If you’re starting an online store, selecting an e-commerce platform that best meets your business needs is of critical importance. Two popular choices are Big Cartel and Shopify—each catering to different kinds of businesses based on features, pricing, and overall usability. In this guide, we explore both platforms’ offerings to help you determine which best serves your unique business requirements. Whether you’re an artist looking for an easy platform to sell your work or an entrepreneur in search of a scalable solution, understanding their differences is crucial.
Big Cartel Vs Shopify: An Overview
What Is Big Cartel?
Big Cartel is an e-commerce platform tailored specifically for independent artists, creatives, and small businesses. It offers an intuitive solution that requires minimal technical knowledge, making it easy for users to set up an online store without complications. Big Cartel is an excellent option for those prioritizing simplicity over advanced features.
What Is Shopify?
Shopify is a robust e-commerce platform designed for businesses of all sizes, from startups to enterprises. It offers extensive customization, advanced features, and scalability options, making it ideal for growing businesses. Users benefit from powerful sales tools, automated marketing features, and highly configurable storefronts, making Shopify a long-term solution for businesses focused on expansion.
Price Comparison: Big Cartel vs Shopify
Big Cartel Pricing
- Free Plan: Sell up to 5 products with limited features at no cost.
- Platinum Plan ($9.99/month): Sell up to 50 products with access to customizable themes.
- Diamond Plan ($19.99/month): Sell up to 500 products with full customization capabilities.
Big Cartel vs Shopify pricing structure is designed for small sellers who do not require advanced features. The free plan is particularly appealing for hobbyists or new entrepreneurs looking to test the waters with minimal financial commitment. However, as businesses expand, these limitations become apparent, necessitating a switch to a more advanced solution.
Shopify Pricing
- Basic Shopify ($39/month): Includes essential e-commerce features.
- Shopify ($105/month): Offers advanced features, including professional reports.
- Advanced Shopify ($399/month): Ideal for high-volume sales businesses.
- Shopify Plus (Custom Pricing): An enterprise solution for large-scale businesses.
Big Cartel Vs Shopify: Features Comparison
1. Ease of Use
Big Cartel: Offers an intuitive user experience with minimal setup required.
Shopify: Provides a streamlined user experience with drag-and-drop functionality.
Big Cartel is designed for simplicity, making it ideal for artists and small business owners who want to launch a store quickly. Shopify, while slightly more complex, offers advanced customization tools that give users greater control over their online storefronts.
2. Customization and Themes
Big Cartel: Offers a limited selection of free themes with basic customization.
Shopify: Provides hundreds of free and premium themes with full customization via Liquid coding.
Shopify’s advanced theme editor and coding capabilities allow for highly tailored storefronts, making it a superior choice for businesses aiming for a distinctive brand presence. Big Cartel’s simpler customization options may limit branding opportunities.
3. Payment Processing
Big Cartel: Supports Stripe, PayPal, and Square for payment processing.
Shopify: Offers over 100 payment gateways, including Shopify Payments with no transaction fees.
Shopify stands out with its diverse payment options, making it an attractive solution for international businesses. In contrast, Big Cartel only covers basic payment processing needs.
4. App Integrations and Plugins
Big Cartel: Provides access to essential apps through a limited app marketplace.
Shopify: Features an expansive app store with thousands of third-party integrations.
Shopify’s robust app ecosystem enhances store functionality with inventory management tools, automated marketing, and more, allowing businesses to expand capabilities as needed.
5. SEO and Marketing Tools
Big Cartel: Offers basic SEO tools and limited marketing integrations.
Shopify: Provides advanced SEO, email marketing, and abandoned cart recovery.
Shopify’s superior marketing tools enable businesses to maximize their reach and drive more traffic, while Big Cartel lacks the features necessary for advanced promotional campaigns.
6. Customer Support
Big Cartel: Only offers email-based customer support.
Shopify: Provides 24/7 live chat, email, and telephone support.
Customer support is essential in operating an online store. Shopify’s 24/7 support ensures businesses can resolve issues quickly, whereas Big Cartel’s limited support options may lead to longer response times.
Big Cartel Vs Shopify: Security and Reliability
Big Cartel Security
- Uses SSL encryption to safeguard customer data.
- Payment security managed through third-party processors like PayPal and Stripe.
- Built-in fraud protection tools.
Shopify Security
- PCI-DSS compliant for secure transactions.
- Free SSL certificates for all stores.
- Advanced fraud detection tools.
- Automated backups and DDoS protection.
Security is a crucial aspect of processing online transactions. Shopify provides robust fraud detection and PCI compliance, making it a more secure option compared to Big Cartel’s basic protections.
Who Should Consider Big Cartel?
Big Cartel is best for:
- Artists and independent creators looking for an easy-to-use platform.
- Small businesses seeking an affordable solution.
- Sellers who do not require advanced analytics and automation.
- Entrepreneurs looking for a simple store setup with minimal technical know-how.
Who Should Consider Shopify?
Shopify is ideal for:
- Businesses focused on scalability and advanced e-commerce features.
- Sellers looking to expand and diversify their product offering.
- Entrepreneurs in need of robust analytics and marketing tools.
- Companies exploring dropshipping or multichannel selling.
Big Cartel Vs Shopify: Final Verdict
Big Cartel provides a straightforward, cost-effective e-commerce solution for small businesses and artists. However, for larger enterprises that require scalable features, Shopify is the superior choice. Shopify’s extensive resources, integrations, and marketing capabilities give it an edge over Big Cartel, making it the best option for long-term growth.
