Alternatives · Online Stores
Big Cartel alternatives
Big Cartel compared with 4 alternatives: Ecwid, Square Online, Shopify and Squarespace.
Big Cartel has a free plan. Paid plans start at $12 per month, billed annually ($15 billed monthly). 1 of the 4 alternatives is free or has a free plan. 2 more offer a free trial.
4 tools · Listings checked up to Oct 18, 2026 · Where the facts come from
At a glance
| Tool | Price | Free plan | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Big CartelThis tool | Free plan · from $12/mo | Yes | Web, iOS, Android |
| Ecwid | From $5/mo | No | Web, iOS, Android |
| Square Online | Free plan · from $49/mo | Yes | Web, iOS, Android |
| Shopify | Free trial · from $29/mo | Trial only | Web, iOS, Android |
| Squarespace | Free trial · from $19/mo | Trial only | Web, iOS, Android |
Price against what you get
Big Cartel starts at $12 a month and scores 3.0 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. None of the 3 alternatives on this chart both scores higher and starts lower.
Shopify scores higher without starting lower. Ecwid starts lower without scoring higher.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
How each one differs from Big Cartel
- From $5/mo
Ecwid
Online store you can add to any website or run as its own site
- Ecwid starts at $5 per month (Starter). Big Cartel starts at $12 per month, billed annually ($15 billed monthly).
- Big Cartel has a free plan. Ecwid does not.
Suits: Owners of an existing website who want to add a store without rebuilding
- Free plan · from $49/mo
Square Online
Online store builder that shares stock and payments with Square POS
- Square Online starts at $49 per location / month (Square Plus). Big Cartel starts at $12 per month, billed annually ($15 billed monthly).
- Big Cartel also covers digital downloads.
Suits: Shops and restaurants that already take payments with Square in person
- Free trial · from $29/mo
Shopify
Hosted commerce platform for online, in-person and social selling
- Shopify starts at $29 per month, billed yearly ($39 billed monthly). Big Cartel starts at $12 per month, billed annually ($15 billed monthly).
- Big Cartel has a free plan. Shopify does not, though it has a free trial.
- Shopify also covers email campaigns.
- Big Cartel also covers digital downloads.
Suits: Brands that sell online and in person from one stock count
- Free trial · from $19/mo
Squarespace
Template-based website builder with an online store and invoicing
- Squarespace starts at $19 per site / month, billed annually ($25 billed monthly). Big Cartel starts at $12 per month, billed annually ($15 billed monthly).
- Big Cartel has a free plan. Squarespace does not, though it has a free trial.
- Squarespace also covers templates, forms and invoicing.
- Big Cartel also covers inventory, online store, digital downloads and shipping labels.
Suits: Creatives and small businesses who want a polished site from a template
Limits worth knowing in Big Cartel
- The free Gold plan allows only 5 products and one template, with no custom domain.
- Abandoned-cart recovery, scheduled drops, automatic discounts and Zapier need Diamond at $30 a month, or $24 billed annually.
- The pricing pages do not state how many products Platinum and Diamond allow, beyond saying the paid plans add listings.
- Card and PayPal processing fees come from the payment provider; Big Cartel advertises flat monthly prices with no hidden fees.
Common questions
What are the alternatives to Big Cartel?
The alternatives to Big Cartel in this directory are Ecwid, Square Online, Shopify and Squarespace. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Big Cartel.
Is there a free alternative to Big Cartel?
Yes. Square Online has a free plan alongside paid ones.
When were these prices checked?
Each listing shows its own date. On this page they run from Oct 17, 2026 to Oct 18, 2026. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.