Best Web Hosting For Artists

15 Best: Web Hosting for Artists & Art Portfolio Builders (Feb. 2024)

Written by: Sean Garrity

Sean Garrity

Sean has more than 15 years of experience researching, writing, and editing for numerous industry-specific trade publications. His goal is to keep organizations and stakeholders informed of the latest trends and technologies that can help them streamline operations and thrive online. Sean loves to chat about all things IT infrastructure and covers a range of topics in his writing, including virtualization, cloud computing, the hyperscalers, IoT and edge technologies, and digital transformation, among others.

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Edited by: Lillian Castro

Lillian Castro

Lillian brings more than 30 years of editing and journalism experience to our team. She has written and edited for major news organizations, including The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and the New York Times, and she previously served as an adjunct instructor at the University of Florida. Today, she edits HostingAdvice content for clarity, accuracy, and reader engagement.

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The woes of the struggling artists are nothing new, but the best web hosting for artists are setting out to reverse the stereotype. By enabling more and more painters, photographers, sculptors, and other visual artists to quickly and easily showcase their work online, hosting providers and website builders are helping them bypass galleries on the way to success.

Whether you opt for a website builder and template or a do-it-yourself web hosting plan, the platforms come with the gallery space and shopping carts needed to exhibit and sell your work — all without exorbitant fees or headache-inducing technology configurations.

Although not all artists have the opportunity to exhibit in the Met or the Guggenheim, millions are finding fame (and sometimes fortune) by showcasing their works on the web. Having an online presence has become essential for today’s creatives. So, here, we’ll walk through the top hosts in the industry that can help artists of any type reach modern connoisseurs in a digital medium.

Best “Cheap” Web Hosting for Artists (Top 3)

The image of the starving artist is a long-standing trope in Western society. For some, sacrificing health, wealth, and social status for creative works seems a noble and romantic way to live. But, famed author of tales of the everyday man, Charles Bukowski, disagrees. “A man could write much better after eating a porterhouse steak and drinking a pint of whiskey than he could ever write after eating a nickel candy bar,” he wrote. “The myth of the starving artist was a hoax.”

In today’s web-centric environment, artists now have an opportunity to break from the shackles of working menial jobs and eke out a good living through their true passions. An increasing number of creatives are making money off their work, and, for many, cheap hosting is making this a reality.

Below you’ll find our top-rated price-friendly hosts. But don’t let their low cost fool you. These providers are not only easy on the wallet, but they also offer feature-rich hosting plans that give site owners the ability to construct professional-grade websites to showcase portfolios in the best possible light. Be sure to read the full reviews linked in the tables below to learn how each of these hosts can help you develop your online exhibition hall.

CHEAP RATING
★★★★★ 4.9/5.0
  • Unlimited everything, from storage to databases
  • FREE site builder & WP performance upgrades
  • FREE daily or weekly backups
  • Custom control panel and auto-installation scripts
  • SSH access & unlimited FREE SSL certificates
  • Get started on Hostinger now.
Starting Price/Mo. $2.49
Money Back Guarantee 30 days
Disk Space 50 GB SSD - 200 GB SSD
Domain Name FREE (1 year)
Hostinger: Our Expert's Review
Laura Bernheim (HostingAdvice.com):

As the shared hosting market becomes increasingly saturated, unlimited storage, bandwidth, and email accounts have become surprisingly average. Hostinger, however, extends the routine, expected metrics to greater lengths — the number of websites, databases, FTP users, subdomains, and parked domains are all unrestricted for most customers.

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CHEAP RATING
★★★★★ 4.8/5.0
  • FREE cPanel integration and Softaculous apps
  • Auto daily backups and web application firewall
  • Reliable and redundant cloud servers
  • FREE SSL encryption and website migration
  • 99.99% uptime guarantee
  • Get started on HostArmada now.
Starting Price/Mo. $2.49
Money Back Guarantee 45 days
Disk Space 15 GB SSD - 40 GB SSD
Domain Name FREE (1 year)
HostArmada: Our Expert's Review
Lynn Cadet (HostingAdvice.com):

HostArmada’s cloud network spans four continents, with datacenters in Europe, the US, Asia, and Australia. Its server redundancy and website optimization features allow users to run stable and performant sites for end users across the globe while running a simplified hosting environment.

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CHEAP RATING
★★★★★ 4.8/5.0
  • 1-click install for WordPress, Drupal and 400 others
  • Unlimited email accounts, databases & bandwidth
  • 24/7 tech support for beginners and pros alike
  • 12-month or 36-month plan at $2.95 /month
  • Anytime unconditional money-back guarantee
  • Get started on ScalaHosting now.
Starting Price/Mo. $2.95
Money Back Guarantee 30 days
Disk Space 10 GB SSD - 50 GB SSD
Domain Name FREE (1 year)
ScalaHosting: Our Expert's Review
Laura Bernheim (HostingAdvice.com):

It's tough to argue with a shared hosting service that comes with all-SSD storage and unlimited bandwidth, databases, and email accounts. ScalaHosting provides all the above and several other premium features for a very affordable price.

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Best “Website Builder” Hosting for Artists (Top 3)

It’s probably safe to say that most creatives, by nature, have a keen eye for design. It takes precise attention to detail to create compelling works of art. However, there’s a huge divide between sculpting, painting, or shooting a masterpiece and being able to leverage effective web design to your advantage. And, if your site is poorly or improperly designed, your online audience won’t be sticking around for long.

Not to worry — if you’re a prodigy with a brush and canvas but have no idea what HTML and JavaScript are, the top-rated hosts below provide intuitive web builders that allow the creation of aesthetically pleasing sites without the need to code. In a drag-and-drop environment, artists can build out galleries, portfolio pages, and online storefronts on which to share and sell their work.

In many cases, getting up and running online only takes a few minutes. Check out the full reviews in the following tables to see how these tools and artist-specific templates can project your art to online patrons.

4. Wix.com

WEBSITE BUILDER RATING
★★★★★ 4.9/5.0
  • No coding skills needed with drag-and-drop builder
  • 100s of templates with niche-specific designs
  • Add features via the App Market and Wix Events
  • Easily create ecommerce functionality easily
  • Great way to build small sites on a budget
  • Get started on Wix now.
Starting Price/Mo. $0.00
Money Back Guarantee 14-day FREE trial
Disk Space 2 GB - Unlimited
Domain Name FREE (1 year)
Wix: Our Expert's Review
Alexandra Anderson (HostingAdvice.com):

Website building is where Wix shines. The thousands of templates, the intuitive editor, the industry-leading designs that cater to a variety of specific fields and use cases — all these facets represent a platform that excels at facilitating easy web design for the non-tech-savvy user.

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WEBSITE BUILDER RATING
★★★★★ 4.8/5.0
  • No coding skills necessary with MyWebsite Creator
  • Free domain name or transfer your existing site
  • FREE social media and marketing widgets
  • Pro templates with pre-filled text and images
  • Multilingual support and tools for SEO
  • Get started on 1&1 IONOS now.
Starting Price/Mo. $1.00
Money Back Guarantee 30 days
Disk Space 10 GB - Unlimited
Domain Name FREE (1 year)
1&1 IONOS: Our Expert's Review
Alexandra Anderson (HostingAdvice.com):

If you're in need of a one-stop shop for designing and launching a website, you should be pleased to hear that 1&1 IONOS offers its own custom website building tools for both desktop and mobile devices. In addition to a free domain and email address, along with unlimited storage space, the 1&1 IONOS MyWebsite platform includes all the essentials for starting a site from scratch.

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WEBSITE BUILDER RATING
★★★★★ 4.6/5.0
  • Drag-and-drop design from custom tools
  • FREE access to hundreds of specialized templates
  • Built-in ecommerce and payment processing
  • Easily switch among widescreen, desktop, tablet, and mobile previews
  • Support for 31 languages and 99.9% uptime
  • Get started on Hostinger now.
Starting Price/Mo. $2.49
Money Back Guarantee 30 days
Disk Space 50 GB SSD - 200 GB SSD
Domain Name FREE (1 year)
Hostinger: Our Expert's Review
Laura Bernheim (HostingAdvice.com):

Whether you're taking your first foray into website hosting or are a developer looking to save some time, a strong website builder can dramatically streamline the creation process and enable users to launch a website in five minutes or less. Fortunately for customers, Hostinger has invested heavily in crafting an impressive visual editor sure to appeal to users of all levels of experience.

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Best “WordPress” Web Hosting for Artists (Top 3)

Artists have come to love WordPress because of the more than 52,000 plugins developed for the open-source blogging platform that allow for the full customization of sites. And hundreds of these plugins were built specifically for portfolios. Nearly 30% of the web is powered by WordPress; so, to set your site apart from the pack and ensure it’s performing at optimal levels, it’s integral to partner with a host that offers full compatibility with the software.

Not all WordPress hosting is created equal. When looking for an effective provider, site owners need to consider feature sets that include one-click installs of the platform, plugin compatibility, and the number of WordPress sites that come as part of hosting packages.

Below are our top-three rated hosts for site owners running WordPress. The reviews in the tables provide valuable insight into all the features that make these providers the cream of the crop when it comes to WordPress and will help you decide where you’re going to power your creative work much easier.

WORDPRESS RATING
★★★★★ 4.9/5.0
  • Recommended by WordPress.org since 2005
  • Automatic WordPress updates and initial install
  • FREE WordPress themes in the Bluehost Marketplace
  • 24/7 support via live chat, phone, and email
  • Get exclusive discounts on WordPress plans
  • Get started on Bluehost now.
Starting Price/Mo. $1.99
Money Back Guarantee 30 days
Disk Space 10 GB SSD - 100 GB SSD
Domain Name FREE (1 year)
Bluehost: Our Expert's Review
Ryan Frankel (HostingAdvice.com):

Bluehost's WordPress hosting packages are aimed at first-time site owners and personal bloggers. These services come at a premium compared to the standard Bluehost web hosting (basic shared hosting) plans, but the WordPress optimization and platform-specific resources are arguably worth the cost.

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WORDPRESS RATING
★★★★★ 4.9/5.0
  • Officially endorsed by WordPress.org
  • FREE migration plugin or automated installation
  • Pre-installed Git, 3 caching levels, and FREE CDN
  • FREE WP setup wizard, staging, and auto-updates
  • Fast, 24/7 support via custom chat system
  • Get started on SiteGround now.
Starting Price/Mo. $2.99
Money Back Guarantee 30 days
Disk Space 10 GB SSD - 40 GB SSD
Domain Name New or Transfer
SiteGround: Our Expert's Review
Alexandra Anderson (HostingAdvice.com):

Want a hassle-free, WordPress-optimized hosting service. SiteGround has thought of everything you need to get your site up and running.

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WORDPRESS RATING
★★★★★ 4.9/5.0
  • 1-click WP install, PHP 7+, HTTP/2, and NGINX
  • All-in-one security protections from BitNinja
  • WordPress optimizations boost performance
  • No price markup for WordPress services
  • Daily backups and FREE SSL certificate
  • Get started on Hostinger now.
Starting Price/Mo. $2.49
Money Back Guarantee 30 days
Disk Space 100 GB SSD - 200 GB NVMe
Domain Name FREE (1 year)
Hostinger: Our Expert's Review
Laura Bernheim (HostingAdvice.com):

As much as we love WordPress, one of our biggest pet peeves is when hosting providers exploit the popularity of the world's most-used content management system by offering so-called WordPress hosting that, in reality, is exactly the same as the host's shared server plans. Fortunately, Hostinger's ultra-fast infrastructure and easy access to SSL certificates and backups sets up the company to outperform the vast majority of the violators of our admittedly made-up rule.

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Best “Ecommerce” Web Hosting for Artists

What good is your online portfolio if you can’t sell a piece or two? Thankfully for artists who may not be comfortable with setting up and securing an online store or shopping cart software, the hosts we list below take care of all the nitty-gritty details like payment processing and inventory management.

These all-in-one solutions cover your store’s design, product listings, and checkout process, with ample support available as questions arise. Installing a shopping cart is not nearly as difficult as you may fear, as the hosts will ensure your customers’ and patrons’ personal and financial data is protected and give them the confidence to return and acquire new pieces.

10. IONOS.com

ECOMMERCE RATING
★★★★★ 4.9/5.0
  • Drag-and-drop online store builder for $1/mo
  • Quickly sell products, services, and digital goods
  • Cross-platform selling integrations with social media, Amazon, Google, and eBay
  • Built-in metrics, promos, and coupons
  • Track competitors' Google and social media activity
  • Get started on 1&1 IONOS now.
Starting Price/Mo. $1.00
Money Back Guarantee 30 days
Disk Space Unlimited SSD
Domain Name FREE (1 year)
eCommerce Hosting Plans
1&1 IONOS: Our Expert's Review
Alexandra Anderson (HostingAdvice.com):

The online store builder from 1&1 IONOS gives entrepreneurs a full suite of selling and marketing tools at their disposal — and all for a ridiculously low price. The company’s lightning-fast architecture and tools for SEO and marketing metrics...

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ECOMMERCE RATING
★★★★★ 4.8/5.0
  • Code-free design tools for eCommerce stores
  • Templates for retail, food, clothing, and services
  • Custom WordPress integrations and optimizations
  • 24/7/365 support via phone, chat, and email
  • Try StoreBuilder with a 30-DAY FREE TRIAL
  • Get started on Nexcess now.
Starting Price/Mo. $12.67
Money Back Guarantee 30 days
Disk Space 30 GB - 100 GB
Domain Name New or Transfer
eCommerce Hosting Plans nexcess.net/ecommerce
Nexcess: Our Expert's Review
Laura Bernheim (HostingAdvice.com):

Designing, deploying, and maintaining an online store is best done with a quality host. Nexcess created a one-of-a-kind site builder exclusively for optimizing online stores.

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ECOMMERCE RATING
★★★★★ 4.8/5.0
  • 20 times faster performance that boosts sales
  • 80+ software options: Magento, OpenCart, WooCommerce, PrestaShop, and others
  • Fully managed WordPress and server environments
  • Worry-free migration and 24/7 support
  • DDoS protection and layered security measures
  • Get started on A2 Hosting now.
Starting Price/Mo. $11.99
Money Back Guarantee 30 days
Disk Space 100 GB SSD - Unlimited SSD
Domain Name New or Transfer
eCommerce Hosting Plans www.a2hosting.com/ecommerce
A2 Hosting: Our Expert's Review
Alexandra Anderson (HostingAdvice.com):

For those who understand the importance of page load speed and sales, look no further than A2 Hosting. The company boasts premium storage, optimized security, and one of the most diverse portfolios of one-click software installations we’ve seen.

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Best Web Hosting With Themes for Artists

In the early days of the web, deep wallets and technical proficiency were prerequisites to get professionally designed sites up and running. But these are no longer barriers to entry into the web’s business space — and artists should take note.

Many of today’s web hosts offer beautifully designed templates to act as foundations for a creative’s online presence. As a result, artists can get their ideas and work on the web without needing programming knowledge.

The themes offered by our top-rated host for site design below give site owners more than a blank canvas. The site builder’s drag-and-drop environment, coupled with the theme’s paint-by-numbers-like platform, offers a road map to create effective web designs that will wow prospective clients and buyers. Give our full review in the table below a read and learn how this host’s themes make site design a simple, intuitive process.

13. Wix.com

WEBSITE BUILDER RATING
★★★★★ 4.9/5.0
  • No coding skills needed with drag-and-drop builder
  • 100s of templates with niche-specific designs
  • Add features via the App Market and Wix Events
  • Easily create ecommerce functionality easily
  • Great way to build small sites on a budget
  • Get started on Wix now.
Starting Price/Mo. $0.00
Money Back Guarantee 14-day FREE trial
Disk Space 2 GB - Unlimited
Domain Name FREE (1 year)
Wix: Our Expert's Review
Alexandra Anderson (HostingAdvice.com):

Website building is where Wix shines. The thousands of templates, the intuitive editor, the industry-leading designs that cater to a variety of specific fields and use cases — all these facets represent a platform that excels at facilitating easy web design for the non-tech-savvy user.

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Best Domain Hosting for Artists

We’ve covered the basics of why it’s integral for artists to build web presence in today’s digital-centric landscape. However, a fundamental component of carving out a niche online is your site’s domain name.

Custom domains help boost name recognition and credibility and help your fans find you. Your domain is usually a web consumer’s first encounter with your brand, and this can make or break how they view your business and you as an artist.

Below is our most highly ranked host offering custom domains as part of its basic packages. If you’re looking to differentiate yourself with a domain tailored to your brand, read our full review in the following table to see how this host can help.

14. IONOS.com

DOMAIN RATING
★★★★★ 4.9/5.0
  • Register domains for $1 (or FREE with hosting)
  • FREE domain privacy to protect your information
  • Easy setup with domain lock and 2GB email inbox
  • 99.9% uptime, plus daily backups and recovery
  • FREE SSL certificate for safer data transfers
  • Get started on 1&1 IONOS now.
Starting Price/Mo. $1.00
Money Back Guarantee 30 days
Disk Space 10 GB - Unlimited
Domain Name FREE (1 year)
Domain Hosting Plans
1&1 IONOS: Our Expert's Review
Alexandra Anderson (HostingAdvice.com):

While many popular hosts reserve free domain registrations for its higher-tie plans, 1&1 IONOS gives every customer the perk — along with free domain privacy, email inbox, and SSL certificate. Trust your site with a company that hosts more than 12...

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Best Free Web Hosting for Artists

Steady, paying work for creatives has always fluctuated with the economy. When things are booming, people are buying wall hangers. If we’re in a bust cycle, consumers tend to hesitate when it comes to buying art.

As a result, most artists seek creative ways to manage their budgets no matter the state of the economy, and leveraging free web hosting is one of the tricks of the trade. Many creatives are finding Wix’s free hosting service as a solution to help them stay in the public eye without breaking the bank. Wix’s free plan includes a Wix.com subdomain and host-branded ads. Site owners going the no-cost route get access to one of the industry’s premiere site builders, 500MB of storage, and a mobile version of their site.

For artists looking to build out their brands and deliver a more professional appeal, Wix offers premium plans for only a few bucks. Just $0.00 per month gets you a custom domain — the benefits of which we’ve discussed above. Wix’s pricing tiers vary by need, and the more you spend, the more features you’ll get. Click on our full review in the table below to see if Wix’s free or premium plans are right for your budding art site.

15. Wix.com

WEBSITE BUILDER RATING
★★★★★ 4.9/5.0
  • No coding skills needed with drag-and-drop builder
  • 100s of templates with niche-specific designs
  • Add features via the App Market and Wix Events
  • Easily create ecommerce functionality easily
  • Great way to build small sites on a budget
  • Get started on Wix now.
Starting Price/Mo. $0.00
Money Back Guarantee 14-day FREE trial
Disk Space 2 GB - Unlimited
Domain Name FREE (1 year)
Wix: Our Expert's Review
Alexandra Anderson (HostingAdvice.com):

Website building is where Wix shines. The thousands of templates, the intuitive editor, the industry-leading designs that cater to a variety of specific fields and use cases — all these facets represent a platform that excels at facilitating easy web design for the non-tech-savvy user.

Go to full review »

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These Top-Rated Hosts Make Showcasing Portfolios Online a Breeze

When his exhibit The Weather Project premiered at London’s Tate Modern art gallery, Olafur Eliasson had people talking. They weren’t just granting one another the daily cordialities of how sunny or cloudy it was outside. These patrons were conversing on what the artist’s creations meant, sparking existential discussions on humanity’s place in the cosmos and what, in fact, the weather had to do with anything.

And, if you’re an artist, that’s really the point — to get people to see your perspective on life and think about the way we live it. However, modern artists don’t have to have massive displays in the world’s most prestigious museums to do so. All that’s needed are ideas, compelling work, and a website. And the top-rated hosts presented here are the ideal starting points to invite patrons to visit your personal gallery.

Our top-rated hosts make it easy for creatives to develop web presence and broadcast their work to the masses.

Getting going is just a few clicks away, and you don’t need to worry about breaking the bank. Starving artists can create their online gallery space for just a few dollars per month and enjoy immense exposure. Leverage open-source technologies and search for free themes to stretch your money further.

If you’re a newbie to the web development game and still apprehensive about creating a platform to showcase your work, take a look at our beginners’ guide. This will give you peace of mind that getting online’s easier than talking about the weather.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sean has more than 15 years of experience researching, writing, and editing for numerous industry-specific trade publications. His goal is to keep organizations and stakeholders informed of the latest trends and technologies that can help them streamline operations and thrive online. Sean loves to chat about all things IT infrastructure and covers a range of topics in his writing, including virtualization, cloud computing, the hyperscalers, IoT and edge technologies, and digital transformation, among others.

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