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Big Cartel vs. Shopify
Two hosted e-commerce platforms targeting small businesses battle it out.
Updated
Big Cartel prides itself as an e-commerce platform for artists, by artists. This independent company has a small-town feel and is intended for creators who list up to 500 products each month. On the other hand, Shopify caters to small businesses but towers over Big Cartel when it comes to integrations and extra features.
How do Big Cartel and Shopify compare?
Which should I choose? | Choose Big Cartel if you’re an independent artist looking for an artistic, individualized storefront. | Choose Shopify if you have a physical storefront and are trying to launch an online store. |
Overview | A good option for a business looking to launch online sales without investing a lot of resources. | A good option for small- to medium-sized businesses that need a hosted e-commerce website. |
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Price starts at | Free for up to 5 products | $29/mo |
Contract required? | No | No |
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Cons |
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BBB letter rating | A+ | A+ |
Trustpilot rating | ★★★★★ 1.7/5 | ★★★★★ 1.5/5 |
Reputation and customer reviews | Reviews are mixed. Most of the reviews on Trustpilot and the Better Business Bureau are directed at specific stores rather than the software itself. So we turned to entrepreneur chat forums to get a glimpse into the user experience. Customers enjoyed Big Cartel’s competitive pricing compared to larger platforms like Shopify. But many users ultimately switched to another e-commerce provider that offered more sophisticated features and plug-ins. | Reviews are mostly negative. Although customers appreciate Shopify’s functionality, users complain of account closures if Shopify considers their business high-risk. |
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Bottom line
Both Big Cartel and Shopify accommodate businesses with no technical skill. Big Cartel is a good option if you’re an artist or a creator and want a no-fuss online shop. But if you’re looking for more customization, in-depth business tools and third-party integration, Shopify might be a better option.
High-risk merchants may want to consider other e-commerce platforms.
Frequently asked questions
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