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Head to head

Big Cartel vs Shift4Shop

A side-by-side look at Big Cartel and Shift4Shop. On our scoring, Big Cartel comes out ahead — but the right pick depends on your priorities.

Platform
Big Cartel logoBig CartelCreator & digital
Shift4ShopAll-in-one
Scores
SellingScene score3.8/53.8/5
User rating3.93.7
Reviews690540
Pricing
Starting priceFreeFree
Pricing modelfree up to 5 products + paid tiersfree in the US with Shift4 Payments
Transaction fees0% (processing applies)0% with Shift4 Payments
Hosting & setup
Hosting typeFully hosted (SaaS)Fully hosted (SaaS)
Free trialFree plan availableFree with Shift4 Payments
Staff accountsSingle accountBy plan
Product limit5 / 50 / 500 by planUnlimited
Payments & security
Payment gatewaysStripe, PayPalShift4 + 100+ gateways
SSL includedYesYes
PCI compliantYesYes
Gift cardsNoYes
Catalog & content
Themes / templatesCustomizable themes100+ themes
App marketplaceLimited integrationsApp store & integrations
Multi-currencyNoYes
Multi-languageNoYes
POS includedNoYes
Abandoned cart recoveryNoYes
Built-in blogNoYes
Tools & flexibility
Drag-and-drop editorNoYes
API accessNoYes
Mobile appYesNo
Support channelsEmail & help center24/7 phone, chat, email (US)
ActionsRead reviewRead 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 review

Why pick Shift4Shop?

Shift4Shop (formerly 3dcart) offers a deep, feature-rich platform that becomes free if you process payments through Shift4. That bargain comes with dated interfaces and a payment lock-in that does not suit everyone.

Best for: US sellers who will use Shift4 payment processing

Read the full Shift4Shop review