I’m going to break down seven platforms where artists are actually getting orders in 2026, without having to post online every single day. 

I dug through Reddit threads, TikTok deep dives, news articles, and seller interviews to figure out what’s really going on out there. 

Not the polished success stories, but the real stuff: what’s working, what’s frustrating, and who each platform actually makes sense for.

Let’s start with one platform that most people don’t immediately think of for art…

Depop

Depop is usually labeled as a clothing resale app, but that description barely scratches the surface anymore. 

A growing number of artists and small designers are using it as a storefront for wearable art and creative accessories. 

Think hand-painted jackets, embroidered pieces, statement jewelry, and original printed designs. 

I’ve even seen artists sell art prints using their own photography, and people are buying.

One thing that really stands out about Depop is the audience. 

Depop has a younger audience. They care about style, trends, and having something unique. This is a crowd that wants something different, something that feels like them. 

And that demand is real. I’ve come across roughly 25 to 30 sellers who are comfortably pulling in $100K+ a year on Depop. 

A couple have employees, studio spaces, the whole thing. Some of them launched full clothing brands off the back of Depop momentum. 

Not everyone reaches that level, of course, but it says a lot about how strong the buying behavior is for handmade and creative products on this platform.

The good thing about Depop is that buyers are okay paying for something that looks cool or feels personal. 

You don’t need a huge following to get views on your items either. People browse by category and style.

On Depop, buyers don’t just pay for the product, they pay for personality. 

They’re looking for pieces that feel one-of-a-kind, and in a lot of categories, they’re willing to pay more than they would on platforms like eBay. 

If your photos have a strong vibe and your listings feel intentional, you don’t need a massive following to get traction.

But the annoying parts are exactly what you’d expect, lowball offers. 

People who comment “interested” and then disappear. Posts that rack up likes but don’t turn into sales. 

And Depop definitely nudges you to keep up with trends, whether you care about them or not. If Y2K cycles and trend forecasting make you roll your eyes, this part can start to feel like homework.

Depop makes the most sense if your products are wearable and you naturally lean toward style.

If you enjoy fashion, curating outfits, or saving mood boards on Pinterest just for fun, Depop is worth a serious look.

Whatnot

Whatnot is a live-selling platform.

The easiest way to picture it is this: you go live, show your products, chat with viewers, run auctions, and people buy in real time during the stream. 

It originally blew up around Pokemon cards and collectibles, but lately I’ve been seeing a lot more handmade categories popping off. 

I’ve watched sellers move art prints, small plushies, pins, stickers, jewelry, and even craft supplies during live sessions.

What really defines Whatnot is speed. 

Once a seller builds even a small, consistent audience, it’s not unusual to see a few hundred dollars come in during a single stream. 

On the higher end, I’ve seen bigger sellers have huge nights, the kind where they make what looks like an entire month’s rent in just one stream. 

That’s not the norm, but it does say a lot about how motivated and ready-to-buy the audience is.

One of the biggest advantages of live selling is the energy. 

People get excited watching other people buy things, and that momentum feeds the room. 

There’s a real sense of community, and you get instant feedback on what’s working and what’s not. 

It’s also great for testing new products or clearing out extra inventory quickly. 

In a lot of ways, Whatnot feels like an art fair without the early mornings, heavy bins, or loading everything into your car. You can do it all from the comfort of your own home.

The downside is pretty straightforward, you have to show up on camera and actually talk. 

If selling live feels intimidating, Whatnot can get stressful fast. 

You don’t need to go live every single day, but you do need some level of consistency. 

Viewers have to know when you’re going live, otherwise it’s hard to build repeat attendance. 

And while live selling can be lucrative, it’s very active work, this is not a passive platform.

Whatnot makes the most sense if you sell low- to mid-priced items that are small, easy to ship, and fun to showcase live.

It also helps if you enjoy interacting with people and feeding off that real-time energy. 

If you’re looking for something more hands-off or quiet, this probably isn’t the best fit and that’s okay.

Pinkoi

Another platform worth knowing about is Pinkoi.

Pinkoi is hugely popular across Asia, even though a lot of people outside the region have never heard of it. 

It’s a strong marketplace for design-focused products, with customers in places like Taiwan, Japan, Hong Kong, Thailand, and across Southeast Asia. 

The best part? You don’t have to live in any of those countries to sell there. You can be US-based, create products with Asian or design-forward sensibilities, and still reach that market.

What really sets Pinkoi apart is its emphasis on original design. 

This is not a platform for cheap, mass-manufactured factory items. Pinkoi actively prioritizes products that feel thoughtful, intentional, and well-designed. 

You’ll see a lot of stationery, art prints, home decor, lifestyle goods, pet products, accessories, and clothing, all with a strong aesthetic point of view.

One of the most interesting things about Pinkoi is what can happen after online sales. 

Some brands start on Pinkoi and eventually expand into physical retail across Asia. And that’s exciting!

I’ve seen designers land wholesale orders through Pinkoi and later get picked up by bookstores, museum shops, and lifestyle stores. 

That doesn’t happen to everyone, of course, but it says a lot about Pinkoi’s reputation and credibility in the design world.

The great thing about Pinkoi is that buyers really value design and they’re willing to pay for it. 

They love discovering new artists and supporting thoughtful products. If your work fits that aesthetic, it’s definitely worth setting up shop there.

Of course, there are some things to keep in mind. Pinkoi has a review process to open a shop. 

I actually like this because it keeps the overall quality high, but it also means that if your branding or photography isn’t strong, you might not get approved. 

International shipping can also get tricky or expensive if you haven’t figured out the logistics yet. 

Overall, Pinkoi works best for lifestyle or design-forward products, think stationery, prints, home decor, accessories, or cute character goods especially if you want to reach more Asian customers.

One thing that came up again and again in my research is this: marketplaces are great for discovery, but when someone finds an artist they really like, they almost always end up on the artist’s own website for repeat orders, commissions, or bigger purchases. 

I’ve seen this happen countless times. 

People discover you on Depop, Whatnot, Pinkoi, or TikTok, but when they want more control or a bigger order, they go straight to your website. 

That’s why I always tell artists to have a website they own, a homebase where all roads lead.

At the end of the day, all of these marketplaces we’ve talked about are still running on algorithms we don’t control. 

One day your shop is popping off, and the next, it feels like nothing’s happening. Kind of like Etsy, some days it’s amazing, and other days it’s not.

That’s where Hostinger comes in. 

Hostinger makes it super simple and affordable to build a shoppable website. 

You don’t need anything complicated, most artists just need a homepage, product listings, an about page, and a contact or commission page. 

With Hostinger’s AI features, you can have your site up and running in under 20 minutes!

They even have a link-in-bio AI builder, so your social media traffic goes straight to a place you control.

If you’ve been putting off building a website because it felt too technical, scary, or expensive, Hostinger makes it way easier. 

Right now, they’re running a huge sale, and you can grab the deal here: hostinger.com/creativehive

I recommend their Business Plan, it includes the AI Website Builder and eCommerce features so your site can be fully shoppable. 

The 48-month plan gives you the lowest monthly price and even throws in 2 extra months free.

They also have a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try it risk-free. 

And don’t forget to use my code CREATIVEHIVE for an extra 10% off!

That’s less than the cost of a fancy cup of coffee per month. With your own website as a reliable homebase, all those marketplaces I just talked about become even more powerful tools for your business.

Ko-fi (koh-fee)

Next up is Ko-fi (pronounced “koh-fee”). 

It started as a simple tip jar, but these days it’s a full-on creative hub.

Artists use it to sell digital downloads, commissions, pay-what-you-want wallpapers, brushes, coloring pages, mini tutorials, and even physical merch.

What I love about Ko-fi is how low-pressure it is, some artists use it purely as a commission portal which is a lifesaver when Instagram DMs get chaotic. 

Digital illustrators can quietly sell $3 brush sets and make hundreds of sales. Anime artists run monthly memberships for exclusive art or behind-the-scenes sketches.

The biggest upside? Simplicity. 

You can get products up fast, mix digital and physical items, skip worrying about SEO, and keep more of the money you earn. 

Fans already know how Ko-fi works because so many creators link to it, which makes things smoother. 

Unlike Patreon, there’s no pressure to post content on a strict schedule, you share when you have something, so it stays low-maintenance.

The downside is discoverability. 

Ko-fi doesn’t have built-in discovery like Etsy or Depop. If you don’t already have an audience somewhere, TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Discord, etc., it won’t magically bring buyers to you.

That said, if you already have a following, Ko-fi is an incredibly simple way to start monetizing your art without overcomplicating things.

Poshmark

Next up, we’ve got Poshmark. 

Like Depop, it’s mostly known as a clothing and resale app, but I’ve seen artists make it work for certain handmade products, mostly fashion-adjacent or home decor items.

Think painted denim, embroidered clothing, handmade jewelry, small home decor, thrifted frames with original art inside, accessories, and cottagecore-style pieces.

The biggest advantage? Buyers are there to shop. 

They’re not just scrolling for fun like on Instagram, they’re actively looking to buy something. 

There are even people making a full-time income flipping items on Poshmark, so the buyer base is super active.

The downside is that fees can make handmade items tricky. 

If your products are slow to make, like crochet pieces or other labor-heavy items, your margins might not add up. 

Also, Poshmark doesn’t really highlight an “artist identity” or branding, it’s much more product-focused, kind of like Etsy.

I’d say Poshmark is worth testing only if your work fits into fashion or home categories. If you’re making fine art or higher-priced originals, this probably isn’t the right platform.

Artfinder and UGallery

Let’s also talk about Artfinder and UGallery. 

Two platforms that come up a lot for artists who sell originals, especially higher-priced work. 

Both are curated, which means it’s not just a “upload anything” situation. You apply, show your best work, and they approve you only if your art fits their style. 

It’s more like working with a gallery than selling on a big open marketplace.

Artfinder is all about original artwork. 

Buyers come here looking for real paintings, drawings, and mixed media pieces. 

The big upside? Sales usually happen at a higher price point compared to casual marketplaces. 

The downside? Commission. 

Artfinder takes around 40–45% of your sale, depending on your plan, that can feel steep, but keep in mind they do marketing for you and put your work in front of collectors who are ready to pay for originals.

UGallery is similar but even more “gallery-like.” 

It’s built to connect artists with collectors looking for one-of-a-kind pieces. 

They make shipping a breeze, sending you prepaid FedEx labels and custom art boxes for safely packaging bigger canvases or expensive work. 

The commission here is higher than most online platforms, around 50%, which is basically in line with traditional in-person galleries. 

You’re paying for the curation, the access to serious buyers, and the support that comes with it.

The audience on these platforms is very different from Depop, Whatnot, or Ko-fi. Collectors here aren’t buying stickers, pins, prints, or merch, they’re looking for art that actually goes on a wall. 

Sales might be slower, but when they happen, they happen at real art prices. 

If your work is original paintings or fine art and you want to reach collectors instead of casual shoppers, these platforms are absolutely worth exploring. 

On the flip side, if you mainly sell prints, merch, or small handmade items, these probably aren’t a great fit.

If you want to go even deeper into building your own online store, I’ve got a blog that walks you through it step by step.

How I’d choose products, price them, set up the store, and all the mistakes I’d avoid based on experience.

Just head to this link: https://tinyurl.com/4m6ms732 

Selling your art online isn’t about chasing algorithms or keeping up with every trend. 

It’s about finding the places where your work really clicks, connecting with people who actually value what you create. 

So try things out, see what fits, and don’t be afraid to carve your own path. The opportunities are out there, and the people who’ll love your work are out there too.