Shopify vs Big Cartel
Shopify is an all-in-one hosted commerce platform for building storefronts, processing payments, and selling across channels. Big Cartel is a simpler, creator-focused store builder with a free plan and straightforward templates aimed at independent artists and small brands.
Last updated
The summary above and the “Which should you choose?” section are written with AI from our two listings. The tables and answers come straight from the listings. Prices and features change, so check each vendor's website before you decide. How we use AI
Big Cartel
Free, Easy Online Stores for Artists & Small Businesses
Free plan, paid from $15/mo
Visit Big CartelAt a glance
| Listing | Shopify | Big Cartel |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free plan, paid from $39/mo | Free plan, paid from $15/mo |
| Cheapest paid plan for a year | $348 a year | $180 a year |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes, 3 days | Yes, 7 days |
| Works with | Shopify | Shopify, Squarespace, Etsy |
| Features | 8 features listed | 8 features listed |
| Integrations | 2 integrations listed | 8 integrations listed |
| Public API | Yes | Yes |
| Business size | Startup, SMB, Enterprise | Startup, SMB |
| Listing data checked | Sep 27, 2026 | Sep 28, 2026 |
Pricing compared
Shopify
- Basic $39/mo $29/mo billed yearly · 3-day free trial
- Grow $105/mo $79/mo billed yearly · 3-day free trial
- Advanced $399/mo $299/mo billed yearly · 3-day free trial
- Plus Custom pricing $2,300/mo billed yearly
- Agentic Free 3-day free trial
- POS Pro (add-on) $89/mo $89/mo billed yearly
Features compared
Both list 4 of these features. 4 are listed only for Shopify. 4 are listed only for Big Cartel.
| Feature | Shopify | Big Cartel |
|---|---|---|
| API | Listed | Listed |
| Inventory Sync | Listed | Listed |
| Mobile | Listed | Listed |
| Multi-channel | Listed | Listed |
| AI | Listed | Not listed |
| Analytics | Listed | Not listed |
| Automation | Listed | Not listed |
| Order Management | Listed | Not listed |
| Bulk Operations | Not listed | Listed |
| Import | Not listed | Listed |
| Templates | Not listed | Listed |
| Webhook | Not listed | Listed |
Platforms and integrations
Ecommerce platforms
| Platform | Shopify | Big Cartel |
|---|---|---|
| Shopify | Listed | Listed |
| Etsy | Not listed | Listed |
| Squarespace | Not listed | Listed |
Integrations
Both list 2 of these integrations. 6 are listed only for Big Cartel.
| Integration | Shopify | Big Cartel |
|---|---|---|
| PayPal | Listed | Listed |
| Stripe | Listed | Listed |
| Etsy | Not listed | Listed |
| Not listed | Listed | |
| Google Shopping | Not listed | Listed |
| Not listed | Listed | |
| Shopify | Not listed | Listed |
| Zapier | Not listed | Listed |
More details
| Detail | Shopify | Big Cartel |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Subscription tiers billed monthly or yearly with an initial free trial; add-on fees for POS Pro and enterprise Plus plans; transaction fees vary by plan and payment provider. | Subscription tiers with a free plan and paid monthly plans (Platinum and Diamond). Platinum offers a 7-day free trial then moves to a paid monthly subscription; Diamond is a higher-tier monthly subscription with priority support and advanced features. |
| Support | 24/7 live chat and help center, community forum, Shopify Academy courses, priority 24/7 phone support for Plus/enterprise plans, and in-product support links. 24/7 general support with priority phone support available for Plus/enterprise plans | Help center and contact pages are available; site emphasizes human support and priority human support for Diamond plan customers. |
| Security and compliance | Shopify is certified Level 1 PCI DSS compliant and stores on Shopify are PCI compliant by default according to the site. | Not specified on the provided site content. |
| Product maturity | Mature, widely adopted commerce platform used by entrepreneurs to enterprise brands, continuously updated via biannual 'Shopify Editions' and an active developer ecosystem. | Mature SMB-focused ecommerce product with a large user base: site cites millions of shops and billions in global sales, indicating wide adoption among creators and independent sellers. |
| Not a good fit for | Not a good fit for merchants who require a fully self-hosted, open-source platform or operate in countries where Shopify Payments and key features are unavailable. | Not a good fit for large enterprises or merchants needing advanced, enterprise-grade omnichannel and ERP integrations. |
Pros and cons
From each app's App4Ecom listing.
Shopify
Pros
- Build and launch an online store quickly with templates and an AI website builder
- Sell across online, social, marketplaces, in-person, and AI chat channels from a single platform
- Integrated payments and a best-in-class checkout that the site cites as converting higher than competitors
- Extensive ecosystem: Shopify App Store (21,000+ apps) and developer tools for headless/custom work
- Scales from solo entrepreneurs to large enterprises with Plus and enterprise features
Cons
- Shopify Payments is available only in certain countries, so features and rates vary by region
- Third-party payment providers may incur additional transaction fees depending on plan
- Advanced enterprise features, higher API limits, and fully customizable checkout require Plus or add-ons
- Some specialized features (shipping insurance, calculated rates, tax features) may require Shopify Payments or add-ons
Big Cartel
Pros
- Free plan available to start selling immediately
- Easy-to-use templates and no-coding store designer for quick launches
- Supports physical, digital, and print-on-demand products plus in-person sales via mobile app
- Imports products from Shopify, Etsy, and Squarespace to simplify migration
- Straightforward pricing with human support and easy-install apps
Cons
- Advanced ecommerce features (abandoned cart recovery, drops scheduling) are restricted to higher tiers
- Free and lower-cost plans have limited features compared with larger platforms
- Not positioned for large enterprise or highly complex, multi-channel deployments
- Detailed technical API documentation and enterprise integrations are not surfaced on the main site
Which should you choose?
Choose Shopify if you need a scalable, extensible commerce platform with multichannel selling and developer tools; choose Big Cartel if you want a low-cost, easy-to-use storefront for creators and small teams.
Shopify: Entrepreneurs, direct-to-consumer brands, retailers, and enterprise merchants who want a hosted, extensible commerce platform with multichannel selling.
Big Cartel: Independent artists, makers, bands, and small direct-to-consumer brands that want a low-cost, easy-to-use storefront with simple setup and imports.
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper, Shopify or Big Cartel?
Big Cartel is cheaper to start: its lowest paid plan is $15/mo, against $39/mo for Shopify. Plans include different limits, so compare what you get at the volume you need.
Do Shopify and Big Cartel have a free plan?
Yes, both list a free plan. Shopify offers a 3-day free trial. Big Cartel offers a 7-day free trial.
Which platforms do Shopify and Big Cartel work with?
Shopify works with Shopify. Big Cartel works with Shopify, Squarespace and Etsy. Both work with Shopify.
What features do Shopify and Big Cartel have in common?
Both list API, Inventory Sync, Mobile and Multi-channel. Only Shopify lists AI, Analytics, Automation and Order Management. Only Big Cartel lists Bulk Operations, Import, Templates and Webhook.
Do Shopify and Big Cartel have an API?
Yes, both list a public API.
Where this data comes from
Shopify
Listing data refreshed September 27, 2026.
- shopify.com/pricing Official website
- shopify.com Official website
- shopify.dev/docs Documentation
Big Cartel
Listing data refreshed September 28, 2026.
- bigcartel.com Official website
- bigcartel.com/product/pricing Official website