle is quite similar to Society6, and it's a large brand in the print-on-demand industry. There are lots of products on the platform, and that gives artists a wide range of options to feature their art. The platform boasts of 1,500+ blank product types. Interestingly, artists on the platform are allowed to set their royalty rate — and that helps them earn more on each sale.
To get started on Zazzle, you will have to upload your art onto the platform, choose your preferred products, and display them in the marketplace. Logistics like shipping, printing, and customer service are taken care of by Zazzle.
When it comes to setting royalty rates, artists are allowed to set their rate from 5% to 99% — price adjustments are dependent on the rate set by the artist. Having the option of setting your rates seems good. After all, you will most likely earn more. But since the rate is being passed on to the customer, you should consider not setting it too high. If not, you will find it difficult to generate sales on Zazzle.
10. Amazon
Nowadays, everything is sold on the Amazon platform. To sell art on the platform, you should consider opting for Amazon Handmade. Amazon Handmade features crafted and homemade items. There's also a section entirely for fine art. The section features watercolors, photographs, drawings, and paintings from artists who partner with the platform.
There are various fees on the Amazon platform, and the fees are dependent on how and where you desire to sell your art products.
If you opt for Amazon Fine Art, you will need some approval before selling. After that, $0.99 will be paid for each unit of item sold. There is also a referral fee of about 5% to 20%. Amazon's pricing page shows you all you need to know about Amazon's fees.
The referral fee for Amazon Handmade is 15% for each sale.
FAQs on Where to Sell Art Online
Are There Any Places to Sell Art Online for Free?
Free online art marketplaces are almost nonexistent! Showcasing your artwork on any online platform comes at a cost. This cost could be in the form of listing or membership fees, commissions, or both. You can consider online platforms that don't charge a dime until a sale is made — and that includes platforms like TurningArt, UGallery, or Zazzle. This way, you only make payments when you've made some money.
Where Are the Best Places for Beginners to Sell Art Online?
As a newbie in the industry, here are some things you should look out for before settling for a platform.
- How easy it is to showcase and upload your work on the platform
- The volume of visitors and traffic the platform generates
- Membership (or subscription) fees or commissions
- Customer service experience
- Ways you can make money from the platform
There are lots of factors that determine where you sell your artwork. However, you should prioritize large online marketplaces like Amazon, and print-on-demand service platforms like Society6. These platforms generate high traffic volume and help showcase your artwork to a large audience. Their customer service is also top-notch.
Conclusion
Your primary objective as an artist is to create more artwork. And with these top 10 websites, you get to find the right customers for your products and generate revenue for your art business. This will, in turn, help you create more artwork.
Before choosing an online marketplace, you should consider the pros and cons of selling on such platforms — and that includes their subscription fees, customer service experience, and the volume of traffic the platform generates.
Now you know where to sell art online in 2024, what kind of artwork will you be selling on any of these top 10 websites?
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