Shopify vs Big Cartel: Choosing the Right eCommerce Platform for Your Business
Choosing the right eCommerce platform is crucial to your online business success. After all, a good eCommerce platform can make all the difference. Shopify and Big Cartel are two popular cloud applications that are ideal for small to medium-sized eCommerce businesses. Both platforms claim to offer the best features to help you build an online store that fits your needs, but which one should you choose?
Features
Shopify is a comprehensive eCommerce platform with a wide range of features. It offers plenty of customization options and a vast library of themes to help you build a unique online store. Shopify also provides advanced features such as abandoned cart recovery, web hosting, and a point-of-sale system. Moreover, Shopify has a thriving community of developers that can help you with your eCommerce website.
Big Cartel, on the other hand, caters more to smaller businesses with a tight budget. It is a more basic platform with fewer features but is ideal for artists, musicians, and small businesses that require a simple eCommerce store. Big Cartel offers a selection of customizable themes and templates to fit your brand, but doesn’t have advanced features such as a point-of-sale system.
Pricing
Shopify’s pricing plan starts at $29 per month, which includes unlimited products, 24/7 support, and basic cart recovery features. However, if you need additional features, such as gift cards or professional reports, you will need to upgrade to a more expensive plan. On the other hand, Big Cartel’s pricing plan starts at $9.99 per month, which offers you a basic online store with limited features. If you require more features, such as the ability to showcase more than five products, you will need to upgrade to a $19.99 per month plan.
Ease of Use
Both Shopify and Big Cartel are user-friendly platforms with a simple interface. However, Shopify has a steeper learning curve due to its wider range of features. While Big Cartel is easier to use, it also has fewer customization options.
Customer Support
Shopify offers 24/7 customer support via chat, email, and phone. They also have extensive documentation and tutorials to help you get started. Big Cartel, on the other hand, offers email support and access to a knowledge base, but does not offer 24/7 support.
Verdict
Both Shopify and Big Cartel are great eCommerce platforms, but the one you choose depends on your specific business needs. If you are a small business with a limited budget, Big Cartel is an excellent platform to get started. However, if you have a more extensive business with a need for advanced features, Shopify is the more comprehensive platform.
In conclusion, Shopify and Big Cartel are both excellent eCommerce platforms that cater to different business needs. Choose the one that fits your specific requirements and budget for your eCommerce website.