Big Cartel vs Framer: guide for 2024

Final verdict

Big Cartel and Framer cater to different audiences with distinct needs, making each platform suitable for specific types of users.

Big Cartel (Overall Grade: 5.8/10)

is tailored for artists and small-scale sellers who prioritize simplicity and affordability. It offers an easy-to-use interface, essential ecommerce features, and customizable templates designed for creative professionals. However, it lacks advanced functionalities and scalability, making it less suitable for larger businesses or those looking to expand significantly. When comparing Big Cartel vs Framer, Big Cartel is ideal for independent creators and small businesses seeking a straightforward, cost-effective solution.
Framer (Overall Grade: 7.1/10)

excels in providing a robust design and prototyping platform with extensive customization options and AI-driven tools. It is well-suited for designers, developers, and teams looking for high-fidelity prototyping and interactive design capabilities. While it has a steeper learning curve and lacks native ecommerce features, Framer’s advanced design functionalities and collaborative tools make it a powerful choice for professional web development projects. Considering Big Cartel vs Framer, Framer is the preferred option for users who need comprehensive design tools and are willing to invest time in learning the platform.

	Overall grade: 5.8	Overall grade: 7.1
Design functionalities & templates	6.9	8.5
Ease of use	8.0	7.1
Ecommerce	6.2	5.9
Website Editors	6.8	7.6
Product testing options	5.9	6.2
Price	7.8	7.7
Hosting quality	5.0	7.1
Website speed optimization	5.0	7.4
Plugins and integrations	5.8	7.6
Marketing features	6.2	7.2
Customer support	5.4	5.6
Security	7.3	8.2
AI capabilities	0.0	7.6
User Management	1.3	7.4

Best for ecommerce

6.2

5.9

Verdict

: Big Cartel is better suited for small-scale ecommerce, particularly for artists and makers, while Framer, despite its advanced design capabilities, lacks native ecommerce features and relies on integrations.

Big Cartel

: Designed specifically for artists and small businesses, Big Cartel offers essential ecommerce features such as inventory tracking, sales analytics, and social media integrations. It is ideal for those who need a straightforward, easy-to-use platform to sell their creations online. However, it may not be suitable for businesses looking to expand significantly. Best For Ecommerce score: 6.2.
Framer

: While Framer excels in design and customization with its AI-driven tools and extensive component library, it lacks native ecommerce functionalities. Instead, it relies on integrations with platforms like Ecwid for ecommerce capabilities. This makes it less ideal for those seeking a robust ecommerce solution. Best For Ecommerce score: 5.9.

Best for informational & business websites

7.2

7.5

Verdict

: Framer slightly edges out Big Cartel for informational and business websites due to its advanced design capabilities and comprehensive customization options.

Big Cartel

: Big Cartel is tailored for artists and small businesses, offering a straightforward setup and easy-to-use interface. It provides essential features like inventory management and sales tracking, making it ideal for creative individuals looking to establish an online presence without technical complexity. However, its focus on ecommerce might limit its appeal for purely informational sites. Score: 7.2
Framer

: Framer excels with its AI-driven design tools and extensive customization options, making it suitable for both novices and experienced designers. Its drag-and-drop interface and comprehensive component library allow for detailed and interactive website designs. While it has a steeper learning curve, its robust features make it a strong choice for creating visually appealing and highly functional informational websites. Score: 7.5

Detailed comparison

6.9

8.5

🏆

Winner: Framer.

If you’re looking for a platform that offers more creative control and a wide array of design features, Framer 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.

Big Cartel Themes

Compared to Big Cartel, Framer offers a diverse array of over 1,000 customizable website templates and designs, catering to various industries and project requirements. It stands out for its robust design and prototyping features, including responsive design capabilities, real-time collaboration, and extensive import options from other design tools. The platform facilitates a collaborative design process through features like multiplayer functionalities and real components for interactive design, making it an ideal choice for designers, developers, and teams.

Framer Themes

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8.0

7.1

🏆 Winner: Big Cartel

. Scoring 8.0, Big Cartel is designed with simplicity in mind, making it particularly accessible for artists and small-scale sellers who may not have extensive technical skills. Framer, with a score of 7.1, offers a robust platform but with a steeper learning curve, especially for those new to web design. If ease of use is a priority, Big Cartel is the clear winner in this category.

Learning Resources

🏆 Winner: Framer

. While both platforms offer solid learning resources, Framer goes a step further with its wide array of detailed courses and lessons on Framer Academy, making it easier for users to learn and adapt.

Learn Big Cartel

Learn Framer

6.2

5.9

Big Cartel and Framer offer different ecommerce capabilities. Big Cartel is designed specifically for artists and makers, offering features like inventory tracking, sales analytics, social media integrations, and marketing tools. However, it’s designed for smaller stores and may not be suitable for businesses looking to expand significantly. On the other hand, Framer does not offer native ecommerce features and relies on integrations with platforms like Ecwid for ecommerce functionalities.


Ecommerce themes and templates	5.5	7.0
Product page customization	6.8	5.5
Payment processing and commissions	7.0	6.5
POS capabilities	6.5	3.0
Payment gateways	6.0	6.0
Product numbers	4.5	6.0
Additional ecommerce features	5.7	5.5

Big Cartel ecommerce features:

Inventory tracking
Sales analytics
Social Media integrations
Marketing tools

Big Cartel Add a product

Framer ecommerce features:

Ecwid integration

Ecommerce themes & templates

Big Cartel offers around 20 templates, each specifically designed to cater to the needs of ecommerce stores. In contrast, Framer offers 97 website templates specifically designed for eCommerce, providing a wide range of options for various business needs. These templates are highly customizable, allowing for easy adjustments to colors, fonts, layouts, and integration with essential eCommerce tools.

Product page customization

When it comes to product page customization, Big Cartel enables merchants to customize their product offerings with the Product Variants feature, supporting up to 150 variants per item. On the other hand, Framer allows for some customization of product pages, but these modifications are generally limited to design and layout alterations.

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. In contrast, Framer supports Stripe for payment processing, enabling a wide range of payment options including one-time payments, subscriptions, and more, without requiring coding.

6.8

7.6

🏆

Winner: Framer

. Framer, with a score of 7.6, is designed for high-fidelity prototyping and complex animations, catering to both designers and developers. It offers a robust set of tools for creating interactive and responsive designs, including a wide array of pre-built components, real-time collaboration features, and the ability to integrate with other design tools and workflows. Users can leverage Framer’s editor to craft detailed animations, fine-tune interactions, and test their designs across various screen sizes and devices. Additionally, its code export feature allows for seamless transition from design to development, making it a versatile choice for teams aiming to create polished, user-centric websites.

Framer editor

Big Cartel’s website builder 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

4.5

🏆

Winner: Big Cartel

. Both Big Cartel and Framer offer mobile capabilities, but they cater to different needs and skill levels. Big Cartel’s mobile app 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, Framer does not have a dedicated mobile editor app. You can modify your website using a mobile browser, though this comes with certain restrictions. Moreover, the mobile version of the editor is notably inconvenient.

In summary, Big Cartel is the clear winner in this category due to its dedicated mobile app and user-friendly interface.

5.9

6.2

Overall Result

:

Framer

. Framer scores slightly higher than Big Cartel with a score of 6.2 against 5.9. Both platforms offer a free version that allows users to test some of the features. However, neither of them provides a trial version. Framer has an edge over Big Cartel as it offers a money-back guarantee in some regions, which Big Cartel does not.


Free Plan	Yes	Yes
Trial Duration	No	No
Testing Premium Features	Possible with free plan	Possible with free version
Money Back Guarantee	No	Yes (Only in some regions)

7.8

7.7

Big Cartel and Framer have similar price scores, with Big Cartel slightly leading. Big Cartel offers straightforward pricing with no discounts for longer-term commitments, while Framer provides a range of plans with discounts for annual billing. Framer also offers an Enterprise plan for large-scale websites, which Big Cartel lacks.

	Offerings	Offerings
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.	Free (Free/month): Allows 3 websites built on a framer.website subdomain with Framer branding in the footer. Limited to 1,000 traffic visitors and 1,000 CMS items.
$5-$15	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	Mini ($10/month): Removes Framer branding, allows using a custom domain, includes collaboration with an additional cost for extra editors, custom code embedding, e-commerce support, and limited CMS items. Offers a monthly visitor limit of 2,000 and 1GB bandwidth. Value for price: 6.5
$15-$25	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	Basic ($20/month): Offers all Mini features plus increased limits for CMS items (1,000) and traffic (10,000 visitors per month), along with 10GB bandwidth. Value for price: 7.5
$30+	No offering at this amount.	Pro ($30/month): Enhances Basic plan features with a significant increase in CMS items (10,000), traffic (100,000 visitors per month), and bandwidth (100GB), among other advanced features. Value for price: 8.5

In some cases companies have different prices based on various components like a
location. As a result in rare cases the prices displayed here can differ from the ones you see on their
websites.

5.0

7.1

Winner: Framer

. Framer offers cloud hosting with a 99.9% uptime and an uptime guarantee for enterprise plans. They also have 4 data centers globally. Big Cartel, on the other hand, does not provide specific information about their hosting services, including the type of hosting, uptime, and data centers. This lack of transparency results in a lower rating for Big Cartel.


Do they offer hosting?	Yes, included in all plans	Yes, included in all plans
Data Centers:	Not disclosed	4 globally: 2 in US, 1 in Ireland, 1 in Singapore
Type of hosting:	Not disclosed	Cloud Hosting
Uptime:	Not disclosed	99.9%
Uptime Guarantee:	No	Yes, 99.99% for enterprise plan

5.0

7.4

🏆 Winner: Framer

Both Big Cartel and Framer are website builders that prioritize website performance and page speed. However, Framer has a clear strategy for speed optimization and has made improvements in Core Web Vitals, giving it an edge over Big Cartel.


Focus	Not specified	Code Minification, Pre-Rendering, Caching, Image optimization
Performance Tools	Not specified	Google Lighthouse, PageSpeed Insights
Key Strategies	Not specified	Code Minification, Pre-Rendering, Caching, Image optimization
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	Emphasis on LCP, FID, CLS improvements

Framer, with its focus on AI-driven design and an intuitive user interface, has a clear strategy for speed optimization. It uses techniques such as code minification, pre-rendering, caching, and image optimization to enhance website performance. Framer also places emphasis on improving Core Web Vitals, specifically LCP, FID, and CLS.

On the other hand, Big Cartel, a website builder designed for artists and makers, does not specify any strategies for speed optimization or improvements in Core Web Vitals. The load times and PageSpeed scores for Big Cartel websites vary depending on optimization and website complexity.

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5.8

7.6

🏆 Winner: Framer.

Framer scores 7.6, offering a variety of plugins that cater to different needs such as forms, video & animation, social media integration, audio, and utility functions. These plugins enhance the functionality of websites created with Framer, allowing users to drag and drop these features onto their web pages, customize them, and connect them to their content or service.

On the other hand, Big Cartel, with a score of 5.8, offers a variety of apps and integrations to enhance ecommerce store functionality, including marketing, shipping, and store management tools. However, the total number of direct apps and integrations is around 27, which may be fewer than other platforms offer.

While both platforms offer valuable integrations, Framer’s higher score and more diverse range of plugins give it the edge in this category.

6.2

7.2

🏆

Overall Winner: Framer

. Framer offers a more comprehensive set of marketing tools, including advanced SEO features, blogging capabilities, and robust analytics and reporting. Big Cartel, while offering basic marketing tools, lacks blogging features and has limited SEO capabilities.


SEO Tools	Basic SEO features	Advanced SEO features
Email Marketing	Yes, through third party integrations like Mailchimp	Yes, through integration of third-party services such as Mailchimp
Blogging	No	Yes
Social Media Integration	Yes	Yes
Analytics and Reporting	Yes	Yes, only on higher plans
Ads and Promotions	Yes, using third party integration	No

5.4

5.6

🏆 Winner: Framer

. Comparing Big Cartel vs Framer, Framer edges out slightly in this category with a customer support score of 5.6 compared to Big Cartel’s 5.4. Framer primarily offers self-help options through their community forum and knowledge base, and users can also email their support team for assistance. While details about their working hours and availability are not provided, the availability of a community forum can be a valuable resource for users seeking help.

Big Cartel’s customer support is available Monday through Friday from 8am to 6pm EST, with a team of twelve members ready to assist. They recommend that account holders log in for faster assistance and provide an email contact for non-account holders. However, Big Cartel does not fulfill orders or control refunds directly, which may limit the support experience for some users. Despite this, Big Cartel’s support team is noted for being helpful within their available hours.

7.3

8.2

🏆

Winner: Framer

. Framer takes a comprehensive approach to security, utilizing Amazon Web Services (AWS) for hosting its services and ensuring data is encrypted at rest. They classify data into categories and manage secrets and encryption keys through AWS Parameter Store and Key Management Service (KMS). Framer also emphasizes product security through secure development practices, external security testing, and a bug bounty program.

Big Cartel, while providing SSL encryption across its platform and complying with Data Protection Legislation, does not achieve PCI compliance on its own. It facilitates secure payment processing through integration with PCI-compliant third-party gateways like PayPal and Stripe.

0.0

7.6


AI Builder		Framer’s AI builder simplifies the process of creating and optimizing web content
AI Ecommerce features
AI content generation		Framer’s AI enhances website creation with features like AI Translation, Text Rewrite, and Headline Generator
Additional AI features		Framer’s AI Style and AI Photo Generating and Editing tools offer a high degree of customization and instant image creation and editing capabilities

🏆 Winner: Framer

. Framer, with a score of 7.6, offers several AI capabilities that enhance the process of website creation and optimization. These include AI-driven content generation and localization, text rewriting, headline generation, style customization, and photo generation and editing. On the other hand, Big Cartel does not have any AI capabilities.

Framer AI feature

1.3

7.4

🏆 Winner: Framer

. Big Cartel and Framer have different approaches to user management.

Big Cartel allows only one user to build and edit a website.
Framer supports team collaboration with different plans allowing a varying number of editors; the Team Basic plan allows up to 5 editors, while the Team Pro plan supports up to 10 editors. These plans come with additional features like live collaboration, comments, file storage, and extended version history.

Framer User Roles and Access Levels:

Role	Description	Access Highlights
Designer	Focuses on the aesthetic and UI/UX aspects of the website.	Can create and modify design elements, utilize animation libraries like Framer Motion, and implement accessibility settings.
Content Editor	Manages and curates content for the website, including text, images, and other media.	Can edit CMS content, use localization features for different regions, and modify SEO settings.
Developer	Works on more technical aspects, such as custom code and integrations.	Has access to deploy options, can use custom domains, manage project permissions, and apply custom code for further optimization.
Project Manager	Oversees the project, coordinating between different roles and ensuring the project meets its deadlines and goals.	Can invite collaborators, assign roles and permissions, and manage versions and rollbacks for efficient site management.
Collaborator (General)	A role that can encompass various levels of access based on project needs, including design, content, and deployment tasks.	Access can be customized to include a mix of design, content, and deploy permissions based on the project’s needs and the individual’s role within the team.

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

Big Cartel

26 reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars

Framer

86 reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars

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.

Framer receives high marks for its user-friendly, no-code approach to web and prototype design, offering extensive tutorials, templates, and drag-and-drop functionalities that expedite the design process. Users appreciate its integration with tools like Figma, AI-generated responsive designs, and real-time collaboration features. Critiques focus on a steep learning curve for newcomers and limitations in customer support and features without premium access. Despite these drawbacks, Framer is lauded as a powerful design tool that enhances creativity and efficiency in web development.

The making of this blog

We followed a clear, step-by-step process to write and research this article.

Our Ranking Criteria

FAQ

Which platform is better for artists and small-scale sellers, Big Cartel or Framer?

Big Cartel is specifically designed for artists and small-scale sellers, offering a straightforward setup process and essential ecommerce features tailored to their needs. It’s the better choice for those looking to quickly set up a simple, effective online store without extensive ecommerce functionalities or design customizations.

Can I use Framer for ecommerce?

While Framer offers extensive customization and AI-driven design capabilities, it lacks native ecommerce features. For full ecommerce functionality, Framer relies on third-party integrations like Ecwid. This setup may suit users looking for a more customized or design-centric online presence but requires additional setup for selling online.

How do Big Cartel and Framer compare in terms of design and customization?

Framer is the preferred choice for users seeking more creative control and a wide array of design features, including AI-driven design capabilities and extensive customization options. Big Cartel offers a variety of free, customizable templates designed for artists and small businesses, but with less emphasis on advanced design features.

Which platform offers better support for building informational and business websites?

Framer slightly edges out Big Cartel for informational and business websites, offering more advanced design and customization options. Big Cartel is tailored for simplicity and ease of use, making it a solid choice for straightforward informational sites, especially for creative industries.

Is Big Cartel or Framer easier to use for beginners?

Big Cartel is designed with simplicity in mind, making it particularly accessible for artists and small-scale sellers who may not have extensive technical skills. Framer offers a robust platform but with a steeper learning curve, especially for those new to web design.

What are the main differences in pricing between Big Cartel and Framer?

Big Cartel offers straightforward pricing with no discounts for longer-term commitments, making it a cost-effective choice for small businesses and startups. Framer provides a range of plans with discounts for annual billing and offers an Enterprise plan for large-scale websites, which Big Cartel lacks.

Which platform has better hosting quality?

Framer offers cloud hosting with a 99.9% uptime and an uptime guarantee for enterprise plans, along with 4 data centers globally. Big Cartel does not provide specific information about their hosting services, including the type of hosting, uptime, and data centers.

How do Big Cartel and Framer handle website speed optimization?

Framer has a clear strategy for speed optimization, using techniques such as code minification, pre-rendering, caching, and image optimization to enhance website performance. Big Cartel does not specify any strategies for speed optimization or improvements in Core Web Vitals.

Which platform offers better plugins and integrations?

Framer offers a variety of plugins that cater to different needs, enhancing the functionality of websites created with the platform. Big Cartel provides a variety of apps and integrations to enhance ecommerce store functionality, but with fewer direct apps and integrations compared to Framer.

How do customer support options compare between Big Cartel and Framer?

Although both platforms offer similar customer support scores, Framer edges out Big Cartel due to its dedicated support for enterprise customers. Framer primarily offers self-help options and email support, while Big Cartel’s team is available during business hours with a focus on small businesses and startups.