Big Cartel vs Payhip
A side-by-side look at Big Cartel and Payhip. On our scoring, Payhip comes out ahead — but the right pick depends on your priorities.
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| Scores | ||
| SellingScene score | 3.8/5 | 4.2/5 |
| User rating | 3.9 | 4.2 |
| Reviews | 690 | 810 |
| Pricing | ||
| Starting price | Free | Free |
| Pricing model | free up to 5 products + paid tiers | free plan + flat monthly tiers |
| Transaction fees | 0% (processing applies) | 5% on free plan, 0% on paid plans |
| Hosting & setup | ||
| Hosting type | Fully hosted (SaaS) | Fully hosted (SaaS) |
| Free trial | Free plan available | Free plan available |
| Staff accounts | Single account | Single account |
| Product limit | 5 / 50 / 500 by plan | Unlimited |
| Payments & security | ||
| Payment gateways | Stripe, PayPal | PayPal, Stripe |
| SSL included | Yes | Yes |
| PCI compliant | Yes | Yes |
| Gift cards | No | Yes |
| Catalog & content | ||
| Themes / templates | Customizable themes | Customizable storefront |
| App marketplace | Limited integrations | Integrations & embeds |
| Multi-currency | No | No |
| Multi-language | No | No |
| POS included | No | No |
| Abandoned cart recovery | No | Yes |
| Built-in blog | No | No |
| Tools & flexibility | ||
| Drag-and-drop editor | No | No |
| API access | No | No |
| Mobile app | Yes | No |
| Support channels | Email & help center | Email support & 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 Payhip?
Payhip covers digital downloads, courses, memberships, and even physical goods with a generous free plan and no design lock-in. Drop the per-sale fee by upgrading, and you get one of the best values for solo creators.
Best for: Creators selling digital products on a budget
Read the full Payhip review