Big Cartel vs eBay
A side-by-side look at Big Cartel and eBay. On our scoring, Big Cartel comes out ahead — but the right pick depends on your priorities.
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| Scores | ||
| SellingScene score | 3.8/5 | 3.7/5 |
| User rating | 3.9 | 4 |
| Reviews | 690 | 4,360 |
| Pricing | ||
| Starting price | Free | Free |
| Pricing model | free up to 5 products + paid tiers | free to list + optional Store subscription |
| Transaction fees | 0% (processing applies) | ~13% final value fee (varies by category) |
| Hosting & setup | ||
| Hosting type | Fully hosted (SaaS) | Marketplace |
| Free trial | Free plan available | Free listings up to a limit |
| Staff accounts | Single account | Limited |
| Product limit | 5 / 50 / 500 by plan | Limits scale with account |
| Payments & security | ||
| Payment gateways | Stripe, PayPal | eBay Managed Payments |
| SSL included | Yes | Yes |
| PCI compliant | Yes | Yes |
| Gift cards | No | No |
| Catalog & content | ||
| Themes / templates | Customizable themes | N/A (standard listings) |
| App marketplace | Limited integrations | Seller tools & integrations |
| Multi-currency | No | Yes |
| Multi-language | No | Yes |
| POS included | No | No |
| Abandoned cart recovery | No | No |
| Built-in blog | No | No |
| Tools & flexibility | ||
| Drag-and-drop editor | No | No |
| API access | No | Yes |
| Mobile app | Yes | Yes |
| Support channels | Email & help center | Phone, chat, help center |
| Actions | Read review | Read review |
Why pick Big Cartel?
Big Cartel is purpose-built for artists who want a clean, no-fuss shop without commerce overwhelm, and the free plan is genuinely useful. Its hard product limits and minimal features mean growing brands will outgrow it.
Best for: Artists and makers with small product counts
Read the full Big Cartel reviewWhy pick eBay?
eBay still owns the auction format and remains a powerful outlet for used, refurbished, and collectible items with a huge global audience. Its final value fees and dated seller tools are the price of that reach.
Best for: Used, collectible, and auction-style goods
Read the full eBay review