The 10 Best Submittable Alternatives for Art Galleries in 2026
Honest comparison of 10 Submittable alternatives for art galleries running calls, juries, and exhibitions in 2026. Pricing, features, and best fit for each platform.
The 10 Best Submittable Alternatives for Art Galleries in 2026
Art galleries, artist collectives, and nonprofit visual arts organizations spend thousands of dollars annually on submission platforms—and many are reassessing whether Submittable's feature set and pricing model still fit their needs in 2026.
Submittable is a general-purpose submission management platform designed for grants, literary contests, and creative competitions. While capable, it wasn't purpose-built for the specific workflows galleries need: blind jury scoring, exhibition catalogs, artwork commerce, and artist payment. As alternatives mature, galleries increasingly find better fit, lower cost, and deeper art-industry focus elsewhere.
This guide compares 10 actively maintained platforms across pricing, jury depth, exhibition publishing, commerce, and support for the unique rhythms of visual arts administration.
What to Look For in a Submittable Alternative
Before comparing platforms, consider what matters most for your organization:
- Transparent pricing: Per-call costs, per-submission fees, and whether you pay on volume or flat subscriptions
- Art-specific jury workflow: Blind scoring, comparative ranking, configurable scoring scales, juror assignment
- Exhibition publishing: Can you generate a public catalog, list accepted artists, and showcase artwork online?
- Artwork commerce: Built-in sales, commission tracking, and artist payout—or API integrations for payment processors
- Migration support: Can you import past submissions, artist data, or jury results from your current platform?
- Juror experience: Dashboard-native scoring, bulk actions, and export for decision-making
- Support & stability: Active development, responsive support, and transparent roadmap
- Custom branding: White-label options for galleries wanting to keep the submission flow on their own domain
The 10 Best Submittable Alternatives for Art Galleries in 2026
1. Crafted Call
Best for: Mid-size and growing galleries; organizations that want integrated exhibitions, commerce, and jury management; nonprofits prioritizing cost transparency.
Pricing: Free tier (1 active call, limited features); $9–69/month per organization + $150–500 per call (depending on features). Submission processing: 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction. No per-submission tokens.
Pros:
- Purpose-built for visual art: calls, juries, exhibitions, and artist storefronts live in one system
- Blind jury scoring with comparative ranking and customizable rubrics
- Direct artwork sales and artist payout (2.9% + $0.30 processing fee)
- Free plan lets smaller galleries test before commitment
- Full exhibition publishing: public catalog, artist bios, sold/unsold status
- No vendor lock-in: export all data at any time
- Actively developed; roadmap includes multi-language support and advanced caching
Cons:
- Smaller user base than Submittable; less name recognition
- Auction/timed-release features less mature than specialty auction platforms
- Requires credit card for free tier after 14 days
How it compares to Submittable: Crafted Call costs 60-80% less for mid-size galleries, includes exhibition publishing (Submittable charges extra), and eliminates submission tokens. Submittable has broader integrations and a larger user base; Crafted Call has depth in jury workflow and art commerce.
2. EntryThingy
Best for: Galleries running high-volume one-off calls; cost-conscious organizations indifferent to commerce features.
Pricing: $3 per submission token (bulk discounts available). No monthly fees, no call setup fees. Pay only for submissions received.
Pros:
- Simplest pricing model: transparent per-submission cost
- No commitment or monthly fees—ideal for seasonal or infrequent calls
- Fast setup; minimal configuration required
- Clean, functional jury interface
- Basic jury scoring and export
Cons:
- High cost for large calls (100+ submissions = $300+ per call)
- No exhibition publishing or public artist pages
- Limited jury features (no blind scoring, no comparative ranking)
- No commerce integration; artists paid offline
- Minimal customer support; small team
- Limited import/export; vendor lock-in on jury data
How it compares to Submittable: EntryThingy's per-submission model is cheaper than Submittable for small calls but expensive at scale. Submittable offers more jury depth and integrations. EntryThingy sacrifices exhibition and commerce features for simplicity.
3. CaFE (CallForEntry)
Best for: Large institutions, museum networks, and galleries valuing design control and integration with existing websites.
Pricing: $225 onboarding; $250 per call; $2.49 per submission token; $120/year renewal; 3.25% processing fee for online payments.
Pros:
- Mature platform with 20+ year track record in visual arts
- Deep customization: white-label submission forms, custom CSS, embedded widgets
- Powerful jury tools: juror scoring, comments, decision tracking
- API access for custom integrations
- Established ecosystem of galleries, museums, and institutions
- Responsive support team
- Import from other platforms supported
Cons:
- Highest setup and per-call cost in this list ($250–400 per call for typical gallery)
- Per-submission tokens make scale unpredictable
- No built-in exhibition publishing; requires custom dev work
- No direct artist storefront or commission tracking
- Limited mobile jury experience compared to newer platforms
How it compares to Submittable: CaFE is more expensive than Submittable but offers superior jury customization and a deeper visual-arts focus. Best for larger budgets and teams comfortable with setup costs.
4. ArtCall.org
Best for: Artist-run galleries, collectives, and nonprofits with limited budgets; organizations wanting community-driven development.
Pricing: Free to use; voluntary donations encourage sustainability. Self-hosted option available (open source).
Pros:
- Zero cost; volunteer-supported development
- Open-source codebase; full transparency and customization possible
- Community-driven; can suggest and vote on features
- Self-hosting option eliminates vendor dependency
- Fair-trade ethos appeals to artist communities
- No vendor lock-in
Cons:
- Limited feature set compared to commercial platforms
- Sparse documentation; steep learning curve for non-developers
- Minimal customer support; community-based help
- No jury scoring or exhibition publishing features
- No commerce integration
- Small user base; limited ecosystem
How it compares to Submittable: ArtCall.org sacrifices features and polish for cost and transparency. Best for tech-savvy organizations or those willing to contribute to open-source development.
5. ShowSubmit
Best for: Competitive-focused galleries running regional and national juried shows; organizations wanting a showpiece platform.
Pricing: Custom quotes based on submission volume. Typically $2,000–$5,000 per year for mid-size galleries. Per-submission fees vary.
Pros:
- Sleek, modern design; high-quality user experience
- Sophisticated jury workflow: anonymous scoring, comparative tools, decision mapping
- Exhibition publishing with artist searchability
- Mobile-optimized for jurors and artists
- Professional branding and white-label options
- Integration with select payment processors
Cons:
- High cost ($2,000+ annually); best suited for well-funded organizations
- Limited transparency on pricing until you contact sales
- Smaller user base; less community and resource documentation
- No direct artist storefront; payout requires third-party processor
How it compares to Submittable: ShowSubmit targets premium market positioning and charges accordingly. Better jury UX than Submittable but less flexible pricing and fewer integrations.
6. ZAPPlication
Best for: Organizations running multiple regional calls; networks of galleries and institutions.
Pricing: Custom enterprise pricing. Tiered discounts for volume and multi-call contracts.
Pros:
- Designed for high-volume, multi-location deployments
- Bulk juror management and cross-location workflows
- Advanced reporting and analytics
- Dedicated account management for enterprise users
- Integration with institutional systems (CRMs, HR platforms)
- Strong security and compliance features (FERPA, GDPR)
Cons:
- Enterprise pricing out of reach for independent galleries ($5,000+/year minimum)
- Long sales cycle; requires demos and contracts
- Steep learning curve for single-location users
- No public exhibition catalog
- Not designed for small, one-off calls
How it compares to Submittable: ZAPPlication targets enterprise needs; Submittable is more accessible to mid-market. ZAPPlication excels in scale and integration; Submittable has broader feature coverage for single-call scenarios.
7. Artwork Archive
Best for: Artist-focused galleries tracking inventory, provenance, and sales history across all artists.
Pricing: $20–$60/month per artist. Galleries can add multiple artists to one account.
Pros:
- Designed for fine art: tracks provenance, condition, exhibition history, insurance value
- Inventory management across multiple artists
- Sales tracking and commission calculations
- Exhibition history and publication records
- Mobile app for studio and gallery use
- Integrations with Shopify, Square, and other commerce platforms
Cons:
- Not a call/submission platform; no jury workflow
- Per-artist pricing makes it expensive for large group shows
- Learning curve for non-artists unfamiliar with provenance tracking
- Overkill for galleries only running calls (not ongoing inventory)
How it compares to Submittable: Artwork Archive is complementary to submission platforms, not a replacement. Use Artwork Archive alongside Submittable or Crafted Call if you need inventory and provenance tracking.
8. Slideroom
Best for: Photography contests, portfolio submissions, and programs accepting video/multimedia work.
Pricing: Variable based on submission volume and features. Approximately $2–$5 per submission. Institutional accounts from $1,500+/year.
Pros:
- Optimized for image and video submissions (superior to Submittable for photography)
- Powerful portfolio review interface; easy to compare side-by-side
- Jury comments and collaborative decision tools
- Institutional support for university art programs
- Integration with major art schools and MFA programs
Cons:
- Premium pricing for high-volume calls
- Limited exhibition publishing or public-facing features
- No artist storefront or commerce
- Primarily a jury/review tool; weak in call marketing and artist communication
- Minimal artist documentation support (artist statements, bios)
How it compares to Submittable: Slideroom excels at jury review UX; Submittable is better for end-to-end call management (marketing, artist data, decision communication).
9. Online Juried Shows (OJS)
Best for: Virtual galleries, online-only shows, and organizations wanting to minimize platform overhead.
Pricing: Free core platform. Premium features (artist messaging, juror tools) from $5–$25/month.
Pros:
- Minimal cost; freemium model reduces barriers to entry
- Built-in exhibition site (no separate website needed)
- Juror dashboard included in premium tier
- Community-driven feature development
- Open-source options available
Cons:
- Smaller user base; limited ecosystem and third-party apps
- Free tier lacks jury scoring; premium tier still limited
- No commerce or artist payout
- Exhibition publishing limited to basic gallery view
- Minimal customer support; community forums only
How it compares to Submittable: OJS is best for small, volunteer-run galleries wanting to minimize cost. Submittable and Crafted Call offer deeper features and professional support.
10. Dapple
Best for: Fast-growing galleries wanting all-in-one management (CRM, marketing, events, submissions) in a single platform.
Pricing: $299–$799/month (subscription tier varies by features). Free trial available.
Pros:
- Integrated platform: calls, CRM, email marketing, event management, exhibitions all in one
- No per-submission tokens; flat monthly fee encourages volume
- Artist relationship management (track previous submissions, communications, sales)
- Built-in email campaigns and artist targeting
- Exhibition publishing with artist directories
- Dashboard analytics and reporting
Cons:
- Highest monthly cost ($299–$799) for feature-full tier
- Overkill for galleries only running calls (excess features increase complexity)
- Jury scoring less sophisticated than specialty platforms
- Requires staff training on full platform
- Steep learning curve if you only need calls
How it compares to Submittable: Dapple is an all-in-one alternative to a stack of tools (Submittable + Mailchimp + Salesforce). More expensive but eliminates integrations. Submittable is leaner if you only need submissions; Dapple wins if you want unified artist management.
Comparison Table: Submittable Alternatives at a Glance
| Platform | Pricing Model | Free Plan? | Blind Jury? | Exhibition Publishing? | Artist Storefront? | Best Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crafted Call | $9–69/mo + per-call | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 50–500/call |
| EntryThingy | $3/submission | No | No | No | No | <100/call |
| CaFE | $250/call + $2.49/token | No | Yes | No | No | 100–1000/call |
| ArtCall.org | Free (donations) | Yes | Basic | No | No | Any (nonprofit) |
| ShowSubmit | Custom ($2k–$5k/yr) | No | Yes | Yes | No | 100–1000/call |
| ZAPPlication | Enterprise ($5k+/yr) | No | Yes | Limited | No | 1000+/multi-call |
| Artwork Archive | $20–60/mo per artist | No | No | Yes | Yes | Inventory focus |
| Slideroom | $2–5/submission | No | Yes | Limited | No | Photo/video focus |
| Online Juried Shows | Free–$25/mo | Yes | Limited | Yes | No | Small/volunteer |
| Dapple | $299–799/mo | 14-day trial | Basic | Yes | Limited | 200+/call + CRM |
How to Choose Your Submittable Alternative
For small galleries (1–2 staff, <200 submissions/year):
- Start with Crafted Call's free plan or EntryThingy's pay-per-submission model
- Both eliminate monthly overhead; ideal for seasonal or infrequent calls
- Migration: no rush; test the platform with one call before bulk import
For mid-size galleries (3–6 staff, 200–500 submissions/year):
- Crafted Call or CaFE are sweet spots: known cost, professional jury tools, exhibition publishing
- Crafted Call is 40–60% cheaper; CaFE has longer track record and deeper customization
- Dapple if you need artist CRM and email alongside submissions
For large institutions (10+ staff, 500–2000+ submissions/year):
- ZAPPlication or CaFE for enterprise features and bulk discounts
- ShowSubmit if jury UX and branding are priorities
- Dapple if unified artist management outweighs submission specialization
For artist-run or volunteer-led organizations:
- ArtCall.org (free, open-source) or Online Juried Shows (freemium)
- Crafted Call's free tier if you want commercial features without cost
FAQ: Submittable Alternatives for Art Galleries
What is the cheapest Submittable alternative for art galleries?
EntryThingy ($3 per submission) and ArtCall.org (free/donation) are lowest cost for one-off small calls. However, EntryThingy becomes expensive at scale (100 submissions = $300). Crafted Call's free tier is cheapest for ongoing use: no monthly fees, limited to one active call, ideal for galleries running seasonal shows.
Can I migrate from Submittable to a cheaper platform?
Most platforms can import artist names, emails, and submission metadata via CSV. Few can import jury scores or decisions—you'll likely re-enter scoring in the new platform. Crafted Call and CaFE explicitly support Submittable imports. Get a data export from Submittable first (admin settings > data export), then contact the new platform's support team with your schema.
Which Submittable alternative is best for jury review?
CaFE and Slideroom have the most sophisticated jury interfaces: blind scoring, comparative ranking, juror comments, and decision mapping. Crafted Call offers competitive jury features (blind scoring, rubrics) in a cleaner interface. EntryThingy and ShowSubmit have functional jury tools but fewer customization options.
For photography and visual media, Slideroom excels; for traditional visual arts, Crafted Call and CaFE are stronger.
Is there a free alternative to Submittable for art galleries?
ArtCall.org is fully free and open-source but requires technical setup. Online Juried Shows offers a free core tier with limited jury tools. Crafted Call's free plan is the easiest: no setup required, live immediately, one active call with basic jury features. Upgrade when you outgrow it.
Which platform has the best exhibition publishing?
Crafted Call and Dapple build exhibition catalogs natively: searchable artist directories, artwork galleries, sales status, and direct artist storefronts. CaFE and ShowSubmit support exhibition publishing but require more manual configuration. EntryThingy and ArtCall.org have minimal exhibition features.
How do I handle artist payments if a platform doesn't include a storefront?
Most platforms integrate with Stripe, Square, or PayPal. You can build a separate Shopify store and link artists there, or use a marketplace like Artwork Archive (if you need inventory tracking too). Crafted Call and Dapple include payout handling natively, eliminating extra integrations.
What should I prioritize when comparing platforms?
- Total cost at your submission volume: Calculate call cost + submission fees for your typical show size
- Jury workflow: Does it support blind scoring and your decision process?
- Exhibition publishing: Do you need a public catalog and artist pages?
- Artist experience: Is the submission form mobile-friendly? Can artists edit after submission?
- Support: Can you reach a human? Is there documentation?
- Data portability: Can you export everything if you leave?
Conclusion
Submittable remains a capable, widely-used platform—but it no longer dominates the field for art galleries. Specialization has raised the bar: platforms like Crafted Call bundle calls, juries, exhibitions, and commerce at lower cost and with better UX. Organizations paying $3,000–$5,000 annually on Submittable often find a cheaper, more feature-rich alternative within weeks.
The best platform depends on your budget, jury depth, and whether you need exhibition publishing and artist commerce. Start with the comparison table above, test a free plan or trial, and import a single call before committing.
Ready to switch? Explore Crafted Call, compare pricing, or contact sales for a custom demo.
Want more comparisons? See our detailed guides: Submittable vs. Crafted Call, Submittable vs. CaFE, Submittable vs. EntryThingy.

