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E-Commerce · head to head

Amazon Shopping vs Big Cartel

Amazon Shopping logo

Amazon Shopping

E-Commerce

Amazon's consumer marketplace app for browsing, buying and tracking orders

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Big Cartel logo

Big Cartel

E-Commerce

Straightforward pricing, no surprises

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Amazon Shopping a significant share of listings are sold and shipped by third-party sellers, and counterfeit or mislabelled products from those sellers have been a well-documented, recurring problem that the platform does not fully prevent.; Big Cartel custom domain support is not included on the free Gold plan; it is listed as a Platinum-tier feature
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Amazon Shopping and Big Cartel actually diverge.

Attributes where Amazon Shopping and Big Cartel differ
AttributeAmazon ShoppingBig Cartel
Pricing modelFree to use; optional Prime subscription for fast shipping and bundled mediafreemium
PlatformsiOS, Android, WebWeb

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (E-Commerce).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Amazon Shopping

  • Product search and marketplace
  • Prime shipping tiers
  • Order tracking and returns
  • Amazon Photos and Alexa integration
  • Sponsored product placement
  • Subscribe and Save

Only in Big Cartel

Nothing recorded that Amazon Shopping does not also cover.

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Amazon Shopping

  • A shopper comparing prices and reviews across a wide catalogue before buying from any retailernot Big Cartel
  • A Prime subscriber wanting fast, free shipping on eligible everyday purchasesnot Big Cartel
  • A household using Subscribe and Save to automate reordering of consumables at a discountnot Big Cartel
  • Someone managing Alexa devices, Prime Video and Amazon orders from a single accountnot Big Cartel

Big Cartel

  • E-commerce store creationnot Amazon Shopping
  • Physical and digital product salesnot Amazon Shopping

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Amazon Shopping

  • A significant share of listings are sold and shipped by third-party sellers, and counterfeit or mislabelled products from those sellers have been a well-documented, recurring problem that the platform does not fully prevent.
  • Search results and product pages mix paid sponsored placements with organic results, so the top listing for a search term is often an advertisement rather than the best-reviewed or cheapest option.
  • Fast, free shipping is effectively gated behind an Amazon Prime subscription, and the app's delivery estimates are designed to make non-Prime checkout feel slower and less attractive.
  • Returns and refund handling differ between Amazon-fulfilled and third-party-fulfilled orders, and a buyer often cannot tell which applies until after ordering.
  • Subscribe and Save and other recurring purchase features require active management to cancel, and abandoned subscriptions can result in ongoing charges for items no longer wanted.

Big Cartel

  • Custom domain support is not included on the free Gold plan; it is listed as a Platinum-tier feature
  • Abandoned cart recovery, product drop scheduling and Zapier integration are restricted to the top Diamond tier at $30/month
  • Platinum's paid billing starts automatically after a 7-day free trial rather than requiring an active opt-in to convert

Pricing, plan by plan

Amazon Shopping

Free
  • Standard accountFree
    • Browsing and purchase without Prime
    • Standard, slower shipping speeds
    • No access to Prime Video, Prime Music or Prime delivery windows
  • Amazon Prime$14.99/month
    • Free fast shipping on eligible items
    • Access to Prime Video and Prime Music
    • Also offered as an annual plan at a discounted effective rate

Big Cartel

Free
  • GoldFree
    • Free tier with limited features
  • Platinum$15/month
    • Custom domains
    • Physical and digital product sales
    • Shipping label printing
  • Diamond$30/month
    • All Platinum features plus abandoned cart recovery
    • Product drop scheduling
    • Password-protected products

Which should you pick?

Choose Amazon Shopping if

  • You need product search and marketplace.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android, Web.
  • You also want prime shipping tiers.
Amazon Shopping review

Choose Big Cartel if

  • You want to start without paying.
Big Cartel review

Questions people ask

Is Amazon Shopping or Big Cartel better?
Neither clearly leads. Amazon Shopping starts at Free and Big Cartel at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Amazon Shopping or Big Cartel?
Amazon Shopping starts at Free and Big Cartel at Free.
Does Amazon Shopping or Big Cartel run on more platforms?
Amazon Shopping runs on iOS, Android, Web. Big Cartel runs on Web.
Can I use Amazon Shopping for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Amazon Shopping best used for?
Amazon Shopping is most often used for a shopper comparing prices and reviews across a wide catalogue before buying from any retailer, a prime subscriber wanting fast, free shipping on eligible everyday purchases, a household using subscribe and save to automate reordering of consumables at a discount, someone managing alexa devices, prime video and amazon orders from a single account. Of those, a shopper comparing prices and reviews across a wide catalogue before buying from any retailer and a prime subscriber wanting fast, free shipping on eligible everyday purchases are not what Big Cartel is typically brought in for.
What can Amazon Shopping do that Big Cartel cannot?
Amazon Shopping covers Product search and marketplace, Prime shipping tiers, Order tracking and returns, Amazon Photos and Alexa integration.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Amazon Shopping: Do I need Amazon Prime to use the app?

No, browsing and ordering work without Prime, but fast free shipping, Prime Video and Prime Music all require the paid subscription.

Big Cartel: How much does Big Cartel cost?

Big Cartel offers a free Gold plan with limited features. Paid plans start at $15 per month for Platinum and $30 per month for Diamond. Both paid plans include a 7-day free trial and have no commitment.

Source
Amazon Shopping: Are all products sold by Amazon itself?

No, a large proportion of listings are sold and sometimes shipped by third-party marketplace sellers, which affects returns and counterfeit risk.

Big Cartel: What features does the Diamond plan add?

The Diamond plan at $30 per month adds abandoned cart recovery, product drop scheduling, password-protected products, Zapier integration with 7,000+ apps, and priority human support compared to Platinum.

Source
Amazon Shopping: How can I tell if a listing is sold by Amazon or a third party?

Check the "Sold by" and "Fulfilled by" fields on the product page, which the app does not surface prominently in search results.

Big Cartel: Can I cancel Big Cartel anytime?

Yes, Big Cartel explicitly offers no commitment and allows cancellation anytime on paid tiers.

Source
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