ArtStation has been the go-to platform for artists and illustrators to share their work for years.
On ArtStation, users can upload their artwork and portfolios with their own tags to show their talent to others.
While ArtStation is a great platform for sharing your art, it does come with its own flaws.
The biggest of which is the fact that their content policy forbids certain types of artwork to be submitted there.
These include things like adult content and overly scary or intense images (unless they are part of an art piece, like Halloween stuff).
Another problem is that there are a lot of people who will copy your work and submit it as their own art.
This is why you need to check out these 15 Best ArtStation Alternatives:
Best ArtStation Alternatives
1. DeviantArt
DeviantArt is a site for artists, with over 35 million registered users.
DeviantArt is the world’s largest online social community for artists and art enthusiasts, allowing people to connect through the creation and sharing of art.
Although there are many alternatives available on the web that offer similar features as DeviantArt does; yet they lack one thing which makes it stand out and that is the community.
The DeviantArt community is massive, with millions of active users who are always willing to share their work, offer feedback, and support to other artists.
Like ArtStation, DeviantArt also offers a portfolio feature that lets users showcase their artwork, and there is also a section for prints that allows artists to sell their work.
The site also has a wide range of features, such as groups, forums, journals, and articles that allow artists to connect with each other and share their work.
The main downside to DeviantArt is that it can be a little overwhelming for beginners, as there is so much content to explore.
However, with a bit of exploration, you will find that the site has a lot to offer.
If you’re looking for a site with an engaged and supportive artist community, then DeviantArt is the place for you.
Check out this post comparing ArtStation with DeviantArt.
2. Behance
If you’re looking for a more professional platform to showcase your work, Behance may be the best option for you.
It has a more refined and polished look than some of the other platforms on this list, and it’s frequently used by art directors and recruiters to find new talent.
Behance lets you show off your work in a variety of formats, including PDFs, videos, and interactive presentations.
You can also use Behance to find collaborative projects and connect with other artists.
Using Behance is as easy as using ArtStation. In fact, your projects will show up on both platforms as long as you have a Behance profile.
You can even export images from ArtStation to Behance using the ‘share’ button within the image panel of any project.
In addition, you can import images from other sites by dragging and dropping them into your browser window.
Behance has a bubbling online community that’s always willing to offer critiques and advice.
If you’re looking for a supportive online community, Behance is the place for you.
Explore some of the best Behance alternatives here.
3. Dribbble
This website is a social site, where the users upload images of the artwork. Many people use Dribbble as a portfolio website.
It has many features such as tagging, voting, and following others.
It has categories like illustration, identity design, photography, etc. Users can get feedback from many viewers. There are many contests in Dribbble for fun.
Dribbble is owned by the parent company, Dubberly Design Office. Dribbble was released in 2010 under this company.
Dribbble also has mobile applications available on Apple Store and Google Play Store.
In comparison to ArtStation, Dribbble has the following pros:
- Many features such as tagging, voting, and following others.
- It has categories like illustration, identity design, photography, etc.
- Users can get feedback from many viewers.
- There are many contests in Dribbble for fun.
Check out the best alternatives to Dribble.
4. CGSociety
CGSociety is a popular online art community that offers a variety of features for artists, including portfolio hosting, job listings, and a forum for connecting with other artists.
The website is home to many uniquely themed art communities, including the Game Art community for traditional and digital artists, CGChats.
CGChats is a place where users can connect over their shared interests and the Sketchfab Community which allows users to share their favorite works.
The best part about CGSociety is that it’s 100% free! And with a simple interface and easy navigation, it’s perfect for artists of all skill levels.
Where ArtStation is a very sleek, modern site that features a white background and dark text, CGSociety has a more classic design with colorful backgrounds and light text.
You will find a lot of inspiration and professional artists on CGSociety, and there are lots of forum sections to help you if you get stuck with a project.
5. Tumblr
Tumblr, a microblogging and social networking platform, was founded by David Karp in 2007.
The site allows users to post text, photos, quotes, links, audio, and videos. Users can follow other users’ blogs. Tumblr also has a messaging feature.
Tumblr is popular with artists because of its easy-to-use interface and its ability to host images and videos.
However, Tumblr has been criticized for its poor security, lack of features, and censorship.
Despite these drawbacks, Tumblr remains an excellent platform for artists because of many features it possesses that ArtStation does not have such as following, messages and likes.
Beyond that, you will get a lot of customization options to shape your Tumblr blog the way you want it.
Even if you have a portfolio site on a different platform, you can still use Tumblr to showcase your work and connect with other artists.
6. Pinterest
Pinterest is a social media platform that allows users to share images and videos.
It is a great platform for artists as it provides a space for users to share their work and find inspiration from others.
Although I wouldn’t recommend Pinterest as the main portfolio site, you should definitely consider it for pinning your art and keeping track of references.
Pinterest is a very visual platform, so if you’re looking for inspiration in the form of images and videos this might be the one for you.
It also has some great support options that can help artists when they get stuck with their work.
The Pinterest algorithm is what makes it great for finding inspiration and discovering new artists.
As an artist you have a better chance to get on the front page of Pinterest if your images are related to specific movements or periods – it makes their algorithm find you more easily.
On Pinterest, I usually discover art from the Renaissance, Victorian era, surrealism, and even retro style pinners.
When you’re on Pinterest you can also follow other artists and their boards.
You can easily get caught up in it for hours, especially if you’re active on the site yourself.
Pinterest is a great art source to use when you’re looking for inspiration or experimenting with new styles.
Find more platforms like Pinterest here.
7. DrawCrowd
If you’re looking for an ArtStation alternative that’s more affordable, DrawCrowd might be a better option.
With a monthly subscription, you get access to a community of artists and their work.
DrawCrowd is a community of artists and their work.
It also has an artist marketplace that uses its own virtual currency (also called DrawCrowd credits) to buy and sell digital assets.
DrawCrowd is very similar to ArtStation, but it has a much smaller and more specific audience.
If you’re looking to get into the industry, then ArtStation is probably your best bet.
It’s larger and it has a lot of its own built-in tools for sharing work with clients and hiring other artists to help you out on bigger jobs.
DrawCrowd can be a valuable asset, but it’s much more niche and not necessarily geared toward getting jobs.
It also serves as its own social network, so you can make friends and collaborate with other artists on projects.
The platform has all the features that a regular social network would such as followers count, messaging system, and of course, the ability to post your own work.
8. Pixiv
Pixiv is a popular Japanese art platform, where users can upload images on the site.
Not only are digital paintings allowed, but also photography and illustrations which you find in media such as anime, manga, games, etc.
The website has more than 15 million registered users and has more than eight million daily unique visitors.
You will recognize some of your favorite artists here, as Pixiv is also a great place to find undiscovered talent.
The site has an intuitive and user-friendly interface, making it easy to navigate for artists and art lovers alike.
Unlike ArtStation, it is also possible to upload videos and gifs on this site.
To create an account, you need a valid email address and a password. In return, you can upload all your art for free!
After signing up, every time you complete a new “piece” of art, it goes through a review process from moderators before being posted on the site.
This process may slow down your workflow if you are not patient enough, but it is for the sake of quality control on the platform.
If you get too frustrated with the review system or need to upload something fast, there is also an option to pay $5 per month to get access to a “premium” account.
The platform is social-friendly and lets you follow other artists. This way you can stay updated on what your favorites are doing.
9. Ello.co
Ello.co is an art community website that provides many of the same features as ArtStation.
Some notable features are the ability to create galleries, blogs, follow others, and receive notifications about new posts by following users.
Users also have the option to upload 360° images for VR-related work.
Ello is completely free of charge but has some ads throughout their site which can be rather annoying, especially in an area where they might cover art and renderings.
Their website is easy to navigate and has a clean design that makes it resemble the layout of both Facebook and Tumblr.
On this site, you can also buy and sell artwork and creations and receive commissions from other artists.
Ello also has a very large community of users that are always willing to help out and give feedback.
This means that you will have more eyes viewing and critiquing your work, which can be a good or bad thing, depending on how you look at it.
10. Concept Art World
Concept Art World is a community of digital artists centered around the sharing and inspiration of art.
Although not directly competing with ArtStation, Concept Art World has features that set it apart from the competition.
It is a combination of a social media platform and an art gallery, making it easy for artists to share their work and get feedback from the community.
The site also offers resources like tutorials and articles, as well as a job board for artists looking for work.
Because this platform has thousands of users, it is sometimes easy to get lost in the crowd.
When you are browsing, it can be difficult to find specific artists or content because there are no filters.
Concept Art World balances this by implementing a system that allows users to “favorite” posts and tag them with keywords for easier searching.
ArtStation has taken some inspiration from Concept Art World, for example, by allowing users to favorite posts.
11. Our Art Corner
Our Art Corner is one of the best ArtStation Alternatives that you will find.
It is a great platform for artists to share their work with others, and it offers a wide variety of features that make it an ideal choice for artists.
Some of the features that Our Art Corner offers include:
- A user-friendly interface that makes it easy to share your work
- A wide variety of tools that you can use to create your artwork
- The ability to comment on other people’s work, and to receive feedback from others
- A gallery that showcases the best artwork from users around the world
If you are looking for a great platform to share your artwork with others, then Our Art Corner is a perfect choice.
They offer a wide variety of features that make it easy for artists to share their work, and we showcase some of the best artwork from users around the world.
The website is dedicated to art challenges and critiques.
As a visitor, it is unlikely that you would focus on both the challenge and the artwork at the same time.
This website is great for following other artists and receiving updates when they post new work.
It also has a very active community that is always willing to provide feedback and critique artwork.
12. PaigeeWorld
PaigeeWorld is another Japanese online social network where artists can share, discuss, and make friends with fellow artists from all around the world.
Users can also collaborate on projects by creating a team of contributors on a project.
PaigeeWorld is similar to ArtStation as it allows users to upload images and videos, share sketches, or ask questions on forums.
The platform has a built-in image editor and a set of brushes for Photoshop to help users create stunning images.
It also features a built-in marketplace where you can purchase resources from other artists, such as 3D models, 2D elements, or animations.
PaigeeWorld is often referred to as a digital artist’s best friend, as the platform has almost anything you need to create stunning images.
It has a hashtag feature that allows users to create trending topics and it integrates with G+.
You can take some tutorials and join their Sketch club to improve your skills.
13. Newgrounds
Newgrounds is an art website where artists can sell their work for free. Newgrounds is one of the longest-running websites of its kind. It was founded in 1996 by Tom Fulp.
One cannot upload pornographic or excessively violent works to Newgrounds which makes it one of the more popular sites for illustrators and animators who want to showcase their skills.
Newgrounds has many popular games and movies that were created by the community.
The most famous of these creations is likely the video game, Super Mario Bros.
Like ArtStation, Newgrounds also has art contests. The only difference is that the entry fees are much less expensive at $10 USD.
These contests are judged by other users, often resulting in disputes due to voting irregularities or individual preferences.
Newgrounds themes for particular contests are voted on by the community and only change every three months.
Artists who want direct feedback can create an account and post their artwork on the forums of Newgrounds.
You can also engage in discussions and post and watch videos.
Artists who want to monetize their work can seek sponsorships from other users.
14. Virink
Virink is a free website for designers, a virtual canvas.
The site uses real-time rendering to provide an accurate image of what the artist’s work will look like at the end, and operates similarly to photoshop.
It supports vector graphics like Illustrator or Inkscape as well as raster images such as Photoshop and GIMP.
Virink also allows users to add plugins, such as the Nik Collection from Google.
The website is fast-growing and in just a few months has gained five million users, so there are probably some impressive pieces posted.
There is also notably no watermarking on the site which is good news for artists.
Virink and ArtStation share some similarities, but there is a big difference between the two.
ArtStation gives you a very large area to display artworks and also allows you to use their editor.
Virink’s interface is quite simple with not many functions, so it might be appealing to some users.
ArtStation is a more suitable place for composers, writers, and animators who want to display their work.
It has no mobile app available yet but you can visit it by browsing on your phone’s browser.
Virink also gives you the ability to share pages with others so they get an email with your works.
It is also possible to organize the people you’re sharing with into groups for more efficient work.
While the editor does not have anything special going for it right now, its simplicity might be better for some users.
There are not a lot of adverts on Virink and it seems to be a relatively clean and accessible website.
There is no official app for the site yet, but there are links in the footer of the page.
15. Gumroad
Gumroad is a marketplace for purchasing art and other digital goods, both from independent creators and from traditional publishers.
Like ArtStation, Gumroad also has a social media aspect that lets you follow people, see what they are posting/selling, etc.
Gumroad is completely free for buyers with no transaction fees. Creators set their own prices and earn 85% of each sale.
However, if pricing requires extra clarification then there’s a flat ten-cent charge per transaction to cover costs.
Gumroad charges a flat five percent fee to process credit cards and any payment method supported by Stripe including PayPal.
It is simple to create a product profile on Gumroad; simply upload your preferred image(s) and add a short description.
You will also need to select your preferred pricing, including whether or not buyers can make single custom items (with their own price), and how you want to be paid out.
As mentioned earlier, Gumroad supports all major credit cards as well as PayPal for most transactions.
One of the most notable differences between ArtStation and Gumroad is the ability to send download links for your products.
The download link can be sent via email, and buyers will also receive an email notification when you update your product or create a new one.
Conclusion
There you have it, the 15 best ArtStation alternatives. I hope you found this article helpful and would opt for the best option that suits your needs.
Keep in mind that while these ArtStation alternatives are great options if you want to try something new, they still might not be as versatile as ArtStation.
ArtStation has been the traditional choice for those who want to create a portfolio, receive donations and sell their art online.
However, if that does not suit your needs, then perhaps you should try one of these 15 best alternatives out there.
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