Big Cartel vs Shopify 2025: complete DTC brand platform Comparison
Jul 9, 2025
TL;DR
Big Cartel vs Shopify: The Bottom Line
Big Cartel is perfect for artists and small creators who want simple, affordable ecommerce. With no transaction fees, a free plan for up to 5 products, and straightforward setup, it's ideal for testing the waters. However, it caps at 500 products, offers only 2 app integrations, and lacks advanced features.
Shopify dominates with 29% US market share for good reason. It offers unlimited products, 12,000+ apps, built-in payment processing, and enterprise-grade scaling. While more expensive ($29+ monthly), it's built for serious growth and handles everything from startups to billion-dollar brands.
Key Stats
Shopify processes 117x more transaction volume ($444B vs $2.5B) and has 24x more stores (5.54M vs 191K), but Big Cartel offers zero transaction fees and simpler operation for creative entrepreneurs.
The choice isn't about features—it's about matching your business ambition with the right foundation.
Big Cartel vs Shopify 2025: Key Differences
Pricing Comparison: Finding Your Budget Sweet Spot
Big Cartel Advantages: • No transaction fees across all plans vs Shopify's 0.6-2.0% fees
• Free entry-level option (Gold plan) vs Shopify's $29/month minimum
• Lower annual pricing when paying yearly ($12-24 vs $79-299)
Shopify Advantages:• Unlimited products on all plans vs Big Cartel's 5-500 product limits • Multi-user support (5-15 staff accounts) vs Big Cartel's single-user restriction
• Better credit card rates (2.5-2.7% vs 2.9% across all Big Cartel plans)
• More advanced features like gift cards, professional reports, and third-party shipping
Best Use Cases: • Big Cartel: Small businesses with limited products, solo entrepreneurs, budget-conscious startups • Shopify: Growing businesses needing team collaboration, unlimited inventory, and advanced e-commerce features
Plan Details | Big Cartel | Shopify |
|---|---|---|
Entry-Level E-commerce | ||
Plan Name | Gold (Free) | Basic Shopify |
Monthly Cost | $0 | $29 |
Annual Cost | $0 | $26 |
Products | Up to 5 | Unlimited |
Images per Product | 1 | Unlimited |
Staff Accounts | 1 (no multi-user) | 5 |
Transaction Fees | 0% | 2.0% |
Credit Card Rates | 2.9% + 30¢* | 2.7% + 30¢ |
Custom Domain | ❌ | ✅ |
Mid-Tier Plan | ||
Plan Name | Platinum | Shopify |
Monthly Cost | $15 | $105 |
Annual Cost | $12 | $79 |
Products | Up to 50 | Unlimited |
Images per Product | 5 | Unlimited |
Staff Accounts | 1 (no multi-user) | 5 |
Transaction Fees | 0% | 1.0% |
Credit Card Rates | 2.9% + 30¢* | 2.6% + 30¢ |
Additional Features | Custom domain, Facebook/Google ads | Gift cards, Professional reports |
Premium Plan | ||
Plan Name | Diamond | Advanced Shopify |
Monthly Cost | $30 | $399 |
Annual Cost | $24 | $299 |
Products | Up to 500 | Unlimited |
Images per Product | 25 | Unlimited |
Staff Accounts | 1 (no multi-user) | 15 |
Transaction Fees | 0% | 0.6% |
Credit Card Rates | 2.9% + 30¢* | 2.5% + 30¢ |
Advanced Features | All ecommerce features | Report builder, 3rd-party shipping |
Security Features Comparison
Core Security Similarities: • SSL encryption fully implemented on both platforms with HTTPS enforcement • Data backup systems in place - Big Cartel uses multi-cloud redundancy, Shopify has automated backups
Big Cartel Security Limitations: • Basic multi-user access without advanced role-based permissions
• No formal uptime SLA guarantee for business continuity
• Limited compliance certifications - no ISO 27001 or HIPAA support
Shopify Security Advantages: • Role-based permissions for better staff account management and access control
• HIPAA compliance available with proper configuration for healthcare businesses
• Higher actual uptime (99.9%) despite no formal SLA
Security Considerations: • Neither platform offers Privacy Shield (framework no longer active)
• ISO 27001 status unclear for Shopify, not available for Big Cartel
• Both platforms provide adequate security for standard e-commerce operations
Security Features | Big Cartel | Shopify |
|---|---|---|
SSL Encryption | ||
HTTPS Enforcement | ✅ Entire store | ✅ Entire store |
Authentication & Access | ||
Staff Account Security | ⚠️ Basic multi-user | ✅ Role-based permissions |
Data Protection | ||
Data Backup | ✅ Multi-cloud redundancy | ✅ Automated backups |
Infrastructure Security | ||
Uptime Guarantee | ⚠️ No formal SLA | ❌ No formal SLA (99.9% actual) |
Compliance Certifications | ||
ISO 27001 | ❌ Not available | ❓ Status unclear |
HIPAA | ❌ Not available | ⚠️ Requires configuration |
Privacy Shield | ❌ Framework defunct | ❌ Framework defunct |
Market Share Analysis
Scale Gap: Shopify has 24x more stores than Big Cartel
Market Position: Big Cartel is niche (0.23% share) vs Shopify's market leadership
Target Markets: Big Cartel serves creative entrepreneurs; Shopify serves all business sizes
Financial Scale: Shopify processes 117x more transaction volume annually
Payment Processing and Financial Management
Shopify’s built-in payment processor represents a significant advantage for DTC brands. The system accepts nearly every major payment method and integrates seamlessly with the platform’s reporting and analytics tools. This eliminates the complexity of third-party payment integrations and provides a unified view of financial performance.
Big Cartel lacks a built-in payment processor, requiring merchants to integrate third-party solutions. While this provides flexibility in choosing payment providers, it adds complexity to setup and financial management—particularly challenging for non-technical users.
Feature | Big Cartel | Shopify |
|---|---|---|
Payment Processor | Third-party only (Stripe/PayPal) | Built-in Shopify Payments |
Setup Required | Must integrate Stripe or PayPal | Included with platform |
Platform Transaction Fees | 0% (no additional fees) | 0% (with Shopify Payments) |
Processing Fees | ||
Stripe | 2.9% + $0.30 | 2.9% + $0.30 (Basic plan) |
PayPal | 2.99% + $0.49 | 2.9% + $0.30 (Basic plan) |
Third-party Gateway Penalty | None | +2% additional fee |
Payment Methods | ||
Credit Cards | ✅ Via Stripe | ✅ Direct acceptance |
PayPal | ✅ Available | ✅ Available |
Digital Wallets | Apple Pay, Google Pay (via Stripe) | Apple Pay, Google Pay, Amazon Pay |
Other | Venmo (US only), Afterpay | 100+ payment gateways |
Financial Management | ||
Built-in Reporting | Basic only | Advanced analytics |
Payment Reconciliation | Manual | Automated |
Multi-currency | Limited | 130+ currencies |
Unified Dashboard | No | Yes |
Best For | ||
Target Users | Small artists, simple stores | All business sizes |
Technical Skill | Medium (setup required) | Low (plug-and-play) |
Business Growth | Limited scalability | Unlimited scaling |
Other feature comparison
Comparison of Big Cartel and Shopify ecommerce platforms based on verified 2024-2025 data, highlighting key differences in scalability, integrations, market position, and suitability for direct-to-consumer brands looking to choose the right platform for their growth trajectory.
Feature | Big Cartel | Shopify |
|---|---|---|
Product Limits | 500 max (Diamond plan) ✓ | Unlimited ✓ |
App Marketplace | 2 integrations (Printful, Art of Where) ✓ | 12,320+ apps ✓ |
G2 Rating | 4.2/5 (32 reviews) ⚠️ | 4.4/5 (4,500+ reviews) ✓ |
Market Share | 0.23% global ✓ | 10-11% global, 29% US ✓ |
Annual Growth | 1% year-over-year ✓ | 24% GMV growth ✓ |
Economic Impact | $2.5B cumulative sales ✓ | $444B global impact ✓ |
Migration Pattern | Lost 315 merchants (90 days) ✓ | Net positive gains |
Target Market | Artists, small creators ✓ | All business sizes ✓ |
Choose the Right Platform for Your Business Journey
Shopify: Built for Ambitious Growth
For businesses ready to scale seriously. Shopify's $137.39 billion market cap reflects its proven track record with companies from startup to enterprise level. The platform doesn't just support growth—it accelerates it.
What sets Shopify apart:
12,000+ app integrations for unlimited customization
100+ payment gateways with automatic tax calculation
Enhanced 2025 features including automatic Shop channel tax collection
Built-in tools for inventory, marketing, and customer management
Enterprise-grade capabilities:
Shopify Plus powers 47,000+ enterprise stores
126% average growth for businesses earning $1M-$500M annually
40x higher checkout capacity than standard stores
Multi-store management for global expansion
Perfect for: DTC brands planning significant growth, businesses requiring advanced integrations, companies needing enterprise-level support.
Big Cartel: Designed for Creative Independence
For artists and creators starting their journey. Big Cartel understands that not every business needs enterprise complexity. Sometimes, simplicity is the superpower.
Why creators choose Big Cartel:
Free themes and straightforward setup
No transaction fees on any plan
Designed specifically for showcasing creative work
Perfect for testing ecommerce waters without complexity
The numbers tell the story: 52.3% of Big Cartel stores sell fewer than 10 products, proving the platform serves creators who prioritize craft over scale.
Perfect for: Independent artists, crafters, small creative businesses, anyone selling limited product collections.
Your Decision Framework
Choose Shopify if: You're building a brand for significant growth, need advanced marketing tools, require extensive integrations, or plan to scale beyond a few dozen products.
Choose Big Cartel if: You're an artist or creator focused on showcasing work, prefer simplicity over features, sell limited product lines, or want to start without complexity.
The best platform isn't about features—it's about matching your business vision with the right foundation for growth.
