Shopify vs. Big Cartel: Which Is The Best eCommerce Platform For You?

Virginia Miller

September 22, 2024

In this article:

Sellers usually need clarification about choosing the right eCommerce platform. Shopify and Big Cartel are the two best e-commerce platforms for selling goods and services. But there are many factors to compare between them while choosing one. Both sites are designed for different seller types with other goals.

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This eCommerce site has various levels of customization. Big Cartel is best for small online stores and beginners in web design, while Shopify is best for drop shipping businesses and scalable online stores. Here is the in-detail comparison and necessary details of the Shopify vs. Big Cartel. Go through the below information to choose the right one for your business.

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Shopify vs Big Cartel: Choosing the Best Ecommerce Platform

When starting an online store, one of the most important decisions is choosing the right ecommerce platform. Two popular options are Shopify and Big Cartel. This article compares the pros and cons of each to help you determine the best fit.

What is Shopify and Big Cartel?

Shopify and Big Cartel are software platforms that allow you to create an online store. Shopify offers more advanced features for scaling a high-volume business. Big Cartel focuses on serving smaller sellers, artists, and side hustles with an easy-to-use platform.

Benefits of Using Shopify

Extensive Features and Customization

Shopify equips you with all the tools you need to build a fully functional, customized online store. The platform is intuitive even for beginners and offers 24/7 customer support.

Professional Storefronts

Shopify themes ensure your store looks polished and loads quickly on all devices. You can choose from over 70 themes or work with developers to tailor the design.

Built for Scale

Shopify stores are optimized to handle high sales volumes. Detailed reports and analytics help you identify opportunities for growth.

Potential Drawbacks of Shopify

While Shopify is feature-rich, the costs scale up as your store grows. You must also use Shopify Payments unless you qualify for an alternative.

Benefits of Using Big Cartel

Budget-Friendly Plans

Big Cartel pricing starts at $9.99/month, making it very affordable. You also keep 100% of sales since there are no transaction fees.

Easy to Use Platform

The intuitive Big Cartel interface allows you to quickly build a nice-looking store without advanced technical skills.

Design Flexibility

While theme options are more limited, you can still customize colors, fonts, and layouts to match your brand.

Potential Drawbacks of Big Cartel

With its simpler feature set, Big Cartel may not meet the needs of high-volume sellers. You also have less support and fewer resources for driving traffic.

Choosing the Best Platform

Consider your business goals, technical abilities, and budget when deciding between Shopify vs Big Cartel. Both platforms allow you to create a professional online store - Shopify offers more advanced capabilities for scaling, while Big Cartel prioritizes affordability and ease of use.

For help managing order fulfillment, check out Simpl's warehousing and shipping services designed for ecommerce businesses.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main difference between Shopify and Big Cartel?

The main difference is that Shopify offers advanced capabilities for scaling to a high-volume business, while Big Cartel is better suited for small shops, artists, and side hustles wanting an easy storefront.

Is Shopify better for beginners or advanced users?

Shopify is intuitive for beginners but also has powerful features for advanced users. The platform scales alongside your ecommerce business growth.

What types of products is Big Cartel best for selling?

Big Cartel works well for sellers of handmade goods, custom art and crafts, small batch manufacturing, and boutique retail items.

Does Shopify offer more customization than Big Cartel?

Yes, Shopify has significantly more themes, templates, and options for tailoring your store’s design and functionality.

Is Big Cartel cheaper than Shopify?

Yes, Big Cartel has lower monthly subscription fees starting at $9.99/month. But Shopify offers a wider array of advanced capabilities to support business growth.

Can I drive as much traffic to my Big Cartel store?

Shopify tends to attract higher organic traffic levels and offers more analytics for understanding conversions. But you can boost visibility for any store through marketing.

Which platforms make order fulfillment easier?

Shopify offers built-in automation, discounted shipping rates, and other features to simplify fulfillment. Simpl also provides warehousing/shipping services tailored for ecommerce businesses using either platform.