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9.0

Spot Score

Big Cartel

Big Cartel Review: Is It The Right Shopping Cart Software For Your Team?

Best for SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

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SpotSaaS Analysis for Big Cartel

Big Cartel is a shopping cart software tailored for solo entrepreneurs and small business owners, particularly those who are non-technical. With a rating of 3.3 out of 5 from 60 user reviews, it suggests a mixed reception, indicating that while some users find it valuable, others may have encountered limitations.

The platform's affordability and ease of use make it an attractive option for small online retail businesses and independent artists looking to establish an online presence without needing coding skills. However, potential users should be aware of its limited customization options, which might not satisfy more advanced users seeking extensive design flexibility.

Quick facts about Big Cartel

Rating3.3/5 (60 reviews) | SpotScore: 9/10Best forSolo entrepreneurs, Small business ownersPricingFreemium, SubscriptionDeploymentBrowser Based, Android, iOSTop strengthAffordable pricing for small businessesWatch-outLimited customization options for advanced users

What is Big Cartel?

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 start selling online. Big Cartel gives a eight stock items, free SSL security, plus three customizable templates that are easy to install and mobile-optimized.

Best For

Suited for solo users, small teams, SMBs, and enterprise

Security & Compliance

GDPR
  • Data residency:🇺🇸

Platform

  • Web + mobile app (iOS & Android)

Big Cartel Screenshots

Big Cartel was reviewed internally using user feedback, in-house testing, and market research to assess its performance, reliability, and user experience. Learn how we review products and our evaluation process.

Who should consider Big Cartel

Use cases
Small online retail businesses, Independent artists and makers, Startups launching e-commerce stores
Team types
Solo entrepreneurs, Small business owners
Company size
1-50 employees, 51-200 employees
Workflow style
Simple and streamlined
Setup complexity
Low

Why teams choose Big Cartel

  • Affordable pricing plans suitable for small businesses and startups

  • Easy-to-use platform with no coding required, ideal for beginners

  • Low transaction fees when using specific payment methods like Stripe

Is Big Cartel right for you?

Best for small businesses needing simple, affordable online store setup.

Choose Big Cartel if

  • 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.

Consider alternatives if

  • You require advanced website customization and design control.
  • You need built-in automated marketing or customer review tools.

What buyers should know before shortlisting Big Cartel

Big Cartel shines as a budget-friendly option for small businesses looking to establish an online presence without breaking the bank. Users appreciate the simplicity and minimalistic approach, perfect for newbies and smaller ventures wanting to avoid overwhelming customization.

The pricing plans are transparent, with reasonable fees compared to platforms like Etsy. With features like low transaction fees and various payment options, Big Cartel offers a solid foundation for e-commerce ventures.

While the platform may lack some advanced customization options and automated review systems, its user-friendly interface and preset designs make it easy to create an attractive website. However, the need for self-marketing and occasional untrustworthy sellers on the platform can be minor drawbacks.

Overall, Big Cartel is a reliable choice for those willing to actively drive traffic to their site and foster customer trust through proactive engagement.

Pros and cons

Big Cartel pros and cons

  • Big Cartel pros
  • Affordable pricing plans suitable for small businesses and startups

  • Easy-to-use platform with no coding required, ideal for beginners

  • Low transaction fees when using specific payment methods like Stripe

  • Big Cartel cons
  • Limited customization options for advanced users

  • Lack of built-in automatic review features

3.3/5 rating
36 verified reviews
Free plan available

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Still comparing?

See how it stacks up

Compare Big Cartel side-by-side with top Shopping Cart Software alternatives.

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What is the pricing of Big Cartel?

Free TrialNot available
Free Plan✓ Included
Pricing Model
FreemiumSubscription

Big Cartel reviews and ratings

Buyer sentiment

Users appreciate Big Cartel's affordability and ease of use but note its limited customization and marketing features.

What buyers like

  • Affordable pricing
  • Ease of use
  • Low transaction fees

Common complaints

  • Limited customization
  • Lack of automated review features

3.3

Good

Based on 60 ratings & 36 reviews

Rating Distribution

Excellent

(6)

Very Good

(1)

Good

(0)

Poor

(3)

Poor

(26)

What users are saying

AK

aesthetic keep

04/29/21

5 out of 5

starting a small business with little to no funds? I recommend!

I think all of these 1 star reviews are reviewing actual websites rather than the Big Cartel company itself. I’ve been using Big Cartel for the past 8 ...

Read more

K

KarlaK

04/25/21

5 out of 5

I think the bad reviews on here are for…

I think the bad reviews on here are for perhaps not so honest website creators who sell under-par goods. However, if you are thinking about trying ...

Read more

A

Anonymous

04/04/21

1 out of 5

Faux fur source = scammers

Do not order anything from faux fur source!! Waited 3 months for my package, it didnt arrive. And u dont get the money refunded either.

LL

Leahy Luke

03/09/21

2 out of 5

Worst site iv ever used in my life

Worst site iv ever used in my life. They dont even have a toll free number to call. Joke of a website

ED

Ellie Dodson

03/08/21

5 out of 5

Great site - bigcartel review

Having read through this review page in advance to setting up my site on big cartel, I expected it to be a tragic waste of time. I was pleasantly ...

Read more

RR

Resistor Rob

01/15/21

1 out of 5

This wanna-be Etsy platform is plagued…

This wanna-be Etsy platform is plagued with problems. They advertise as "free" but it's far from it. On Etsy you pay a measly 20 cents listing fee. ...

Read more

What are the features of Big Cartel?

36%

Feature coverage

4 of 11 tracked features

Coupon management is an essential feature in most software programs used by businesses and organizations. It is a tool that allows the user…

PCI (Payment Card Industry) Compliance is a set of security standards that ensures a safe and secure environment for credit and debit card p…

Predefined templates are pre-formatted document samples that include the most critical layout and design aspects. They can be filled with gr…

A tax is a governmental mandatory financial charge or levy imposed on a taxpayer to fund certain public expenses. The taxation system is cri…

Security & Compliance

Big Cartel security and data handling

Key compliance certifications and security features for IT and security teams evaluating Big Cartel.

Certifications

GDPR✓ Certified
HIPAA✗ Not certified

Security features

Single Sign-On (SSO)✗ No
Data Encryption✓ Yes
Audit Logs✗ No

Developer & data

Data residency
🇺🇸

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Compare Big Cartel vs Shoplo

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9.8

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Help & Contact

Big Cartel Support Options

Customer ServiceOnline
LocationSalt Lake City, Utah

Frequently Asked Questions About Big Cartel

Common questions buyers ask before choosing Big Cartel.

Big Cartel is a Shopping Cart Software. Big Cartel offers Tax Management, Predefined Templates, Coupon Management and many more functionalities.

Big Cartel is a strong fit if: 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.. Consider alternatives if: You require advanced website customization and design control.; You need built-in automated marketing or customer review tools..

Buyers commonly note the following limitations of Big Cartel: Limited customization options for advanced users; Lack of built-in automatic review features; Relies heavily on self-driven marketing efforts for attracting customers.

Some top alternatives to Big Cartel includes Cartloom, UltraCart, PayKickstart, Invotide and SamCart.

Big Cartel offers Freemium, Subscription pricing models

We don't have information regarding integrations of the Big Cartel as of now.

The starting price is not disclosed by Big Cartel. You can visit Big Cartel pricing page to get the latest pricing.

Ready to try it?

Get started with Big Cartel

Get started with the free plan — no credit card required.

Disclaimer: This research has been collated from a variety of authoritative sources. We welcome your feedback at [email protected].

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