Best Website Builders for Artists in 2024

What Artists Need in a Website Builder

Visual artists need platforms that balance functionality with creative flexibility when selecting a website builder. User-friendly interfaces, customizable templates, and easy-to-use tools allow artists to focus on their work instead of the technical details. The following are some key features to consider when choosing a website builder.

• Creative flexibility: The ability to customize layouts, fonts, and color schemes is crucial for an artist. The website should feel like an extension of your work, offering design flexibility that reflects your unique style
• High-quality image support: Artwork is meant to be seen in high resolution. Artists need website builders that allow them to upload and showcase high-resolution images without sacrificing quality
• Robust portfolio features: A portfolio should effectively present artwork. Essential features include gallery templates, image sliders, and the ability to create collections or categories of work
• Mobile responsiveness: Your art needs to look great on all devices. Mobile responsiveness ensures your website adapts well to smartphones, tablets, and desktops
• eCommerce capabilities: Integrating eCommerce tools is essential for those looking to sell their artwork directly. These include payment gateways, product management, and order-tracking functionalities

 

Top Website Builders for Artists in 2024

With several website builders available, choosing the right one depends on your specific goals and experience level. Here's an in-depth comparison of some of the top website builders for artists in 2024:

Squarespace

Squarespace is widely recognized for their creative design templates, making them a favorite among visual artists who prioritize aesthetics. The platform is known for offering sleek, minimalist designs that allow artwork to shine. With a focus on professional portfolios, Squarespace supports high-quality image displays and integrated eCommerce features. 

Pros

Squarespace stands out as a design-focused platform, offering visually stunning templates tailored for creatives. Their integrated eCommerce features are robust, with certain plans offering no transaction fees, making them an attractive choice for artists and entrepreneurs alike. Squarespace is an all-in-one solution that combines website building, hosting, and management. They prioritize security, providing SSL certificates and 24/7 monitoring to protect your site. Additionally, their AI-powered tools for copy generation and design help users create professional, polished content with ease.

Cons

Squarespace has a few drawbacks worth noting. They lack phone support, which can be inconvenient for those needing quick assistance. Their customization options are limited, which may restrict creative control. Additionally, there is no free plan, and their comprehensive eCommerce features can make the platform more expensive, especially for small businesses.

Pricing and plans

Squarespace offers several pricing plans, starting with the Personal Plan at $23/month, which provides basic website functionality. The Business Plan, priced at $33/month, includes eCommerce features. For artists looking to sell products, the Commerce Basic Plan is available at $36/month, offering features optimized for selling. Lastly, at $65/month, the Commerce Advanced Plan provides advanced eCommerce tools for more robust online sales capabilities.

Wix

Wix is a popular website builder known for their intuitive interface and strong customization options. Ideal for artists wanting creative freedom without coding, they offer tools like portfolio templates, gallery features, and integrated eCommerce to help artists showcase and sell their work online.

Pros

They provide a wide array of customizable design options, allowing artists to create visually stunning, personalized websites that reflect their unique styles. Their built-in SEO tools help ensure your site reaches the right audience, while the Artificial Design Intelligence (ADI) feature simplifies the process for beginners by automatically generating websites based on user preferences. Additional key advantages include eCommerce support and mobile optimization, enabling you to sell art from a site that looks great on any device.

Cons

While they offer many customization features, eCommerce functionality is only available on higher-tier plans. Moreover, the storage limits on basic plans can be restrictive for artists needing to upload large volumes of high-resolution images. 

Pricing and plans

Their pricing starts with a Free Plan, which includes ads. The Combo Plan, priced at $16/month, removes ads and offers basic features. The Unlimited Plan is available for more storage at $22/month. If you're looking for eCommerce functionality, the Business Basic Plan is $27/month, while the Business VIP Plan offers priority support and advanced eCommerce tools at $49/month.

Weebly

Weebly, now part of Square, provides a user-friendly platform perfect for artists to quickly create professional websites with ease. Their drag-and-drop editor is great for beginners, and while they offer fewer features than Wix or Squarespace, Weebly is an affordable option. Integration with Square’s eCommerce platform also simplifies selling artwork online.

Pros

Weebly offers several standout features that make them an excellent choice for users. They provide free domain hosting and management, simplifying website setup and maintenance. Their platform supports robust third-party integrations, and for added security, Weebly offers password-protected pages, giving users control over who can access specific content. Their mobile app allows users to manage their websites on the go, while item reviews enable site owners to gather customer feedback. Additionally, Weebly includes DDoS mitigation to protect websites from cyber threats, ensuring a more secure experience.

Cons

Weebly has a few drawbacks worth considering. For lower-tier plans, phone support is limited, which might be a challenge for users who prefer real-time assistance. Additionally, any plan below the professional tier includes ads, which can be a drawback for those wanting a more polished, ad-free experience. Another concern is the undisclosed bandwidth limit on some plans, making it unclear how much traffic your website can handle before facing potential restrictions. These limitations may impact the overall user experience, especially for those with growing sites or higher customer service needs.

Pricing and plans

Weebly offers several pricing plans, starting with the Free Plan, which includes Weebly branding and ads. The Personal Plan, priced at $10/month, allows for a custom domain. For $12/month, the Professional Plan removes ads and provides enhanced features. Lastly, the Performance Plan, at $26/month, offers advanced eCommerce functionality.

Webflow

Webflow is a website builder designed for artists who want complete control over every aspect of their site’s design. Unlike traditional drag-and-drop builders, they allow for pixel-perfect customization and offer advanced features like animations and interactions, making them perfect for artists with specific design visions. Though they have a steeper learning curve, their powerful design tools make them ideal for those looking to create unique, dynamic websites.

Pros

Webflow stands out with a permanent free plan, offering users access to their tools at no cost. They also include basic DDoS protection across all plans for added security. With robust integrations and their Figma to Webflow app, they simplify design and connectivity, making it easy to build and manage a website.

Cons

One drawback of Webflow is that their Basic plan lacks all CMS features, which limits users who need content management functionality for their website. Another downside is the absence of a phone number for direct customer support, making it difficult for users to get immediate assistance.

Pricing and plans

Webflow offers several pricing plans, starting with the free Starter Plan, but includes Webflow branding. The Basic Plan is available at $18/month and allows for a custom domain. For larger content-driven sites, the CMS Plan is priced at $29/month. The Business Plan, at $49/month, offers advanced features for large businesses. Finally, the Enterprise Plan is available with custom pricing for larger teams seeking tailored solutions.

Duda

Duda is a website builder known for their powerful collaboration tools and robust design features, making them an ideal choice for artists who work in teams or regularly collaborate with designers. Their fully responsive templates ensure your artwork looks stunning across smartphones, tablets, and desktops.

Pros

Duda offers flexible pricing plans, making it easier for users to find an option that suits their needs. Their commitment to accessibility ensures that websites are inclusive and compliant with modern standards. Additionally, Duda supports multilingual websites, enabling users to reach audiences worldwide. 

Cons

Duda has a few drawbacks that users should consider. One of the main issues is their limited contact options, which can make it challenging to get immediate support when needed.  Additionally, Duda’s pricing, especially for monthly plans, tends to be higher than other website builders. This may deter individuals or small businesses working with tight budgets.

Pricing and plans

Duda offers several pricing plans to fit different needs. The Basic Plan includes essential website creation tools at $19/month. The Team Plan, priced at $29/month, adds advanced design tools and collaboration features and for $49/month, the Agency Plan provides client management tools. They also offer a Custom Plan with pricing available upon request for larger teams looking for tailored solutions.

Conclusion

In conclusion, choosing the right website builder for your artistic portfolio comes down to your individual needs and goals. Whether you're looking for a user-friendly platform like Weebly or Wix, or you require full creative control with options like Webflow or Squarespace, there are tools available to match your technical expertise and design vision. If mobile optimization is a priority, Duda offers excellent support, while both Wix and Squarespace provide strong eCommerce capabilities for those looking to sell their work online. Ultimately, finding the perfect website builder will empower you to showcase your art in a way that best reflects your unique style and goals.

If you're ready to explore your options further, check out our list of top website builders. You can also use our comparison tool to find the perfect fit for your needs. Lastly, visit our blog for more tips and insights on building the best online portfolio.