Shopify vs. Big Cartel - Which E-commerce Platform is Best for Artists?
As an artist, trying to find the best e-commerce platform to sell your products can be overwhelming. Two popular platforms among artists are Shopify and Big Cartel. In this post, we will compare Shopify and Big Cartel in terms of their features, pricing, and ease of use to determine which platform is best suited for artists.
Features
Both Shopify and Big Cartel offer similar features, such as the ability to create an online store, upload products, and process payments. However, Shopify offers more advanced features, such as built-in shipping and taxes, an abandoned cart recovery system, and the ability to sell on multiple channels like social media, Amazon, and eBay. Shopify’s app store also offers a wide range of third-party add-ons to increase functionality.
Big Cartel can only sell online, but it does have a few features that set it apart from Shopify, such as the ability to customize the HTML and CSS of your store, and the option to add a blog to your store. Additionally, Big Cartel has a smaller learning curve, making it easier for beginners to set up their store quickly.
Pricing
Shopify offers a range of pricing plans starting from $29 per month, going up to $299 per month for their most extensive plan. On top of the monthly subscription fee, Shopify charges a transaction fee between 0.5% - 2% per transaction, depending on the chosen pricing plan. However, Shopify does not limit the number of products or file storage available, making it an excellent option for artists who have a large inventory of products to sell.
Big Cartel, on the other hand, offers four pricing plans, with their most expensive plan coming in at $29.99 per month. However, unlike Shopify, Big Cartel does not charge any transaction fees. Big Cartel also has a free plan on offer, but it is limited to just five products, making it unsuitable for artists with a large inventory.
Ease of Use
Both Shopify and Big Cartel offer intuitive and easy-to-use interfaces, with drag-and-drop functionality and customizable themes. Setup is relatively quick for both platforms, with Big Cartel allowing beginners to start selling within minutes. Shopify's user interface may seem overwhelming at first, but it is more customizable, making it easier for experienced users who want to tailor their store's look and feel.
Conclusion
When it comes to choosing the best e-commerce platform for artists, it ultimately comes down to personal preference and specific needs. Shopify outperforms Big Cartel in terms of the number of features and integrations available, making it an excellent option for experienced e-commerce users. However, if you're just starting and want to keep things simple, Big Cartel's free plan and beginner-friendly interface might be the better option.
Regardless of which platform you choose, remember always to keep your customers in mind, optimize your online store for search engines, and promote your store on various channels to attract more customers.