ONLINE BUSINESS TOOLS FOR ARTISTS
This free directory contains listings and links to useful tools of all types for visual artists growing small businesses. Click each one to learn more about the services offered.
CREATE GRAPHICS, PRESENTATIONS, MARKETING COLLATERAL
Mocklio – An online tool that helps artists sell their work by showing it in cinematic videos. Instead of static product photos that blend into the feed, it turns any artwork into a 10-second video reel to preview owning a work of art before the customer ever orders it.
Canva – Popular and versatile site for designing graphics, advertisements, videos, social media posts, logos, collages and much more. Starts at a free level.
PicMonkey – A photo-editing and graphic-design tool for creating social media posts, advertisements, logos, banners, collages, and other marketing materials. Includes templates, animation features, and stock photos and videos. Plans start at $7.99 per month or $72 per year.
VistaCreate – A graphic-design platform with templates for advertisements, social media posts, banners, videos, and other marketing content. A free Starter plan is available. Pro costs $10 per month when billed annually or $13 when billed monthly.
Designrr.io – Repurpose existing content into ebooks, flipbooks, and other publications. Import content from sources such as webpages, documents, podcasts, and videos, with transcription and publishing features available on selected plans. A seven-day free trial is available.
Art Rooms App – Select an interior from its collection of realistic rooms and add your artwork to create an in-room presentation. Adjustable frames and colored mats are available, along with lighting, shadow, and perspective controls. A free version is available.
Visme – Create presentations, infographics, social media graphics, videos, reports, and other visual content using customizable templates. A free plan is available; paid individual plans start at $12.25 per month when billed annually.
PHOTO EDITING, RESIZING, REFORMATTING
MockCity – Bulk-generate mockups by automatically placing your designs into PSD Smart Objects. Use your own PSD templates or choose from its free template library. The browser-based tool is free to use and does not require registration.
Photopea – A free browser-based image editor for cropping, resizing, retouching, and working with layers, masks, and other advanced features. It opens and saves numerous file formats.
PicResize – Versatile and free online tool to crop, resize, compress and convert your images.
PhotoMarks – A Windows and Mac application for adding text, logo, and graphic watermarks to batches of photos. It also provides resizing, cropping, conversion, and other image-editing features. A free trial is available.
Zamzar – An online tool for converting and compressing image, document, audio, and video files. It supports more than 1,200 file formats. Free conversions are limited to files of 50 MB or less; paid accounts support larger files.
IrfanView – A fast, compact image viewer and editor for Windows. It supports numerous file formats and offers image conversion, optimization, slideshows, and batch processing. Free for noncommercial use.
VIDEO TOOLS
Lumen5 – Turn written content, including text and webpage links, into videos using templates and AI-assisted tools. A limited free plan is available.
StreamYard – Record videos, podcasts, and webinars or broadcast live to platforms including Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. A limited free plan is available.
Vimeo – Host, manage, edit, and share videos. Vimeo also offers video-creation and AI-assisted editing tools, with features varying by plan. A limited free plan is available.
InVideo – Create videos from prompts using AI-generated scripts, clips, subtitles, music, and transitions. A limited free plan is available.
SOCIAL MEDIA POSTING
Buffer – Schedule social media posts, review performance, and manage audience engagement. The free plan supports up to three channels. Paid plans start at $6 per channel per month, with a lower rate when billed annually.
RecurPost – Schedule social media posts, reuse evergreen content, and manage multiple accounts. The platform includes AI writing tools and Canva integration. Plans start at $9 per month, with a 14-day free trial.
Later – Plan and schedule posts across multiple social platforms and review performance data. Its Link in Bio tool can expand the profile links available through Instagram and TikTok. Plans start at $18.75 per month when billed annually, with a 14-day free trial.
Linktree – Create a customizable profile page containing links to your website, online store, social media accounts, press coverage, and other content. A free plan is available.
EMAIL MARKETING
Flodesk – Create attractive email campaigns, signup forms, landing pages, and automated email sequences. Email marketing plans start at $25 per month for up to 1,000 subscribers, or $19 per month when billed annually. A 14-day free trial is available.
Constant Contact – Create email campaigns, manage subscriber lists, schedule social media content, and review campaign results. Pricing is based partly on contact count and currently starts at $10.20 per month when billed annually.
GetResponse – Create email campaigns, forms, landing pages, and marketing automations, with reporting tools to track performance. A 14-day free trial is available. Pricing varies by list size, plan, region, and billing period.
Mailchimp – Create email campaigns, build subscriber lists, and track audience engagement. A limited free plan is available for up to 250 contacts and 500 email sends per month.
3D ONLINE GALLERIES
Online Viewing Room – Present artwork in an interactive virtual exhibition where visitors can view individual pieces and contact the artist or gallery. Basic viewing rooms are available free.
Exhibbit – Create customizable 3D art exhibitions that visitors can explore on desktop or mobile. Exhibitions can be embedded on your website or shared through a link. Plans start at $10 per month when billed annually, and a seven-day free trial is available.
Art.Spaces by Kunstmatrix – Plan, curate, and create 3D exhibitions using a choice of 15 virtual gallery spaces. A limited free trial is available, but a paid plan is required to publish a public 3D exhibition.
PRESS OUTREACH
Smartsheet – Download press-kit templates and free marketing-calendar templates to organize publicity materials and outreach schedules.
pdfFiller – Use an online press-release form and template that can be completed, downloaded, printed, or sent electronically. Access to some functions may require an account, trial, or paid plan.
PR Log – Publish and distribute press releases using a free basic service. Paid options provide additional distribution and visibility.
FILE STORAGE AND TRANSFER
Dropbox – Store files online and access, organize, and share them across devices. The free Basic plan includes 2 GB of storage.
WeTransfer – Send large files without attaching them to an email. The free plan currently allows up to 10 transfers or 3 GB of transfers in total during a rolling 30-day period.
ToffeeShare – Transfer files directly between devices using an encrypted peer-to-peer connection, without first storing them online. There is generally no file-size limit, although both users must remain online during the transfer and browser limitations may apply.
Google Drive – Store files online, share documents, and collaborate with others in real time. Files can be accessed across compatible devices through a Google account.
BUSINESS PLANNING
Business Plan Generator – Create and update a business plan using a guided online tool. The generator is free to use.
LivePlan – Create business plans and financial forecasts using guided tools, sample plans, and performance-tracking features. The Standard plan starts at $20 per month or $15 per month when billed annually.
MindMeister – Create and share collaborative mind maps for business planning, brainstorming, and project organization. The free plan includes up to three mind maps. Paid pricing varies by region and billing option.
SBA Startup Costs Calculator – Use information and a downloadable worksheet from the U.S. Small Business Administration to estimate startup expenses and organize costs before launching a business.
Todoist – Organize tasks, set priorities and reminders, and keep track of recurring activities and projects. A limited free plan is available.
STUDIO MANAGEMENT
Artwork Archive – Catalog artwork, track sales and locations, manage contacts, create reports, and share an online portfolio. Paid plans are available for individual artists and organizations.
ArtCloud – Manage artwork inventory, contacts, sales, invoices, and other parts of an art business using one connected platform. Check the provider’s current artist plans for pricing and available features.
Artlogic – Manage artwork inventory, contacts, sales, exhibitions, websites, and other art-business information. Available tools and pricing depend on the type of account and plan selected.
SELF-PUBLISHING
Kindle Direct Publishing – Self-publish ebooks, paperbacks, and hardcover books through Amazon. Books can be printed on demand and made available to customers in multiple countries.
Blurb – Create and self-publish photo books, trade books, magazines, notebooks, and other publications. Depending on the format, books can be sold through Blurb or distributed through outside retail channels.
Lulu – Create print books and ebooks using print-on-demand services. Lulu also offers options for selling through its bookstore and distributing eligible books to outside retailers.
CONTENT CREATION
ChatGPT – Use artificial intelligence to brainstorm, outline, draft, and revise artist statements, website copy, social media posts, email messages, and other content. A free plan is available. Users should review and verify all generated material before publishing it.
CommonTools – A collection of free online tools for tasks such as creating invoices and graphs, working with images, and formatting or editing written content.
Grammarly – Check spelling, grammar, clarity, and tone, and receive AI-assisted writing suggestions. A free plan is available; plagiarism checking and some advanced tools require a paid plan.
TEACHING AND LEARNING PLATFORMS
Thinkific – Create and sell online courses, communities, memberships, coaching, and other learning products. The platform also provides course-building and marketing tools.
Teachable – Create and sell online courses, coaching, memberships, and digital downloads. The platform includes tools for building learning products, accepting payments, and managing students.
Skillshare – Publish online classes for Skillshare’s audience of learners. Eligible teachers can earn income through member engagement with their classes and teacher-referral programs.
CROWDFUNDING
Patreon – Offer memberships, exclusive content, and one-time purchases while building a community of supporters. Patreon is free to start; new creators generally pay a 10% platform fee on income, plus payment-processing and other applicable fees.
Podia – Sell courses, digital downloads, coaching, webinars, and memberships through a website and online store. A 30-day free trial is available. Paid plans currently start at $42 per month when billed annually, with a 5% transaction fee on the entry plan.
Buy Me A Coffee – Receive one-time contributions, offer memberships, and sell products or commissions directly to supporters. There is no monthly fee; the platform charges a 5% transaction fee plus payment-processing fees.
Ko-fi – Receive tips, offer memberships, sell products, and accept commissions from supporters. A free account is available, with platform fees ranging from 0% to 5% depending on the payment type and account settings. Ko-fi Gold removes platform fees for a monthly charge.
Kickstarter – Raise funds for a defined creative project using an all-or-nothing campaign. Kickstarter charges a 5% fee when a project reaches its funding goal, plus payment-processing fees of approximately 3% to 5%. No fees are charged if the project is not successfully funded.
WEBSITE HOSTING
WP Engine – Managed WordPress hosting with security, backups, performance tools, platform maintenance, and customer support. Artsy Shark uses WP Engine for its website. Plans currently start at approximately $28 per month, although introductory offers and renewal prices may differ.
