Big Cartel review (2026): features, pros and cons, pricing
Low-cost store builder aimed at artists and small makers, with a free tier and two paid plans.
Verdict at a glance
A low-cost store builder aimed at artists and small makers, with a free Gold tier and paid Platinum and Diamond plans. It stands out for flat monthly pricing and Zapier connections to 7,000+ apps on Diamond.
What is Big Cartel?
Low-cost store builder aimed at artists and small makers, with a free tier and two paid plans. It is built for artists and small makers who want a cheap flat-fee store.
Category: Ecommerce Platforms
Big Cartel key features
| Feature | What we found |
|---|---|
| App and integration ecosystem | Zapier connections to 7,000+ apps on Diamond. |
Big Cartel pricing
Big Cartel uses flat monthly plans, with no per-seat pricing. Gold is free with limited features. Platinum is $15 per month with a 7-day free trial and adds a custom domain, physical and digital products and shipping labels. Diamond is $30 per month, with no commitment and cancel anytime, and adds abandoned cart recovery, scheduled drops, password-protected products, Zapier and priority support. Annual billing options, product limits and transaction fees are not published, so the bill beyond the plan fee is unknown. Ask the vendor how product counts and payment fees affect your total.
| Plan | Price | Unit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gold | Free | month | limited features |
| Platinum | $15 | month | 7-day free trial; custom domain, physical and digital products, shipping labels |
| Diamond | $30 | month | no commitment, cancel anytime; adds abandoned cart recovery, scheduled drops, password-protected products, Zapier, priority support |
Annual prices, product limits and transaction fees are not confirmed by the vendor.
Who Big Cartel is best for
Best for
- Artists and small makers who want a cheap flat-fee store.
Not ideal for
- Teams needing B2B or multichannel features.
Big Cartel alternatives
ShopifySmall and mid-size brands that want a hosted store without managing servers.
Squarespace CommerceBrands and creators that prioritize templates and design.
Wix eCommerceSmall shops and service businesses that want site and store in one editor.
Ecwid by LightspeedSites that already exist and need a cart added.
Adobe Commerce (Magento)Large merchants with in-house or agency developers.
BigCommerceGrowing stores wanting B2B tools and open APIs on a hosted platform.
What Big Cartel really costs
Big Cartel publishes a starting price but few details about how the bill grows, so the real cost depends on the quote. Use the questions below to turn a sales conversation into a number you can compare.
Questions to ask about price
- Is there a minimum number of seats or a minimum annual spend?
- What is the discount for annual billing, and can we start monthly?
- Which features we need sit in add-ons or a higher plan, and what do they cost?
- How much can the price rise at renewal, and is the increase capped in the contract?
- Are there one-time costs for implementation, onboarding or data migration?
Is Big Cartel worth the price?
Big Cartel is good value for artists and small makers who want a cheap flat-fee store and can live within the free or $15 tier. It gets more expensive when you need the Diamond features: abandoned cart recovery, scheduled drops and Zapier access to 7,000+ apps all require the $30 plan. It is awkward for teams needing B2B or multichannel features, which are listed as a weak spot.
Worth it if
- Artists and small makers who want a cheap flat-fee store.
Look elsewhere if
- Teams needing B2B or multichannel features.
Pricing details most reviews leave out
- Diamond is advertised as no commitment, cancel anytime.
- Zapier access to 7,000+ apps only on Diamond.
- Platinum starts with a 7-day trial.
Our verdict on Big Cartel
Big Cartel is a low-cost store builder aimed at artists and small makers, with a free tier and two paid plans. Gold is free with limited features, Platinum is $15 per month and Diamond is $30 per month. G2 gives it 4.2 out of 5, though from only 27 reviews. For a maker who wants a cheap flat-fee store, the pricing is easy to read.
What Big Cartel does not publish matters for cost. Annual prices, product limits and transaction fees were not confirmed, so the all-in cost of running a store is unknown from the plan prices alone. Payment processing fees in particular are not covered here. Diamond is advertised as no commitment, cancel anytime. Treat the plan prices as a floor and check limits and fees on the vendor's pricing page before you plan a budget.
Big Cartel FAQ
What is Big Cartel used for?
A low-cost store builder aimed at artists and small makers, with a free Gold tier and paid Platinum and Diamond plans. It stands out for flat monthly pricing and Zapier connections to 7,000+ apps on Diamond. It suits artists and small makers who want a cheap flat-fee store.
Does Big Cartel have a free plan?
Yes. The Gold plan is free with limited features. Platinum is $15 per month with a 7-day free trial, and Diamond is $30 per month.
Which Big Cartel plan includes Zapier?
Only Diamond, at $30 per month, includes Zapier connections to 7,000+ apps. It also adds abandoned cart recovery, scheduled drops and password-protected products.
Does Big Cartel require a long-term contract?
No. Diamond is advertised as no commitment and cancel anytime. Platinum starts with a 7-day free trial.
Sources
Every fact on this page comes from Big Cartel's own pricing, product or documentation pages, G2 and company records, checked on October 24, 2026. Unknown values are left out instead of estimated.