Final verdict
In the close contest between Big Cartel and iPage, each platform demonstrates unique strengths tailored to different user needs.
-
Big Cartel (Overall Grade: 5.8/10)
excels in providing a straightforward, artist-focused ecommerce solution. It’s particularly suited for independent creators and small businesses looking for an easy-to-use platform to sell their creations online. With its emphasis on simplicity, affordability, and essential ecommerce features, Big Cartel is ideal for those starting out or with smaller inventories. -
iPage (Overall Grade: 6.1/10)
, on the other hand, offers a more versatile web hosting and site builder platform that caters to a broader range of small businesses and personal projects. With its comprehensive services, including hosting, domain registration, and ecommerce solutions, iPage stands out for users seeking an all-in-one platform with a focus on flexibility and scalability.
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Design functionalities & templates |
6.9 |
7.0 |
|
Ease of use |
8.0 |
7.6 |
|
Ecommerce |
6.2 |
5.7 |
|
Website Editors |
6.8 |
6.8 |
|
Product testing options |
5.9 |
2.5 |
|
Price |
7.8 |
7.3 |
|
Hosting quality |
5.0 |
7.7 |
|
Website speed optimization |
5.0 |
7.4 |
|
Plugins and integrations |
5.8 |
6.3 |
|
Marketing features |
6.2 |
7.2 |
|
Customer support |
5.4 |
6.9 |
|
Security |
7.3 |
7.5 |
|
AI capabilities |
0.0 |
3.0 |
|
User Management |
1.3 |
3.2 |
| Overall |
5.8 |
6.1 |
Best for ecommerce
6.2
5.7
Verdict
: For artists and creators, Big Cartel offers a tailored experience with essential ecommerce features, while iPage provides a broader set of tools for small to medium-sized businesses.
-
Big Cartel
: With a focus on simplicity and ease of use, Big Cartel is best suited for artists and small creators looking to sell their work online. It offers a straightforward setup and essential tools like inventory management and sales tracking, but may lack advanced features for larger operations. -
iPage
: iPage caters to a wider range of ecommerce needs with its comprehensive services, including hosting, domain registration, and a variety of ecommerce solutions. It’s a better fit for small to medium-sized businesses looking for a more extensive set of features and marketing tools.
Best for informational & business websites
7.2
7.2
Verdict
: Given the identical scores for informational and business websites, the choice between Big Cartel and iPage hinges on specific needs. Big Cartel shines for creative individuals and small businesses focused on simplicity and ease of use, while iPage offers a broader range of features suitable for a wider variety of informational sites.
-
Big Cartel
: Tailored for artists and makers, Big Cartel emphasizes ease of use and simplicity, making it an excellent choice for small, creative businesses looking to showcase their work. Its straightforward setup and artist-focused themes allow for the creation of unique, visually appealing sites without the need for extensive technical knowledge. -
iPage
: With a more generalized approach, iPage caters to a broader audience, offering a variety of templates and a drag-and-drop builder that simplifies website creation. Its comprehensive services, including hosting, domain registration, and e-commerce solutions, make it a versatile choice for small businesses and personal projects looking for an all-in-one platform.
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
7.0
🏆
Winner: iPage.
Although the scores are close, iPage slightly outperforms Big Cartel in terms of design functionalities and templates.
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.
On the other hand, iPage offers a wide variety of templates and designs, catering to users with diverse needs and preferences. With hundreds of options available, ranging from simple and elegant to complex and dynamic, users can easily find a template that suits their specific project or business requirements.
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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
7.6
🏆 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. iPage, with a score of 7.6, offers a user-friendly experience, though some users may find the design options somewhat limited compared to more advanced website builders. If ease of use is a priority, Big Cartel is the clear winner in this category.
Learning Resources
🏆 Winner: iPage
. While both platforms offer solid learning resources, iPage goes a step further with its wide array of detailed tutorials and active community forums, making it easier for users to learn and adapt.
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
5.7
Big Cartel and iPage both offer ecommerce capabilities, but they cater to different needs. Big Cartel is specifically designed for artists and makers, offering a straightforward setup process and essential features such as inventory management, sales tracking, and promotional tools. On the other hand, iPage offers a range of ecommerce features suitable for small to medium-sized businesses, including integration with shopping carts like AgoraCart and PayPal for payment processing.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Ecommerce themes and templates |
5.5 |
5.5 |
|
Product page customization |
6.8 |
5.0 |
|
Payment processing and commissions |
7.0 |
6.0 |
|
POS capabilities |
6.5 |
3.0 |
|
Payment gateways |
6.0 |
6.5 |
|
Product numbers |
4.5 |
4.0 |
|
Additional ecommerce features |
5.7 |
5.5 |
Big Cartel ecommerce features:
- Inventory tracking
- Sales analytics
- Social Media integrations
- Marketing tools
iPage ecommerce features:
- Inventory Management and Tracking
- Coupon Codes and Promotions
- SEO Tools
- PayPal Integration
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. iPage, on the other hand, offers a variety of ecommerce-specific templates designed to cater to online stores and businesses. These templates are integrated with features such as shopping carts, product catalogs, and payment processing options to facilitate online transactions.
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. iPage’s website builder offers a range of ecommerce product page customization options, allowing users to design their storefronts with various templates, adjust layouts, and incorporate multimedia elements like images and videos to showcase products.
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. iPage supports several payment options for eCommerce, including major gateways like PayPal, Stripe, and others, catering to a wide range of currencies and countries.
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
6.8
🏆
Winner: Tie
. Both Big Cartel and iPage scored 6.8 for their website editors, indicating similar levels of functionality and user-friendliness.
Big Cartel’s website builder editor 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. However, users looking for advanced customization and functionality might find the editor limiting.
The iPage website builder editor is designed for ease of use, catering to both beginners and those with some web design experience. It offers a drag-and-drop interface, allowing users to easily add, remove, and customize elements on their web pages without needing to code. However, compared to more sophisticated website builders, iPage might offer fewer features and less refined design capabilities.
Mobile editor/app
7.5
5.0
🏆
Winner: Big Cartel
. Both Big Cartel and iPage offer mobile editing 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, iPage does not have a dedicated mobile app. However, users can edit their website on a mobile browser, with some limitations. This might be less convenient for users who prefer to manage their website on-the-go.
In summary, Big Cartel receives a higher rating due to its mobile app that allows for convenient management of online stores, while iPage, lacking a dedicated mobile app, may be less convenient for users who prefer to manage their website 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
2.5
Overall Result
:
Big Cartel wins
. Big Cartel scores 5.9, offering a free version and the possibility to test some premium features. iPage, scoring 2.5, does not offer a free or trial version, but allows testing of all features during a 30-day refundable period.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Free Plan |
Yes |
No |
|
Trial Duration |
No | iPage does not have free trial |
|
Testing Premium Features |
Some features with free plan |
All features during 30-day refund period |
|
Money Back Guarantee |
No |
30-day money back guarantee |
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
7.3
Big Cartel and iPage offer different pricing plans with varying features. Big Cartel does not offer any discounts for longer-term commitments, while iPage offers significant discounts for annual subscriptions.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
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-$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 |
No offering at this amount. |
|
$10-$20 |
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 ($15.99/month): Simple website or blog, 1 website, 10 GB SSD, free domain, managed WordPress, free SSL for 1st year. Value for Price: 6.5 |
|
$20-$30 |
No offering at this amount. |
Choice Plus ($27.99/month): Multiple sites with storage, security, backups, 3 websites, 40 GB SSD, daily backups, domain privacy, malware scanning. Value for Price: 7.5 |
|
$30-$34 |
No offering at this amount. |
Online Store ($32.99/month): Online selling with eCommerce tools, 3 websites, 40 GB SSD, store features like unlimited products and secure payments. Value for Price: 8.0 |
|
$34+ |
No offering at this amount. |
Pro ($34.99/month): High traffic sites, advanced storage, 5 websites, 100 GB SSD, optimized for high traffic, enhanced security and backups. Value for Price: 9.0 |
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
7.7
Winner: iPage
. iPage offers a range of affordable hosting services including shared, WordPress, and VPS hosting, with unlimited storage and bandwidth for various website needs. However, its performance speed and scalability features may not meet the expectations of all users, particularly those with high-traffic sites. Additional costs for backups, security features, and significant price increases upon renewal are potential downsides. On the other hand, Big Cartel does not provide specific information on their hosting type, bandwidth, storage limitations, uptime, uptime guarantee, and data centers.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Do they offer hosting? |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Data Centers: |
Not disclosed |
2 data centers: US, Europe |
|
Type of hosting: |
Not disclosed |
Managed WordPress Hosting |
|
Uptime: |
Not disclosed |
99.9% |
|
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
7.4
🏆 Winner: iPage
Both Big Cartel and iPage are website builders that prioritize website performance and page speed. However, iPage has a more comprehensive approach to speed optimization, which gives it an edge over Big Cartel.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Focus |
Not specified | Web Server optimizations, Caching, CDN |
|
Performance Tools |
Not specified | Database optimization, SEO optimization |
|
Key Strategies |
Not specified | Web Server optimizations, Caching, CDN |
|
Load Times |
Varies depending on optimization | 2.6s average |
|
Page Speed Scores Range |
Varies depending on optimization | 72/100 average |
|
Core Web Vitals Improvement |
Not specified | LCP, FID, CLS improvements |
iPage has a comprehensive approach to speed optimization, including web server optimizations, caching, CDN, database optimization, and SEO optimization. This results in an average load time of 2.6 seconds and an average PageSpeed score of 72/100. iPage also focuses on improving Core Web Vitals, including Largest Contentful Paint (LCP), First Input Delay (FID), and Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS).
On the other hand, Big Cartel does not specify its strategies for speed optimization or its tools for performance measurement. The load times and PageSpeed scores vary depending on the optimization and complexity of the website. Big Cartel also does not disclose any information about its Core Web Vitals improvements.
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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
6.3
🏆 Winner: iPage.
iPage scores 6.3, slightly ahead of Big Cartel’s 5.8. iPage offers a variety of plugins and extensions, with options ranging from SEO tools to security enhancements. The pricing for these plugins and extensions varies widely, with some available for free, while others require a one-time purchase or a recurring subscription fee. This allows users to customize their websites according to their needs and budget.
Big Cartel, on the other hand, 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 some integrations come at no additional cost, others, especially those through Zapier, might incur extra monthly fees and require technical configuration.
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
7.2
🏆
Overall Winner: iPage
. iPage stands out for its comprehensive marketing tools, especially in SEO, email marketing, and blogging. Big Cartel, while offering basic marketing features, lacks a built-in blogging feature.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
SEO Tools |
Basic SEO features |
Comprehensive SEO features |
|
Email Marketing |
Through third party integrations like Mailchimp |
Built-in email marketing features |
|
Blogging |
No |
Yes |
|
Social Media Integration |
Yes |
Integrated social media buttons and features |
|
Analytics and Reporting |
Basic analytics and reporting |
Comprehensive analytics with Google Analytics integration |
|
Ads and Promotions |
Yes, using third party integration |
Offers SEO, social media integration, email marketing, and promotional discounts |
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
6.9
🏆 Winner: iPage
. iPage takes the lead in this category with a customer support score of 6.9, compared to Big Cartel’s score of 5.4. iPage offers 24/7 customer support through phone, email, and live chat, ensuring that customers can receive help whenever they need it, regardless of the time or day.
On the other hand, Big Cartel’s customer support team is available Monday through Friday from 8am to 6pm EST. They have twelve members on their support team to assist with various inquiries. However, it’s important to note that Big Cartel does not fulfill orders or control refunds directly, but they do offer resources for these concerns.
Neither of the platforms provide support for enterprises, as they don’t have enterprise plans.
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
7.5
🏆
Winner: iPage
. iPage edges out Big Cartel with a slightly higher security score of 7.5 compared to Big Cartel’s 7.3. iPage offers comprehensive security measures including Domain Privacy Protection, SiteLock security suite, and SSL certificates. These features ensure the protection of private data and secure transmission of sensitive information.
Big Cartel, while offering SSL encryption and strict data processing protocols, does not achieve PCI compliance on its own. It relies on third-party PCI-compliant gateways for secure payment processing. This could be a potential drawback for users looking for an all-in-one secure platform.
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
3.0
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
AI Builder |
|
iPage offers an AI-powered website builder |
|
AI Ecommerce features |
|
|
|
AI content generation |
|
|
|
Additional AI features |
|
iPage’s AI features assist users in setting up their websites |
🏆 Winner: iPage
. iPage, with a score of 3.0, offers a basic AI-powered website builder, which makes it easy for users to create and customize their websites without needing extensive technical knowledge. However, it lacks AI content generation tools and does not offer third-party integrations with AI capabilities.
Big Cartel, with a score of 0.0, does not have any AI capabilities. It is a straightforward and easy-to-use website builder, but it does not offer any AI features to enhance the user experience or to assist in website creation and management.
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
3.2
🏆 Winner: iPage
. Both Big Cartel and iPage have limited user management capabilities, but iPage offers slightly more flexibility.
- Big Cartel allows only one user to build and edit a website. This can be limiting for larger teams or businesses that require multiple people to manage and update the website.
- iPage’s website builder offers very limited multi-user functionality and access levels compared to more sophisticated website builder platforms. However, it still provides more flexibility than Big Cartel.
Neither platform provides detailed user roles and access levels, indicating that they are more suited for individual users or small teams.
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.
Unfortunately, there is no user feedback available for iPage to provide a comparative analysis.
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 and small creators, Big Cartel or iPage?
Can I use iPage for a variety of website projects beyond ecommerce?
How do Big Cartel and iPage compare in terms of design and customization?
Which platform offers better customer support, Big Cartel or iPage?
Are there any free plans or trials available for Big Cartel and iPage?
Which platform is more affordable for small businesses?
How do Big Cartel and iPage ensure website security?
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