Software · head to head
Square vs Big Cartel
The short version
- Only Square has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Square plus plan pricing not specified in documentation; Big Cartel custom domain support is not included on the free Gold plan; it is listed as a Platinum-tier feature
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Square and Big Cartel actually diverge.
| Attribute | Square | Big Cartel |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | On request |
| Pricing model | freemium | subscription |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Platforms | POS (Mobile app), Web | Web |
| Founded | 2009 | Unknown |
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 Square
- Payment processing
- Point of sale
- Invoicing
- Payroll
- Banking
- QuickBooks
- WooCommerce
- Wix
Only in Big Cartel
Nothing recorded that Square does not also cover.
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Square
- Accept payments with all-in-one POS applicationnot Big Cartel
- Online ordering and basic website creationnot Big Cartel
- Invoicing and appointment bookingnot Big Cartel
- Staff scheduling and loyalty programmesnot Big Cartel
Big Cartel
No use cases recorded yet. See the Big Cartel review.
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Square
- Plus plan pricing not specified in documentation
- Processing fees differ by tier but exact rates not detailed
- Free plan pricing mentioned but specific features for Plus unclear
- Text marketing charged at 3¢ per message after first 500 included
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
Square
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Square review.
Big Cartel
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the Big Cartel review.
Which should you pick?
Choose Square if
- You need payment processing.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on POS (Mobile app), Web.
- You also want point of sale.
Choose Big Cartel if
Nothing in the data separates Big Cartel from Square on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.
Questions people ask
- Is Square or Big Cartel better?
- Neither clearly leads. Square starts at Free and Big Cartel at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Square or Big Cartel?
- Square has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Square and On request for Big Cartel.
- Does Square or Big Cartel run on more platforms?
- Square runs on POS (Mobile app), Web. Big Cartel runs on Web.
- Can I use Square for free?
- Yes. Square has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Big Cartel starts at On request.
- What is Square best used for?
- Square is most often used for accept payments with all-in-one pos application, online ordering and basic website creation, invoicing and appointment booking, staff scheduling and loyalty programmes. Of those, accept payments with all-in-one pos application and online ordering and basic website creation are not what Big Cartel is typically brought in for.
- What can Square do that Big Cartel cannot?
- Square covers Payment processing, Point of sale, Invoicing, Payroll.