Big Cartel vs Ecwid

Last Updated:

Our analysts compared Big Cartel vs Ecwid based on data from our 400+ point analysis of eCommerce Platforms, user reviews and our own crowdsourced data from our free software selection platform.

Big Cartel Software Tool

Product Basics

Big Cartel is an eCommerce website builder that helps artists quickly design and launch an online storefront. They can set up professional websites on a custom domain for free, and move onto paid plans during scaling for features like inventory management, theme code editing, Google Analytics and more. The free plan supports five products and paid plans can support up to 500 products.
read more...
Ecwid, short for eCommerce widget, is a SaaS platform for creative individuals and small businesses to launch an online store. It provides a drag-and-drop page builder to build an online storefront or an extension to add online store functionalities to an existing site. Its core components include omnichannel marketing, inventory tracking, order management and a mobile app.

Access the marketplace to add popular digital wallets, shipping carriers, accounting modules and more customizations. It provides a free starter plan and venture, business and unlimited plans.
read more...
$12 Monthly, Freemium
Free Trial is unavailable →
Get a free price quote
Tailored to your specific needs
$19 Monthly, Freemium
Free Trial is unavailable →
Get a free price quote
Tailored to your specific needs
Small 
i
Medium 
i
Large 
i
Small 
i
Medium 
i
Large 
i
Windows
Mac
Linux
Android
Chromebook
Windows
Mac
Linux
Android
Chromebook
Cloud
On-Premise
Mobile
Cloud
On-Premise
Mobile

Product Assistance

we're gathering data
Documentation
In Person
Live Online
Videos
Webinars
Email
Phone
Chat
FAQ
Forum
Knowledge Base
24/7 Live Support
Email
Phone
Chat
FAQ
Forum
Knowledge Base
24/7 Live Support

Product Insights

  • Design Unique Storefronts: Create branded storefronts with automated tax calculators, site searching, shipment connections and real-time statistics using templates and coding. 
  • Improve Engagement: Track KPIs, cart recovery, engagement rates and bounce rates to identify weaknesses and drill down on opportunities. Attract customers and boost engagement through unique promos and discounts. 
  • Work From Anywhere: Stay on top of every business process with real-time updates and notifications on the mobile app for Android and iOS. 
  • Add Custom Features: Leverage partnership with Zapier to facilitate connections with over 1,000 third-party solutions like Google Analytics, Facebook Store, Instagram, Pulley, MailChimp and more. 
read more...
  • Quickly Launch a Digital Storefront: Create a website from scratch or use an extension to add inventory tracking, order management, payment processing, shopping cart and more to an existing website. 
  • Manage Everything From a Centralized Dashboard: Sell online, in-store and on-the-go and manage everything from a unified platform with centralized inventory, order management and pricing. 
  • Increase Brand Visibility: Advertise and sell products on the business website and popular marketplaces like Amazon, Etsy, Shopify, eBay, Google Shopping and more. Increase brand awareness by marketing products on social media. 
  • Minimize Costs: Use the free starter plan to launch an online store with ten or fewer products and move onto paid pricing plans as business scales. 
  • Sell Globally: Expand into new geographies with the multilingual software supporting 45 languages and offering extensions for localization. 
  • Flexible Payment Options: Provides various payment and fulfillment options, including BOPIS, curbside pickup, dropshipping and more. Supports connections with popular digital wallets and payment processors. 
  • Ensure Peace of Mind: Increase security with PCI DSS level-1 certified platform and ensure that every sensitive information passes through a secure HTTPS channel. 
read more...
  • Professional Website: Build and design a niche standalone website to create product USPs. Personalize web pages and add business branding through design templates or editing source code with the HTML and CSS editor. Websites are compatible with both mobile and PC. Host sites on the vendor’s domain or use a custom domain, available with paid plans. 
  • Inventory Management: Keep track of sold units, add new products, supply products with descriptions and photos, and receive notifications when a product is about to go out of stock. Available with paid plans. 
  • Order Management: Send confirmation emails after purchases. Arrange shipping, print shipping labels, track orders and bulk export order history to a CSV file from a unified dashboard. 
  • Search Engine Optimization (SEO): Provide targeted product descriptions, collect inbound links and receive expert advice on optimizing search engine results. 
  • Discounts: Provide discounts on the checkout page to boost customer retention and improve loyalty. 
  • Analytics: Track monthly sales, visitor statistics, conversion rates and more from the analytics dashboard. Leverage integrations with third-party applications for in-depth analysis, available with paid plans.  
  • Mobile App: Access free mobile apps to streamline workflows and increase efficiency. Available apps assist in custom printing, social media marketing, site analytics, customer support, shipping management and more.  
  • Payment Processing: Choose between PayPal and Stripe to provide customers with a one-touch checkout and payment point on the website. Additionally, utilize the mobile application and a card swiper to accept in-person payments, without incurring additional processing fees. 
  • Integrations: Leverage partnership with Zapier to facilitate connections with over 1,000 third-party solutions like Google Analytics, Facebook Store, Instagram, Pulley, Mailchimp and more, available at a cost. 
read more...
  • Omnichannel Commerce: Sell online and in-store and maintain accurate information across every sales and marketing channel. 
    • Instant Site: Offers a one-page-site builder with drag-and-drop tools, template libraries and CSS editing modules. 
    • Shopping Apps: Design branded apps optimized for Android and iOS and allow customers to checkout from within the app. Automatically sync product data, pricing and availability across every channel. 
    • Point of Sale Systems: Connect with Square, Clover, Vend and Alice POS modules. Accept payments offline, maintain inventory and order sync, and sell physically worldwide. 
    • Social Media Channels: Design channel-specific product listings and storefronts and sell on Facebook Market, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat and Pinterest. Generate links to business websites for WhatsApp marketing. 
    • Email Marketing: Send automated cart recovery emails to customers who abandoned their carts. Connect with MailChimp for marketing automation. 
    • SEO Tools: Improve search engine rankings by customizing site URLs and metadata. 
    • Subscriptions: Sell subscription-based digital goods like music, movies, books, blogs and more. 
    • Promotions: Design and market gift cards and discount coupons across every sales channel. 
  • Store Management: Manage orders coming in through multiple sales channels and going out of various fulfillment points. 
    • Shopping Cart: Customers can save items, edit the list, save carts, continue later and checkout easily. 
    • Store Management App: Receive real-time event-based notifications, manage inventory and fulfill orders from remote locations. 
    • Payment Processing: Offers connections with more than 50 payment processors, including PayPal, Stripe, Venmo and more. 
    • Shipping: Integrate with multiple shipping carriers and provide real-time shipping cost and tracking information. Print shipping labels at home and save up to 50% on international and domestic shipping with USPS. 
    • Taxes: Automate tax calculation and always offer accurate tax structures to customers. 
    • Inventory Management: Track inventory in real time and automate stock-level updates after every successful sale. 
    • Product Information Management: Add multiple attributes and dimensions to products and categorize similar products for unique bundles. 
    • Team Management: Onboard two members to the platform with the business pricing plan and unlimited members with the unlimited plan. Control access levels, assign tasks and track progress. 
    • App Marketplace: Integrate with third-party apps. Offers connections with marketing, store designing, dropshipping, order management, accounting and analytics software. 
read more...

Product Ranking

#11

among all
eCommerce Platforms

#20

among all
eCommerce Platforms

Find out who the leaders are

Analyst Rating Summary

we're gathering data
92
we're gathering data
99
we're gathering data
100
we're gathering data
77
Show More Show More

Analyst Ratings for Functional Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

Big Cartel
Ecwid
+ Add Product + Add Product
Catalog And Product Management Checkout Inventory Management Marketing And Search Engine Optimization Order Management Payments Platform Capability Reporting And Analytics Sales Channel Shipping Storefront 99 100 77 86 90 90 93 100 84 100 100 0 25 50 75 100
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
100%
0%
0%
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
100%
0%
0%
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
80%
0%
20%
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
86%
0%
14%
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
91%
0%
9%
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
82%
0%
18%
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
88%
0%
12%
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
100%
0%
0%
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
86%
0%
14%
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
100%
0%
0%
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
100%
0%
0%

Analyst Ratings for Technical Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
80%
0%
20%

User Sentiment Summary

Great User Sentiment 32 reviews
Excellent User Sentiment 537 reviews
84%
of users recommend this product

Big Cartel has a 'great' User Satisfaction Rating of 84% when considering 32 user reviews from 2 recognized software review sites.

92%
of users recommend this product

Ecwid has a 'excellent' User Satisfaction Rating of 92% when considering 537 user reviews from 2 recognized software review sites.

4.2 (21)
n/a
4.18 (11)
4.61 (517)
n/a
4.75 (20)

Awards

we're gathering data

Ecwid stands above the rest by achieving an ‘Excellent’ rating as a User Favorite.

User Favorite Award

Synopsis of User Ratings and Reviews

Simple Store Setup: Big Cartel is known for its straightforward and user-friendly interface, making it easy for users to set up their online stores quickly, even with limited technical expertise.
Free Plan Availability: The platform offers a free plan that allows users to sell up to five products, making it an attractive option for individuals or small businesses starting with a limited budget or inventory.
Affordable Paid Plans: Big Cartel's paid plans are generally considered affordable compared to other eCommerce platforms, providing scalability for growing businesses without breaking the bank.
Focus on Artists and Makers: Big Cartel caters specifically to artists, crafters, and independent creators, offering features and tools tailored to their needs, such as customizable themes and the ability to sell digital products.
Show more
Easy to Use: Ecwid is known for its user-friendly interface, making it simple for beginners to set up and manage their online stores without needing extensive technical knowledge.
Affordability: Ecwid offers a free plan with basic features, making it a cost-effective option for small businesses or those just starting. Paid plans provide more advanced features at competitive prices.
Mobile-Friendly: Ecwid's platform is optimized for mobile devices, ensuring a seamless shopping experience for customers on smartphones and tablets.
Integrations: Ecwid integrates with various popular platforms, including social media, payment gateways, shipping providers, and marketing tools, allowing businesses to streamline their operations.
Scalability: Ecwid can accommodate businesses of all sizes, from small startups to large enterprises, as it offers a range of plans with varying features and capabilities to support growth.
Show more
Limited Design Flexibility: The platform's design options can feel restrictive for users seeking extensive customization, especially when compared to other platforms that offer a wider range of themes and more advanced design tools.
Feature Limitations: Big Cartel may not be the best fit for businesses with complex needs, as it lacks certain features commonly found in other eCommerce platforms, such as abandoned cart recovery, detailed analytics, and extensive marketing tools.
Scalability Challenges: While suitable for smaller stores or those just starting out, Big Cartel may not be the best choice for rapidly growing businesses due to limitations in product variations, inventory management, and order processing capabilities.
Show more
Limited Design Flexibility: Ecwid's design options might feel restrictive for users seeking extensive customization, especially when integrating with website builders like Wix or WordPress. The platform's focus on ease of use can sometimes lead to a lack of granular control over the visual aspects of your online store.
Transaction Fees on Certain Plans: While Ecwid offers a free plan, it's important to note that some of the paid plans include transaction fees, which can eat into your profit margins as your sales volume grows. Carefully evaluate the fee structure and weigh it against the features offered to determine the best plan for your business.
App Market Limitations: Although Ecwid provides an app market for extending your store's functionality, the selection might not be as extensive as some other eCommerce platforms. This could potentially limit your options for integrating specialized tools or services that cater to your specific business needs.
Show more

Big Cartel has been making waves in the eCommerce world, but like any platform, it has its fans and its critics. Users who dig Big Cartel often point to its user-friendliness and affordability as major pluses. It's a great starting point for small businesses and artists who want to get their online stores up and running without breaking the bank or getting bogged down in technical complexities. However, some users find Big Cartel's features a bit too basic, especially compared to more robust platforms like Shopify or WooCommerce. If you're looking for advanced marketing tools, extensive customization options, or top-tier customer support, Big Cartel might leave you wanting more. Ultimately, Big Cartel is a solid choice for those who prioritize simplicity and affordability, but if you need a platform that can scale with your business, you might want to explore other options. "Big Cartel: the perfect platform for your big dreams." Whether you're an artist selling handmade crafts or a musician hawking merch, Big Cartel provides a straightforward way to turn your passion into profit. Just remember, as your business grows, you might need to upgrade to a platform with more bells and whistles.

Show more

Ecwid is generally seen as a user-friendly and affordable eCommerce platform that caters well to small businesses or those with limited technical expertise. Users appreciate its intuitive interface and drag-and-drop functionality, which allows for quick and easy store setup without requiring coding or design skills. The platform also offers a free plan with basic features, making it a cost-effective option for those starting or testing the waters. Additionally, Ecwid's multi-channel selling capabilities, including integration with social media platforms and existing websites, are highlighted as valuable features for expanding reach and customer base. However, some users note that Ecwid may lack the advanced features and customization options found in more robust platforms like Shopify. While Ecwid provides essential tools for managing inventory, processing payments, and handling shipping, it may fall short for businesses requiring complex inventory management, extensive design flexibility, or comprehensive customer support. Therefore, Ecwid appears to be best suited for small businesses or entrepreneurs seeking a simple, affordable, and easy-to-use solution to establish their online presence and begin selling across multiple channels. Its ease of use and affordability make it an attractive option for those who prioritize getting their store up and running quickly without a steep learning curve or significant upfront investment.

Show more

Screenshots

Top Alternatives in eCommerce Platforms


Adobe Commerce

BigCommerce

commercetools

Ecwid

Kibo

Optimizely

Oracle Commerce

Salesforce Commerce Cloud

SAP Commerce Cloud

Shopify

Sitecore

SquareSpace

TrueCommerce

Unilog

Wix

Related Categories

WE DISTILL IT INTO REAL REQUIREMENTS, COMPARISON REPORTS, PRICE GUIDES and more...

Compare products
Comparison Report
Just drag this link to the bookmark bar.
?
Table settings