OpenSea, Foundation, Rarible, SuperRare... The number of NFT marketplaces where you can admire and purchase digital art NFT creations continues to grow online. Which one should you choose? Why? What are their unique features? Are these platforms for buying non-fungible tokens actually reliable?
We break down the topic and present our selection of the best NFT marketplaces: platforms of all sizes, offering items at various price points and across all styles. Whether you're looking for a digital artwork, a collectible, or any other type of NFT creation, you'll be able to find your next favorite piece safely and securely.
What Is an NFT Marketplace?
An NFT marketplace is a meeting point for sellers and buyers of digital assets. Essentially, it's a platform for selling non-fungible tokens (NFTs).
These NFT marketplaces allow artists to list their works for sale and enable collectors to buy these works through auctions or instant purchases, as well as to resell them.
They also often provide artists or galleries with the ability to mint their works, which means registering them on a blockchain using cryptocurrency technology.
What Do I Need To Buy an NFT?
- A cryptocurrency wallet connected to a blockchain. The most common choice is MetaMask for transactions on Ethereum or BSC.
- Sufficient funds in your wallet to pay for the artwork itself and to cover the "gas" fees, which are the transaction costs. Depending on the blockchain network, you pay with a different cryptocurrency. For example, on Ethereum, transaction fees are paid in $ETH; on BSC, they're paid in $BNB; on Tezos, they're paid in $XTZ.
Fees on the Ethereum network can be high, ranging from $10 to $40 per transaction, and can even reach $80 when the network is congested. On BSC or Tezos, gas fees can be up to 50 times cheaper. However, as of now, the vast majority of NFTs still utilize the Ethereum blockchain.
Three Categories of NFT Marketplaces
- Open NFT Marketplaces: Everyone can list their NFT for sale on an open platform. You can find all kinds of items here, from visual art to music files and collectibles, of varying quality—for better or for worse.
- Curated NFT Marketplaces: As the name suggests, these platforms are more elitist. A selection process is managed either by the community or by a team responsible for artistic direction. They feature renowned artists and rising stars, making them the perfect place to discover talent.
- Collectibles Marketplaces: This is where collecting takes center stage. Cards, video clips, and artworks are created specifically to be collected. Highly popular among NFT enthusiasts, collectibles often make headlines for their success and record-breaking sales. They were, in fact, at the origin of the NFT movement, with projects like CryptoKitties or the famous CryptoPunks.
Open NFT Marketplaces
OpenSea is the heavyweight champion of the NFT market. It was the first major marketplace for tokenized creations, launched in 2017. It boasts the largest sales volume, the highest number of registered creators, and is a top-choice platform for NFT beginners.
OpenSea offers:
- Market leadership and widespread recognition—a safe bet.
- A wide variety of file formats: images, videos, and music.
- A gigantic catalog: digital land parcels, trading cards, digital artworks, gaming-related NFTs, and DeFi assets.
- A vast selection of artists from all backgrounds.
- User-friendly keyword search functionality.
- Collections from most other platforms are also available here.
However, its catalog is so extensive that it can sometimes be overwhelming and difficult to navigate. You can find the best, but also the worst.
Another major player is Rarible, one of the largest NFT marketplaces. Launched in 2020, this platform is focused on artistic creation. It allows artists to create NFTs using either their native token, called $RARI, or the standard ERC721 format on Ethereum. Holding **$RARI tokens** grants voting rights to influence the platform's future direction.
Rarible offers:
- A wide variety of digital artworks and collectibles.
- Well-known artists and new discoveries.
- Its own $RARI token for buying, selling NFTs, and participating in community governance.
- A user-friendly and engaging interface.
- A strong connection between artists and community members.
The downsides are that it operates solely on Ethereum, and its uncurated content means you might have to scroll extensively to find high-quality work.
This platform operates on Tezos, a blockchain that uses a far more energy-efficient technology compared to Ethereum. The energy footprint of a Tezos transaction has been compared to that of sending a tweet.
But it's not just the ecological aspect that attracts creators. Its simplicity and the flexibility of supported media have led many leading artists to use it.
Hic et Nunc offers:
- An active community of enthusiasts.
- Well-known artists and emerging talents.
- A 100% decentralized and open-source platform.
- Minimal transaction fees.
- A reduced ecological footprint.
- A minimalist interface that lets visitors focus on the artwork.
On the flip side, it requires a Tezos wallet, doesn't support "unlockable" content tied to NFTs, and lacks a personal gallery feature.
Curated NFT Marketplaces
A true playground for artists and NFT collectors, Foundation is one of the most artistically dynamic marketplaces. It's a perfect platform for digital art lovers seeking creative and bold works.
Although it is curated, it's probably the most accessible and frequented closed marketplace. To be featured, an artist must be invited by their peers, and their application is then submitted for a community vote!
Foundation is known for:
- A strong artistic direction.
- A sharp selection of digital art.
- An access model based on invitations and community votes.
- A minimalist and futuristic interface.
Its limitations include the absence of a keyword search engine (only creator search) and prices that reflect the high quality of the content.
SuperRare is a highly selective NFT platform, presenting itself as the pinnacle of digital NFT art. Created in 2017, it has become increasingly exclusive and closed to offer a hand-picked selection of artworks.
SuperRare provides:
- A high-end, super-premium platform.
- A highly selective admission process: creators join by invitation only, after a detailed application and sometimes a very long wait.
- A social network that fosters interaction between artists and collectors.
- Truly unique artworks.
- A comprehensive search mode by price, newness, keyword, and artist.
The cons are that it's Ethereum-only and charges a 3% transaction fee.
Nifty Gateway: The Celebrity Platform
Nifty Gateway is one of the most well-known NFT marketplaces, famous for its big names and its record-breaking NFT sales. It has featured work from Beeple, Grimes, Michael Kagan, Calvin Harris, and Deadmau5, among others. Nifty Gateway's mission is to make NFTs accessible to the widest audience while maintaining a high-quality offering. They aim to have "a million million" people collecting "Nifties."
Nifty Gateway offers:
- A vast offering, including top-tier artists.
- An exclusive platform that is very difficult to join; invitation and auditions are mandatory.
- The marketplace for all record NFT sales, including Beeple's historic $69 million sale.
- New limited-edition "Drops" every three weeks from an artist or brand.
- Simplified purchasing using a credit card.
Collectibles Marketplaces
NFTKey is the perfect place for NFT collectibles enthusiasts. It features CryptoPunks, BinanceBunks, Spunks, Bunnys, Hashmasks, and more. This young and inventive marketplace stands out in the NFT ecosystem by focusing on carefully curated collections.
NFTKey provides:
- A platform for collectibles where you can discover, collect, and resell pieces.
- Iconic collections like Punks, Bunks, and Hashmasks.
- A sleek, aesthetically pleasing environment.
- Compatibility with both Ethereum and Binance Smart Chain (BSC).
- Direct connection to smart contracts; all actions are peer-to-peer without centralized services.
NBA Top Shot: The Future of Trading Cards
Launched in late 2020, NBA Top Shot is the official NBA-supported collectibles site.
This young platform is already one of the most financially successful NFT markets, with over 500,000 users and millions of dollars in transactions. Built on the Flow blockchain, this dedicated marketplace offers a glimpse into the future of sports memorabilia collecting.
NBA Top Shot offers:
- NFTs immortalizing the NBA's best moments on the blockchain.
- A futuristic design, bringing trading cards into a new era.
- A range of prices based on the "moment's" rarity level.
- The possibility to buy using a credit card.
Its drawbacks include approximate decentralization and a 5% commission on transactions.
Now you know where to buy NFTs. This list is not exhaustive and will be updated as we discover new favorites! 👉 Explore more top NFT marketplaces
There are many other marketplaces, such as KnownOrigin, MakersPlace, Viv3, BakerySwap, NFTb, and so on.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the easiest NFT marketplace for beginners?
OpenSea is widely considered the most beginner-friendly platform due to its massive user base, extensive tutorials, and support for a wide range of digital assets. Its interface is designed to guide new users through the process of connecting a wallet, browsing, and making their first purchase.
Can I buy an NFT with a credit card?
Yes, some platforms facilitate credit card purchases to make NFTs more accessible. Nifty Gateway and NBA Top Shot are prominent examples that allow users to buy certain NFTs directly with a credit card, simplifying the process for those not familiar with cryptocurrency wallets.
Why are gas fees so high on Ethereum?
Gas fees are payments made to compensate for the computing energy required to process and validate transactions on the Ethereum blockchain. Fees can become high during periods of network congestion when many users are competing to have their transactions processed by miners. Layer-2 solutions and alternative blockchains like BSC or Tezos offer lower fees.
What's the difference between curated and open marketplaces?
Curated marketplaces, like Foundation and SuperRare, have an application or invitation-only process for artists, ensuring a higher standard of quality. Open marketplaces, like OpenSea and Rarible, allow anyone to mint and sell NFTs, resulting in a much larger volume of work but of varying quality.
Are NFT purchases safe and secure?
Transactions on reputable marketplaces are secure as they are recorded on the blockchain. However, security also depends on user practices. It is crucial to use a secure wallet, never share your private keys, and be aware of phishing scams. Always ensure you are on the correct website URL before connecting your wallet.
What can I do with an NFT after I buy it?
Once you purchase an NFT, you own that unique token on the blockchain. You can choose to hold it as a collectible, display it in a virtual gallery, use it as an avatar, or resell it on a secondary market. Some NFTs also grant access to exclusive communities, events, or unlockable content.