Big Cartel Review
A simple store built for artists and small makers.
Overview
Big Cartel is purpose-built for artists who want a clean, no-fuss shop without commerce overwhelm, and its free plan for up to five products is genuinely useful. It keeps things deliberately simple.
Hard product limits per plan and minimal features mean growing brands will outgrow it, but for makers with small catalogs it hits a sweet spot.
Our verdict
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
Key features
Free for 5 products
A genuinely usable free plan suits artists with tiny catalogs.
Artist-friendly simplicity
A clean, focused interface designed for makers, not merchandisers.
No transaction fees
Big Cartel takes no per-sale cut.
Theme customization
Edit theme code for a personalized shop look.
Pros
- Free plan for up to 5 products
- Simple, artist-friendly setup
- No transaction fees
Cons
- Strict product limits per plan
- Few advanced features or apps
Ideal for
- Artists and makers with small product counts
- Sellers who want a simple, low-cost shop
- Creators starting on a free plan
Not ideal for
- Growing brands that will exceed product limits
- Stores needing advanced features or apps
Pricing
free up to 5 products + paid tiers · 0% (processing applies) transaction fees
Free, up to 5 products
Up to 50 products
Up to 500 products
Plans are tiered strictly by product count: Gold (free, 5 products), Platinum ($12/mo, 50), and Diamond ($30/mo, 500), with no transaction fees. The product caps — not sales — are the constraint to watch.
Performance & reliability
Reliable hosting for small shops. It is not built for large catalogs or high-volume traffic.
Support
Email support and a help center. Simple and adequate for the platform’s focused scope.
Full specifications
- Hosting type
- Fully hosted (SaaS)
- Free trial
- Free plan available
- Themes / templates
- Customizable themes
- App marketplace
- Limited integrations
- Staff accounts
- Single account
- Multi-currency
- No
- POS included
- No
- Abandoned cart recovery
- No
- Built-in blog
- No
Payments & security
- Payment gateways
- Stripe, PayPal
- SSL certificate
- Yes
- PCI compliant
- Yes
- Gift cards
- No
Capabilities & limits
- Product limit
- 5 / 50 / 500 by plan
- Drag-and-drop editor
- No
- Multi-language
- No
- API access
- No
- Mobile app
- Yes
- Support channels
- Email & help center
Frequently asked questions
Is Big Cartel free?+
Yes, the Gold plan is free for up to 5 products. Paid tiers raise the product limit.
What are Big Cartel’s limits?+
Plans cap the number of products (5, 50, or 500), so larger catalogs need higher tiers or another platform.
Who is Big Cartel best for?+
Independent artists and makers with small catalogs who want a simple, affordable shop.