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Software · head to head

Big Cartel vs Contentful

Big Cartel logo

Big Cartel

Software

Straightforward pricing, no surprises

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Contentful logo

Contentful

Software

The content platform for the digital-first era

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Contentful 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; Contentful pricing model with content type limits (48) forces full tier upgrades

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Big Cartel and Contentful actually diverge.

Attributes where Big Cartel and Contentful differ
AttributeBig CartelContentful
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionUnknown
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWebWeb, API
FoundedUnknown2013

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

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 Big Cartel

Nothing recorded that Contentful does not also cover.

Only in Contentful

  • Content modeling
  • RESTful APIs
  • GraphQL API
  • Webhooks
  • Rich text editor
  • Asset management
  • Multi-language support
  • Version control

What people use each for

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

Big Cartel

No use cases recorded yet. See the Big Cartel review.

Contentful

  • Website content managementnot Big Cartel
  • Mobile app contentnot Big Cartel
  • E-commerce catalogsnot Big Cartel
  • Multi-channel publishingnot Big Cartel
  • Digital experiencesnot 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

Contentful

  • Pricing model with content type limits (48) forces full tier upgrades
  • Limited GraphQL mutations for content management complexity
  • Requires significant technical expertise and developer dependency
  • Uncertainty following Salesforce acquisition announcement in June 2026

Pricing, plan by plan

Big Cartel

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Big Cartel review.

Contentful

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 10 users
    • 100K API calls per month
    • 1 Space
  • Team$489/month
    • Higher usage limits
    • Additional collaboration features
    • Professional support

Which should you pick?

Choose Big Cartel if

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

Big Cartel review

Choose Contentful if

  • You need content modeling.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, API.
  • You also want restful apis.
Contentful review

Questions people ask

Is Big Cartel or Contentful better?
Neither clearly leads. Big Cartel starts at On request and Contentful at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Big Cartel or Contentful?
Contentful has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Big Cartel and Free for Contentful.
Does Big Cartel or Contentful run on more platforms?
Big Cartel runs on Web. Contentful runs on Web, API.
Can I use Contentful for free?
Yes. Contentful has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Big Cartel starts at On request.
What can Big Cartel do that Contentful cannot?
Contentful covers Content modeling, RESTful APIs, GraphQL API, Webhooks.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Contentful: Does Contentful offer a free tier?

Yes, Contentful has a Free tier with 10 users, 100K API calls per month, and support for 1 Space. This is suitable for small projects and proof-of-concept work.

Source
Contentful: What is the difference between Contentful and traditional CMS platforms?

Contentful is a headless CMS that decouples content from presentation, allowing you to deliver the same content across websites, mobile apps, IoT devices, and voice assistants without duplication.

Source
Contentful: How does Contentful handle multi-locale content?

Contentful supports multi-locale content, though multi-locale costs must be negotiated upfront depending on your pricing tier and requirements.

Source
Contentful: Does Contentful integrate with e-commerce platforms?

Yes, Contentful partners with Commerce Layer, an API-first commerce platform, to enable enterprise-grade e-commerce experiences alongside headless CMS capabilities.

Source
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