Art Storefronts vs Shopify vs Brakebee: Which is Best for Selling Art?

Artists often narrow their platform search to Art Storefronts and Shopify—but there's a third option that many don't consider: Brakebee Custom Sites. In this three-way comparison, we'll break down pricing, features, customization, and marketplace reach to help you choose the best platform for your art business.

Winner: Brakebee is free to start and offers Custom Sites at $42/month on an annual plan—far more transparent and affordable than Art Storefronts or Shopify.

Art Storefronts: Template-based with customization options. You can adjust colors and layouts, but you're working within a template framework.

Shopify: Highly flexible with themes and apps. If you know code (or hire a developer), you can build almost anything. But DIY customization requires technical skills.

Brakebee Custom Sites: Fully custom design built from scratch. No templates—your site is designed specifically for your brand, typically completed in ~1 week.

Winner: Brakebee for true custom design without needing technical skills. Shopify is flexible but requires expertise or developer costs.

Art Storefronts: No marketplace. You get a standalone website, but you are 100% responsible for traffic. Shopify: No marketplace. You are on your own for SEO, ads, and traffic generation. Brakebee Custom Sites: Includes access to the Brakebee Marketplace—thousands of buyers actively browsing for art. You get a custom site plus built-in discoverability.

Winner: Brakebee is the only option with a built-in marketplace. Art Storefronts and Shopify both leave you on your own.

Art Storefronts: Third-party POD integrations available, but setup can be complex. Shopify: POD available through apps like Printful or Printify. Requires app subscriptions and integration. Brakebee: Print-on-demand built directly into the platform. No apps, no duct-taping—it just works.

Winner: Brakebee for seamless, built-in POD. Shopify and Art Storefronts require third-party tools.

For most artists, Brakebee Custom Sites offers the best value: custom design, low ongoing costs, and built-in marketplace reach. <a href="/custom-sites">Get started with Brakebee →</a>

Read more: <a href="/articles/art-storefronts-vs-brakebee">Art Storefronts vs Brakebee</a> | <a href="/articles/art-storefronts-alternatives">Art Storefronts alternatives</a>

Art Storefronts vs Shopify vs Brakebee: 3-Way Comparison

Compare Art Storefronts, Shopify, and Brakebee for selling art online. Pricing, features, marketplace, and which is best for artists.