Big Cartel vs Squarespace
A side-by-side look at Big Cartel and Squarespace. On our scoring, Squarespace 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 | 2,240 |
| Pricing | ||
| Starting price | Free | $23/mo |
| Pricing model | free up to 5 products + paid tiers | per month, billed annually |
| Transaction fees | 0% (processing applies) | 0% on Commerce plans |
| Hosting & setup | ||
| Hosting type | Fully hosted (SaaS) | Fully hosted (SaaS) |
| Free trial | Free plan available | 14 days |
| Staff accounts | Single account | Up to 2 |
| Product limit | 5 / 50 / 500 by plan | Unlimited |
| Payments & security | ||
| Payment gateways | Stripe, PayPal | Stripe, PayPal, Square, Apple Pay |
| SSL included | Yes | Yes |
| PCI compliant | Yes | Yes |
| Gift cards | No | Yes |
| Catalog & content | ||
| Themes / templates | Customizable themes | 150+ templates |
| App marketplace | Limited integrations | Limited (extensions) |
| Multi-currency | No | No |
| Multi-language | No | No |
| POS included | No | Yes |
| Abandoned cart recovery | No | Yes |
| Built-in blog | No | Yes |
| Tools & flexibility | ||
| Drag-and-drop editor | No | Yes |
| API access | No | Yes |
| Mobile app | Yes | Yes |
| Support channels | Email & help center | 24/7 email & live chat |
| 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 Squarespace?
Squarespace is the choice when design matters most. Its templates are gorgeous out of the box and the all-in-one editor is a joy, but the limited app ecosystem makes it a poor fit for large or complex catalogs.
Best for: Designers and content-led small stores
Read the full Squarespace review