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Best Web Hosting for Artists: Top 8 Choices for the Ultimate Website

best web hosting for artists

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The best web hosting for artists could mean the difference between a portfolio that sells and getting overlooked. If you’re waiting for a sign to make the switch to a new site, now’s the time!

Web hosting offers you a higher level of security and design flexibility when promoting your work, helping you stand out in today’s crowded search engines. With so many practical options available, failing to utilize them could affect your creative freedom or business success.

Which web hosts will suit you best? I’ll save you time so you can start crafting an irresistible website for your next big client today.

Program

Strength

Product Details

#1: Bluehost

bluehost
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Best Overall Web Hosting

  • Very user-friendly for beginner artists with custom dashboards and helpful AI tools
  • Solid features such as automatic malware removal and blacklist monitoring to keep your business safe
  • Additional web builder options so you can design your site all in one place

#2: Hostinger

hostinger
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Best Affordable Web Hosting

  • Great for artists on a budget – $11.99/mo to $24.99/mo with a large yearly discount (and sometimes three-month free discounts)
  • Well-rounded plans include a free SSL certificate for extra security
  • Very beginner-friendly with clear, simple menu navigation

#3: DreamHost 

dreamhost
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Best All-Inclusive Web Hosting

  • Inclusive security package across plans such as firewall features and automated backups to keep your work protected
  • 100% uptime guarantee so you don’t potentially lose clients  – if your site ever goes down, they will refund you for the amount of time lost
  • Free migration service if you already have a WordPress to save you time

Best Overall Web Hosting: Bluehost

Do you have any experience with WordPress? You may already be interested in Bluehost, a beginner-friendly option that lets you set up a portfolio and WordPress CMS within minutes.

bluehost

Five out of five stars. With an easy-to-use interface and low price point, Bluehost is one of the best web hosting providers for artists of all backgrounds. While their website builder is a touch limited, this provider is still one of the fastest ways to kick off an online art career.

Pros:

  • Its user-friendliness means you don’t have to be a programmer or web designer to get started. Its custom dashboard and smart AI tools mean you can drag, drop, and design swiftly.
  • Bluehost is beloved by artists of different skill levels due to its affordability. Their plans range from their Basic plan at $2.45/mo to their Cloud plan at $29.99/mo (provided you pay for a year upfront, that is!).
  • If you’re familiar with WordPress’s popular CMS, you’ll already be familiar with its design tools, plug-ins, and analytics. Bluehost automatically syncs with WordPress since it’s easy to learn for beginners and comes with many accessible tutorials for site building.
  • Bluehost offers staging features – not only can you build your own website, but you can experiment and edit without impacting the live version. Being able to tweak on the fly is crucial for staying adaptable to changing trends and customer behaviors in the art industry.
  • Last but not least, you’ll get $150 in Google Ad credits so you can start promoting your work immediately. You don’t even have to leave your CMS to put your ads together!

Cons:

  • While this web hosting provider is generally affordable, their Cloud plan is still a little on the pricey side. Also, if you don’t buy a year upfront, you have to pay much more.
  • If you’re going to do shared hosting – a subscription model where your site shares the same server as other artists’ websites – you won’t have access to their staging features. This will be a frustrating barrier for people who want the lower cost of shared hosting but still want to tweak their site on the fly without affecting the live version.
  • Website builder is a little limited with only seven preset options. While you can customize details like color, font, and layout, these might not be enough options for your first site.

If you want an artist website that’s easy to build and affordable to maintain, check out Bluehost with their free 30-day trial.

Best Affordable Web Host: Hostinger

A limited budget doesn’t mean you can’t have one of the most appealing and high-traffic artist websites out there. Hostinger offers low prices with a slew of benefits that might just make you switch today.

hostinger

Five out of five stars. Tied with Bluehost, Hostinger is a no-brainer for artists who need a fast and engaging online portfolio to cement more work. Just make sure to upgrade immediately if you want e-commerce integrations to sell your merchandise or original paintings online.

They also have free web hosting options if you want to experiment before committing.

Pros:

  • They have smart prices for small business owners and new artists, offering three plans in the range of $2.99/mo to $9.99/mo (again if you purchase a year upfront). However, they regularly offer hefty discounts and occasionally a few months free, so check their site frequently.
  • The best web hosting for artists should consider speed, which Hostinger has in spades. Their lightning-fast sites are powered by several servers across the world, so you don’t need to worry about a surprise slowdown impacting your web traffic.
  • While Hostinger is beginner-friendly with its simple navigation menus, it still offers attentive customer service with live chat and email. If you have questions or concerns, they’re more than happy to lend a hand.
  • Their plans are wonderfully inclusive with essentials such as a custom domain (such as yourbusinessname.com) and an SSL certificate for security. These features ensure your site doesn’t get rejected by spam filters and appears more trustworthy to new visitors. You also won’t have to navigate countless product menus and diagrams just to figure out if you’re covering the basics.
  • A large amount of storage – the lowest plan still comes with 100 GB and unlimited email, which is pretty nice if you have active plans to expand your business operations later.

Cons:

  • Similar to Bluehost, you’ll be paying significantly more if you move to a month-to-month model. This can still be frustrating for artists on a very tight budget or artists who prefer monthly payments instead of yearly.
  • There’s no free dedicated IP address for the Premium plan. This feature is vital for advanced security on shared hosting since you’re sharing the same server with other artist websites. It’s also important to increase your email deliverability when you do email outreach (you don’t want your emails to end up in spam!).
  • No WooCommerce features for the Premium plan, either. If you’re eager to sell original paintings or t-shirts online, you’ll have to upgrade.
  • No phone support. While some artists much prefer live chat or email, those who prefer phone calls could be frustrated if they run into an issue.

Want a comprehensive web hosting option that lets you cover the basics easily? Try Hostinger today with their free 30-day trial (and you may get lucky with a limited-edition discount!).

Best All-Inclusive Web Host: DreamHost

If you’re a little frustrated with complex pricing plans, you’ll appreciate DreamHost’s approach. They offer a lower price point that doesn’t fluctuate quite as much as other web hosting options…and that’s before we get into their other well-rounded features!

dreamhost

Four out of five stars. DreamHost is incredibly well-rounded in its security, low price point, and user-friendliness. Sadly, the lack of 24/7 live chat and a slightly limited entry plan could prove annoying.

They also offer free web hosting to non-profit organizations in the United States. Just keep in mind you’ll have fewer customization or security features unless you upgrade.

Pros:

  • Their monthly prices range from a tidy $7.99/mo to $23.99/mo…and yes, those are actual monthly prices! While they offer yearly discounts just like every other web hosting solution, this consistently lower price point could make or break your decision.
  • Their free security measures are solid across the board, offering a free SSL certificate, firewall features, and automatic backups. It’s the kind of plan that automatically shaves off some of the stress of starting a new site.
  • DreamHost is wonderful to navigate with a bold, simple user interface that tells you everything you need to know upfront. You don’t have to be a seasoned designer to have a portfolio that visitors won’t forget.
  • Already have a WordPress? They offer a free migration service to shift your site over to DreamHost with their automatic plugin – even better, you don’t need a technical background to pull it off.
  • Are you worried about your site suddenly getting taken down? DreamHost offers a 100% uptime guarantee – if they ever fail to live up to this guarantee, they’ll refund you for the amount of time your site wasn’t up.

Cons:

  • No 24/7 live chat. While more experienced artists may be fine with waiting for customer service, beginner artists could find this stressful. Since site errors or accidents can happen at any time, not being able to get instant help could be a dealbreaker.
  • While the Starter plan is robust, you’ll have to pay a little extra to add email. It might be worth investing in this feature since a professional email makes your business look more trustworthy.
  • If you get a virus on your site, you have to pay extra for their malware removal tool. While this payment would be worth it, it could be frustrating not having all your security tools in one plan.
  • Their data centers are only located in the United States. If you have a lot of international clients, your site may load slightly slower on their phones or PCs.

If you’re ready for truly affordable and well-rounded web hosting services, check out DreamHost with their free 30-day trial.

Best Security Options: SiteGround

Did you know at least 60% of small businesses go out of business after becoming a victim of a cyberattack? SiteGround excels in this department, offering some of the broadest security options on this list.

site ground

Four out of five stars. The sheer variety of security options is only matched by their commitment to speedy, dependable performance.

That said, their lack of free trial and limited storage space are a few details to keep in mind. If you upload a lot of work on a regular basis, you’ll have to pay more for a larger plan or consider switching to another host.

Pros:

  • If you hate spam or are afraid of a virus crashing your hard work, you can breathe easy with SiteGround. Their security features include (but are not limited to) an SSL certificate at no cost, a real-time monitoring system, firewall features, and an AI anti-bot system.
  • Familiar with WordPress CMS? This is their preferred platform, so they’ll have it pre-installed and ready to go if you sign up with them.
  • Their customizable user management interface is fantastic for artists who don’t want to feel restricted in their workflow. You can change user permissions or access your favorite settings quickly with the press of a button.
  • Incredibly reliable performance. Thanks to their advanced caching system and server infrastructure, the site boasts an impressive uptime and lightning-fast loading. Your site visitors won’t have to worry about a crashed portfolio or slow-loading page!

Cons:

  • No staging features for the entry plan, so you’ll have to upgrade if you want to experiment or adjust your site independently of the live version.
  • No free domain. While this won’t be a dealbreaker for most, some options on this list include this feature automatically – it’s nice when you want one less thing to think about.
  • Plans have pretty limited storage options. If you’re a small business that will upload less frequently, you’ll be fine. However, if you plan on expanding your site later or uploading very high-quality files, you’ll have a hard time with SiteGround.

If you want some of the most powerful security features around, check out Siteground. While they don’t offer a free trial, they offer a 30-day money-back guarantee if you’re unsatisfied.

Best Storage Option: Interserver

If you plan on frequently updating your website blog or adding high-resolution files on a regular basis, you’ll need the storage to match. Interserver makes sure you’re never low on space with its robust storage and bandwidth capabilities.

interserver

Four out of five stars. Their unlimited storage and solid price point make them one of the more underrated options for your art website.

Just keep in mind they’re not exactly beginner-friendly due to their less-than-reliable customer service. If you need a lot of help getting started, this detail will likely slow down your progress.

Pros:

  • Unlimited storage? Yes, please! All of their plans give you this feature alongside unlimited bandwidth, a free SSL certificate, and unlimited email hosting for your domain name. If you don’t want to bounce between dedicated hosting providers as you scale and upgrade your business, these features are a must-have.
  • Strong performance for American-based customers. If you primarily work with people in the States, their combination of CDN and American data servers ensures everyone gets a speedy site experience.
  • Extremely accessible user interface. Interserver’s cPanel simplifies the process of managing and editing a site with automated tools and easy-to-understand graphics.
  • Their patented InterShield protection gives you additional security coverage with their robust blacklist. This blacklist includes IP addresses known for spam, viruses, or generally suspicious activity.

Cons:

  • They’re still not the fastest hosting service out there. Their loading time still falls a little short compared to DreamHost and Bluehost – if you have a lot of videos or high-quality files on your site, you may want to consider another option.
  • Live chat leaves a little to be desired – if you’re new to web hosting, you’ll have a strict learning curve. Some reviews have reported customer service either being slow to respond or providing unhelpful feedback.

If you’re a somewhat more experienced artist who wants to switch to a new hosting provider, check out Interserver free of charge for 30 days.

Best Website Builders: GoDaddy

Premium is a word often tossed around in the marketplace, but does it actually mean anything for your business? With GoDaddy’s brilliant web builders and large storage capabilities, it’s easy to see why people put this hosting provider in such high esteem.

godaddy

Four out of five stars. GoDaddy has earned a reputation as a dependable and well-rounded solution for artists, particularly those with specific design preferences.

However, their security features leave a little to be desired. You have to pay extra for essentials like viral protection or security certificates.

Pros:

  • You’ll have an easy time making the art website of your dreams with GoDaddy. They have one of the best website builder selections out there with twenty templates – you’ll even get design recommendations based on artistic or business goals.
  • All their plans include a free domain, so you can immediately strike this off your to-do list.
  • If you use WordPress, you can install your website within minutes. This feature is wonderful for tired artists who don’t feel like learning a brand-new CMS just to get their work seen.
  • GoDaddy is very inclusive with its features. Their most basic plan – Economy – still includes an impressive 100GB of storage alongside a free SSL certificate and free email.
  • Their more advanced plans let you host quite a few websites across several databases. This feature is a must-have if you want to expand your business across different industries.

Cons:

  • Their pricing is a little on the higher side as well as more complex. You get the usual song-and-dance of a yearly discount, but they also have significant renewal hikes three years down the line. If you’re confident you’ll be able to expand enough to cover these costs, this won’t be a problem – if you’re unsure, try another option on this list.
  • No free SSL certificate. On the plus side, they do offer a free domain when you sign up for one of their plans.
  • You have to pay extra for firewall protection and malware scanners. If you want to sign up for a service and be ready to go automatically, this less inclusive approach could be tedious.

If you want web hosting options that are well-rounded and let you design to your heart’s content, sign up for GoDaddy.

Best High-Speed Option: Rocket.net

Did you know that a website that takes more than five seconds to load increases the chances of people leaving by 90%? If this statistic makes you nervous, it’s time to consider Rocket.net – a hosting service that provides some of the best speeds out there.

rocket.net

Four out of five stars. Their incredible speed and seamless WordPress integration make them a no-brainer for artists thinking of upgrading their WordPress site or blog.

If you’re on a tight budget, though, their high price point and lack of free domain could be a barrier.

Pros:

  • Rocket.net has put a lot of work into its WordPress servers to ensure your visitors will have a fast loading time no matter where they live. This feature is essential if you plan on selling products or onboarding clients around the world.
  • If you want to spend more time on art and less time double-checking your site for suspicious activity, they have you covered. This host offers well-rounded security features such as automatic back-ups, firewall protection, and vetted updates from WordPress.
  • Think you’ll need customer service to help you out in the future? They offer several options such as 24/7 live chat and phone support.
  • If you’re a fan of WordPress sites, their business model revolves around integrating seamlessly with WordPress. You’ll get access to the same CMS and plug-ins you know and love but with their incredible speed and security features.
  • No price hikes on renewals and no surprise upsells, so you don’t have to anticipate massive costs to stay loyal to them in the long term.

Cons:

  • Their pretty high price point makes them less viable for beginners and very small businesses. Their Starter plan is $30/mo, while their highest plan hits $200/mo. Their yearly pricing discount isn’t particularly big, either.
  • There’s no free domain, so you’ll have to factor in that cost when signing up. A domain is one of your first feet forward when promoting your brand, so you don’t want to forget this part when setting up your site!
  • Thinking of adding a custom business email when signing up for their hosting services? Sadly, if you want email hosting features, you’ll have to look elsewhere.

With a more transparent pricing model and lightning-fast performance, there’s no doubt they could become one of your favorite hosting services. They don’t have a free trial, but they’ll give you a 30-day money-back guarantee if you’re not satisfied.

Check out Rocket.net here.

Best Server Option: HostArmada

Do you expect your art website to get a lot of traffic? Whether you’re a more experienced artist or you plan on diving into e-commerce, newcomer HostArmada has the speed to match your expectations.

hostarmada

Four out of five stars. Their ability to handle high volumes of traffic and an impressive money-back guarantee make them an appealing option for e-commerce artists ready to launch an online store.

That said, they’re relative newcomers with fewer reviews than other brands, hence why they’re not the first to pop up in search engines.

Pros:

  • Robust web hosting service able to handle very high volumes of traffic. This feature is brilliant if you plan on selling a lot of merchandise or original items, particularly during active periods like holidays or special events.
  • If you’re one of the visual artists needing an affordable shared hosting solution, you’ll enjoy HostArmada’s approach. They offer three shared hosting plans with a variety of benefits such as more storage, more daily backups, and being able to own several sites.
  • Solid price point. While not as affordable as other options on the list, they’re still on the lighter side with month-to-month plans ranging from $12.95/mo to $23.95/mo.
  • Unique 45-day money-back guarantee. You get a full month and a half to decide whether or not you want to use them for your portfolio sites, which is great if you’re indecisive!
  • Easy-to-use dashboard with bold, colorful graphics that make it simple to handle features like billing, support, or different domains. If you’re worried about a high learning curve, you can get comfortable using this hosting service within the same day.

Cons:

  • While they have solid price points month-to-month, keep a close eye on their renewal prices. They jump up pretty high from promotional prices, so you’ll have to keep your budget in mind if you want to use them long-term.
  • Since they’re a relative newcomer to the hosting service industry, they don’t have quite the amount of site owners or reviews compared to staples like Bluehost or GoDaddy. If you worry about their reliability and need more second opinions, you may want to wait a while as they build their reputation.

If you want a brand to offer web hosting at a more easygoing pace, this business will let you take your time. Try HostArmada’s 45-day money-back guarantee today.

7 Quick Tips to Consider Before Choosing a Web Hosting Option

choosing a web hosting option
(Image Source)

No single web hosting platform is perfect for everyone. Your business is as unique as you are, so let’s take a look at what you should consider before picking a hosting provider.

Consider Shared Hosting if You’re Just Starting Your Art Business

Shared hosting means your website will be sharing the same digital space as other artist portfolios. The benefits of this solution mean a lower upfront cost for you as well as better user-friendliness.

Shared hosting also means your host will handle the majority of technical details like security and support, freeing your schedule to focus on growing your art business.

Some of the suggestions on this list offer impressive shared hosting features such as HostArmada and Bluehost.

Think About VPS Hosting if You Anticipate High Volumes of Traffic

Short for ‘virtual private server’, VPS hosting is a lucrative option if you expect to handle a high volume of traffic on a regular basis. This solution is ideal if you’re a more experienced business owner or if you have an active interest in selling merch.

VPS hosting gives you greater flexibility in customizing your experience, letting you pick resources at will such as security features or storage amount. This means you have the power to only pick what suits your business.

In contrast, shared hosting offers a pre-determined package with specific features and benefits. While this takes away some of the legwork of running a site, it also means you can’t customize it very much.

Bluehost and GoDaddy are a few hosting services that offer VPS hosting.

Look Into Customer Service Features if You Think You’ll Need Extra Help

customer service features

There’s no shame in asking for help, especially when it comes to managing an entire business by yourself. Excellent customer support can mean the difference between a positive experience and a demoralizing one.

Sometimes your website will crash unexpectedly. Other times you may find some suspicious activity that makes you think you got hacked. If you anticipate needing to ask extra questions or have someone walk you through damage control, keep an eye out for the following:

  • Live chat
  • Phone support
  • 24/7 customer support
  • Positive user reviews about customer service

It’s essential to read recent, verified user reviews to get an accurate assessment of the host’s customer service. Plenty of people will leave detailed feedback such as how timely the brand’s response was or how well they walked them through a problem.

Hostinger and Rocket.net are a few examples on this list with positively rated and/or flexible customer service options.

Plan Out Your Preferred Marketing Features Before Committing

Consistent and well-researched marketing efforts are the backbone of a successful art business. Don’t pick a hosting provider before you know what additional marketing tools they offer.

For example, Bluehost offers $150 in Google Ad credits when you sign up. This handy feature lets you immediately start running a few Google Ads to get the word out and start increasing interested traffic to your website. You can then supplement these features with other marketing staples like social media, an active blog, or in-person networking.

Interserver is another host that offers unlimited email hosting options, letting you put together a professional email with any of their plans. There’s nothing like an official email to let a potential customer know you’re serious about your online store or services.

Double-check if You Plan on Selling Art Anytime Soon

double-check if you plan on selling art anytime soon

Have you thought of selling original paintings or online merchandise through a custom online store? If you’re wishy-washy on the idea, there’s nothing wrong with picking a more limited plan or free web hosting service for now.

While it’s tempting to go all out choosing the most robust and well-rounded features, you could end up wasting money on tools you don’t even use. Hostinger is one option that requires a more expensive plan to use their WooCommerce functionalities, but you may not even need it if you primarily make money through custom commissions.

You can always change your mind and choose another host later. Focusing on immediate value features like a free domain or a free plan will do wonders to ease the stress of running a business.

Double-check if You Want to Expand Your Industry, Too

Are you a multi-skilled artist who likes to dabble in different skill sets or industries? Another useful feature to consider when choosing a provider is plans with several websites.

Multiple websites are incredibly useful when you don’t want your portfolio too cluttered and distracted. For example, you could have one portfolio dedicated to fantasy and sci-fi illustration. You’ll have plenty of breathing room to sort out trading card game illustrations, concept art, and book covers.

Another portfolio could have bright and colorful packaging and greeting card illustrations. Instead of fighting for space with your fantasy and sci-fi art, you can focus on showing off your Hallmark card mock-ups and coffee packaging.

Plans that allow several websites empower you to keep your brand neatly organized so you don’t confuse your site visitors.

Try a Website Builder if You Need to Get Your Website Up Fast

try a website builder

Some of the web hosting options on this list also offer website builders. If you want to get your site up as fast as possible, condense your hosting and design features so you don’t have to hop around between businesses.

Bluehost has a decent selection of website templates, while GoDaddy has a larger selection. These website builders are handy since you don’t need to know any coding or have formal training to put together a professional site. Easy drag-and-drop features let you change colors, font, layout, and more.

Once you start making more money and building your online reputation, you can then consider options like a custom website tailored to your specific needs.

Web Hosting is a Reliable Tool to Promote and Protect Your Brand

web hosting is a reliable tool

Switching over to web hosting feels like leveling up as a business owner. You get more control over what tools and services will help your brand stand out in a fast-paced industry.

Whether it’s unlimited storage to hold all your high-quality files or extra fast loading speeds to encourage visitors to browse, your business only stands to benefit from the switch. Bluehost, Hostinger, and DreamHost are some of the most dependable hosts for both beginner and experienced artists.

Bluehost, in particular, is our best overall recommendation: grab the lowest price here.

When you’re ready to start putting together an unforgettable art portfolio, check out our essential guide.

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Article Written By

Ashe Samuels
Ashe Samuels
I'm an illustrator, designer, and creative writer with a deep love for film, videogames, novels, and music. You'll probably find me daydreaming about fictional worlds or scratching out a thousand thumbnails. You can find my work on Instagram.

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