Big Cartel vs soona
Big Cartel and soona serve totally different creative needs. Big Cartel helps you sell your own art online. soona helps you create professional photos and videos to sell products. The choice isn't about which is better—it's about what you actually need to do.
Best for: Independent artists and makers selling their own creations, Solo entrepreneurs testing an online shop with zero upfront cost
Best for: Ecommerce brands needing a constant stream of photos and videos., Teams frustrated with slow, expensive agency turnaround times.
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.
Fast, ecommerce-focused content creation.
We found soona delivers on its promise of speed and simplicity for ecommerce brands needing reliable photo and video assets. The live collaboration and channel-specific optimization are standout features. Overall, it's a strong choice for teams prioritizing a streamlined, fast-to-market content workflow.
Pros
- Dramatically faster content turnaround, often in 24 hours.
- Live virtual shoots for real-time feedback and collaboration.
- Content optimized for specific channels like Amazon and Shopify.
- Generally more affordable than traditional agencies.
Cons
- Pricing can be confusing, with per-asset costs adding up.
- Requires a Studio Pass for one-time bookings, adding to cost.
- Ideal for frequent users; may not suit very low-volume needs.
- Focus is on standard ecommerce content, not complex cinematic work.
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.
Aboutsoona
✨ soona is a creative platform designed specifically for ecommerce brands. It connects you to a network of expert photographers and models to produce professional photo and video content.
Think of it as your on-demand content studio. You can plan a shoot, attend virtually, and get finalized assets optimized for all your sales channels.
Highlights
Feature Comparison
Features Overview
We highlight the main differences and pick a winner for each feature.
Core Purpose
Big Cartel builds your online shop. soona creates your product photos and videos.
Big Cartel gives you a storefront to sell your own art, jewelry, or prints. You list products, accept payments, and manage orders. It's your complete online shop. soona provides professional photo and video content for your products. You book a shoot, collaborate live, and get optimized assets for Amazon, Shopify, or social ads. The difference is fundamental. Big Cartel is for selling your own creations. soona is for creating content to sell someone else's products.
Speed & Turnaround
soona guarantees 24-hour content delivery. Big Cartel is instant self-service.
Big Cartel lets you set up your store in minutes. You add products, choose a template, and start selling immediately. There's no waiting for content. soona promises final, edited content within 24 hours on the Standard plan. You attend a live shoot and then wait for delivery. It's fast for professional creation. The trade-off is immediate vs. high-quality. Big Cartel is instant but DIY. soona takes a day but delivers professional assets.
Ecommerce Integration
soona integrates deeply with Amazon and Shopify. Big Cartel is a standalone store.
Big Cartel is your destination store. It connects to payment processors and shipping, but it doesn't push products to other marketplaces like Amazon. soona directly connects to your Shopify and Amazon stores. It can pull product data and help plan shoots based on your catalog. Assets are pre-formatted for each channel. For multi-channel sellers, soona offers better workflow. Big Cartel works best if you're only selling through your own website.
Collaboration & Control
soona offers live shoot collaboration. Big Cartel is a solo builder.
With Big Cartel, you build and manage your store yourself. You upload photos you've taken and write your own descriptions. It's a hands-on process. soona lets you join your photoshoot in real-time via video. You can direct the photographer and approve selects as you watch. This gives you creative control without being there. Live collaboration is a major advantage for brands. It reduces reshoots and ensures assets match your vision. Big Cartel relies on your own photography skills.
Pricing & Value
Big Cartel has simple flat rates. soona's costs can add up per asset.
Big Cartel costs $0-$30/month. You pay a flat fee regardless of sales volume. No transaction fees mean you keep 100% of revenue. soona charges memberships ($13-$49/month) plus per-asset fees ($39/photo, $93/video). A single shoot could cost hundreds. Value depends on content volume. Big Cartel offers predictable costs for sellers. soona offers professional creation but requires budgeting for each shoot. Neither is clearly cheaper.
AI & Optimization Tools
soona has AI tools for content performance. Big Cartel focuses on simplicity.
Big Cartel keeps things simple. It doesn't offer AI tools. You manage your store manually with basic features like inventory tracking and discount codes. soona provides AI-powered Listing Insights. This tool audits your product pages and suggests improvements. You can also generate new visuals with AI Scenes and Props. For data-driven brands, soona's tools help improve conversion rates. Big Cartel assumes you'll handle optimization yourself or with other tools.
Customer Support
Both offer human support, but response times and tiers differ.
Big Cartel promises support from 'real humans, not chatbots.' However, reviews note slow response times for non-Diamond users. Prioritized support costs $30/month. soona's support is generally praised as responsive, especially during onboarding. Enterprise customers get dedicated account management. Response quality seems comparable, but soona appears more consistently fast. Big Cartel's speed depends on your plan tier.
Ideal User
Big Cartel suits solo creatives. soona suits marketing teams.
Big Cartel is designed for the independent artist. It's perfect if you paint, make jewelry, or create prints. The free plan lets you test the waters with minimal risk. soona targets ecommerce teams. It's ideal if you manage multiple products and need consistent, channel-optimized content. You're likely a brand or agency, not a solo creator. The tools serve different stages of business. Big Cartel is for the maker. soona is for the marketer.
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
soona pricing: soona offers flexible creative memberships starting at $13/month annually, plus a one-time Studio Pass option for $149 per booking. Content is purchased individually starting at $39 per photo or $93 per video clip after your shoot is complete. \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\ Plans range: $1–$500/month Billing options: Free plan, Monthly subscription, Yearly subscription, Usage-based pricing
Pricing Notes
- Big Cartel has a permanently free Gold plan (5 products). No transaction fees on any plan.
- soona's pricing is hybrid: memberships ($13-$49/month) plus per-asset costs ($39/photo, $93/video). A one-time Studio Pass ($149) is available for non-members.
- Big Cartel's paid plans ($15-$30/month) are simple flat rates. soona's total cost depends on how many assets you purchase per shoot.
- Neither platform offers a traditional free trial or money-back guarantee. Big Cartel's free plan serves as a de facto trial.
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 Trustpilot reviews, users frequently praise soona for its speed, quality, and ease of use. The platform is often called a "game-changer" for its fast turnaround and the professional look of the final assets.
🎯 Many appreciate the live shoot collaboration, which gives them control and direct input. However, a recurring theme is confusion over pricing, particularly the per-asset costs, which some feel are not transparent upfront.
The turnaround time is incredible. We got stunning, on-brand photos in 24 hours, which was a total game-changer for our launch.
Our Verdict
Big Cartel and soona aren't really competitors. They solve completely different problems for different people. Big Cartel's superpower is its simplicity and zero-commission model. It's the easiest way for an artist to start selling their work online for free. You get a clean storefront without technical headaches. soona's superpower is fast, professional content creation. It turns a weeks-long agency process into a 24-hour turnaround. The live collaboration and channel-specific optimization are game-changers for busy marketing teams. The deciding factor is your goal. If you need a shop to sell your own art, choose Big Cartel. If you need professional photos to sell products on Amazon or Shopify, choose soona. For most independent creators and hobbyists, Big Cartel is the right starting point. For ecommerce brands with a marketing budget, soona delivers incredible value and speed that's hard to match elsewhere.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Big Cartel to sell products on Amazon like soona helps with?
No, Big Cartel is a standalone online store. It doesn't integrate with Amazon listings. soona directly connects to your Amazon account to optimize content for that channel.
Is soona worth it if I only need a few product photos?
It might not be cost-effective for very low volume. With a Studio Pass fee plus per-asset costs ($39/photo), a small shoot could be expensive. Big Cartel's free plan is better for testing with minimal products.
Which platform is better for a team of 10-50 people?
soona is built for teams. Its live collaboration and content workflow tools are designed for marketing departments. Big Cartel is simpler and better suited for solo users or very small teams.
Does Big Cartel take a percentage of my sales revenue?
No, Big Cartel takes 0% commission. You only pay your flat monthly or annual subscription fee. This is a major advantage over many other platforms.
How quickly can I get new content from soona?
With the Standard plan, you receive final, edited assets within 24 hours of your shoot. This is significantly faster than traditional agencies, which can take weeks.
What's the main reason to choose Big Cartel over soona?
You choose Big Cartel if you're an artist selling your own work. You want a simple, affordable shop with no commission. You don't need a service to create content for you.
Ready to Choose?
Both tools have their strengths. Choose based on your specific needs.