I’ve tried many e-commerce platforms and found two that stand out for online sellers. Shopify impresses me with its flexibility, ease of use and constant new features. It’s great for omnichannel sales and is the go to for many businesses.
For artists looking for specialized support Art Storefronts is the solution. It provides full service and tools designed for creative professionals building their online presence.
While both have their strengths I find Shopify is more flexible and cost effective for more sellers.
Shopify and Art Storefronts: Key Pros and Cons
Shopify Pros and Cons
Shopify has robust omnichannel sales. I like its flexibility in supporting different products in different niches. It has tools for inventory and business management which I find super useful for scaling.
I like Shopify’s user interface and design features. It’s for businesses of all sizes. The extensibility through integrations and APIs is a big plus for customization and growth.
Shopify’s main downer is the transaction fees for third party payment processors. Not a deal breaker but something to consider.
Unlike Art Storefronts Shopify doesn’t have built in print on demand service but integrations are available to fill that gap.
Art Storefronts Pros and Cons
Art Storefronts is great for artists. I love their print on demand service especially for creators. The marketing and design support packages are excellent and give artists the tools to promote their work well.
I like Art Storefronts’ lead capture and merchandising tools. These let artists showcase their work best. The AI and AR features are a nice bonus.
Art Storefronts does online and offline sales which I think is a big plus for artists in galleries or fairs.
Downside is the initial setup can be a bit tricky. The pricing may be too high for some artists and limit access. Art Storefronts is geared towards visual artists which may not be for all creative businesses.
Each Platform at a Glance
Art Storefronts is the ecommerce solution for artists. I think it has the most features for selling artwork. The built in print on demand service is better than many others and has more customization options.
Artists can showcase their work with AR tools. I like the lead capture features and marketing plans are expertly crafted. They even have AI with their “Art Buyer AI” tool.
Shopify is a versatile ecommerce platform for all types of sellers. I like its flexibility and scalability. It lets you create an online store and expand to multiple channels including social media and marketplaces. Shopify’s native point of sale is a bonus for physical locations.
It’s good for business management with robust tools for inventory and order tracking. I like Shopify’s huge app and integration ecosystem where sellers can add more functionality to their store.
Both are for different needs. Art Storefronts is for artists, Shopify is for all types of businesses.
Art Storefronts vs Shopify: Key Differences
Site Design Tools
Shopify has a ton of mobile responsive templates but most require payment.
I like their website editor, it’s user friendly and guides you through customization. Some elements like checkout require coding but creating a store is easy.
Art Storefronts has modern themes for artists. I like their clean design and artist focused. Customization can be a bit tricky with a clunky backend. But their support team will help you make your site stand out.
Both have:
- SSL security
- Unlimited pages
- Blogs and galleries
- Hosting
- Custom domain support
Art Storefronts has built in lead capture and AR for merchandising.
Sales and Ecommerce Features
Shopify is good for selling anything, anywhere. It has:
- World class checkout
- Integrated payment processing
- Unlimited product listings
- Shopify POS for omnichannel selling
- Social media and marketplace integrations
- Upselling and cross-selling tools
Shopify’s payment processor accepts multiple currencies and payment types. I like their robust inventory and order management tools for complex product catalogs.
Art Storefronts is for artists with:
- Built in print on demand service
- Multiple size and style options
- Online and offline selling tools
- Printable art catalogs
- QR codes for easy access
Their AR preview tool lets customers see art on their walls or view items from all angles. They also have “frequently bought together” and “recently viewed” carousels to boost sales.
Art Buyer AI is a unique feature that gives you insights to personalize the customer journey.
Marketing and Growth Tools
Art Storefronts is hands on with artist success:
- Email marketing solutions
- Social media integrations
- Custom forms and pop-ups
- Third party trust badges
- SEO optimized blog
They have tons of educational resources and can even create marketing plans for you.
They handle omnichannel campaigns, marketing calendars and giveaway events.
Shopify has:
- Email marketing tools
- Live chat
- Built in blog
- Voucher and discount creation
- Promotional banner tools
Shopify’s AI tools like Shopify Magic makes marketing easier:
- Generate SEO optimized product descriptions
- Create ad content and FAQ pages
- Write email campaigns
- Edit product photo backgrounds
- 3D product scanning
Both have social marketing integrations, lead capture forms and connections to other marketing apps.
Pricing and Fees
Shopify has different pricing plans to suit different business needs. I like their entry level plan at $5 / month where entrepreneurs can start selling on social media.
For more features, Shopify’s Basic plan starts at $29/month, Shopify plan is $105/month and Advanced Shopify plan is $399/month.
Enterprises can opt for Shopify Plus at $2,300/month. Shopify charges transaction fees for third party payment processors but you can avoid that by using Shopify Payments.
Here’s a breakdown of Shopify’s costs monthly vs yearly:
| Shopify Plan | Monthly Cost (Pay Yearly) | Monthly Cost (Pay Monthly) |
|---|---|---|
| Shopify Starter | $5 | $5 |
| Basic | $32 | $39 |
| Mid-tier | $84 | $105 |
| Advanced | $299 | $399 |
| Shopify Plus | Custom ($2,300+) | Custom ($2,300+) |
I found that Art Storefronts has a different pricing approach. They don’t publicly list their fees and require you to request a demo and get a custom quote.
From what I gathered, initial store setup can cost over $3,000. Additional packages for marketing or website optimization can cost thousands of dollars as well.
Art Storefronts may offer a more personalized experience but their pricing seems to be for bigger businesses with deeper pockets.
For small businesses or just starting out, Shopify’s transparent and scalable pricing is more appealing.
Art Storefronts vs Shopify: Who wins?
I’ve looked into both Art Storefronts and Shopify and each has its pros. Art Storefronts is good for artists with product showcases and marketing help. It’s for those selling art online and offline.
Shopify is more versatile. It supports businesses in different niches and excels in omnichannel selling. The platform’s scalability through apps, robust inventory management and AI capabilities are impressive.
Art Storefronts has its pros but I would recommend Shopify. It’s more flexible and has broader appeal to more businesses. Shopify’s pricing is also more affordable for those just starting out.
But artists might like Art Storefronts’ specialized features. Worth considering for art focused businesses looking for personalized support.
