After building over 1,000 e-commerce websites and helping countless small businesses launch their online stores, I’ve worked with virtually every platform available—including Big Cartel. Today, I’ll share my honest assessment of whether Big Cartel is the right choice for your online store in 2025.
The promise of a completely free e-commerce platform sounds incredible, and Big Cartel delivers on that promise. But as someone who’s seen businesses succeed and struggle with various platforms, I want to give you the complete picture before you make this important decision.
What Makes Big Cartel Different?
Big Cartel positions itself as the go-to platform for artists, makers, and small creative businesses. Unlike Shopify or WooCommerce, which cater to businesses of all sizes, Big Cartel specifically targets creators selling handmade goods, art, vintage items, and unique products.
I’ve helped several artists transition from selling at local markets to building successful online businesses, and the appeal of Big Cartel’s free plan is undeniable—especially when you’re just starting out and every dollar counts.
Big Cartel’s Core Philosophy
The platform operates on a simple principle: creative people should be able to sell online without technical barriers or high costs. This philosophy shapes every aspect of their platform, from the simplified setup process to the artist-focused themes.
The Reality of Big Cartel’s Free Plan
Let’s address the elephant in the room: Big Cartel’s free plan is genuinely free. No hidden fees, no trial periods, no credit card required. You can literally start selling online today without spending a penny.
What You Get for Free:
- Up to 5 products in your store
- Mobile-responsive themes
- Basic payment processing via PayPal, Stripe, or Square
- Facebook and Instagram integration
- Basic analytics
- Your own Big Cartel subdomain
The Hidden Costs of “Free”
Here’s what I’ve learned from working with clients who started on Big Cartel’s free plan: while the platform itself costs nothing, growing your business inevitably requires upgrades and additional tools.
Most successful stores I’ve worked with outgrow the 5-product limit within their first few months. That jewelry designer I mentioned earlier? She hit the 5-product ceiling in week three and had to upgrade to continue selling her expanding collection.
My Honest Assessment: Pros and Cons
After working with dozens of Big Cartel stores, here’s my unbiased take:
Where Big Cartel Excels
Simplicity: The setup process is genuinely beginner-friendly. I’ve walked clients through it who had never built a website before, and they were selling online within hours.
Cost-Effective for Small Inventories: If you’re selling 5-50 unique items, Big Cartel’s pricing is hard to beat.
Artist-Friendly Design: The themes are clean and product-focused, perfect for showcasing creative work.
No Transaction Fees: Unlike many competitors, Big Cartel doesn’t take a cut of your sales—you only pay standard payment processing fees.
Where Big Cartel Falls Short
Severe Growth Limitations: The 500-product maximum on even the highest plan is restrictive. I’ve had clients outgrow this quickly.
Basic Functionality: No customer accounts, limited SEO options, and no abandoned cart recovery—features that become crucial as you scale.
Design Constraints: Customization requires coding knowledge, which defeats the purpose for non-technical users.
Limited Marketing Tools: Basic social integration and no built-in email marketing make customer retention challenging.
Big Cartel vs. The Competition: A Real-World Comparison
Having worked with all major e-commerce platforms, here’s how Big Cartel stacks up:
Big Cartel vs. Shopify
Shopify offers unlimited products, advanced features, and extensive customization—but starts at $29/month. Big Cartel is better for hobby sellers; Shopify for serious businesses.
Big Cartel vs. WooCommerce
WooCommerce (WordPress) provides unlimited customization and features but requires technical knowledge and hosting. Big Cartel is more user-friendly but less powerful.
Big Cartel vs. Square Online
Both offer free plans, but Square Online allows unlimited products for free. However, Big Cartel has better design options and is more creator-focused.
For those considering multiple options, I recommend checking our comprehensive e-commerce web design service comparison to understand which platform aligns best with your business goals.
Who Should Use Big Cartel?
Based on my experience, Big Cartel works best for:
Perfect Candidates:
- Artists and Crafters: Selling handmade jewelry, art prints, ceramics, or custom designs
- Hobby Sellers: Testing the waters with a side business
- Small Local Businesses: Boutique shops with limited inventory
- Service Providers: Coaches offering digital products or courses
- Students and New Entrepreneurs: Those with limited budgets
Who Should Look Elsewhere:
- Growing Businesses: If you plan to expand beyond 500 products
- Dropshippers: Limited integration with dropshipping tools
- Businesses Requiring Advanced Features: Customer accounts, complex shipping, inventory management
- Multi-Channel Sellers: Those selling on multiple platforms simultaneously
The Setup Process: What to Expect
I’ve guided numerous clients through Big Cartel’s setup, and it’s genuinely straightforward:
Step 1: Account Creation (5 minutes)
Simple signup with basic business information. Big Cartel asks smart questions about your business type to customize the experience.
Step 2: Theme Selection (10 minutes)
Choose from 17 professional themes. While limited compared to other platforms, they’re specifically designed for product showcase.
Step 3: Product Upload (30-60 minutes)
Add your products with photos and descriptions. The interface is intuitive, though adding products one by one can be time-consuming for larger inventories.
Step 4: Payment Setup (15 minutes)
Connect PayPal, Stripe, or Square for payment processing. The process is streamlined and beginner-friendly.
Step 5: Store Customization (Variable)
Basic customization is simple; advanced changes require coding knowledge.
Real Client Success Stories
Sarah, Handmade Jewelry Artist: Started with Big Cartel’s free plan, selling 5 signature pieces. Within six months, she upgraded to the $10 plan and was generating $2,000/month. Big Cartel’s simplicity let her focus on creating rather than wrestling with technology.
Mike, Vintage Poster Seller: Outgrew Big Cartel after 18 months when he needed more advanced inventory management. We migrated him to a custom solution, but Big Cartel provided the perfect launching pad for his business.
Lisa, Art Teacher: Uses Big Cartel’s free plan to sell student artwork, with all proceeds going back to the art program. The zero-cost model makes this community initiative sustainable.
The Hidden Technical Limitations
While Big Cartel markets itself as “no coding required,” the reality is more nuanced:
What You Can Do Without Coding:
- Basic color and font changes
- Logo upload
- Product management
- Order processing
- Basic page content editing
What Requires Coding:
- Custom layouts
- Advanced functionality
- Third-party integrations
- Complex product variants
- Custom checkout processes
This limitation has frustrated several clients who wanted more customization without learning to code.
Pricing Breakdown: Is It Really Affordable?
Big Cartel’s pricing appears straightforward, but let’s examine the true costs:
Free Plan ($0/month)
- 5 products
- Basic features
- Big Cartel subdomain
- Best For: Testing the waters
Platinum Plan ($9.99/month)
- 50 products
- Custom domain
- Inventory tracking
- Google Analytics
- Best For: Small growing businesses
Diamond Plan ($19.99/month)
- 500 products
- Advanced analytics
- Priority support
- Facebook/Google ads integration
- Best For: Established small businesses
Hidden Costs to Consider:
- Custom domain: $10-15/year (if not included in plan)
- Professional photography: $200-500
- Marketing tools: $20-100/month
- Apps and integrations: $10-50/month
When you factor in these additional costs, the “free” platform can become significantly more expensive.
Design and Customization: The Creative Limitations
As someone who’s created custom designs for hundreds of online stores, I appreciate good design tools. Big Cartel’s approach is minimalist—sometimes too minimalist.
Theme Quality
The 17 available themes are professionally designed but limited in variety. They’re clean and product-focused, which works well for artists but may feel generic for other businesses.
Customization Options
Basic customization is intuitive: change colors, fonts, and layouts through simple menus. However, significant customization requires HTML/CSS knowledge, creating a barrier for non-technical users.
Mobile Responsiveness
All themes are mobile-responsive, which is crucial since over 60% of online shopping happens on mobile devices. This is one area where Big Cartel delivers well.
Marketing and SEO Capabilities
E-commerce success depends heavily on marketing, and this is where Big Cartel shows its limitations:
Built-in Marketing Features:
- Basic social media integration
- Simple discount codes
- Facebook and Instagram selling
- Basic analytics
What’s Missing:
- Email marketing tools
- Advanced SEO features
- Abandoned cart recovery
- Customer segmentation
- Multi-channel inventory management
For businesses serious about growth, these limitations become significant obstacles.
Payment Processing and Fees
Big Cartel’s transparent fee structure is refreshing:
Transaction Fees:
- Big Cartel: 0% (only payment processor fees apply)
- PayPal: 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction
- Stripe: 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction
- Square: 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction
This no-transaction-fee model saves money compared to platforms like Shopify, which charges both monthly fees and transaction fees.
Security and Reliability Concerns
One area that concerns me about Big Cartel is PCI compliance. Unlike most e-commerce platforms, Big Cartel isn’t PCI compliant, meaning you’re responsible for securing customer payment data. This creates potential liability and security risks that other platforms handle for you.
For serious businesses, this security gap is significant and potentially problematic.
When to Upgrade or Switch Platforms
I’ve helped numerous clients transition off Big Cartel, and the decision usually comes down to these factors:
Time to Upgrade When:
- You consistently hit product limits
- You need customer accounts
- Advanced reporting becomes necessary
- Marketing automation is required
- Security concerns arise
Smooth Migration Options:
If you outgrow Big Cartel, consider these alternatives:
- For continued simplicity: Square Online or our ready-made e-commerce solutions
- For growth potential: Shopify or WooCommerce
- For complete customization: Our custom e-commerce design services
The Verdict: Should You Choose Big Cartel?
After working with Big Cartel extensively, my recommendation depends entirely on your specific situation:
Choose Big Cartel If:
- You’re selling 5-50 unique, handmade items
- Budget is extremely tight
- You want to test an online business idea
- Simplicity is more important than features
- You’re comfortable with basic functionality
Look Elsewhere If:
- You plan to scale significantly
- You need advanced marketing tools
- Security and compliance are priorities
- You want extensive customization options
- You’re selling in multiple channels
Alternative Solutions from Our Experience
Having helped hundreds of businesses choose the right e-commerce platform, here are my recommendations based on different needs:
For Complete Beginners
Consider our AI website builder recommendations that can create professional e-commerce sites with advanced features automatically.
For Growing Businesses
Explore our ready-made e-commerce brands that come with professional design, advanced features, and room to scale.
For Unique Requirements
Our custom e-commerce web design service creates platforms tailored to your specific business needs without the limitations of pre-built solutions.
Final Recommendations
Big Cartel serves a specific niche well: creative individuals and small businesses testing the e-commerce waters. It’s genuinely free, surprisingly functional, and refreshingly simple.
However, most successful online businesses outgrow Big Cartel’s limitations within 6-18 months. If you’re serious about building a scalable online business, consider starting with a platform that can grow with you.
My Professional Advice:
- Start with Big Cartel if you’re testing an idea or have a very small inventory
- Plan your exit strategy early—know when and how you’ll upgrade
- Focus on building your customer base rather than perfecting your store design
- Reinvest early profits into better platforms and tools
- Don’t let platform limitations limit your business growth
Getting Started: Your Next Steps
If you’ve decided Big Cartel might be right for you, here’s my recommended approach:
Week 1: Setup and Testing
- Create your free account
- Upload your best 5 products
- Test the checkout process thoroughly
- Share with friends for feedback
Week 2-4: Optimization and Promotion
- Optimize product descriptions for search
- Set up social media integration
- Start building your email list (using external tools)
- Begin marketing efforts
Month 2-3: Evaluate and Decide
- Analyze sales data and customer feedback
- Assess whether you’re hitting platform limitations
- Plan for potential platform migration if needed
Remember, choosing an e-commerce platform isn’t just about current needs—it’s about supporting your business’s future growth. Big Cartel can be an excellent starting point, but make sure it aligns with your long-term vision.
Whether you start with Big Cartel or choose a more robust solution from the beginning, the key is getting started and learning what your customers actually want. The perfect platform means nothing if you don’t have customers to serve.
Need help choosing the right e-commerce solution for your specific situation? We’ve helped hundreds of businesses make this decision successfully. Consider exploring our comprehensive e-commerce solutions or custom web design services to find the perfect fit for your business goals.
Ready to launch your online store? Whether you choose Big Cartel or a more advanced platform, the most important step is taking action. Your business deserves a platform that supports your success, not limits it.