10 Leading Online Marketplaces for Artists: A Comparison
For artists looking to sell their work online, choosing the right platform can make all the difference in terms of exposure, sales, and overall success. With so many art marketplaces available, each with their own unique benefits and drawbacks, it can be challenging to decide which platform is the best fit for your needs.
In this post, I'll provide a brief comparison of 10 leading art marketplaces, including popular platforms like Etsy, RedBubble, Saatchi Art, Artfinder, and more. We'll examine the benefits and drawbacks of each platform, as well as the associated costs and fees, to help you make an informed decision and find the best platform for your art.
Why am I writing about this topic? Because so many artists begin their creative business trajectory on third-party art marketplaces, thanks to what has historically been a low barrier to entry. Many of these platforms were free, or were available at a nominal cost, and offered access to a global market of art buyers and collectors. But things are changing, and artists are feeling the sting.
For example, Etsy implemented higher fees beginning in April of 2023, and now requires sellers to pay up to 30% higher transaction fees. In fact, nearly 50,000 Etsy sellers signed a petition to try to avert the increase in fees, without success. The platform cited an increase in the number of users, which would require greater investment in their operations.
As a result, many artists are scrambling to research new options. This chart contains very basic information on ten of the leading platforms, but you can use it as a starting point to quickly compare the details that matter most to you.
Third Party Art Marketplaces: A Comparison. Note: These costs and fees are for U.S.-based companies, and are accurate as of April, 2023, and are subject to change. It is always best to check the current costs and fees on each platform's website.
As you explore the various online marketplaces for selling art, I recommend checking out a more recent blog post, where I delve into the changing dynamics of the print-on-demand industry. The post distills important insights from an article about the impact of venture-backed companies on artist royalties and includes information about one platform that offers more favorable terms for artists as compared to the current competition.
Do You Have a Website?
If you’re open to exploring other options beyond art marketplaces, owning your own website can be the most cost-effective solution for selling your artwork over the long term. Essentially, relying on external platforms for selling your artwork means that you are subject to their rules, restrictions, and fees.
While these platforms can offer a large audience and exposure, they may also limit your ability to fully showcase your brand and artwork, and can eat into your profits. For the most accurate information, it is advisable to check each of these platforms directly.
By owning your own platform, such as your own website, you have more control over your brand, artwork, and pricing, as well as the ability to build a loyal customer base.
It's important to understand the value of having control over your own business, rather than being at the mercy of external platforms.
To give you an idea of what’s required in the way of expenses, you can take a look at this post I published a while back. The post includes a detailed breakdown of all estimated costs for an artist website built on Squarespace.
One of the greatest advantages of having your own website is the ability to build a loyal customer base through email marketing and social media integration. While owning your own website does require some effort related to marketing efforts, it really can provide a wonderful cost-effective and sustainable solution for selling your artwork, as well as other products and services.
Finally, if you’re interested in exploring services related to a custom Squarespace site build, I’ll link to that information here. And, if you’d like to consider DIY’ing your site on Squarespace, enter your email below to get on the waitlist for the upcoming workshop.
