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E-Commerce · head to head

Big Cartel vs Ecwid

Big Cartel logo

Big Cartel

E-Commerce

Straightforward pricing, no surprises

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Ecwid logo

Ecwid

E-Commerce

Sell anywhere ecommerce platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • 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; Ecwid the $5 a month Starter plan caps the catalogue at 10 products
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Big Cartel and Ecwid differ
AttributeBig CartelEcwid
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
FoundedUnknown2009

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), platforms (Web), 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 Big Cartel

Nothing recorded that Ecwid does not also cover.

Only in Ecwid

  • Omnichannel selling
  • Product catalog
  • Payment processing
  • Inventory management
  • Email marketing
  • Analytics
  • Mobile app
  • API access

What people use each for

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

Big Cartel

  • E-commerce store creationnot Ecwid
  • Physical and digital product salesnot Ecwid

Ecwid

  • E-commerce store setup with no transaction fees charged by Ecwidnot Big Cartel
  • Multi-channel selling across Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and Pinterestnot Big Cartel
  • Automated email marketing with abandoned cart recovery campaignsnot Big Cartel
  • Inventory management and order tracking across all sales channelsnot Big Cartel
  • AI-powered product photo background removal and enhancementnot 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

Ecwid

  • The $5 a month Starter plan caps the catalogue at 10 products
  • Staff accounts start at the Business plan, and are limited to 2 until the Unlimited plan
  • Abandoned cart recovery requires the Business plan at $65 a month
  • In person selling through POS integration is Unlimited only, at $149 a month
  • The Venture plan at $35 a month still caps products at 100

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

Ecwid

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Up to 10 products
    • Basic storefront
    • Standard payment methods
  • Unlimited$99.08/month
    • Unlimited products
    • Advanced features
    • Priority support

Which should you pick?

Choose Big Cartel if

  • You want to start without paying.
Big Cartel review

Choose Ecwid if

  • You need omnichannel selling.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want product catalog.
Ecwid review

Questions people ask

Is Big Cartel or Ecwid better?
Neither clearly leads. Big Cartel starts at Free and Ecwid at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Big Cartel or Ecwid?
Big Cartel starts at Free and Ecwid at Free.
Does Big Cartel or Ecwid 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?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
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 Ecwid is typically brought in for.
What can Big Cartel do that Ecwid cannot?
Ecwid covers Omnichannel selling, Product catalog, Payment processing, Inventory management.

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
Ecwid: Does Ecwid charge transaction fees?

Ecwid states on its site: no transaction fees. However, pricing tiers and their specific features are not disclosed on the vendor's public pages.

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
Ecwid: Is there a free version of Ecwid?

Ecwid offers a free tier to launch a store and start selling. Specific upgrade tiers and costs are not listed on the vendor's website.

Source
Big Cartel: Can I cancel Big Cartel anytime?

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

Source
Ecwid: How much does Ecwid cost?

Ecwid does not publish pricing details on its website. The vendor directs users to contact sales or view pricing, but specific rates are not displayed publicly.

Source
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