Big Cartel vs Shopify Comparison
Big Cartel
Starting at Contact for pricing
- Large Enterprises
- Medium Business
Big Cartel is a shopping cart software for online stores. Big Cartel combines best-in-class shopping cart features with unlimited storage, customizable themes, and a wide range of tools to make it simple for anyone to st…
Shopify
Starting at Contact for pricing
- Free Trial
- Large Enterprises
- Medium Business
Shopify provides everything needed to sell online, at a retail location or in person. From product creation tools to checkout, payments, shipping & analytics - the software combines ecommerce functionality into one easy…
Big Cartel vs Shopify — at a glance
| Feature | Big Cartel | Shopify |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 2.1 / 5 | 4.4 / 5 |
| Reviews | 39 | — |
| Starting price | Contact for pricing | Contact for pricing |
| Free trial | No | Yes |
| Free version | No | No |
| Best for | Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business | Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business |
| Category | Shopping Cart Software | Ecommerce Software |
| Platforms | SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS | SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS |
| API | — | Available |
| Support modes | Online | 24/7 (Live rep), Business Hours, Online |
| Certifications | GDPR | — |
| Data residency | US | — |
Key differences between Big Cartel and Shopify
- Free trial: Shopify offers a free trial; Big Cartel does not.
- User satisfaction: Shopify scores higher with a 4.4-star average.
- Deployment: Big Cartel supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS; Shopify supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS.
Big Cartel vs Shopify — find the better fit before you commit.
Which tool fits your team best
Which is actually cheaper for your team size
Where each product wins, per real buyers
Most Shopping Cart Software tools look identical on paper. This comparison cuts to the differences that matter — pricing structure, team fit, and what real buyers found after signing up.
Biggest differences
Features
Pricing
Buying details
Security
Buyer feedback
Integrations
Product tour
Other options
Talk to an expert Talk to an expert |
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Biggest differences
Start here before you go deeper into features.
Best for small businesses needing simple, affordable online store setup.
- You are a solo entrepreneur or small business owner with limited technical skills.
- You want a budget-friendly platform with transparent pricing and low transaction fees.
- You prefer a minimalistic, easy-to-use interface with mobile-optimized templates.
- You require advanced website customization and design control.
- You need built-in automated marketing or customer review tools.
Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business
Big Cartel typically suits Large Enterprises and Medium Business. Shopify tends to fit Large Enterprises and Medium Business better. The right choice depends on your team size, workflow, and whether a free trial matters.
Description | Big Cartel is a shopping cart software for online stores. Big Cartel combines best-in-class shopping cart features with unlimited storage, customizable themes, and a wide range of tools to ... Read More about Big Cartel | Shopify provides everything needed to sell online, at a retail location or in person. From product creation tools to checkout, payments, shipping & analytics - the software combines ... Read More about Shopify |
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Free Trial Availability |
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SpotScoreWhat's this? ↗ | 9.0/10 | 9.6/10 |
User RatingsBased on verified Spotsaas reviews | ||
Best Company Size | 1-50 employees51-200 employees | — |
Get pricing help | Get pricing help |
Software Demo
Demo |  Big Cartel has not given any software demo yet If you're the owner of this profile, add your demo.Contact us |
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How do Big Cartel and Shopify Compare on Features?
Total Features | 4 Features | 21 Features |
|---|---|---|
Unique Features | No unique features | No unique features |
Get Quote | Get Quote |
Compare Big Cartel and Shopify on pricing
Review starting price, plan structure, and free-trial access side by side so you can see which option fits your budget and buying process.
Pricing Option | ||
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Pricing Page | Pricing information not available |  |
Other Details
Organization Types supported |
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Platforms Supported |
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Modes of support |
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API Support |
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Get help choosing | Get help choosing |
Security & Compliance
Certifications, data handling, and security controls for IT and compliance evaluators.
HIPAA | ✗ No | — |
|---|---|---|
GDPR | ✓ Yes | — |
Single Sign-On (SSO) | ✗ No | — |
Data Encryption | ✓ Yes | — |
Audit Logs | ✗ No | — |
Data Residency | 🇺🇸 US | — |
Big Cartel User Reviews & Rating Comparison
User Ratings | No reviews available for the product | |
|---|---|---|
Rating Distribution | ||
Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI | Buyer sentiment Users appreciate Big Cartel's affordability and ease of use but note its limited customization and marketing features. What buyers like
Common complaints
| Buyer sentiment Buyer sentiment is positive across 966 reviews, with strong overall satisfaction. What buyers like
Common complaints
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Pros and Cons |
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Positive Reviews | No reviews available for the product | No reviews available for the product |
| Negative Reviews | No reviews available for the product | No reviews available for the product |
Media and Screenshots
Screenshots |  2 Screenshots |  4 Screenshots |
|---|---|---|
Videos | No videos available. |  2 Videos |
Top Alternatives to Big Cartel and Shopify in 2026
Alternatives |
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Disclaimer: This research has been collated from a variety of authoritative sources. We welcome your feedback at [email protected].
Frequently asked questions
- Which is better, Big Cartel or Shopify?
- Shopify edges out the other on user ratings (4.4 vs 2.1). That said, the best pick depends on your use case — use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
- Do Big Cartel and Shopify offer a free trial?
- Shopify offers a free trial. Big Cartel does not.
- What is the starting price of Big Cartel vs Shopify?
- Big Cartel starts at Contact for pricing. Shopify starts at Contact for pricing.
- What are the top alternatives to Big Cartel?
- Top alternatives to Big Cartel include Cartloom, UltraCart, PayKickstart, Invotide, Gumroad.
- What are the top alternatives to Shopify?
- Top alternatives to Shopify include PrestaShop, CS-Cart, WooCommerce, Shopify Plus, BigCommerce.