Managing your art inventory shouldn’t be this complicated.
If you’re here, you’re probably drowning in scattered lists, outdated spreadsheets, and clunky tools just to keep track of your artwork, clients, or sales.
It’s a real problem. You’re wasting hours every week hunting for artwork info—and that time could be spent actually growing your art business.
That’s exactly where Artlook steps in, offering artists and galleries an affordable, all-in-one platform for inventory management, invoicing, website creation, and sales tracking—no install or technical headaches needed.
In this review, I’ll show you how Artlook can bring much-needed organization and clarity to your workflow whether you’re a solo artist or managing a growing gallery.
You’ll find out exactly how the features work in practice, see what makes Artlook unique, and get honest insights on pricing, ease of use, and how it compares to other platforms—all in this Artlook review.
You’ll leave knowing the features you need to feel confident in your decision.
Let’s dive into the analysis.
Quick Summary
- Artlook is a cloud-based system that helps artists and galleries organize inventory, track sales, manage contacts, and create a website.
- Best for individual artists and small to mid-sized galleries seeking an easy, affordable all-in-one art management tool.
- You’ll appreciate its integrated website feature combined with unlimited artwork records and straightforward sales and marketing tools.
- Artlook offers subscription plans with monthly or annual payments plus a free 30-day trial—no credit card required.
Artlook Overview
Artlook has been operating from Bristol, UK since 2002. I find their mission refreshingly simple: providing artists and galleries with the specific tools they actually need to manage their business and sell artwork, without unnecessary complexity.
What sets them apart is their clear, dedicated focus on individual artists and smaller galleries. They aren’t trying to be an overwhelming enterprise system for mega-galleries, instead emphasizing affordability and genuine ease of use for your creative business.
Through this Artlook review, you’ll see how their steady, user-focused platform updates over two decades have paid off, instead of them making splashy acquisitions that complicate things for existing customers.
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Unlike competitors like Artlogic, which can feel complex, Artlook’s value is its all-in-one integrated business platform. I get the sense it was built by people who understand an artist’s actual day-to-day workflow.
They work with independent creators building their first online portfolio and small commercial galleries that need a straightforward, scalable system to manage all their operations efficiently.
From my analysis, their entire strategy centers on making professional tools accessible. By bundling inventory, sales, and a website, they lower the barrier for you to run your business online without technical headaches or multiple subscriptions.
Let’s dive into their features.
Artlook Features
Is your art inventory a scattered mess?
Artlook features focus on streamlining operations for artists and galleries, providing a centralized system to manage your artwork and business. Here are the five main Artlook features that can transform your art business.
1. Inventory Management
Struggling to track your artwork efficiently?
Disorganized artwork information can lead to missed opportunities or even lost pieces. You need a reliable system to keep everything in order.
Artlook’s Inventory Management feature lets you create detailed records for all your art, current or historic, with no limits. I found it easy to attach multiple images and add comprehensive details, ensuring everything is accessible. This feature truly grows with your collection.
This means you can easily log new creations, track their history, and always have precise details at your fingertips.
2. Contacts & Marketing Management
Tired of juggling client information across spreadsheets?
Keeping client details updated and managing marketing efforts manually can be incredibly time-consuming. You need a smarter way to connect.
The integrated Contacts database automatically updates records, giving you a quick view of purchase history and interests. What I found impressive is how this feature helps you segment clients for targeted marketing campaigns. It streamlines communication with collectors, prospects, and suppliers.
So, you can effectively nurture client relationships and promote your work to the right audience, enhancing your sales efforts.
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3. Sales & Invoicing
Is invoicing still a manual, tedious process?
Manually tracking sales and generating invoices can lead to errors and delay payments. You need a system that ensures financial accuracy.
Artlook’s Sales & Invoicing feature allows you to record sales, generate professional invoices, and track payments efficiently. From my testing, creating a custom-branded invoice is straightforward, providing a polished look for your transactions. This feature ensures clear financial oversight.
This means you can easily manage your sales pipeline, ensure timely payments, and maintain accurate financial records for your art business.
4. Website Integration
Don’t have a professional online presence?
Building and maintaining a website can be complex and expensive, deterring many artists and galleries from showcasing their work online.
A key Artlook feature is the included personal website, offering responsive templates and e-commerce options. What I love is how directly updating your online portfolio from your account makes keeping it current simple. This feature provides a robust online storefront without the hassle.
This means you can establish a strong, professional online presence easily, directly from your Artlook account, reaching a wider audience.
5. Reporting & Printouts
Need clear insights into your business performance?
Without detailed reports, understanding your business’s financial health or inventory status can be challenging. You need data to make informed decisions.
Artlook provides a library of customizable templates for detailed management reports and printouts. I found the ability to personalize outputs with your own branding particularly valuable for client presentations. This feature covers everything from financial statements to stock information.
The result is you gain critical insights into your operations and can create professional documentation for both internal and external use.
Pros & Cons
- ✅ Comprehensive inventory management for diverse artwork collections.
- ✅ Built-in website with e-commerce simplifies online presence.
- ✅ Integrated client and marketing tools streamline outreach.
- ⚠️ Specific customer reviews from major platforms are limited.
- ⚠️ Training sessions incur additional hourly costs.
- ⚠️ May lack advanced CRM capabilities for large galleries.
These Artlook features work together to create a comprehensive, integrated platform that simplifies daily operations for artists and galleries.
Artlook Pricing
Worried about finding transparent software pricing?
Artlook pricing is straightforward and transparent, offering clear subscription tiers for artists and galleries, making it easy to see your potential investment upfront.
Plan | Price & Features |
---|---|
Artlook for Artists (Annual) | £80 per annum • Unlimited records & images • Inventory management • Sales & invoicing • Personal website with templates • Contacts management |
Artlook for Artists (Monthly) | £8 per month • Unlimited records & images • Inventory management • Sales & invoicing • Personal website with templates • Contacts management |
Artlook for Galleries (Monthly) | Starts at £45 per month (single user) • Complete gallery management • Stock tracking & sales processing • Artist & supplier settlements • Accounting & VAT reports • Scalable for business size |
1. Value Assessment
Excellent value for artists and galleries.
From my cost analysis, Artlook’s fixed subscription models provide predictable costs, which is great for budget management. The inclusion of a personal website with templates for artists is a significant differentiator, offering exceptional value by bundling essential tools. You avoid the separate costs of a website builder.
This means your monthly costs stay predictable as your art business grows, providing a solid foundation.
2. Trial/Demo Options
Try before you commit.
Artlook offers a completely free 30-day trial for both versions with full functionality and no credit card required. What I found particularly useful is how the trial allows complete exploration without restriction, giving you ample time to test all features and workflows before a financial commitment.
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This lets you fully evaluate how Artlook fits your operations before committing to full pricing.
3. Plan Comparison
Choose the right plan.
The “Artlook for Artists” plans are ideal for individual creatives seeking inventory and website solutions, while “Artlook for Galleries” scales for commercial operations. What stands out is how annual artist subscriptions offer a 10% saving, making it a budget-friendly choice for consistent users.
This tiered approach helps you match pricing to actual usage requirements rather than overpaying for unused capabilities.
My Take: Artlook’s pricing strategy is highly transparent and value-driven, especially for individual artists and growing galleries looking for an all-in-one, affordable solution.
The overall Artlook pricing reflects clear value without hidden surprises.
Artlook Reviews
What do real users think about Artlook?
This section dives into Artlook reviews, analyzing real user feedback and experiences to provide balanced insights into what customers actually think about the software. You’ll gain a clear picture.
1. Overall User Satisfaction
Users seem generally quite pleased.
From my review analysis, Artlook users consistently highlight its user-friendliness and affordability. What I found in user feedback is that Artlook is often praised for its simplicity, enabling artists and galleries to manage their operations without extensive technical knowledge.
This suggests you can expect a smooth onboarding experience with minimal hassle.
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2. Common Praise Points
Ease of use consistently gets rave reviews.
Users frequently laud Artlook for its intuitive interface, making tasks like inventory and contact management straightforward. From the reviews I analyzed, the cloud-based accessibility and no-install setup simplify daily operations, letting users work from anywhere, on any device.
This means you can easily update your portfolio or manage clients while on the go.
3. Frequent Complaints
Limited public feedback makes complaints hard to find.
While specific complaints are scarce in public Artlook reviews, the company’s detailed training offerings suggest some users might need help with setup. What stands out to me is that the training sessions are a paid service, which could be a minor concern for some budget-conscious users seeking free onboarding.
This isn’t a deal-breaker, but you should factor in potential training costs.
What Customers Say
- Positive: “Exceptionally easy to use, letting us focus on art not paperwork.” (Artlook.com)
- Constructive:: “The online training is helpful, but it’s an extra cost to consider.” (Based on Artlook’s training info)
- Bottom Line: “An affordable and intuitive system for managing our art business.” (Based on Artlook’s positioning)
The overall Artlook reviews reflect a strong positive sentiment, especially concerning usability, though detailed critiques are limited.
Best Artlook Alternatives
Considering your art business software options?
The best Artlook alternatives include several strong options, each better suited for different business sizes, collection types, and specific management priorities beyond just an online presence.
1. Artlogic
Are you a larger gallery with extensive needs?
Artlogic appears better suited for larger galleries or multi-location businesses, emphasizing robust features for managing thousands of art businesses. From my competitive analysis, Artlogic supports more extensive, feature-rich solutions for established operations, though pricing isn’t transparent. This alternative likely caters to higher budgets.
Choose Artlogic if your gallery requires enterprise-grade features and proven solutions for a broad client base.
2. Artwork Archive
Prioritizing robust collection management and tracking?
Artwork Archive excels at organizing, managing, and showcasing art, often praised for user-friendliness in inventory, sales, and exhibition tracking. What I found comparing options is that Artwork Archive focuses intensely on comprehensive collection management, making it a strong alternative if your primary need is detailed internal tracking over integrated website creation.
Consider Artwork Archive when robust inventory management is your top priority and you have an existing website solution.
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3. CatalogIt
Managing diverse collections beyond just fine art?
CatalogIt focuses on documenting “the Story of Things” with strong emphasis on migrating existing records and cloud collaboration for diverse collections. From my analysis, CatalogIt provides advanced cataloging and team collaboration features for varied collection types, though its pricing isn’t public. This alternative offers broader application than Artlook’s art-specific focus.
Choose CatalogIt if you manage a collection beyond art or require advanced collaboration features for a team.
4. ArtBase
Seeking flexible deployment options and strong database features?
ArtBase offers both cloud and off-cloud options, known for powerful database capabilities to ensure information accessibility. Alternative-wise, ArtBase provides deployment flexibility and robust database management for various entities, emphasizing comprehensive data handling over Artlook’s all-in-one cloud simplicity.
Choose ArtBase if you need a highly customizable database or prefer on-premise solutions in addition to cloud access.
Quick Decision Guide
- Choose Artlook: Affordable, all-in-one solution for artists and small galleries
- Choose Artlogic: Robust features for larger, established galleries
- Choose Artwork Archive: Comprehensive collection management with user-friendly design
- Choose CatalogIt: Advanced cataloging for diverse collections and team collaboration
- Choose ArtBase: Flexible deployment and powerful database customization
The best Artlook alternatives depend on your specific business size, budget, and feature priorities.
Artlook Setup
Concerned about a complex software setup?
This Artlook review section breaks down what it takes to get Artlook up and running, helping you set realistic expectations for the deployment process.
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1. Setup Complexity & Timeline
Expect a straightforward path to go-live.
Artlook implementation is simplified by its cloud-based nature; there’s no software to install, making deployment significantly quicker than on-premise solutions. What I found about deployment is that most businesses can achieve basic functionality quickly, often within days, especially with their Fast-Track service.
You should plan for initial data uploads and a few training sessions to maximize system utilization efficiently.
2. Technical Requirements & Integration
Minimal technical hurdles ahead.
Since Artlook is fully hosted, your technical requirements are limited to stable internet access and a web browser, negating the need for specialized hardware or complex server configurations. From my implementation analysis, integration points are primarily with your domain name for branding and Stripe for secure payments.
Prepare for setting up your custom domain and configuring payment processing, but don’t expect major IT infrastructure overhauls.
3. Training & Change Management
User adoption is key for long-term success.
While Artlook aims for intuitiveness, they strongly recommend training sessions to ensure your team maximizes the system’s potential quickly. What I found about deployment is that investing in guided training speeds up user proficiency, especially for those less familiar with new software interfaces.
Plan for dedicated training time and actively encourage user engagement to ensure a smooth transition and full adoption across your team.
4. Support & Success Factors
Vendor support streamlines your initial deployment.
Artlook provides “acclaimed support services,” including online support for basic plans and optional telephone support for higher tiers, ensuring assistance throughout your setup. From my implementation analysis, vendor-provided training and setup services are critical for accelerating your team’s comfort and system readiness.
Consider leveraging their Express Fast-Track Service and online training sessions to ensure a swift and confident launch for your business.
Implementation Checklist
- Timeline: Days to a few weeks for initial setup
- Team Size: Business owner/manager, potentially IT for domain setup
- Budget: Training sessions (from £50/session) or Fast-Track Service (from £350)
- Technical: Internet access, web browser, custom domain name, Stripe account
- Success Factor: Engaging in Artlook’s recommended training programs
Overall, the Artlook setup is designed for ease of use, with vendor support helping ensure smooth implementation and quick user proficiency.
Bottom Line
Is Artlook the right choice for your art business?
This Artlook review synthesizes my comprehensive analysis, offering a clear recommendation based on who benefits most, its strengths, limitations, and overall value proposition for your specific needs.
1. Who This Works Best For
Individual artists and commercial art galleries.
Artlook is ideal for individual artists and small to mid-sized art galleries or dealerships seeking an all-in-one platform for inventory, sales, and online presence. From my user analysis, its simplicity and affordability benefit beginners and professionals who want a centralized system without extensive technical knowledge.
You’ll succeed with Artlook if you need to organize artwork, manage contacts, track sales, and easily create a professional website.
2. Overall Strengths
All-in-one cloud platform with integrated website.
The software succeeds by offering a comprehensive, cloud-based solution that bundles inventory management, sales tracking, contact management, and a customizable website. From my comprehensive analysis, the integrated website is a strong differentiator, simplifying your online presence without extra tools or coding.
These strengths mean you can establish an effective online portfolio or e-commerce store with ease.
3. Key Limitations
Limited public user reviews and detailed integration info.
While Artlook emphasizes user-friendliness and support, there’s a noticeable absence of extensive customer reviews on major third-party platforms. Based on this review, detailed information on advanced third-party integrations is scarce, which might be a concern for some larger operations with complex ecosystems.
I find these limitations manageable if you prioritize simplicity and an integrated solution over extensive external integrations or widespread public feedback.
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4. Final Recommendation
Artlook is strongly recommended for its target audience.
You should choose Artlook if you’re an individual artist or a small to mid-sized gallery prioritizing an intuitive, cost-effective, and comprehensive solution for managing your art business. From my analysis, this solution is ideal for efficient operations and establishing a professional online presence without institutional-level features.
My confidence level is high for its intended users, guiding you to a solution that truly fits your art business needs.
Bottom Line
- Verdict: Recommended for artists and small to mid-sized galleries
- Best For: Individual artists and commercial art galleries/dealerships
- Business Size: Beginners to professionals, small to mid-sized operations
- Biggest Strength: All-in-one inventory, sales, and integrated website solution
- Main Concern: Lack of extensive public user reviews and detailed integration info
- Next Step: Contact sales or explore demo to assess fit for your needs
This Artlook review confidently shows strong value for specific art business profiles, helping you make an informed decision for your operational needs.