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E-Commerce · head to head

Big Cartel vs Checkout.com

Big Cartel logo

Big Cartel

E-Commerce

Straightforward pricing, no surprises

From
Free
Rated
-
Checkout.com logo

Checkout.com

E-Commerce

Your business deserves tailored pricing based on your needs

From
On request
Rated
-

The short version

  • Only Big Cartel has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Big Cartel custom domain support is not included on the free Gold plan; it is listed as a Platinum-tier feature; Checkout.com no rate is published: the pricing page states fees are set per business profile and risk category, so no figure can be compared before contacting sales
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 29 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Big Cartel and Checkout.com actually diverge.

Attributes where Big Cartel and Checkout.com differ
AttributeBig CartelCheckout.com
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelfreemiumquote
Free tierYesNo

Identical on both: platforms (Web), user rating (Not yet rated), category (E-Commerce).

What people use each for

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

Big Cartel

  • E-commerce store creationnot Checkout.com
  • Physical and digital product salesnot Checkout.com

Checkout.com

  • Processing card payments across 150+ currenciesnot Big Cartel
  • Taking domestic payments in 45+ countriesnot Big Cartel
  • Interchange plus plus processing for a business that wants itemised card association and processor costsnot Big Cartel

Where each one falls short

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

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

Checkout.com

  • No rate is published: the pricing page states fees are set per business profile and risk category, so no figure can be compared before contacting sales
  • Both a flat rate and interchange plus plus are offered without either being quoted, so a buyer cannot tell which model they will be given
  • Every route to a number runs through the sales team

Pricing, plan by plan

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

Checkout.com

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Checkout.com review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Big Cartel if

  • You want to start without paying.

Choose Checkout.com if

Nothing in the data separates Checkout.com from Big Cartel on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

Questions people ask

Is Big Cartel or Checkout.com better?
Neither clearly leads. Big Cartel starts at Free and Checkout.com at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Big Cartel or Checkout.com?
Big Cartel has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Big Cartel and On request for Checkout.com.
Does Big Cartel or Checkout.com run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Big Cartel for free?
Yes. Big Cartel has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Checkout.com starts at On request.
What is Big Cartel best used for?
Big Cartel is most often used for e-commerce store creation, physical and digital product sales. Of those, e-commerce store creation and physical and digital product sales are not what Checkout.com is typically brought in for.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
Checkout.com: How is Checkout.com pricing structured?

Checkout.com offers flat-rate pricing based on your business profile and risk category. They also provide interchange++ pricing model showing transparent card association and processor fees. No setup fees, account maintenance fees, or surprise charges are applied.

Source
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
Checkout.com: Does Checkout.com offer pricing for nonprofits?

Yes, Checkout.com provides free payment processing for registered charities in countries where they operate. Contact their sales team to verify eligibility and activate the charity program.

Source
Big Cartel: Can I cancel Big Cartel anytime?

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

Source
Checkout.com: What support is included in Checkout.com pricing?

All plans include dedicated account management, risk and fraud management tools, and integration support at no additional cost.

Source
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