Big Cartel vs Square Online
Big Cartel is the beloved choice for independent artists needing simplicity and no commissions. Square Online excels at unifying physical retail operations with powerful online sales. The core difference is limited capacity versus limitless seamless integration.
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.
Seamless integration for retail and e-commerce.
We found Square Online excels at connecting physical retail operations with a user-friendly e-commerce platform, minimizing inventory sync issues. The pricing model, which features a robust free tier and subsequent plans offering lower processing fees, presents clear value for scaling businesses. Overall, Square Online is an excellent, reliable choice, particularly for businesses already leveraging the Square ecosystem.
Pros
- Exceptional ease of setup, navigation, and intuitive user interface.
- Seamless integration between the online store and Square POS (Point of Sale).
- System is highly reliable, stable, and allows sellers to take payments anywhere.
- Strong free plan available ($0/month) perfect for new businesses.
Cons
- Customer service responsiveness and quality are reported as mixed.
- Initial setup can sometimes be challenging for new users requiring detailed guidance.
- Paid plans are charged per location, increasing costs for multi-site operations.
- A 2.5% load fee applies to gift cards on the Free and Plus tiers.
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.
AboutSquare Online
Square Online is a robust yet easy-to-use platform for building an e-commerce website. You don’t need any coding or web design experience to create a professional site. It caters perfectly to businesses that need their physical store and online sales to sync without hassle. You can start designing a professional site immediately with a free Square account. Square handles the free web hosting, providing exceptional speed, performance, and security for your store. 💡
Highlights
Feature Comparison
Features Overview
We highlight the main differences and pick a winner for each feature.
Product Limits & Scale
Big Cartel is severely limited; Square Online offers unlimited listings. Big Cartel maxes out at 500 products per shop.
Big Cartel caps product listings at 500, even on the top-tier Diamond plan. This platform is clearly not built for high-volume or major retail scaling. Big Cartel focuses on showcasing a limited, curated collection by artists. Square Online allows you to list unlimited products, even starting on its $0 Free plan. It easily handles vast catalogs required by scaling retail businesses. This capacity is the most crucial difference between the two platforms. Square Online serves established businesses while Big Cartel serves individual makers. If your inventory is large or growing quickly, Square Online is the far superior choice for future planning.
Pricing Structure
Big Cartel charges 0% commission; Square Online charges variable transaction fees. Big Cartel offers fixed monthly costs.
Big Cartel uses a transparent, fixed subscription model ranging from $0 to $30 monthly. Crucially, Big Cartel takes 0% commission on any sale you make. Square Online offers a wide range of plans, with costs scaling up to $149/month per location. All sales incur variable payment processing fees, often 2.9% + 30¢ online. If you have high sales volume, the reduced processing fees on Square Online’s Premium plan might save you money. For lower volume sellers, Big Cartel's 0% commission creates lower overall costs. Big Cartel lets you budget easily with predictable fixed monthly expenses. Square Online's costs fluctuate based on customer payment methods and sales volume.
Retail Integration (POS)
Square Online features seamless POS sync; Big Cartel offers no native retail integration. This is a vital difference for physical stores.
Big Cartel is designed specifically for online selling and lacks native integration with retail POS systems. It relies on third-party apps for extensions but does not offer inherent syncing. Square Online is built specifically to integrate with Square's expansive Point of Sale (POS) system. Inventory, orders, and customer data sync perfectly and automatically across channels. This seamless sync eliminates inventory errors like overselling stock for retailers operating both online and physically. If you already use Square POS, Square Online is the natural, easy choice. Big Cartel caters to online-first artists; Square Online maximizes efficiency for the retail merchant managing multiple sales channels.
Customer Support
Square Online offers 24/7 priority phone support; Big Cartel support response times are often slow. Square provides superior reliability.
Big Cartel offers support from 'real human beings' but response times are often frustratingly slow. Only the Diamond plan receives prioritized technical support. Square Online offers phone support Monday through Friday on its Free/Plus plans. Premium customers benefit from 24/7 dedicated phone assistance, which is essential for busy shops. User reviews widely criticize Big Cartel for long wait times when seeking basic help. Square Online reviews frequently praise the support's helpfulness and quick resolution times. For high-stakes selling, having fast 24/7 help from Square Online offers significant peace of mind. Big Cartel's support model feels best suited for less urgent needs.
Advanced Features
Square Online packs advanced retail features; Big Cartel focuses on core selling essentials. Square offers more growth tools.
Big Cartel's feature set is limited to the bare necessities, like inventory tracking and basic discounts on paid plans. The Diamond plan adds key features like abandoned cart recovery. Square Online delivers powerful tools like subscription management and real-time shipping rate calculation. It also includes comprehensive advanced reporting options. Features like abandoned cart recovery are basic in Big Cartel but available on the mid-tier Square Plus plan. Square Online provides more sophisticated automation and sales tools. If your strategy depends on loyalty programs, subscriptions, or advanced marketing integration, Square Online has the infrastructure needed.
Site Customization
Big Cartel uses simple templates; Square Online offers an advanced, flexible code-free builder. Square lets you customize more deeply.
Big Cartel offers customizable templates, but users often report the options are basic and limited. The free Gold plan only unlocks one template design. Square Online provides a powerful, code-free builder with expanded site customization abilities. Users can easily control colors, fonts, and layouts to perfect branding. If premium, unique site design is paramount, Square Online gives you more creative flexibility and control. Big Cartel prioritizes a quick launch over deep design complexity. Square Online also supports custom code embeds, allowing easy integration of third-party scheduling or booking services.
Free Plan Value
Big Cartel’s free plan is commission-free; Square Online’s free plan includes unlimited products. The best choice depends on your starting size.
Big Cartel's Gold plan is permanently free and has zero commission fees, but it limits you to 5 products. This is perfect for testing limited inventory. Square Online's Free plan allows for unlimited products and extensive customization features. However, you pay standard processing fees (3.3% + 30¢) on every sale. If you plan to list hundreds of products from day one, Square Online offers a functional free option. Big Cartel's Gold plan is fantastic if budget is the absolute top priority. For an artist just trying to sell their first five creations, the Big Cartel Gold plan is unbeatable.
Handling Payments
Big Cartel accepts many payment forms; Square Online focuses on lowering its own processing fees. Both platforms facilitate easy checkout.
Big Cartel supports diverse payment methods, including cards, PayPal, digital wallets, Afterpay, and Venmo. The experience is designed to be frictionless for customers. Square Online streamlines payments within the Square ecosystem, reducing processing fees as you pay for higher tiers. For example, Premium drops the in-person fee to 2.4% + 15¢. Big Cartel keeps your pricing clear with 0% commission, regardless of payment processor. Square Online rewards high processing volume through fee reduction. If achieving the absolute lowest transaction rate is critical for profit margins, Square Online’s Premium plan offers the most competitive rates.
Our Verdict
This comparison truly hinges on simple focus versus advanced growth capabilities. If you sell physical goods, this choice is between simplicity and scaling potential. Big Cartel is built specifically for the individual artist or maker. Square Online is designed for sophisticated, growing retail businesses managing complex operations. Big Cartel's superpower is commission-free simplicity and fixed overhead costs. You pay a maximum of $30/month and keep 100% of your sales revenue, which is excellent. Use Big Cartel if you have a manageable inventory of under 500 items and want an easy, code-free shop for launching fast. Square Online’s superpower is seamless unified commerce and unlimited capacity. If you use Square POS, its online store syncs inventory perfectly across all channels. Square Online offers unlimited product listings and robust features like subscriptions and real-time shipping calculation. The deciding factor is volume and integration needs. Big Cartel is perfect if you are a beginner prioritizing fixed costs and simplicity over advanced tools. Choose Square Online if you need high volume capacity, consistent stability, or reliable POS integration for a physical store. For the focused creative operating at manageable scale, Big Cartel is the affordable winner. For the established retailer ready to scale without limits, Square Online provides the necessary power and reliability.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better for small artists: Big Cartel or Square Online?
Big Cartel is specifically designed for independent artists and focuses on simplicity. Its free Gold plan allows up to 5 products with 0% commission. Square Online’s free plan allows unlimited products but charges processing fees.
Does Big Cartel charge transaction fees like Square Online does?
No, Big Cartel famously charges 0% commission fees on all sales. You only pay the fixed monthly subscription fee. Square Online charges variable payment processing fees on every transaction.
Which platform is better for high inventory volume and scalability?
Square Online is significantly better for scalability and volume. It allows unlimited product listings even on the Free plan. Big Cartel limits even its top-tier Diamond plan to a hard maximum of 500 products.
Can Big Cartel easily sync with my physical POS system like Square Online?
No, Big Cartel lacks native POS integration and is ill-suited for retail sync. Square Online is specifically built for seamless integration with Square POS, automatically syncing inventory and orders.
Does Square Online offer better customer support than Big Cartel?
Yes, Square Online is known for reliable support, offering 24/7 phone support on its Premium tier. Big Cartel users frequently report frustratingly slow response times, sometimes waiting hours for help.
Is Square Online worth the cost compared to Big Cartel's lower pricing?
Square Online is worth the cost if you need unlimited products, POS integration, or advanced features. Big Cartel offers better value for low-volume sellers due to its 0% commission structure.
Ready to Choose?
Both tools have their strengths. Choose based on your specific needs.