The Best Art Collection Management Softwares

Whether for purposes of insurance, estate tax or other, it is extremely important for the collector to keep up to date a documented inventory of his/her collection.

Fortunately, there are tools on the market that allow you to achieve this without having to develop the necessary tools by yourself.

All the tools presented here are available in a "collector" version.  A priori, products of an institutional or commercial nature such as ArtBase or other products that primarily serve organizations (museums, art galleries, etc.) are excluded.

There are two main types of tools for this purpose: software supported locally on your computer or private network and tools accessible via the Internet.

Softwares on PC or Mac and available in network or standalone mode

Softwares accessible in internet mode

Remember:

• The possibilities offered by these tools are extremely diversified. Take the time to evaluate your needs before choosing.
• Whatever system you choose, the absolute necessity of backup in local mode is mandatory.  NEVER rely on any external backup ("clouds") to archive your important files. And of course, a copy of your backup should be stored in a safe place!
• Support for the product is available in your language? If not, are you fluent in English?
• You can, if interested, purchase a copy of the "Global Art Collection Software Market – Industry Reports" produced annually by Precision Reports.
• You want to develop and maintain an inventory of your collection on your own tool? Generic tools like FileMaker or Microsoft Access or equivalent can be used with profit. Use Getty Trust Object ID Checklist as a guide for the description of your work.