Final verdict
Big Cartel and Bandzoogle both cater to niche markets, offering specialized tools for their respective audiences.
-
Big Cartel (Overall Grade: 5.8/10)
is designed for artists and makers, providing a straightforward and affordable platform to sell their creations online. It excels in simplicity and ease of use, making it ideal for small businesses and independent creators. However, it lacks some advanced features and customization options, which may limit its appeal for users seeking more robust ecommerce capabilities. When comparing Big Cartel vs Bandzoogle, Big Cartel is a solid choice for those prioritizing ease of setup and affordability. -
Bandzoogle (Overall Grade: 5.9/10)
, on the other hand, is tailored for musicians and bands, offering a range of music-specific features such as a built-in music player, commission-free sales, and tools for managing fan subscriptions and crowdfunding campaigns. It provides a user-friendly interface and extensive design functionalities, making it a comprehensive tool for artists looking to promote their music and engage with their fans online. Considering Big Cartel vs Bandzoogle, Bandzoogle stands out for its specialized functionalities and slightly higher ease of use, making it a better fit for musicians and bands.
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Design functionalities & templates |
6.9 |
7.5 |
|
Ease of use |
8.0 |
8.1 |
|
Ecommerce |
6.2 |
6.7 |
|
Website Editors |
6.8 |
7.4 |
|
Product testing options |
5.9 |
8.6 |
|
Price |
7.8 |
8.0 |
|
Hosting quality |
5.0 |
6.3 |
|
Website speed optimization |
5.0 |
5.3 |
|
Plugins and integrations |
5.8 |
0.0 |
|
Marketing features |
6.2 |
7.1 |
|
Customer support |
5.4 |
6.8 |
|
Security |
7.3 |
7.7 |
|
AI capabilities |
0.0 |
0 |
|
User Management |
1.3 |
2.6 |
Best for ecommerce
6.2
6.7
Verdict
: Big Cartel and Bandzoogle both cater to niche markets, with Big Cartel focusing on artists and makers, and Bandzoogle targeting musicians and bands. While both offer ecommerce capabilities, Bandzoogle edges out Big Cartel with slightly more advanced features and better customization options.
-
Big Cartel
: This platform is ideal for artists and small businesses looking for a straightforward, easy-to-use ecommerce solution. It offers essential features like inventory tracking, sales analytics, and social media integrations. However, when comparing Big Cartel vs Bandzoogle, Big Cartel may fall short in terms of advanced ecommerce functionalities and customization options. -
Bandzoogle
: Designed specifically for musicians, Bandzoogle provides a range of music-specific ecommerce features such as selling subscriptions, crowdfunding, and product bundling. It also supports various payment integrations and offers more advanced customization options. This makes Bandzoogle a more versatile choice for musicians looking to sell their music and merchandise online.
Best for informational & business websites
7.2
7.4
Verdict
: When it comes to creating informational and business websites, Bandzoogle has a slight edge over Big Cartel. Bandzoogle’s specialized features for musicians and bands make it a versatile choice for those in the music industry, while Big Cartel’s simplicity and focus on artists and makers make it a solid option for creative entrepreneurs.
-
Big Cartel
: Big Cartel is designed for artists and makers who want to sell their creations online. It offers a straightforward setup process and a variety of customizable templates that cater to small businesses and independent creators. While it excels in simplicity and affordability, it may lack some advanced features needed for more complex informational websites. Big Cartel’s score of 7.2 reflects its capability to support creative endeavors effectively. -
Bandzoogle
: Bandzoogle is tailored for musicians and bands, providing a range of music-specific features such as a built-in music player, commission-free sales of music and merchandise, and tools for managing fan subscriptions and crowdfunding campaigns. Its user-friendly interface and specialized functionalities make it an excellent choice for artists looking to promote their music and engage with fans online. Bandzoogle’s score of 7.4 indicates its strong performance in creating professional and engaging informational websites for the music industry.
Detailed comparison
Design functionalities & templates
Design FunctionalitiesRepresents how well each platform allows for creative design and customization of websites.Score Components:
- Template Variety (30%): Range and quality of design templates.
- Customization (30%): Flexibility and options for design alterations.
- User Interface (20%): Ease and intuitiveness of the design process.
- Responsiveness (10%): Adaptability to different devices and screen sizes.
- Innovation (10%): Unique design features and tools.
6.9
7.5
🏆
Winner: Bandzoogle.
If you’re a musician or a band looking for a platform that offers more creative control and a wide array of design features, Bandzoogle is the preferred choice.
Big Cartel provides a variety of free, customizable templates designed to ensure that online stores look appealing on all devices. These templates are geared towards artists, creators, and small business owners, offering features like high-quality product displays and adjustable product grids without the need for coding knowledge. With over 15 different styles to choose from, Big Cartel’s templates allow for easy customization to fit any brand’s aesthetic, making it simple for anyone to start an online store quickly.
Compared to Big Cartel, Bandzoogle offers a diverse range of design templates for musicians, bands, and DJs, ensuring artists can create a professional and engaging online presence without needing extensive web design knowledge. These templates are responsive, customizable, and can be switched freely without affecting the user’s content, allowing for a tailored look that matches the artist’s style. With a variety of options catering to different aesthetics and needs, Bandzoogle makes it easy for artists to showcase their music and brand online.
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Ease of use
Ease of useReflects the platform’s overall user-friendliness.Score
Components:
- Learning curve (40%): Quickness and ease of getting started.
- Interface design (30%): Simplicity and intuitiveness of layout.
- User guidance (20%): Quality of tutorials and support.
- Flexibility (10%): Adaptability to various user skills.
8.0
8.1
🏆 Winner: Bandzoogle
. With a score of 8.1, Bandzoogle edges out Big Cartel (8.0) in terms of ease of use. Bandzoogle’s user-friendly interface and music-specific tools make it a go-to solution for artists and bands. Big Cartel, while also user-friendly, lacks some advanced features and customization options found in more complex e-commerce platforms.
Learning Resources
🏆 Winner: Bandzoogle
. Both platforms offer solid learning resources, but Bandzoogle goes a step further with its extensive help section, video walkthroughs, and a blog filled with tips and guides. Big Cartel also provides useful resources, but Bandzoogle’s offerings are more comprehensive and tailored to the needs of musicians.
For ecommerce
EcommerceMeasures the platform’s effectiveness in supporting online business activities.Score Components:
- Ecommerce themes and templates (20%): Variety and design of templates.
- Product management (25%): Ease of managing and organizing products.
- Payment options (25%): Variety and convenience of payment methods.
- Ecommerce features (20%): Features for managing an ecommerce store.
- Integration (10%): Compatibility with external e-commerce tools and services.
6.2
6.7
Big Cartel and Bandzoogle are both niche-specific website builders, with Big Cartel catering to artists and makers, and Bandzoogle designed for musicians and bands. Both platforms offer ecommerce capabilities, but their features and offerings are tailored to their respective target audiences.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Ecommerce themes and templates |
5.5 |
6.0 |
|
Product page customization |
6.8 |
7.5 |
|
Payment processing and commissions |
7.0 |
8.5 |
|
POS capabilities |
6.5 |
0.0 |
|
Payment gateways |
6.0 |
6.5 |
|
Product numbers |
4.5 |
7.0 |
|
Additional ecommerce features |
5.7 |
7.5 |
Big Cartel ecommerce features:
- Inventory tracking
- Sales analytics
- Social Media integrations
- Marketing tools
Bandzoogle ecommerce features:
- Sell Subscriptions
- Crowdfunding
- Product Bundling and Upselling
- Payment Integrations
Ecommerce themes & templates
Big Cartel offers around 20 templates, each specifically designed to cater to the needs of ecommerce stores, providing a variety of options for creating an online store. On the other hand, Bandzoogle doesn’t offer specialized ecommerce templates, but all its existing templates can be enhanced to include ecommerce features. This allows users to sell subscriptions, merchandise, and more.
Product page customization
Big Cartel enables merchants to customize their product offerings with the Product Variants feature, supporting up to 150 variants per item, such as sizes, colors, and more, allowing for specific pricing and quantities for each variant. Bandzoogle platform enables users on Standard and Pro plans to sell a wide range of physical merchandise directly from their websites without commission fees, though it doesn’t handle distribution or fulfillment. It supports various product types, including CDs, vinyl, apparel, digital files, and more, with customizable options for product variations, shipping, and sales tax.
Payment processing
When it comes to payment processing, Big Cartel supports payment processing through PayPal and Stripe, allowing a variety of payment methods including credit/debit cards and mobile payments like Apple Pay and Google Pay. The platform itself does not charge additional transaction fees, but standard processing fees from PayPal and Stripe apply. Bandzoogle, a website builder designed specifically for musicians, supports a variety of payment methods including major credit and debit cards, but does not support PayPal, cash, or money orders for transactions. The platform emphasizes direct-to-fan sales tools, such as merchandising through Printful integration, and does not charge commissions on sales, allowing artists to retain all revenue generated through their websites.
Website Editors
Website EditorsEvaluates the platforms’ website building and editing capabilities.Score Components:
- Customization tools (40%): Range and power of editing features.
- Editor usability (30%): User experience within the editor.
- Design flexibility (20%): Freedom in layout and design changes.
- Update and maintenance ease (10%): Simplicity of updating and maintaining the site.
6.8
7.4
🏆
Winner: Bandzoogle
. Bandzoogle, with a score of 7.4, offers a website builder tailored for musicians, featuring a variety of tools for design, sales, promotion, and technical management without requiring coding knowledge. It provides responsive templates, integration with music services, and capabilities to sell music, merch, and tickets directly to fans commission-free. Additionally, it supports artist promotion through mailing lists, SEO, and social media integration.
Big Cartel’s editor, scoring 6.8, is designed with simplicity in mind, catering primarily to artists and small-scale sellers. Users can easily customize their online store’s look and feel without needing advanced technical skills, thanks to its user-friendly interface. The editor allows for the customization of themes, addition of products, and setup of different pages like home, about, and contact pages. Additionally, it offers basic SEO settings and integration options with social media and other tools, making it a straightforward solution for those looking to sell their work online with minimal fuss.
Mobile editor/app
7.5
5.5
🏆
Winner: Big Cartel
. Both Big Cartel and Bandzoogle offer mobile capabilities for managing your website, but they cater to different needs and skill levels. Big Cartel provides a mobile app that allows users to manage their online store directly from their mobile device. Key features include the ability to add and edit products, process orders, check inventory, and view store statistics. It provides a convenient way for store owners to keep their business running smoothly on-the-go, without the need for a computer. The interface is user-friendly, ensuring that even those with minimal technical skills can easily navigate and make use of its functionalities. However, website design changes can be applied only on the desktop version.
On the other hand, Bandzoogle does not have a dedicated mobile editor app. Users can manage and edit their websites using the mobile browser version of the editor. This might not provide the same level of convenience and functionality as a dedicated mobile app. Therefore, Big Cartel is the winner in this category due to its dedicated mobile app and the comprehensive features it offers for managing an online store on-the-go.
Product testing options
Product Testing OptionsAssesses the options for trying out platform features before commitment.Score Components:
- Trial quality (40%): Extent and usefulness of the trial or free version.
- Feature accessibility (30%): How many features are available to test.
- Trial duration (20%): Length of the trial period.
- Ease of transition (10%): Smoothness of moving from trial to paid plans.
5.9
8.6
Overall Result
:
Bandzoogle Wins
. Bandzoogle scores 8.6 in product testing options, significantly higher than Big Cartel’s 5.9. Bandzoogle offers a 30-day free trial during which users can test premium features, while Big Cartel only allows testing of some features with its free plan and does not offer a trial version. Neither platform offers a money-back guarantee.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Free Plan |
Yes | No |
|
Trial Duration |
No |
30 days |
|
Testing Premium Features |
Some features with free plan |
During the free trial |
|
Money Back Guarantee |
No | No |
Price
PriceLooks at the cost-effectiveness and value for money of each platform.Score Components:
- Plan value (40%): What each pricing tier offers.
- Transparency and clarity (30%): Clearness of pricing structures.
- Flexibility of plans (20%): Range of options to suit different budgets.
- Hidden costs (10%): Additional expenses not included in the plan.
7.8
8.0
Bandzoogle and Big Cartel both offer affordable pricing options, but Bandzoogle provides a slight edge with its annual discount.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Free |
Gold ($0/month): The Gold plan is free and allows up to 5 product listings with one image per product. It includes features such as free customizable templates, the ability to sell online and in person, multiple payment options, real-time stats, product variant groups, and sales tax autopilot. |
No offering at this amount. |
|
$0-$8 |
No offering at this amount. |
EPK Beta ($6.95/month): Single-page electronic press kit with design templates, hosting, custom design tools, music players, tour calendar, contact form. Value for price: 5.0 |
|
$8-$10 |
Platinum ($9.99/month): The Platinum plan increases the product listing limit to 50 and allows up to five images per product. It adds features like the use of a custom domain, template code editing, Google Analytics, ads support, inventory tracking, the ability to offer discounts and run promos, bulk editing, and shipment tracking. Value for price: 7.5 |
Lite Website ($9.95/month): Multi-page website (up to 10 pages, 10 tracks, 100 photos), basic music promotion and selling tools, visitor analytics, and more. Value for price: 6.5 |
|
$10-$15 |
No offering at this amount. |
Standard Website ($14.95/month): Enhanced features for selling music and merch (20 pages, 50 tracks, 500 photos), advanced selling tools, visitor analytics, and more. Value for price: 7.5 |
|
$15+ |
Diamond ($19.99/month): The Diamond plan further extends the product limit to 500 with the same benefits as the Platinum plan, including advanced Google Analytics reporting, ads with audience targeting, and priority customer support. Value for price: 8.5 |
Pro Website ($19.95/month): Comprehensive tools for promoting and selling music, including unlimited pages, tracks, and photos, advanced music promotion and selling tools. Value for Price: 8.5 |
location. As a result in rare cases the prices displayed here can differ from the ones you see on their
websites.
Hosting quality
Hosting
qualityExamines the reliability and performance of the hosting solutions.Score Components:
- Uptime (40%): Consistency and reliability of website availability.
- Speed (30%): Loading times and performance.
- Bandwidth and storage (20%): Sufficiency of resources provided.
- Data centers (10%): Quality and distribution of hosting infrastructure.
5.0
6.3
Winner: Bandzoogle
. Bandzoogle edges out Big Cartel in this category due to its unlimited bandwidth and storage offering. Both platforms do not provide specific information about their uptime, uptime guarantee, or data center locations. However, Bandzoogle’s cloud hosting and unlimited offerings give it a slight advantage over Big Cartel, which does not disclose specific information about its hosting.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Do they offer hosting? |
Yes | Yes |
|
Data Centers: |
Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
|
Type of hosting: |
Not disclosed | Cloud Hosting |
|
Uptime: |
Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
|
Uptime Guarantee: |
No | No |
Website Speed Optimization
Website Speed OptimizationEvaluates optimization of website loading timesScore Components:
- PageSpeed Score (30%): Google’s score indicating performance optimization.
- Loading Time (30%): The average time until a website is fully interactive.
- Mobile Optimization (15%): Optimization effectiveness for mobile devices.
- Resource Optimization (15%): Optimizing images, scripts, and other heavy resources.
- CDN Usage (10%): Use of CDN to enhance speed across geolocations.
5.0
5.3
🏆 Winner: Bandzoogle
Both Big Cartel and Bandzoogle have similar scores for website speed optimization, but Bandzoogle has a slight edge over Big Cartel.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Focus |
Not specified | Mobile optimized design |
|
Performance Tools |
Not specified | Not specified |
|
Key Strategies |
Not specified | Not specified |
|
Load Times |
Varies depending on optimization and website complexity | Varies depending on optimization and website complexity |
|
Page Speed Scores Range |
Not specified | Not specified |
|
Core Web Vitals Improvement |
Not specified | Not specified |
Bandzoogle, a website builder specifically designed for musicians and bands, has a slight edge over Big Cartel in terms of website speed optimization. Although Bandzoogle does not provide specific information about their strategies for speed optimization and Core Web Vital improvements, they do focus on mobile optimized design, which can contribute to faster load times and better user experience on mobile devices.
On the other hand, Big Cartel, a website builder designed for artists and makers, does not mention any information on speed optimization strategies or Core Web Vital improvements. The load times and PageSpeed scores for Big Cartel vary depending on optimization and website complexity. Therefore, continuous maintenance and optimization are essential for keeping Big Cartel websites fast.
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Plugins and integrations
Plugins and integrationsMeasures the range and effectiveness of additional plugins and integrations.Score Components:
- Variety of options (40%): Range of available add-ons.
- Integration smoothness (30%): Ease of integrating plugins into the site.
- Quality of plugins (20%): Functionality and reliability of the options.
- Custom integration capabilities (10%): Support for custom or third-party integrations.
5.8
0.0
🏆 Winner: Big Cartel.
With a score of 5.8, Big Cartel offers a variety of apps and integrations to enhance ecommerce store functionality, including marketing, shipping, and store management tools. On the other hand, Bandzoogle, with a score of 0.0, does not offer any plugins or integrations, making Big Cartel the clear winner in this category.
Marketing Features
Design FunctionalitiesRepresents how well each platform allows for creative design and customization of websites.Score Components:
- Template Variety (30%): Range and quality of design templates.
- Customization (30%): Flexibility and options for design alterations.
- User Interface (20%): Ease and intuitiveness of the design process.
- Responsiveness (10%): Adaptability to different devices and screen sizes.
- Innovation (10%): Unique design features and tools.
6.2
7.1
🏆
Overall Winner: Bandzoogle
. Bandzoogle stands out for its more advanced marketing tools, especially in SEO and email marketing. Big Cartel is strong in social media integration and ads and promotions, ideal for small businesses and independent creators.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
SEO Tools |
|
|
|
Email Marketing |
|
|
|
Blogging |
|
|
|
Social Media Integration |
|
|
|
Analytics and Reporting |
|
|
|
Ads and Promotions |
|
|
Customer Support
Customer supportEvaluates the quality and availability of support options.Score Components:
- Response time (40%): Speed of support responses.
- Support quality (30%): Effectiveness and helpfulness of the support.
- Availability (20%): Range of support channels (phone, chat, email).
- Resource richness (10%): Quality of self-help and educational materials.
5.4
6.8
🏆 Winner: Bandzoogle
. In the Big Cartel vs Bandzoogle comparison, Bandzoogle takes the lead with its more comprehensive support options. Bandzoogle offers email support from Monday to Friday, 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM EST, and on weekends from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM EST. Additionally, live chat support is available on weekdays from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM EST, and on weekends from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM EST. This extensive availability ensures that users can get timely assistance when needed.
Big Cartel, on the other hand, provides customer support from Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM EST, with a team of twelve members ready to assist. While their support is reliable, it is limited to weekdays and does not offer live chat, which can be a drawback for users needing immediate help. Despite this, Big Cartel’s support team is known for being helpful and responsive within their available hours.
Security
SecurityLooks at the platforms’ security measures and data protection.Score Components:
- Data protection (40%): Safeguards for user and customer data.
- SSL and encryption (30%): Implementation of secure connections.
- Compliance (20%): Adherence to industry security standards.
- Regular updates (10%): Frequency of security updates and patches.
7.3
7.7
🏆
Winner: Bandzoogle
. Bandzoogle takes the lead in security with a score of 7.7, compared to Big Cartel’s 7.3. Bandzoogle has implemented measures to comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), including anonymizing IP addresses and ensuring users can manage their data privacy effectively. It also provides hosting services tailored for musicians, offering features like unlimited storage and data transfer for audio files, lossless music uploads, and a free SSL certificate to ensure secure browsing for website visitors.
Big Cartel, on the other hand, emphasizes the protection of private data through comprehensive measures such as SSL encryption for all shops and custom domains, and strict data processing protocols in line with data protection legislation. However, it’s important to note that while Big Cartel facilitates secure payment processing via third-party PCI-compliant gateways like PayPal and Stripe, it does not achieve PCI compliance on its own.
AI Capabilities
AI capabilitiesMeasures the effectiveness of AI-driven features and tools.Score Components:
- Automation efficiency (40%): Impact of AI on streamlining processes.
- Personalization (30%): AI-driven customization for users or customers.
- AI-Assisted design (20%): Role of AI in website design and functionality.
- Data analysis (10%): Use of AI in interpreting user data and analytics.
0.0
0
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
AI Builder |
|
|
|
AI Ecommerce features |
|
|
|
AI Content Generation |
|
|
|
Additional AI features |
|
|
Neither Big Cartel nor Bandzoogle currently offer any AI capabilities. Both platforms focus on providing straightforward, user-friendly website building tools specifically tailored to their target audiences – artists and musicians, respectively. While AI can offer enhanced customization and automation, these platforms prioritize simplicity and ease of use.
User Management
User ManagementAssesses the platforms’ capabilities in managing user roles, permissions, and accessibility.Score Components:
- Role Customization (40%): Flexibility in creating and defining user roles and
permissions. - Ease of Management (30%): User interface and tools for managing users.
- Access Control (20%): Effectiveness of access control measures for different user
levels. - Scalability (10%): Ability to manage a growing number of users efficiently.
1.3
2.6
🏆 Winner: Bandzoogle
. Both Big Cartel and Bandzoogle only allow one user to build and edit a website, which can be a limitation for larger teams or collaborative projects. However, this might not be a significant issue for their target audience, which consists mainly of individual artists and small bands.
- Big Cartel: Allows only one user to build and edit a website.
- Bandzoogle: Allows only one user to edit and manage a website.
There is no information provided about user roles and access levels for either builder, indicating that there might not be any differentiation in user roles. The user management score is slightly higher for Bandzoogle (2.6) than for Big Cartel (1.3), suggesting that Bandzoogle offers a slightly better user management experience.
Additional Features
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
SSL Certificate |
|
|
|
Custom Domain |
|
|
|
Free Custom Domain Included |
|
|
|
International Domains |
|
|
|
Mobile Responsive |
|
|
|
Page Speed |
|
|
|
Website Builder Mobile App |
|
|
|
Convert a Website To An App |
|
|
|
Website Analytics |
|
|
|
Multilingual Sites |
|
|
|
Multiple Users |
|
|
User Feedback
User feedback on Big Cartel highlights its simplicity and affordability as key advantages, making it a popular choice for small businesses and startups looking to establish an online presence quickly. Users appreciate the ease of setting up and customizing their online stores, the flat monthly fees without per-item charges, and the platform’s intuitive design and mobile management capabilities. However, limitations in features compared to more comprehensive platforms, restricted customization options, and lack of advanced integrations or inventory management for specific items are noted drawbacks. Despite these concerns, Big Cartel is praised for its cost-effectiveness and user-friendly approach, particularly for those new to e-commerce or with smaller inventories.
The user feedback on Bandzoogle highlights its strengths in providing customizable and professional website layouts, ease of use, and specialized features tailored for musicians, such as pre-made themes, mobile-friendliness, and various tools for managing tours and engaging with audiences. Users appreciate the platform’s assistance in creating an online presence, saving time, and directly engaging with fans. However, critiques include a desire for more theme variety and customization options, concerns about pricing for beginners, occasional interface clumsiness or system latency, and the lack of a fully free version. Despite these drawbacks, Bandzoogle is valued for its niche focus, helping artists efficiently promote their music and interact with their fan base online.
The making of this blog
We followed a clear, step-by-step process to write and research this article.
FAQ
Which platform is better for artists, Big Cartel or Bandzoogle?
Can I sell music directly from my site with either Big Cartel or Bandzoogle?
Which platform offers better ecommerce features for selling merchandise?
Are there any free plans available for Big Cartel or Bandzoogle?
Which platform provides better customer support?
How do Big Cartel and Bandzoogle compare in terms of website speed and hosting quality?
Can I use Big Cartel or Bandzoogle for a non-music related business?
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