Big Cartel vs Gumroad
Big Cartel and Gumroad serve independent creators but take vastly different paths to profitability. Big Cartel offers simplicity and fixed, commission-free monthly subscriptions. Gumroad operates on a zero-upfront-cost, usage-based transactional fee model. The ideal platform depends entirely on your product type and financial risk tolerance.
Simple Selling for Creative Beginners
Big Cartel excels as a straightforward, commission-free platform tailored specifically for independent artists needing an easy start. We find the generous free plan perfect for testing the waters, but limitations in advanced features and reported issues with support response times make scaling challenging. Overall, this is an excellent, affordable choice for hobbyists or new sellers who prioritize simplicity over complex functionality.
Pros
- Permanently free Gold plan is available for starters ($0).
- No sales commission taken (0% transaction fees).
- Simple, intuitive, and easy to set up for non-coders.
- Designed specifically for independent artists and makers.
Cons
- Platform functionality is limited, especially for scaling (max 500 products).
- Customer support response times can be painfully slow, sometimes taking hours.
- Users report recent platform instability and bugs.
- Paid plans are considered high value for the basic feature set provided.
Sell easily, but proceed with extreme caution.
Gumroad offers an accessible, zero-upfront-cost model ideal for creators starting out in the digital space. However, we found the user reports regarding immediate account bans, withheld payments, and severe customer support failures extremely alarming. Overall, we cannot recommend Gumroad due to critical risks concerning financial security and platform reliability.
Pros
- Purely usage-based model with no required monthly subscription fees.
- Fees are lower (10% + $0.50) for creators who drive their own traffic.
- Handles global sales tax and VAT/GST automatically as Merchant of Record (effective 2025).
- Ability to sell various digital and physical formats, including subscriptions.
Cons
- Frequent reports of withholding or delaying creator payouts without explanation.
- Customer support is often described as non-existent or limited to unhelpful chatbots.
- Accounts are frequently suspended or banned abruptly, trapping earned revenue.
- Lack of transparency regarding transaction fees makes actual costs higher than advertised.
AboutBig Cartel
Big Cartel is an easy-to-use platform designed to help creatives turn their passion into profit. It’s where do-it-yourselfers go to become professionals.
This solution serves independent artists, bands, and makers of all types. Its diverse audience includes painters, jewelry makers, designers, printmakers, and photographers.
The goal is simple: give you the tools you need to sell your stuff and grow your shop. You’ll keep more of what you earn with straightforward pricing and no hidden fees.
AboutGumroad
Gumroad is an all-in-one platform built to help creative entrepreneurs sell digital and physical products. It helps you experiment with all kinds of ideas and formats, like video lessons or monthly subscriptions. Whether you need more flexibility or just a different gig, Gumroad makes it easy to chart a new path. You don't need to be a tech expert to upload a file, set a price, and start selling your expertise. ✨
Highlights
Feature Comparison
Features Overview
We highlight the main differences and pick a winner for each feature.
Cost Structure
Big Cartel uses low, flat monthly fees with 0% commission on sales. Gumroad uses high transaction fees but charges zero monthly fees.
Big Cartel's pricing is straightforward, ranging from $0 to $30 monthly. Crucially, Big Cartel never takes a commission on your sales revenue. Gumroad has no fixed monthly cost, operating purely on usage and transaction fees. These fees range from 10% up to a steep 30% depending on traffic source. If you process high sales volume, Big Cartel offers superior value due to its 0% commission. The flat rate provides predictable accounting. Gumroad is cheaper only if sales are sporadic or very low volume; otherwise, Big Cartel saves significant money.
Product Focus
Big Cartel is designed for creators selling physical goods; Gumroad excels at digital assets and courses.
Big Cartel is built for makers and artists selling tangible items like prints or jewelry. It supports necessary e-commerce features like inventory tracking. Gumroad is primarily for digital products, including e-books, subscriptions, and 3D models. Gumroad explicitly prohibits the selling of physical goods on its platform. If you have a physical inventory, Big Cartel is the required choice for basic operational features. Gumroad cannot host true physical retail businesses. This distinction is fundamental and should be the first criterion in comparing Big Cartel vs Gumroad.
E-commerce Features
Big Cartel provides essential management tools; Gumroad focuses purely on simple sales delivery.
Big Cartel includes core e-commerce tools like inventory tracking for up to 500 products. Paid plans also unlock helpful bulk editing functionality. Gumroad’s feature set is minimal, focusing on file hosting and checkout integration. It lacks crucial management features like tracking or bulk edits. For a professional physical operation, Big Cartel’s feature set is far more robust. Managing 50 products is simple on the Platinum plan. Big Cartel’s Diamond plan even includes abandoned cart recovery to maximize revenue capture.
Customer Support
Big Cartel offers real human help; Gumroad users report non-existent support and automated chatbots.
Big Cartel promises support from 'real human beings, not chatbots' for all users. Diamond members receive helpful prioritized technical support. Gumroad users consistently report receiving no help for critical payment or account suspension issues. Customer support is cited as a major platform failure. Effective support is vital when sales or payments stop working unexpectedly. Big Cartel provides a significantly safer safety net. Gumroad’s severe lack of support makes it a high-risk platform, despite its low entry cost.
Seller Safety & Trust
Big Cartel is financially stable; Gumroad faces critical, widespread reports of withholding creator payouts.
Big Cartel has standard financial processes and does not have widespread reports of payment issues. Payouts are generally reliable. Gumroad has numerous alarming reports of abruptly suspending accounts and withholding earned creator revenue. Users feel financially trapped. This massive discrepancy in user reviews (3.2 vs 1.5 stars) highlights critical reliability issues with Gumroad. Financial security is non-negotiable. For continuous operations and guaranteed payouts, Big Cartel is unquestionably the safer bet.
Tax Compliance
Gumroad handles global tax remittance; Big Cartel only provides basic sales tax calculation assistance.
Big Cartel offers a helpful 'Sales tax autopilot' to calculate taxes at checkout. This streamlines basic adherence for sellers. Gumroad dramatically simplifies global selling by acting as the Merchant of Record (2025). They handle worldwide VAT and sales tax remittance. Managing complex international tax laws is an enormous burden for small businesses. Gumroad’s automated compliance is a powerful advantage. Big Cartel requires more manual compliance effort outside of the basic calculation tool.
Subscription Options
Gumroad supports diverse recurring payment models; Big Cartel lacks native subscription functionality.
Big Cartel is structured primarily for one-time fulfillment of physical products. It must rely on third-party tools for subscriptions. Gumroad natively supports fixed-length and recurring monthly payments for content packs or courses. Creating membership income is simple. If you want stable, recurring income from content, Gumroad is technically ready for that model immediately. This core difference makes Gumroad ideal for content creators seeking predictable monthly subscription revenue.
Store Scaling Limits
Big Cartel caps stores at 500 products; Gumroad effectively offers unlimited scaling capacity.
The highest Big Cartel Diamond plan stops scaling at a firm 500 product listings. Larger stores must migrate elsewhere. Gumroad imposes no stated hard limits on product count, allowing for massive digital product catalogs. It supports rapid experimentation. For artists starting small, Big Cartel’s 500 limit is generous and acceptable. Larger retailers will find this capacity insufficient immediately. If you intend to host thousands of items, Gumroad offers the necessary theoretical capacity for product expansion.
Our Verdict
Choosing between Big Cartel and Gumroad clarifies quickly based on your product and priorities. While both platforms target creators, the ideal choice hinges on financial risk tolerance. Big Cartel provides a fundamentally safer and more reliable foundation for your business. Big Cartel’s superpower is making physical selling simple and commission-free for artists. Paying a predictable $30/month max means you keep 100% of your sales revenue. Big Cartel also guarantees support from real human beings, a vital safety net for creators. Gumroad shines brightly for digital content creators and subscription services. It allows you to sell anything instantly, supporting the popular ‘small bets’ experimentation philosophy. Gumroad is also amazing for global sales, automating complex VAT and sales tax compliance as a Merchant of Record. However, the deciding factor must be platform safety and financial confidence. Gumroad suffers from widespread, critical user reports of withheld earnings and sudden account suspensions. If protecting your revenue stream is important, Gumroad presents an alarmingly high risk. Choose Big Cartel if you sell physical products and value reliable, commission-free sales and support. Only select Gumroad if you absolutely need its native recurring subscription tools and acknowledge the severe risks associated with its financial processes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I trust Gumroad with reliably processing my business income?
Reviews indicate extreme caution is necessary when using Gumroad for income processing. Many creators report that Gumroad improperly halts or withholds payouts without explanation. Big Cartel has a much stronger reputation for predictable financial reliability.
Which platform is better for selling physical products like jewelry or art prints?
Big Cartel is specifically designed for independent artists selling physical goods. It includes inventory tracking and supports up to 500 listings. Gumroad does not permit the sale of physical tangible merchandise or products.
Does Big Cartel charge transaction fees on sales revenue?
No, Big Cartel proudly charges 0% transaction fees on all sales. You only pay the flat, predictable monthly subscription price. This makes Big Cartel significantly more profitable for high-volume sellers.
Which platform handles complex international sales taxes (VAT, GST) better?
Gumroad handles complex tax remittance globally as the Merchant of Record (effective 2025). This simplifies compliance significantly for international sellers. Big Cartel only offers a basic 'Sales tax autopilot' calculation tool.
Can I exceed 500 product listings on Big Cartel?
No, the Diamond plan sets a firm hard limit of 500 product listings for Big Cartel. Stores growing beyond 500 unique items must migrate to a different platform. Gumroad features no stated limit for selling digital products.
If I want to offer recurring payments or subscriptions, which platform should I choose?
Gumroad is the clear winner for recurring revenue models. It natively supports monthly memberships and subscriptions for content packs. Big Cartel focuses on one-time sales and lacks this native subscription capability.
Ready to Choose?
Both tools have their strengths. Choose based on your specific needs.