Big Cartel suits artists, makers and small brands who want a simple shop, product drops and a free starter plan, without a long list of settings. Shopify suits businesses that plan to grow across many channels, from their own store to in-person sales, Google, social apps and Amazon, all from one admin. If you sell a small collection and want it live this week, start with Big Cartel; if you're building a brand to scale, start with Shopify.
Big Cartel is built for creative sellers and keeps things deliberately simple. Shopify is a full commerce platform that grows with you. I read Big Cartel's home and plans pages and Shopify's home and plans pages and its help centre on sales channels.
Big Cartel and Shopify side by side
| Big Cartel | Shopify | |
|---|---|---|
| Built for | Artists and small businesses | Sellers of every size |
| Free option | Free, limited Gold plan | 3-day free trial |
| Products | Physical, digital and print on demand | Physical, digital, B2B and more |
| Drops | Scheduled drops and password-protected products | Through themes and apps |
| Sales channels | Instagram, Facebook, Google Shopping | Social, Google, Amazon, Temu, Shop app, POS |
| AI | Not covered on the pages I read | Sidekick assistant and AI chat storefronts |
The Big Cartel feature built for creative sellers
Big Cartel's top plan, Diamond, adds scheduled product drops, password-protected products and abandoned cart recovery. Drops and private access are how many artists and bands sell limited runs, and here they're built in rather than bolted on. Big Cartel also lets you import products straight from Shopify, Etsy or Squarespace, so trying it doesn't mean retyping your catalogue.
Where Shopify goes further
Shopify's help centre lists the sales channels you can run from one admin: Facebook, Instagram and TikTok for social selling, Google, Amazon and Temu for listings, the Shop app, Shopify Collective for selling with other Shopify stores, and agentic storefronts so shoppers can find you inside AI chats. Add Shopify's point of sale and Markets for selling in other countries, and you can see why growing brands end up there.
Which fits your stage
- Under a few dozen products, mostly your own work, sold to fans: Big Cartel.
- Planning to sell in person, on Amazon or in other countries soon: Shopify.
- Selling limited drops to a loyal audience: Big Cartel's Diamond plan.
- Wanting apps and AI help for every part of the business: Shopify.
Whichever you choose, traffic is the hard part. My Shopify marketing strategy works for any small shop, and these tips for a small online store cover the basics.
Selling in person and on social
Both let you sell beyond your website. Big Cartel lists selling in person and taking payments from your phone, its own app for iOS and Android, connections to Instagram, Facebook and Google Shopping, and sales tax autopilot. Its paid plans also cover custom domains, shipping labels with tracking, inventory tracking and bulk product edits. Shopify goes further with its own Point of Sale, the Shop app and Markets for selling across countries, and Sidekick, an AI assistant that helps you run the store. If you sell at fairs a few times a year, Big Cartel's phone payments are enough. If you have a shop counter or plan one, Shopify's POS keeps online and in-person stock in one place.
My advice on Big Cartel or Shopify
If you're an artist or maker testing demand, open Big Cartel's free Gold plan, list your best pieces and run one drop. If you already sell well and want more channels, start Shopify's free trial and connect the channels your customers use. Moving later is easier than you'd think, because Big Cartel imports products straight from Shopify, Etsy or Squarespace.
Do you make ecommerce or online store builders? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place in comparisons like this one.
Frequently asked questions
Is Big Cartel free?
Big Cartel offers a free, limited-feature Gold plan, plus a 7-day free trial on its Platinum plan.
Want AI doing the heavy lifting in your marketing?
I build the systems that handle the boring 80 percent, so you get your week back. Done properly, with the human kept in.
Does Shopify have a free plan?
Shopify's plans page offers a 3-day free trial before you choose a plan.
Can I move between Big Cartel and Shopify?
Yes. Big Cartel imports products from Shopify, Etsy or Squarespace, so you can test it without retyping your catalogue. Check Shopify's import options for the move in the other direction.
Which is better for limited drops?
Big Cartel's Diamond plan includes scheduled product drops and password-protected products built in.
Can Shopify sell on Amazon?
Yes. Shopify's help centre lists Amazon as a sales channel you can connect and manage from Shopify admin.
Can I sell digital products on both?
Yes. Big Cartel sells digital goods such as templates and music files, and Shopify supports digital products too.
Does Big Cartel connect to Zapier?
Yes. Big Cartel's Diamond plan connects to 7,000+ apps through Zapier.
Does Shopify have an AI assistant?
Yes. Shopify lists Sidekick, an AI assistant that helps you run your store.
