GalleryEntry vs Smarter Entry
A Smarter Entry alternative with no startup fee.
Smarter Entry charges a one-time $450 startup fee, then $0.70 per image (or $0.65 per entry for nonprofits), and deposits your entry fees to your bank monthly. GalleryEntry has no startup fee, no per-image fee for small organizations, and payments go straight to you.
Why organizations choose GalleryEntry
No $450 to get started
Try GalleryEntry on your next show without paying anything up front, or ever, under 100 entries a year.
Don’t wait a month for your money
Smarter Entry pays entry fees out to your bank monthly. On GalleryEntry, artists pay directly into your own PayPal account.
More photos don’t cost more
Ask for as many pictures per piece as your jurors need. There’s no charge per image.
GalleryEntry and Smarter Entry, side by side
What each service says about itself. Where Smarter Entry doesn’t publish something, we say so rather than guess.
| Feature | GalleryEntry | Smarter Entry |
|---|---|---|
| Startup fee | $0 | $450 one time |
| Usage fee | Free up to 100 entries a year | $0.70 per image, or $0.65 per entry for nonprofits |
| Card processing | PayPal’s own fee | Stripe: 2.9% + 30¢ |
| Where entry fees go | Straight to your PayPal, or by check | Deposited to your bank monthly |
| Multiple jurors | Yes | Yes |
| Artist notifications | Yes | Yes |
| Online exhibition | Included | Published results |
What it costs in the first year
| Your year | GalleryEntry | Smarter Entry |
|---|---|---|
| One show, 50 entries | $0 | $482.50 |
| Two shows, 50 entries each | $0 | $515 |
| One show, 100 entries | $0 | $515 |
Smarter Entry: $450 one-time setup + $0.70 per photo ($0.65 per entry for nonprofits). Processing: Stripe: 2.9% + 30¢ per payment. Paid out to you monthly.
See GalleryEntry for yourself
These are real screens, not mockups: a sculpture guild’s show, from the artist’s phone to the jury’s results.
When Smarter Entry might suit you better
We’d rather you pick the right tool than the wrong one. Smarter Entry may be the better choice if:
- You want promo codes for entry fees today (on our list, not built yet).
- You collect documents and portfolios beyond artwork images in elaborate competitions.
Try your own numbers
Change the number of shows and entries to see what each service would charge.
100 entries a year on GalleryEntry: $0.
| Service | How it’s priced | First year | Each year after |
|---|---|---|---|
| GalleryEntry | Free up to 100 entries a year. No setup, per-call or per-entry fees. | $0 | $0 |
| JotForm | Free for 10 payments a month; $39 a month for up to 100 (one month per show). | $78 | $78 |
| ArtCall | A license per call, reported to start at $79 (larger calls cost more). | $158 | $158 |
| EntryThingy | $3 per entry. Emails and the online showcase cost extra. | $300 | $300 |
| Smarter Entry | $450 one-time setup + $0.70 per photo ($0.65 per entry for nonprofits). | $515 | $65 |
| ShowSubmit | $125 per show + $6 per artist ($4.80 after the first 100). | $850 | $850 |
| CaFÉ | $250 per call + $2.49 per entry, $225 onboarding, $120 a year after the first. | $974 | $869 |
Platform fees only, from each company’s published prices (October 2026), using the lowest price where several are listed. Card and PayPal processing fees are extra on every option. Per-photo prices assume 3 photos per entry; per-artist prices assume one entry per artist; JotForm assumes one paid month per show.
Questions people ask
What does Smarter Entry cost compared with GalleryEntry?
Smarter Entry charges $450 once, then $0.70 per image or $0.65 per entry for nonprofits, plus Stripe fees. GalleryEntry is free up to 100 entries a year with no setup fee.
How hard is it to switch?
Most organizations set up their first call in an evening: create your organization, add your logo, connect PayPal or add check instructions, and copy your prospectus into a new call. Artists create a free account when they apply. Write to us and we’ll help you set up your first show.
Smarter Entry information comes from its own website (smarterentry.com), checked in October 2026. Prices change; please check with Smarter Entry before deciding. Smarter Entry is a trademark of its owner, used here only to compare.
Switching from Smarter Entry? Try GalleryEntry on your next show.
Free for small organizations. Set up your call in an evening, and we’ll help with your first show.