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
Why 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