Big Cartel vs WooCommerce
A side-by-side look at Big Cartel and WooCommerce. On our scoring, WooCommerce 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 | 4.4 |
| Reviews | 690 | 3,890 |
| Pricing | ||
| Starting price | Free | Free |
| Pricing model | free up to 5 products + paid tiers | free core + hosting & extensions |
| Transaction fees | 0% (processing applies) | 0% (payment processor fees apply) |
| Hosting & setup | ||
| Hosting type | Fully hosted (SaaS) | Self-hosted |
| Free trial | Free plan available | Free core plugin |
| Staff accounts | Single account | Unlimited (role-based) |
| Product limit | 5 / 50 / 500 by plan | Unlimited |
| Payments & security | ||
| Payment gateways | Stripe, PayPal | 100+ via extensions (Stripe, PayPal, etc.) |
| SSL included | Yes | Yes |
| PCI compliant | Yes | Yes |
| Gift cards | No | Yes |
| Catalog & content | ||
| Themes / templates | Customizable themes | Thousands (WP ecosystem) |
| App marketplace | Limited integrations | 900+ official extensions |
| Multi-currency | No | Yes |
| Multi-language | No | Yes |
| POS included | No | No |
| 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 | Docs, community forums, host/extension support |
| 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 WooCommerce?
WooCommerce gives you total ownership and zero platform fees, but you trade convenience for responsibility. If you already live in WordPress and have some technical comfort, it is unbeatable on flexibility and cost of goods.
Best for: WordPress users who want full control
Read the full WooCommerce review