Big Cartel vs Lemon Squeezy
Detailed side-by-side comparison
Big Cartel
FreeBig Cartel is a straightforward ecommerce platform built specifically for artists, makers, and creators who want to sell physical creative products online. It emphasizes simplicity and aesthetic design with customizable themes, supporting up to 500 products without charging transaction fees.
Visit Big CartelLemon Squeezy
FreeLemon Squeezy is an all-in-one payment platform designed for digital products and SaaS companies, functioning as a merchant of record to handle complex tax compliance, fraud prevention, and global payment processing. It allows software creators to focus on building products while Lemon Squeezy manages the operational complexity of international sales.
Visit Lemon SqueezyFeature Comparison
| Feature | Big Cartel | Lemon Squeezy |
|---|---|---|
| Product Type Focus | Optimized for physical products from artists and makers, with inventory management for up to 500 items | Exclusively designed for digital products, software, and SaaS offerings with licensing and activation systems |
| Tax and Compliance | Merchants are responsible for their own tax collection and compliance across jurisdictions | Acts as merchant of record with automatic tax compliance handling VAT, sales tax, and international regulations |
| Payment Processing | Integrates with PayPal and Stripe with no transaction fees on any plan | Built-in global payment processing with multiple payment methods but higher transaction fees |
| Marketing Tools | No built-in email marketing tools; requires third-party integrations | Includes built-in email marketing and customer engagement tools |
| Subscription Management | Limited subscription capabilities; primarily focused on one-time product sales | Robust subscription management with automated dunning, recovery, and recurring billing features |
| Store Customization | Customizable themes with artist-focused design aesthetics and custom domain support for branded storefronts | Less customization flexibility with standardized checkout experiences optimized for conversion over branding |
Pricing Comparison
Both platforms start at $0/month, but with different models: Big Cartel charges no transaction fees and has tiered monthly plans based on product count, while Lemon Squeezy operates entirely on transaction fees (higher than typical processors) with no monthly subscription costs. Big Cartel is more cost-effective for consistent sales volume, while Lemon Squeezy benefits those with variable or starting revenue.
Verdict
Choose Big Cartel if...
Choose Big Cartel if you're an artist, maker, or creator selling physical products who values simplicity, aesthetic customization, and wants to avoid transaction fees while maintaining control over your brand presentation.
Choose Lemon Squeezy if...
Choose Lemon Squeezy if you're selling digital products or SaaS and want to avoid the complexity of international tax compliance, need robust subscription management, and prefer paying only when you make sales rather than fixed monthly costs.
Get Your Free Software Recommendation
Answer a few quick questions and we'll match you with the perfect tools
Select the category that best fits your needs
Pros & Cons
Big Cartel
Pros
- + Extremely user-friendly with minimal learning curve
- + Affordable pricing tailored for independent artists and small creators
- + No transaction fees on any plan
- + Clean, artist-focused design aesthetic
Cons
- - Limited advanced ecommerce features compared to larger platforms
- - No built-in email marketing tools
- - Fewer app integrations and third-party extensions
Lemon Squeezy
Pros
- + Eliminates the need to handle VAT, sales tax, and compliance across different countries
- + No monthly fees - only pay when you make sales
- + Quick setup with no complex integrations required
- + Includes email marketing and customer engagement tools
Cons
- - Higher transaction fees compared to traditional payment processors like Stripe
- - Less customization flexibility than self-hosted solutions
- - Limited to digital products and SaaS offerings