Introduction

When selecting an eCommerce platform for your online store, you want to make sure you choose the best fit for your business needs. Two platforms that often come into consideration are Big Cartel and Shopify. In this blog post, we'll conduct a thorough analysis of Big Cartel vs Shopify to help you understand which might be more suitable for you. We'll explore various aspects such as pricing, ease of use, design flexibility, and features, and aim to give you a clear direction on making the best choice for your online venture.

Big Cartel vs Shopify: Key Considerations

Pricing and Fees

Big Cartel: - Offers a free plan with basic features and a limit of 5 products. - Paid plans are relatively affordable but limit the number of products you can list. - No additional transaction fees on sales.

Shopify: - No free plan; however, offers a 3-day free trial period with $1/month for the first 3 months upon subscription. - More expensive monthly plans. - Transaction fees apply if you choose a payment gateway other than Shopify Payments.

User Experience and Ease of Use

Big Cartel: - Designed with simplicity in mind, great for beginners. - Customization might require some coding skills which could be a barrier for non-technical users. - Limited design options but sufficient for artisans and smaller shops.

Shopify: - User-friendly with a straightforward setup, ideal for users at all technical levels. - Offers a drag-and-drop interface, simplifying the customization process. - Extensive design options through a rich template gallery, including free and paid themes.

Features and Functionality

Big Cartel: - Focuses on basic e-commerce features suitable for small shops and indie artists. - Lacks some advanced features such as abandoned cart recovery. - Limited third-party integrations.

Shopify: - Robust feature set covering all e-commerce needs, from product management to marketing tools. - Supports abandoned cart recovery in all plans. - A comprehensive app store with numerous integrations to extend functionality.

Design Customization and Themes

Big Cartel: - A smaller selection of templates, tailored primarily to creative industries. - Limited scope for deep customization, mostly surface-level changes allowed.

Shopify: - An abundant choice of professional and aesthetically-pleasing themes. - Higher customization freedom, allowing full-fledged design alterations without extensive coding knowledge.

Multi-channel Selling and Analytics

Big Cartel: - Limited options for selling through multiple channels. - Basic analytics that offers simple insights into sales and traffic.

Shopify: - Integrates seamlessly with a multitude of sales channels, including social media and marketplaces. - Advanced analytics and reporting to help you make data-driven decisions.

Payment Processing and Security

Big Cartel: - A handful of payment options including PayPal and Stripe. - Lacks in-built PCI compliance, which is mandatory for online transactions.

Shopify: - Over 100 payment gateways to choose from, including Shopify Payments that waive transaction fees. - Fully PCI compliant, ensuring secure payment processing.

Customer Support and Community

Big Cartel: - Basic support options primarily via email, with limited accessibility during standard business hours. - A smaller community for user interactions and peer support.

Shopify: - 24/7 support accessible through various channels, including phone, live chat, and email. - A vast community of users and experts available for support, tips, and guidance.

Conclusion

In the clash of Big Cartel vs Shopify, the optimal platform for you largely depends on the size of your business, specific needs, and your long-term growth objectives. If you're an individual artist or a small-scale operator who values simplicity and affordability, Big Cartel could be your best bet. However, for those aspiring to scale their business and looking for a comprehensive solution with extensive features and customization options, Shopify unquestionably stands out as a superior choice.

Remember, you're not forever bound to your initial choice—migrate between platforms if your requirements change. Regardless of where you start, both Big Cartel and Shopify offer gateways to entering the exciting world of eCommerce. Whatever choice you make, ensure it aligns with your business goals and enhances your online presence.