Big Cartel vs Snipcart

Detailed side-by-side comparison

Big Cartel

Free

Big Cartel is a straightforward ecommerce platform built specifically for artists, makers, and creators who want to sell their products online without technical complexity. It provides customizable themes, inventory management, and a mobile-responsive storefront with no transaction fees, making it ideal for independent creators launching their first online store.

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Snipcart

Free

Snipcart is a developer-centric shopping cart solution that adds ecommerce functionality to any existing website using simple HTML and JavaScript snippets. It's designed for developers and agencies who want to transform static sites, JAMstack projects, or content management systems into full-fledged online stores without building backend infrastructure.

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Feature Comparison

Feature	Big Cartel	Snipcart
Setup and Implementation	Provides a complete hosted platform with built-in themes and no-code setup, perfect for non-technical users	Requires adding code snippets to an existing website, designed for developers comfortable with HTML/JavaScript
Design Customization	Offers pre-built customizable themes with visual editors focused on showcasing creative products	Provides complete design flexibility since it integrates into your existing website design and framework
Payment Processing	Integrates with PayPal and Stripe with zero transaction fees on all plans	Supports 100+ payment gateways but charges transaction fees ranging from 2% down to 0.5% depending on volume
Inventory Management	Built-in inventory tracking for up to 500 products with straightforward dashboard management	Offers inventory tracking through dashboard and API, with no product limits but requires manual implementation
Technical Requirements	No coding or technical knowledge needed; fully hosted solution with domain support	Requires an existing website and developer skills for integration, customization, and maintenance
Integration Ecosystem	Limited third-party integrations and no built-in email marketing tools	Developer-friendly APIs and webhooks allow integration with virtually any service or JAMstack tool

Pricing Comparison

Both platforms offer free starter plans, but Big Cartel charges no transaction fees while Snipcart adds 2% transaction fees (decreasing with volume). Big Cartel's paid plans ($9.99-$19.99/month) provide better value for small creators, while Snipcart's pricing makes more sense for developers who already have a website and need flexible cart functionality.

Verdict

Choose Big Cartel if...

Choose Big Cartel if you're an artist, maker, or creator without technical skills who wants a simple, affordable, all-in-one platform to launch your online store quickly with no transaction fees and minimal complexity.

Choose Snipcart if...

Choose Snipcart if you're a developer or work with one, already have a website or static site you want to add ecommerce to, and need flexible, customizable cart functionality that integrates seamlessly with modern web frameworks and JAMstack architectures.

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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

Snipcart

Pros

+ Easy integration with any website or framework
+ No need to manage PCI compliance or payment infrastructure
+ Excellent documentation and developer experience
+ Works seamlessly with JAMstack and static site generators

Cons

- Transaction fees can add up for high-volume stores
- Limited built-in marketing and analytics features
- Requires developer knowledge for customization