Big Cartel vs Postscript
Features, use cases, pros and cons, and pricing side by side — and which one to pick.
Best for: Hobbyist makers — jewelry creators, printmakers, crafters — launching their first online shop on the free $0/month plan, Bands and musicians who want to sell merchandise directly to fans without paying for retail features they won't use
Read the full Big Cartel reviewBest for: Established Shopify stores (typically $500k+ annual revenue) that want to make SMS a primary revenue channel and can justify a $100–$500/month platform fee plus per-message costs, DTC brands that need deep SMS-specific expertise and strategic guidance rather than a generic multi-channel tool, and who value Postscript's dedicated team support
Read the full Postscript reviewCommission may apply at no extra cost
Big Cartel vs Postscript: features compared
Compare key features side by side
Feature Comparison Summary
Which should you choose?
Choose Big Cartel if
- You don't need SMS marketing for your store
Choose Postscript if
- You run a Shopify store and want SMS revenue
- You want AI message testing and compliance support
Big Cartel vs Postscript: pros and cons
Big Cartel
Big Cartel strips ecommerce back to the basics artists actually need: a customizable storefront, product listings, order management, and flat pricing from $0 to $90 a month with no hidden fees. The intentionally minimal toolset and $90/month ceiling mean big catalogs will outgrow it. Overall, it's a low-risk launchpad for creative side hustles and first shops.
Pros
- A free plan at $0 per month lets you open a real store with no upfront investment, which is rare among ecommerce platforms
- Flat monthly pricing from $0 to $90 with no hidden fees keeps costs predictable instead of fluctuating with your sales
- The interface is simple enough for non-technical creatives to launch a shop quickly without developer help
Cons
- The feature set is intentionally minimal, so sellers who need advanced shipping rules, marketing automation, or a large app ecosystem may outgrow it
- The $90 per month top plan is the pricing ceiling, and high-volume stores with large catalogs may find better value on platforms built for scale
- Third-party review coverage is thin, which makes it harder to benchmark long-term user satisfaction before committing
Postscript
Shopify's SMS specialist for serious ROI.
We found Postscript to be a powerful, dedicated SMS marketing tool built exclusively for Shopify. Its focus on compliance, AI-driven optimization, and strategic support makes it a top choice for brands ready to invest in a high-return channel. Overall, it's an excellent, niche solution for Shopify merchants prioritizing SMS revenue growth.
Pros
- Deep SMS-only expertise and strategic support
- High reported average ROI (34x)
- Powerful AI for message optimization (Infinity Testing)
Cons
- Only works with Shopify stores (no other platforms)
- Specialized pricing may not suit very tight budgets
- Not an all-in-one marketing suite; requires other tools for channels beyond SMS
Big Cartel and Postscript in detail
Big Cartel
Big Cartel is a hosted ecommerce website builder designed for DIY makers and artists. It provides the core tools of an online store — product listings, a customizable storefront, and order management — in a package simple enough for someone with no technical background. The platform's entire focus is helping independent creatives sell their goods and grow from a first sale into a sustainable shop.
Standout features
- Customizable Storefront Themes
- Product and Inventory Management
- Order Management
- Built for Creative Sellers
Use cases
- Launching a First Shop for Handmade Goods
- Selling Band Merchandise Directly to Fans
- Selling Art Prints and Photography
- Testing a Side Hustle Before Going Professional
Postscript
✨ Postscript is a dedicated SMS marketing platform built specifically for Shopify stores. It's for ecommerce brands that want to move beyond generic blasts and build a profitable, conversational channel with their customers.
The service combines specialized software with a strategic team of SMS experts. Their goal is to transform your list into a reliable, high-ROI revenue stream through compliant and effective messaging.
Standout features
- Turn SMS Into Your Top Revenue Channel
- Grow Your List 3x Faster
- Send Smarter Messages with AI-Powered Optimization
- Have Real Conversations That Drive Sales
Use cases
- Launching a New Product Collection
- Abandoned Cart Recovery That Feels Human
- Growing a Compliant Subscriber List
- Moving from Basic Blasts to High-Performing Campaigns
Pricing compared
List prices from each vendor's pricing page, before taxes and add-ons. Costs are per month.
| Pricing compared | Big Cartel | Postscript |
|---|---|---|
| From (cheapest paid plan) | $15/mo Tools to grow your sales | $100/mo Growth |
| Free plan | No | Yes $49 monthly minimum spend; $0.009/SMS, $0.045/MMS plus carrier fees; for brands getting started with SMS; includes campaigns and automations, unlimited segments, dedicated toll-free number, subscriber acquisition tools with 2 opt-in keywords, branded short link subdomain. |
| Free trial | Not stated | Not stated |
| Money-back guarantee | Not stated | Not stated |
| Annual billing savings | — | — |
| Pricing model | Flat price | Flat price |
| Cost for 1 user | $15/mo Tools to grow your sales plan, billed monthly | FreeCheaper Starter plan, billed monthly |
| Cost for 5 users | $15/mo Tools to grow your sales plan, billed monthly · price per account (user limit not stated) | $100/mo Growth plan, billed monthly · price per account (user limit not stated) |
| Cost for 10 users | $15/mo Tools to grow your sales plan, billed monthly · price per account (user limit not stated) | $100/mo Growth plan, billed monthly · price per account (user limit not stated) |
| Cost for 25 users | $15/mo Tools to grow your sales plan, billed monthly · price per account (user limit not stated) | $100/mo Growth plan, billed monthly · price per account (user limit not stated) |
| Plans | 3 | 5 |
| Prices checked | Checked Oct 12, 2026 | Checked Oct 13, 2026 |
| Price history | Tracking prices since Oct 1, 2026. No price change detected yet. | Tracking prices since Oct 1, 2026. No price change detected yet. |
- Cheapest plan that fits each team size. Per-user plans are multiplied by the number of users (respecting stated minimums and seat packs). Plans that include some users cost their base price plus the extra-user price for each user beyond those included. Flat-priced plans with no stated user limit are counted as one licence per user.
Cheaper for your team size
For 1 user (billed monthly), Postscript costs $0/mo vs Big Cartel at $15/mo.
- Only Postscript has a free plan.
Computed from published list prices on the dates shown. Excludes taxes, add-ons and promotions.
