Big Cartel vs Postscript
Big Cartel and Postscript serve completely different needs. Big Cartel is a simple e-commerce store builder for artists. Postscript is a dedicated SMS marketing platform for Shopify. The choice depends on whether you need a storefront or a messaging channel.
Best for: Solo artists, designers, and makers selling 5-500 products, Creators wanting a simple, free-to-start storefront
Best for: Shopify stores focused on SMS marketing ROI, Brands needing AI-optimized campaign messaging
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.
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)
- Strong built-in compliance and legal support
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
- Limited accessible external review sentiment for this specific platform
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.
AboutPostscript
✨ 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.
Highlights
Feature Comparison
Features Overview
We highlight the main differences and pick a winner for each feature.
Ease of Use
Big Cartel is designed for instant setup. Postscript is built for deep Shopify integration.
Big Cartel offers a simple four-step setup. You pick a template, add products, set payments, and launch. The process is designed for non-coders. Postscript integrates directly with your Shopify store. The setup involves connecting the app and configuring campaigns. It's powerful but assumes some marketing knowledge. Big Cartel wins on pure simplicity for total beginners. Postscript offers a smoother experience within the specific Shopify ecosystem.
Core Feature Set
They solve entirely different problems. Big Cartel hosts your store. Postscript markets via text.
Big Cartel provides storefront design, product listings, checkout, and order management. It's a complete, if basic, e-commerce solution. Postscript provides SMS campaign creation, automated flows, subscriber management, and AI-driven optimization. It's a specialized marketing tool. Comparing them is like comparing a physical shop to a megaphone. You typically need one to support the other, not replace it.
Pricing Structure
Big Cartel uses flat subscriptions. Postscript uses a subscription plus usage fees.
Big Cartel's plans are $0, $15, or $30 per month. You pay a fixed fee regardless of sales volume or traffic. Postscript's pricing starts at $0 but includes a platform fee plus per-message costs (SMS/MMS). You also pay carrier fees. Costs scale with your usage. Big Cartel offers cost predictability. Postscript's model can be more expensive at high volume but directly ties cost to marketing activity.
Scalability
Big Cartel caps at 500 products. Postscript scales with your SMS list and budget.
Big Cartel's Diamond plan maxes out at 500 product listings. If you exceed this, you must migrate platforms. Postscript scales to accommodate large subscriber lists and high message volumes. The Enterprise plan supports custom needs. For growing a product catalog, Big Cartel has hard limits. Postscript scales more flexibly with your marketing reach.
Analytics & Optimization
Big Cartel provides basic sales tracking. Postscript offers advanced AI-driven message testing.
Big Cartel includes inventory tracking and basic sales reports. The focus is on order management, not marketing analytics. Postscript features Infinity Testing. Its AI tests hundreds of message variants to find the highest-performing content automatically. Postscript provides significantly deeper tools for optimizing marketing performance and ROI.
Target Audience
Big Cartel is for independent creatives. Postscript is for Shopify-based e-commerce brands.
Big Cartel is built for artists, bands, and makers. It's ideal for those selling 5-500 physical or digital products. Postscript is built exclusively for Shopify stores. It targets brands looking to maximize revenue through SMS marketing. The platforms don't compete for the same user. They address different stages of an online business.
Big Cartel costs between $0 and $30 per month with 3 plans: Gold at $0, Platinum at $15/month ($144 annually), and Diamond at $30/month ($288 annually).
Let's explore the details of each plan to find the right fit for your creative business.
Gold
Price: $0/month (It's free) Best For: The basics to sell online Other Features:
- 5 product listings
- One image per product
- Access to 1 template
- Accept cards, PayPal, & more
- 5 product listings
- 1 image per product
- Access to 1 template
- Accept cards, PayPal, Afterpay, & more
- Big Cartel mobile app for iOS & Android
- 50 product listings
- 5 images per product
- Access to template library
- Offer discounts & run promos
- Shipment tracking
- 500 product listings
- 25 images per product
- Access to template library
- Prioritized tech support
- Abandoned cart recovery
Postscript pricing: Postscript offers tiered subscription plans starting at $0/month with a usage-based messaging model. Costs are driven by a monthly platform fee plus per-message rates for SMS and MMS communications.
Scales from new startups to large enterprise operations. Only available to Shopify stores.
No hidden fees. Contact sales for customized plans.
Pricing Notes
- Big Cartel's free Gold plan is permanent, not a trial. It limits you to 5 products and 1 image each.
- Postscript's free Starter plan has a $0 monthly fee but requires a $49 minimum spend on messages.
- Big Cartel's paid plans have no transaction fees. Postscript charges per message plus carrier fees.
- Big Cartel offers a 20% discount for annual billing. Postscript does not highlight annual discounts.
Pricing Head-to-Head
User Reviews
Big Cartel's external reviews are sharply divided, reflecting a highly polarized user base, resulting in a low Trustpilot rating (2.3). Many long-term users express deep frustration, citing recent unreliable platform development and high prices for what they consider limited functionality and a basic service (max 500 products).
Recurring negative themes include extremely slow customer support response times, with some users waiting hours for basic replies. Conversely, independent artists and new sellers highly praise the platform for its simplicity and ease of use.
I have used Big Cartel for years and it works perfectly for my artwork. I appreciate the 0% commission on sales, only paying the monthly fee. Their customer service has been quick and helpful whenever I needed it.
Based on the available snippets, Trustpilot reviews for Postscript focus on antique furniture, not the SMS platform, indicating a brand name conflict. Capterra snippets were blocked, so no substantive reviews for the platform are accessible. 🤔 This limits our ability to synthesize external user sentiment. For this review, we're leaning heavily on the provided website content and our own analysis to form a balanced assessment.
The team is incredibly knowledgeable about SMS marketing. They helped us build a strategy that directly increased our sales. It's been a game-changer for our revenue.
Our Verdict
There's no single winner here. Big Cartel and Postscript solve completely different problems for different businesses. Big Cartel's superpower is simplicity. It lets independent artists launch a free online store in minutes with no commission fees. If you just need to sell your art or crafts online, it's a perfect starting point. Postscript's superpower is specialized SMS marketing. Its AI-driven tools and compliance focus help Shopify stores turn text messages into a major revenue channel. It's not a store builder; it's a marketing engine. The deciding factor is your core need. Do you need a storefront to sell products? Choose Big Cartel. Do you have a Shopify store and want to maximize sales via text? Choose Postscript. For most creative beginners, Big Cartel is the clear starting point. For established Shopify brands, Postscript is a powerful growth tool. They often work best together, not against each other.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Postscript to build my online store like Big Cartel?
No. Postscript is a marketing tool, not a storefront builder. Big Cartel creates the store. Postscript sends SMS campaigns to customers who visit it.
Which is cheaper to start with: Big Cartel or Postscript?
Big Cartel's Gold plan is completely free forever. Postscript's free plan requires a $49 minimum message spend. For pure startup cost, Big Cartel is cheaper.
Does Big Cartel have SMS marketing features like Postscript?
No. Big Cartel does not have built-in SMS marketing. Its focus is on product listings and checkout. Postscript's entire platform is dedicated to SMS.
If I use Shopify, should I use Postscript instead of Big Cartel?
They aren't interchangeable. You can use Big Cartel as a standalone store. Postscript is an add-on tool for your existing Shopify store to boost sales via text.
How many products can I sell on each platform?
Big Cartel limits you to 5 products on the free plan, up to 500 on the top plan. Postscript has no product limits; it's based on how many SMS messages you send.
Which platform is better for handling sales tax?
Big Cartel includes sales tax autopilot on all plans. Postscript deals with marketing compliance, not sales tax calculation for orders.
Ready to Choose?
Both tools have their strengths. Choose based on your specific needs.