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E-commerce & Retail · head to head

Big Cartel vs Revel

Big Cartel logo

Big Cartel

E-commerce & Retail

Straightforward pricing, no surprises

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Revel logo

Revel

E-commerce & Retail

iPad-based point of sale system

From
$99/month
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; Revel mandatory use of Revel Advantage payment processing for new customers with no viable alternatives

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Big Cartel and Revel differ
AttributeBig CartelRevel
Starting priceOn request$99/month
Pricing modelsubscriptionUnknown
PlatformsWebiPad, iOS, Web
FoundedUnknown2010

Identical on both: free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (E-commerce & Retail).

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 Revel does not also cover.

Only in Revel

  • iPad point of sale
  • Inventory management
  • Customer profiles
  • Employee management
  • Sales analytics
  • Loyalty programs
  • Multi-location support
  • Payment processing

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

Revel

  • Mandatory use of Revel Advantage payment processing for new customers with no viable alternatives
  • Long-term 3-year contracts with high early termination fees
  • Hidden fees for API access and mobile inventory management app not included in base pricing
  • Frequent system crashes and connectivity issues that disrupt operations
  • Limited ability to retrieve historical data after extended use of the system

Pricing, plan by plan

Big Cartel

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Big Cartel review.

Revel

$99/month
  • Standard$99/month
    • POS
    • Inventory management
    • Employee management
  • Premium$649/month
    • All standard features
    • Advanced integrations
    • API access

Which should you pick?

Choose Big Cartel if

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

Big Cartel review

Choose Revel if

  • You need ipad point of sale.
  • You work on iPad, iOS, Web.
  • You also want inventory management.
Revel review

Questions people ask

Is Big Cartel or Revel better?
Neither clearly leads. Big Cartel starts at On request and Revel at $99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Big Cartel or Revel?
Big Cartel starts at On request and Revel at $99/month.
Does Big Cartel or Revel run on more platforms?
Big Cartel runs on Web. Revel runs on iPad, iOS, Web.
What can Big Cartel do that Revel cannot?
Revel covers iPad point of sale, Inventory management, Customer profiles, Employee management.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Revel: Does Revel have a free trial?

Revel Systems does not offer a free trial for its standard POS plans. However, Revel+ premium subscriptions include a two-month free trial period.

Source
Revel: Can Revel work offline?

Yes. Revel uses hybrid architecture to run offline or on a local network, and Always On Mode enables credit card processing during internet outages. The only limitation is that you cannot verify if a credit card has declined until your connection is restored.

Source
Revel: Does Revel integrate with Shopify?

Yes. Revel integrates with Shopify to synchronize inventory levels, automatically transfer sales data, and manage both online and brick-and-mortar stores from a single dashboard.

Source
Revel: What are Revel's typical contract terms?

Revel typically requires 3-year contracts with high early termination fees (ETFs). Users report difficulty canceling and facing steep penalties if they exit before the contract period ends.

Source
Revel: Can I use my own payment processor with Revel?

New customers are almost always required to use Revel Advantage payment processing. Using an outside payment processor is typically not allowed or is heavily penalized.

Source
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