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Email marketing for artists is how originals sell without a gallery taking half. Collectors buy from artists they have watched work, and the list is where that watching happens between shows. The tool needs to show images well and take a payment when a piece is ready. systeme.io does both free with a checkout at 0% fees; Flodesk makes the prettier email and charges for the checkout.
- 1Our pick
systeme.io
Free, then $17/mo
Best for: launch emails that link straight to a checkout for prints, originals, or commissions
The catch: plain templates; images need care to look good
Try systeme.io free - 2
Flodesk
Free plan, paid tiers from about $25/mo
Best for: image-led emails that look like a catalogue
The catch: the checkout is on the top tier
- 3
MailerLite
Free to 250, then from $12/mo
Best for: a clean studio newsletter
The catch: 250 subscribers free, no store
- 4
Kit
Free to 10,000 subscribers
Best for: a big list of followers you email a few times a year
The catch: no automations free; 3.5% plus 30c on sales
Prices and free-plan limits checked September 17, 2026 on each vendor's pricing page.
What to send
- Work in progress. One image, two sentences about the decision you are making in it. This is the email people stay subscribed for.
- The launch. New work available at a set time, with prices and a link that takes payment. Send twice: the announcement and a last-chance the day it opens.
- Studio notes. What you are reading, looking at, struggling with. It builds the relationship that makes the launch work.
- Commission openings. Twice a year, with the process, the price range, and the waiting time stated plainly.
A first sequence
Day 0: thank them and send one image with the story behind it. Day 3: how you work, in your own words. Day 7: an older piece and what you would do differently now. Then a monthly studio letter, and a launch whenever there is work to sell.
What it costs as the list grows
| Contacts | systeme.io | Flodesk | MailerLite |
|---|---|---|---|
| 250 | Free | Free plan | Free |
| 2,000 | Free | Paid tier | Paid tier |
| 5,000 | $17/mo | Higher tier | Higher tier |
Checked September 17, 2026.
Free plan, no card. Affiliate link; we earn a commission on paid plans.
Frequently asked questions
Do artists really need an email list?
If you sell direct, yes. Social platforms show your work to a fraction of followers; email reaches everyone who asked.
What is the best free email tool for artists?
systeme.io, free to 2,000 contacts with a checkout included. Flodesk has a free plan if design matters more than selling.
How often should an artist email?
Monthly, plus a launch when there is work. Silence for a year makes the next launch land badly.
Can I sell originals from an email?
Yes. Link to a product page with a checkout. On systeme.io that is free with no platform fee.
Related: website builder for artists, Etsy alternatives.