About Big Cartel
Overview
Big Cartel is an online store platform built for artists, makers, bands, and small businesses. It started as a place for indie bands to sell merch and aims to be the easiest and most affordable way for independent sellers to sell online.
The platform reports more than 4 million shops worldwide, over 10 million products listed, and over 5 billion dollars in global sales. Sellers pick a template, add products, and open their store without writing code.
Key Benefits
- Launch a customized storefront in minutes with no coding required.
- Sell physical goods, digital goods, and print-on-demand products from one storefront.
- Accept cards, wallets, Venmo, PayPal, and more.
- Sell online or in person with the mobile app.
- Reach more buyers by connecting your shop to Instagram, Facebook, and Google Shopping.
- Get help from real people instead of chatbots.
How It Works
Choose a customizable template, then add products by creating new listings or importing them from Shopify, Etsy, or Squarespace. Next, set up shipping, payments, and design details, and then promote your store to start selling.
Use Cases
- Bands sell merch and music files to fans.
- Jewelry makers list handmade products and ship orders.
- Illustrators and designers sell prints and digital design templates.
- Printmakers and photographers use print-on-demand providers to print, pack, and ship their work.
- Ceramicists and painters sell in person with the mobile app and online through their storefront.
- Entrepreneurs run discounts, schedule product drops, and offer exclusive product access.
Why Choose This Product
Big Cartel focuses on independent sellers, with straightforward pricing, no hidden fees, and a plan that starts at $0. Sellers can cancel anytime with no commitment.
Big Cartel Pros & Cons
- Plans start at $0 with a free limited Gold plan
- No coding required to launch a store
- Imports products from Shopify, Etsy, and Squarespace
- Human support instead of chatbots
- Accepts cards, PayPal, Venmo, and Afterpay
- Abandoned cart recovery is only on the Diamond plan
- Free Gold plan has limited features
Key Features
Shop Designer
All plansCreate a customized storefront in minutes with no coding required.
Physical and Digital Goods
All plansSell physical products and deliver digital products such as design templates and music files.
Print on Demand
All plansUse easy-install apps so providers print, pack, and ship your custom designs.
Product Import
All plansImport products directly from Shopify, Etsy, or Squarespace.
Discounts and Drops
DiamondRun discounts, schedule product drops, and offer exclusive access to products.
Abandoned Cart Recovery
DiamondRecover abandoned carts to win back lost sales.
Mobile App Sales
All plansSell in person and take payments from your phone with the iOS and Android app.
Shipping Labels
All plansPrint shipping labels, track shipments, and get up to 90% off shipping.
Social Selling
Connect your shop to Instagram, Facebook, and Google Shopping for greater reach.
Zapier Connection
DiamondConnect to 7,000+ apps with Zapier.
Big Cartel Pricing
View full pricing →- 7 days free, then $15/mo
- Support for custom domains
- Sell physical and digital products
- Print shipping labels and track orders
- Easy-install apps for print-on-demand and more
- Everything in Platinum
- Recover abandoned carts
- Schedule product drops
- Password-protect products
- Connect to 7,000+ apps with Zapier
- Priority support from humans
| Feature | Platinum $15/mo | Diamond $30/mo |
|---|---|---|
| Shop Designer | ||
| Physical and Digital Goods | ||
| Print on Demand | ||
| Product Import | ||
| Discounts and Drops | ||
| Abandoned Cart Recovery | ||
| Mobile App Sales | ||
| Shipping Labels | ||
| Zapier Connection |
Pricing extracted from the product website and may change. Check the source for current details.
Frequently asked questions about Big Cartel
Is Big Cartel free?
Plans start at $0. The Platinum plan offers a 7-day free trial and then costs $15 per month, while the Diamond plan costs $30 per month. The page also mentions a free, limited-feature Gold plan.
What can I sell on Big Cartel?
You can sell physical goods, digital goods such as design templates and music files, and print-on-demand products where providers print, pack, and ship your designs.
Can I import products from other platforms?
Yes. You can import products directly from Shopify, Etsy, or Squarespace when adding products to your store.
What payment types does Big Cartel accept?
Big Cartel accepts cards, wallets, Venmo, PayPal, Afterpay, and more.
Is there a contract or commitment?
No. The pricing page states there is no commitment and you can cancel anytime.
Can I sell in person?
Yes. You can sell in person and take payments from your phone using the Big Cartel mobile app for iOS and Android.