Best Art Apps for iPhone 2026
Which app is best depends on what you’re trying to do.
Some apps are for planning what to see tonight. Others are better for collecting, research, or in-museum guidance. This breakdown helps you pick the right tool for the job.
If Your Goal Is Finding Shows Nearby
Arting
Best for: Finding art exhibitions in San Francisco and Los Angeles
Arting is built specifically for discovering local exhibitions. It shows you what’s currently showing at galleries, museums, and alternative spaces in San Francisco and Los Angeles.
| Arting | |
|---|---|
| Focus | Local exhibitions (SF & LA) |
| Coverage | Galleries, museums, public art |
| Features | Map view, favorites, venue filtering |
| Price | Free |
| Privacy | No account required; minimal analytics |
Pros:
- Comprehensive coverage of SF and LA
- Clean, focused interface
- iCloud sync for favorites
- No account required
Cons:
- Currently SF & LA only (more cities coming soon)
Best for: SF and LA residents and visitors who want to know what’s on right now.
If Your Goal Is Buying and Tracking Artists
Artsy
Best for: Buying art and following the art market
Artsy is the leading platform for buying and selling art online. It’s also useful for discovering galleries and artists.
| Artsy | |
|---|---|
| Focus | Art market, collecting |
| Coverage | International galleries and auctions |
| Features | Buy art, follow artists, auction results |
| Price | Free (to browse) |
Pros:
- Huge inventory of art for sale
- Follow galleries and artists
- Auction results and price data
Cons:
- Commerce-focused (lots of “for sale” prompts)
- Requires account
- Can feel overwhelming
Best for: Collectors and those interested in the art market.
If Your Goal Is Museum Content
Google Arts & Culture
Best for: Exploring museum collections worldwide
Google’s art app lets you explore digitized collections from museums around the world. Great for armchair exploration.
| Google Arts & Culture | |
|---|---|
| Focus | Museum collections, virtual tours |
| Coverage | 2,000+ museums worldwide |
| Features | High-res images, AR features, virtual tours |
| Price | Free |
Pros:
- Incredible depth of content
- Virtual museum tours
- Art Selfie and other fun features
Cons:
- Not great for finding local, current exhibitions
- Can feel like information overload
- More about browsing online than getting out to see art
Best for: Art education and virtual exploration.
Bloomberg Connects
Best for: Museum audio guides
Bloomberg Connects provides free audio guides for partner museums and cultural institutions.
| Bloomberg Connects | |
|---|---|
| Focus | Museum audio guides |
| Coverage | Partner museums only |
| Features | Audio tours, exhibition info |
| Price | Free |
Pros:
- High-quality audio content
- Free alternative to museum audio guides
Cons:
- Limited to partner institutions
- Need to be at the museum to use
Best for: Enhancing museum visits.
At-a-Glance Comparison
| App | Focus | Best For | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arting | Local exhibitions | Finding what’s showing in SF & LA | Free |
| Artsy | Art market | Collectors, buying art | Free |
| Google Arts & Culture | Museum collections | Virtual exploration | Free |
| Bloomberg Connects | Audio guides | Museum visits | Free |
Pick by Use Case
For local exhibition planning
Use Arting. It’s the fastest way to see current exhibitions in San Francisco and Los Angeles.
For collecting and market tracking
Use Artsy. It has the largest online art marketplace.
For virtual exploration
Use Google Arts & Culture. It’s the best for virtual museum exploration.
For in-museum support
Check Bloomberg Connects for free audio guides.
Most People Use More Than One
Most art lovers use several apps:
- Arting — What’s showing nearby?
- Artsy — Following the market
- Google Arts — Exploring collections
There’s no single app that does everything. Use the right tool for the job.
Why Arting Exists
We built Arting because we wanted one simple answer: What exhibitions are on right now?
Other apps are great for buying art or exploring museum collections, but none focused on the simple question of “what should I go see this weekend?”
Arting fills that gap. It’s local, it’s current, and it’s free.
Want a fast answer to “what should I see this weekend?” Start with Arting.
Related Reading
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- First Friday Gallery Openings
- Free Art in Los Angeles
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- Free Art in Chicago
- Best Art Museums in Chicago
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- Public Art in Chicago
- Free Art in Mexico City
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- Mexico City Art Neighborhoods
- Public Art in Mexico City