Which Artist Website Solution is Right For You? Honest Comparisons.
One of the questions I get asked most often is some version of "how much should I expect to pay for a website?" And honestly, the answer is: it depends — but let me break it down for you properly, because the range is enormous and the options are genuinely confusing.
Whether you are just starting out and wondering if DIY is the move, or you have been putting off a professional website for years because you aren't sure what you actually need, this post is for you.
I have built over 250 artist websites. I know this landscape well.
I am going to walk through every realistic option available to artists right now, with real pricing (2026), what's included, and my honest thoughts on each one.
A note on pricing: all prices in this post are in USD unless otherwise noted. My own pricing is in CAD, with the approximate USD equivalent in brackets.
First, a note on what "cost" actually means for a website
When people ask how much a website costs, they usually mean the upfront build cost. But there are really three things to consider:
Upfront cost — what you pay to get the site built or set up
Monthly cost — your ongoing platform subscription (every website has one, even if you built it yourself)
Your time — this is the one people forget, and it is real. DIY is not free if it takes you 40 hours and you hate every minute of it.
The full comparison
I have rated every option on artist-specificity out of 10 — meaning, how well is this option actually designed for the needs of a working artist who wants to show and sell their work? A general web agency might build a beautiful site, but if they have never thought about what a gallery director needs to see, that matters.
Option 1: Pure DIY — Build It Yourself
Squarespace(6/10 artist-specific)
The best general-purpose platform for artists. Image-forward, built-in e-commerce on every plan, and the results are genuinely beautiful. I build on Squarespace exclusively, and as a Circle Member I can offer my clients a 25% discount on their subscription — so if you are going the DIY route, this is where I would start.
That said: it still takes significant time to build, and knowing how an artist website should flow strategically is a different skill than knowing how to use the tools. The 6/10 rating reflects that Squarespace is a general platform — great for artists, not built for artists.
Wix(4/10)
Lots of templates, lots of drag-and-drop flexibility. But you need the $29/month Core plan just to accept payments, which bumps the cost up fast. Many artists start here and quietly wish they had chosen Squarespace. The lower rating reflects less polish for image-heavy sites. I am constantly changing artists from Wix to Squarespace.
Format(9/10)
Built specifically for creatives, with a photography and fine art focus. Clean, professional portfolio layouts. Less customizable than Squarespace, but the out-of-the-box experience is genuinely good for artists. High rating because it was built with visual creatives in mind.
Cargo(9/10)
Very design-forward, popular with contemporary artists who want their site to feel like a design statement itself. The high rating reflects how intentional the platform is about creative presentation — but the learning curve is steeper than the others.
Option 2: DIY + Artist-Specific Template
Artist-specific template (mine!)(10/10)
This is the sweet spot for artists who want to DIY but want the strategic structure already figured out. My templates are built specifically for how fine art is sold online — the gallery flow, series organization, path-to-purchase, and mailing list connection are all built in. You add your content; I have done the thinking. You will learn to manage your own site through the DIY process, and I’m always around to help out when you need me. (A real person on the end of the phone!)
At $80 CAD upfront (roughly $55 USD), plus your Squarespace subscription (at my 25% Circle Member discount), this is one of the most affordable ways to get a genuinely artist-specific website.
Etsy templates(7/10)
There is a marketplace of Squarespace templates on Etsy, many listed as "artist templates." Some are beautiful. The honest truth is that most are aesthetic-first — they look great but were not designed by someone thinking about how collectors browse or what galleries need to see. Quality varies enormously. Look carefully at who made it before you buy.
Option 3: Art-Specific Platforms
FASO (Fine Art Studio Online)(9/10)
The oldest* and most established artist website platform. Built-in e-commerce, marketing tools, and ability to upload a portfolio. Very little design flexibility, but it is genuinely built for artists and has been for decades. Worth a look if you want an all-in-one solution and are not too worried about if your website looks like a catalogue.
*most of my clients switch out of this platform because the tech is just that…old.
Artwork Archive(10/10 for what it is)
Artwork Archive is not really a website builder. It is an art inventory and CRM tool — for tracking sales, exhibitions, contacts, and artwork locations — with a public portfolio component. It is more for clients who want to get their business organized. Different tool, different job. If you need a website and inventory management, you may end up using both this and a separate platform.
Art Storefronts(10/10 for print artists)
A premium, enterprise-level platform with print-on-demand fulfillment, marketing coaching, and a full suite of sales tools. The rating reflects how well it does what it does — but what it does is specifically designed for artists selling high volumes of prints. The upfront cost is significant ($1,700–$3,400 USD) and the monthly fees and transaction percentages add up. If you are just starting out with art sales, or are focused on low volume paintings, I would not choose this.
Pixpa(7/10)
An affordable all-in-one portfolio and e-commerce platform. Less well-known than Squarespace. A reasonable option if budget is the top priority and you want something purpose-built for creatives. I have never had a client use it, so I don’t know the pain points, or much about this platform.
Option 4: Custom Design from a General Designer or Agency
General freelancer(5/10)
Talented designers exist in this category. The challenge is that you will spend a portion of your project budget educating them on what artist websites need to accomplish — and they may still not fully get it. Without knowledge of how collectors buy, what galleries expect, or why the About page is so critical for fine artists, even a beautiful site can fall flat.
General agency(5/10)
Same concern, higher cost. If you go this route, come with a very detailed brief and ask specifically about their experience with fine art clients.
Option 5: Custom Design from an Artist Website Specialist
That's me. (10/10…but I’ll make my case)
So obviously this is my article and I’m going to plug my own services, but here is what is actually different about working with someone who has built over 250 artist websites:
You spend 1–2 hours with me. That is it. A discovery call, a launch call, and a few email exchanges in between. The rest is handled. You do not learn Squarespace from scratch. You do not puzzle over gallery structure. You do not wonder what a gallery director wants to see when they land on your homepage. I already know all of that — because I have done this more than 250 times.
The result is a professional, strategic, artist-specific website in roughly three weeks.
The upfront cost to set up a website is often covered in the very first sale that the website generates. And yes, my websites will help generate sales that didn’t exist prior to the website!
As a Squarespace Circle Member, my clients also receive 25% off their Squarespace subscription
For comparison: general Squarespace specialists with no artist focus typically charge $2,750–$6,500+ USD for similar builds. You are getting niche expertise at a competitive price.
I teach all of my clients to make changes to their specific website, using custom tutorials. So after our design period, you are in complete control of your site and don’t need to spend any more for maintenance.
So, which option is right for you?
If you are comfortable with technology and have the time: DIY on Squarespace, ideally with an artist-specific template to give you the right structure from the start. I offer a service called “Website Refresh” where I get on zoom with clients and help customize their sites to their liking - this is a great addition to any DIY effort!
If you just want a catalogue of artwork and you’re not concerned with a busy online business, FASO is worth a look.
If you are a high-volume print artist: Art Storefronts is designed for you, just go in with eyes open about the cost.
If you are ready to have a professional handle it and skip straight to having a website that works: work with an artist website specialist. You have spent years developing your art practice. Your website should reflect that — and it does not have to take months of your time to get there.
Questions about which option makes sense for you? That is exactly what the discovery call is for.
Book a free discovery call
Alissa Sexton is an artist website designer and consultant based in Ontario, Canada. She has built websites for over 250 artists and works with clients around the world.
As a Squarespace Circle Member, she offers her clients a 25% discount on their Squarespace subscription.
