What Is the Best Online Platform to Sell Original Art On?

A straight answer from a working artist with 26 years of experience in the industry.

If you have been searching for the best online platform to sell original art, you have probably already waded through a sea of listicles written by people who have never sold a painting in their lives. This guide is different. I am a working artist with 26 years of independent practice. My work has been featured in British Vogue, World of Interiors, and House and Garden UK. I have sold original art to collectors and property stylists across the world. I built Solene Haus because the existing platforms were failing artists - and I want to tell you exactly why.

What makes a platform actually good for selling original art?

Before we name names, it helps to understand what you are actually evaluating. Most artists focus on traffic - how many eyeballs does the platform get? But traffic is only one factor. The more important questions are: what percentage of every sale do you keep, who owns the customer relationship after the sale, how is your work displayed, and does the platform actively promote your art or simply list it and wait?

A platform with enormous traffic but a 40% to 50% commission rate is not your friend. A platform that takes a cut from collector relationships you build independently is even worse. And a platform that charges you a listing fee, a monthly fee, AND a commission is taking three bites out of every artist it claims to support.

What are the main types of platforms available to artists?

There are four broad categories of platform where you can sell original art online.

The first is the large global marketplace - platforms like Saatchi Art, Artsy, and Artfinder. These offer exposure to a wide international audience but typically charge high commissions, sometimes 35% to 50% of the sale price. The platform controls the collector relationship and you are one of tens of thousands of artists competing for the same eyeballs.

The second is the print-on-demand platform - Redbubble, Society6, and similar. These are not really designed for original art. They are designed for reproductions and licensed designs. If you are selling one-of-a-kind originals, these are not the right fit.

The third is the general marketplace - Etsy and eBay sit here. Both have enormous traffic and low fees, but neither is positioned specifically for fine art. You are competing with mass-produced goods, and the platform does little to signal the value of original work to buyers.

The fourth - and the category Solene Haus sits in - is the curated fine art platform. Smaller, more selective, designed specifically around the transaction of original art, with a fee model built to be fair to the artist.

How do platform commission rates compare in 2026?

This is the number that matters most and the one most platforms try to obscure. Here is a plain summary of what the major platforms take from each sale of original art:

• Saatchi Art: 40% commission on every sale
• Artsy: typically 20% to 50% depending on gallery representation
• Artfinder: 33% to 40% depending on membership tier
• Etsy: approximately 6.5% transaction fee plus listing and payment processing fees
• Solene Haus: 10% flat commission, no monthly fees, no listing fees

When you price a piece at $2,000 and a platform takes 40%, you receive $1,200. On Solene Haus you receive $1,800. Over a year of selling that difference is not marginal - it is the difference between a sustainable practice and a subsidised one.

Do online platforms actually sell original art or just list it?

This is the question nobody asks until they have been burned by it. Many platforms are passive listing services. They build a searchable database of art and wait for collectors to arrive. The marketing burden falls on the artist - you bring your own audience, your own email list, your own social media following - and then you hand 40% of the result to a platform that did almost nothing to make the sale happen.

The honest answer is that no platform guarantees sales. But the best platforms do more than list. They curate, they promote, they create editorial content around the work, and they bring genuine collector traffic through their own marketing. When evaluating a platform, ask them directly: what is your conversion rate, what is your average monthly collector traffic, and what do you do to actively market the artists on your platform? If they cannot answer those questions, you have your answer.

What about image protection - can platforms stop art from being stolen online?

Image theft is one of the most consistent concerns artists raise about selling online. Low-resolution previews help but they are not foolproof, and some platforms display images at sizes that make them useful for reproduction without permission.

Solene Haus uses a system called The Grid - a layered image protection approach built directly into how artwork is displayed on the platform. It is not a guarantee against every bad actor, but it is a serious attempt to respect the intellectual property of the artists we represent, rather than an afterthought.

Should I sell on multiple platforms at once?

In theory, yes. In practice, it depends on how much administrative time you want to spend managing listings across multiple platforms, and whether the platforms you choose allow it. Some platforms require exclusivity or first rights. Others have no such restrictions.

The more important question is whether you want to spread your energy thin across many platforms or build a strong, consistent presence on one or two. Collectors are not buying from a platform - they are buying from you. A coherent, professional presence matters more than being everywhere at once.

What is the best online platform to sell original art on in 2026?

The honest answer is: it depends on what you are selling, who you are selling it to, and what you are willing to give up in commission. But if you are a serious fine artist selling original work at prices that reflect your skill and experience, you should be on a platform that charges a fair commission, does not take a cut from collector relationships you build yourself, actively promotes your work, and protects your images as if they matter.

That is what Solene Haus was built to do. It was built by an artist who got burned by the existing system and decided to build the platform she wished had existed. If that sounds like something you have been looking for, the application to join is open now.

Frequently asked questions

What percentage does Solene Haus take from art sales?

Solene Haus charges a flat 10% commission on sales. There are no monthly membership fees, no listing fees, and no hidden charges. You keep 90% of every sale.

Is it free to list art on Solene Haus?

Yes. There is no cost to list your work. Solene Haus only earns when you earn - and only 10% when you do.

Can I sell on Solene Haus and other platforms at the same time?

Yes. Solene Haus does not require exclusivity. You are free to list your work on other platforms simultaneously.

How does Solene Haus protect my artwork images online?

Solene Haus uses a proprietary image protection system called The Grid, which is built into how your artwork is displayed on the platform. It is designed to reduce the risk of unauthorised reproduction without making your images too small to be viewed properly by genuine collectors.

Who is Solene Haus designed for?

Solene Haus is designed for professional fine artists selling original work. If you are a working artist who is serious about your practice and wants a platform that treats you as a professional rather than a content supplier, Solene Haus was built for you.