What is Big Cartel?
Big Cartel is an online store platform founded in 2005 by a musician who wanted to sell merchandise online. That origin defines the platform today — it is built for independent artists, makers, and small-batch creators rather than growth-stage brands. Big Cartel powers stores for printmakers, jewellers, ceramicists, fashion designers, musicians, and anyone else selling creative work in small quantities.
The platform is intentionally minimal. Feature depth is deliberately limited to keep things simple and affordable. For the seller it targets, that is an advantage. For sellers who need advanced functionality, it is the platform’s primary constraint.
Key Features
- Permanent free plan with up to 5 products and no transaction fees
- Three plan tiers gated by product count: 5 (free), 50 (Platinum), 500 (Diamond)
- No platform transaction fees on any plan — only payment processor fees apply
- 18 free themes across all plans with basic colour and font customisation
- Inventory tracking on paid plans with low-stock alerts
- Discount codes on paid plans
- Basic analytics for tracking sales, visitors, and revenue
- Shipment tracking and order management dashboard
- Abandoned cart recovery on Diamond plan only
- Mobile app for iOS and Android for managing store on the go
Pricing
| Plan | Monthly billing | Annual billing | Products |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gold (Free) | $0 | $0 | 5 |
| Platinum | $15/month | $12/month | 50 |
| Diamond | $30/month | $24/month | 500 |
No platform transaction fees on any plan. Stripe charges 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction. PayPal charges 3.49% + $0.49. Maximum 5 photos per product on paid plans. 500 products is the absolute ceiling even on the top tier.
For a full cost breakdown see our Big Cartel pricing guide.
Pros (based on G2 and Capterra reviews)
Affordable and accessible. G2 and Capterra reviewers consistently praise Big Cartel as one of the cheapest ways to get a real online store live. “Fantastic and a great starting point for anyone wanting an ecommerce presence on a budget” is a representative Capterra sentiment. The free plan with 5 products is genuinely useful for artists testing whether selling online is viable.
Simple and easy to manage. Capterra reviewers describe Big Cartel as quick to learn and low-maintenance. Sellers who do not want to manage hosting, plugins, or complex dashboards find it well-suited to their needs. Customer service is described as responsive and helpful in multiple reviews.
No transaction fees. The absence of a platform fee on every sale is a frequently cited advantage, particularly for low-margin products like prints and handmade items where platform fees would significantly cut into already thin margins.
Minimal setup time. Multiple Capterra reviewers describe getting a store live within hours of signing up. The limited feature set that is sometimes a criticism also means less configuration before launch.
Well-suited for creative work. G2 and Capterra reviewers note that Big Cartel’s aesthetic and product focus fits artists, makers, and small creative businesses better than platforms designed for larger retail operations.
Cons (based on G2 and Capterra reviews)
Sellers outgrow it quickly. The most common theme across Capterra and G2 reviews is that Big Cartel works well early on but lacks the features needed as a store grows. One Capterra reviewer summarised it: “I moved away from the platform as I grew.” The 500-product ceiling, limited app ecosystem, and absence of advanced marketing tools are the specific gaps sellers name.
No app marketplace. Big Cartel does not have an app store for adding functionality. Features like abandoned cart recovery, advanced reviews, or email marketing integrations either require Diamond plan or external workarounds. Sellers who want to expand capabilities find the options limited.
Limited Instagram integration. A Capterra reviewer specifically noted the platform is “not easy to link with Instagram.” For boutique sellers whose customers discover them on social channels, this is a relevant friction point.
Maximum 5 photos per product. Even on paid plans, the 5-photo limit per product is restrictive for sellers in fashion, jewellery, and lifestyle categories where multiple angles, detail shots, and lifestyle images are standard.
Lower Trustpilot rating. While G2 and Capterra rate Big Cartel at 4.2/5, Trustpilot shows 2.5/5 from 78 reviews — a notable gap. The Trustpilot reviews focus more on support responsiveness and feature limitations at higher sales volumes.
Who Big Cartel is best for
Big Cartel is best suited for independent artists, printmakers, and small-batch makers with a small, stable product range and customers who find them through word of mouth, galleries, or markets rather than Instagram or WhatsApp. The free plan with 5 products is one of the most generous free tiers in ecommerce for this use case. The paid plans are among the cheapest available at their product capacity.
Sellers who are actively growing, need Instagram integration, or sell through WhatsApp will find Big Cartel’s simplicity works against them fairly quickly.
Big Cartel vs Trustd
Trustd is built for boutique owners and social sellers who sell through Instagram and WhatsApp and need WhatsApp ordering, verified reviews, and unlimited products from the free plan — all features Big Cartel does not offer. Trustd’s Pro plan costs $25/year internationally (₹999/year in India), which is less than two months of Big Cartel’s Platinum plan.
For artists and makers with a small, stable catalog and no need for social selling tools, Big Cartel is a well-priced and simple choice. For boutique sellers who sell through social channels, Trustd is the closer fit.
See the full comparison: Trustd vs Big Cartel
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Big Cartel used for?
Big Cartel is an online store platform built for independent artists, makers, and small-batch creators who want a simple, low-cost way to sell their work. It handles product listings, checkout, and order management without the complexity of larger ecommerce platforms. It is most commonly used by artists, printmakers, jewellers, and handmade goods sellers.
Is Big Cartel free?
Big Cartel has a permanently free plan that supports up to 5 products with one photo per product, basic store functionality, and no transaction fees. Custom domain and discount codes are not included on the free plan. Paid plans start at $15/month for 50 products.
What is Big Cartel's G2 rating?
Big Cartel has a 4.2 out of 5 rating on both G2 (26 reviews) and Capterra (16 reviews). Trustpilot rates it lower at 2.5/5 from 78 reviews, with many of those citing feature limitations and support concerns. The G2 and Capterra reviews are predominantly from small creative businesses who rate it highly for simplicity and affordability.