Big Cartel vs Portfoliobox: guide for 2024

Final verdict

Big Cartel and Portfoliobox both cater to creative professionals, but they serve slightly different needs.

Big Cartel (Overall Grade: 5.8/10)

is an excellent choice for artists and small-scale sellers looking for a straightforward, affordable platform to sell their creations online. It offers essential ecommerce features, user-friendly templates, and a simple setup process. However, it lacks advanced customization and integration options, making it more suitable for those who prioritize ease of use and affordability over extensive functionality.
Portfoliobox (Overall Grade: 6.1/10)

provides a more comprehensive solution for creative professionals who need to showcase and sell their work online. With its user-friendly interface, customizable templates, and advanced features, Portfoliobox is ideal for photographers, artists, and other creatives looking to create professional portfolios. While it comes at a slightly higher price point, the additional features and better user experience make it a worthwhile investment for those who need more than just basic ecommerce capabilities.

	Overall grade: 5.8	Overall grade: 6.1
Design functionalities & templates	6.9	7.5
Ease of use	8.0	8.1
Ecommerce	6.2	5.8
Website Editors	6.8	7.5
Product testing options	5.9	9.1
Price	7.8	7.9
Hosting quality	5.0	6.5
Website speed optimization	5.0	6.4
Plugins and integrations	5.8	7.2
Marketing features	6.2	7.0
Customer support	5.4	7.0
Security	7.3	8.1
AI capabilities	0.0	0
User Management	1.3	2.8

Best for ecommerce

6.2

5.8

Verdict

: Big Cartel is better suited for small businesses and independent creators, while Portfoliobox is ideal for creative professionals looking to showcase and sell their work online.

Big Cartel

: With a score of 6.2, Big Cartel is designed for artists and makers, offering a straightforward setup process and essential ecommerce features. It supports small businesses with inventory management, sales tracking, and promotional tools. However, it may lack the advanced customization options that larger businesses might need.
Portfoliobox

: Scoring 5.8, Portfoliobox is tailored for creative professionals looking to showcase and sell their work online. It provides a user-friendly interface with customizable templates and advanced features for managing and promoting professional portfolios. However, it may not be as robust in handling ecommerce functionalities compared to Big Cartel.

Best for informational & business websites

7.2

7.5

Verdict

: When it comes to creating informational and business websites, Portfoliobox has a slight edge over Big Cartel, thanks to its user-friendly design and comprehensive feature set tailored for creative professionals.

Big Cartel

: Big Cartel is an excellent choice for artists and small-scale sellers looking to create a simple, visually appealing online store. Its ease of use and affordability make it a popular option for independent creators. However, it may lack some of the advanced features and flexibility needed for more complex informational websites. Best for informational business websites score: 7.2.
Portfoliobox

: Portfoliobox stands out with its intuitive drag-and-drop functionality and a wide array of customizable templates, making it ideal for creative professionals who want to showcase their work online. It offers advanced features and e-commerce capabilities, providing a versatile solution for various professional needs. Best for informational business websites score: 7.5.

Detailed comparison

6.9

7.5

🏆

Winner: Portfoliobox.

If you’re looking for a platform that offers more creative control and a wide array of design features, Portfoliobox 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, Portfoliobox is a user-friendly platform that allows for the creation of professional portfolio websites, accessible to individuals at any skill level. It offers over 30 customizable templates tailored to a variety of professional needs and preferences, including galleries, blogs, and online stores. The platform also provides features for enhanced functionality such as Adobe Lightroom integration, SSL security, marketing tools, and SEO-friendly options. With its intuitive design and comprehensive toolset, Portfoliobox serves as a versatile solution for creatives looking to establish or expand their online presence.

Portfoliobox website example

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8.0

8.1

🏆 Winner: Portfoliobox

. With a score of 8.1, Portfoliobox offers a slightly more user-friendly experience compared to Big Cartel’s score of 8.0. Portfoliobox’s intuitive drag-and-drop functionality and customizable templates make it an excellent choice for creative professionals looking to showcase their work without needing technical skills. Big Cartel, while also user-friendly, is more tailored towards artists and small-scale sellers, offering a straightforward setup but with fewer advanced features.

Learning Resources

🏆 Winner: Portfoliobox

. Portfoliobox provides a comprehensive suite of learning resources, including detailed articles and video guides, making it easier for users to create and customize their online portfolios. Big Cartel also offers helpful resources, but its focus is more on simplicity and basic functionalities.

Learn more about Big Cartel’s resources

Learn more about Portfoliobox’s resources

6.2

5.8

Big Cartel is designed for artists and makers, offering a straightforward setup process and essential ecommerce features. It supports small businesses with inventory management, sales tracking, and promotional tools. Portfoliobox, on the other hand, is tailored for creative professionals looking to showcase and sell their work online. It provides a user-friendly interface with customizable templates and advanced features for managing and promoting professional portfolios.


Ecommerce themes and templates	5.5	3.0
Product page customization	6.8	6.0
Payment processing and commissions	7.0	7.0
POS capabilities	6.5	2.0
Payment gateways	6.0	5.0
Product numbers	4.5	5.5
Additional ecommerce features	5.7	4.5

Big Cartel ecommerce features:

Inventory tracking
Sales analytics
Social Media integrations
Marketing tools

Big Cartel Add a product

Portfoliobox ecommerce features:

Product listings
Payment Gateways integrations
Shipping rates and tax calculations
Order management

Portfoliobox add a product

Ecommerce themes & templates

Big Cartel offers around 20 templates specifically designed for ecommerce stores, providing various options for creating an online store. In contrast, Portfoliobox does not have ecommerce-specific templates, focusing more on portfolio presentation.

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. Additionally, the Advanced Product Options offer a structured way to present multiple variations through up to three option groups per product. This combination ensures efficient management and display of a wide range of product options.

Portfoliobox offers a streamlined process for customizing product pages. Users can add details like title, description, and media, set a release date, manage inventory and tax options, edit product settings, and apply discounts. These features help users effectively manage their online store and products within the Portfoliobox environment.

Payment processing

Big Cartel supports payment processing through PayPal and Stripe, allowing various payment methods, including credit/debit cards and mobile payments like Apple Pay and Google Pay. The platform does not charge additional transaction fees, but standard processing fees from PayPal and Stripe apply. Big Cartel also offers POS capabilities through Stripe terminal for Android and iOS for in-person sales.

Portfoliobox supports selling prints, art, craft, or services online without charging any commission for transactions. While specific payment gateways are not detailed, Portfoliobox mentions accepting credit card payments (Visa, Master, & Maestro) for its subscriptions, implying these may also be supported for transactions within its ecommerce functionality. However, there’s no explicit mention of POS capabilities, suggesting the platform is primarily focused on online sales.

Considering the features, availability, cost, and flexibility, Big Cartel appears to be a more robust and flexible ecommerce solution compared to Portfoliobox. However, if you are a creative professional looking for a platform to showcase and sell your work, Portfoliobox might still be worth considering.

6.8

7.5

🏆

Winner: Portfoliobox

. Portfoliobox, with a score of 7.5, offers a user-friendly website builder tailored for creative professionals, providing an array of tools for building and customizing portfolio websites. Features include blog management with a commenting system, customizable image galleries with security options, and the ability to sell digital products. It also supports SEO optimization, social media, and analytics integration for enhanced online presence. While praised for its ease of use and variety of features, some users may find it limited for advanced, detailed content needs.

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.

Portfoliobox editor

Mobile editor/app

7.5

🏆

Winner: Big Cartel

. Big Cartel offers 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. This 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 only be applied on the desktop version.

Portfoliobox, on the other hand, does not have a dedicated mobile editor app, which limits its usability for users who need to make changes or manage their site while away from a computer. This absence makes it less versatile compared to Big Cartel in terms of mobile management capabilities.

In summary, Big Cartel stands out for its mobile app’s functionality and ease of use, making it a better choice for users who require mobile access to manage their online store.

5.9

9.1

Overall Result

:

Portfoliobox wins

. Portfoliobox scores 9.1, significantly higher than Big Cartel’s 5.9, offering a more comprehensive product testing experience. Portfoliobox provides a 30-day free trial with access to all features and a 14-day money-back guarantee, allowing users to thoroughly evaluate the platform. In contrast, Big Cartel offers a free plan with limited feature testing and no trial or money-back guarantee.


Free Plan	Yes	No
Trial Duration	No	30 days
Testing Premium Features	Limited with free plan	All features within the trial period
Money Back Guarantee	No	14-day money-back guarantee

7.8

7.9

Portfoliobox offers more comprehensive features at a slightly higher price point, while Big Cartel provides a more affordable entry-level option with a free plan.

	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.	No offering at this amount
$0-$7	No offering at this amount	Light ($5.50/month): 50 Images, 10 Pages, 5 Products, 1 Password Protected Page, 1 Booking Service, 1 Scheduling Service, 1 Invoice, 1 QR Code, 25 mb File Sharing Value for Price: 6.0
$7-$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	Pro ($14.50/month): 500 Images, 50 Pages, 10 Products, 2 Password Protected Pages, 2 Booking Services, 2 Scheduling Services, 2 Invoices, 2 QR Codes, 50 mb File Sharing, Customizable Templates, Free Custom Domain (yourname.com), 24/7 Support 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 Plus ($18.50/month): 1,000 Images, 1,000 Pages, 1,000 Products, 1,000 Password Protected Pages, 1,000 Booking Services, 1,000 Scheduling Services, 1,000 Invoices, 1,000 QR Codes, 5,000 mb File Sharing, Customizable Templates, Free Custom Domain (yourname.com), 24/7 Support, No “Powered by Portfoliobox” Link, Adobe Lightroom Integration Value for Price: 9.0

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

6.5

🏆

Winner: Portfoliobox

Portfoliobox offers managed cloud hosting with unlimited bandwidth and secure communications, making it a more robust option compared to Big Cartel, which lacks detailed hosting information. Portfoliobox’s higher score reflects its better hosting capabilities.


Do they offer hosting?	Yes, included in all plans	Yes, included in all plans
Data Centers:	Not disclosed	Not disclosed
Type of hosting:	Not disclosed	Managed Cloud Hosting
Uptime:	Not disclosed	Not disclosed
Uptime Guarantee:	No	No

5.0

6.4

🏆 Winner: Portfoliobox

Both Big Cartel and Portfoliobox aim to provide efficient website performance, but Portfoliobox has a slight advantage due to its specific strategies for speed optimization.


Focus	Not specified	CDN, Caching, Responsive Design
Performance Tools	Not specified	Not specified
Key Strategies	Not specified	CDN, Caching, Responsive Design
Load Times	Varies depending on optimization	Varies depending on optimization
Page Speed Scores Range	Varies depending on optimization	Varies depending on optimization
Core Web Vitals Improvement	Not specified	Not specified

Big Cartel is designed for artists and makers to sell their creations online, offering a straightforward setup process and essential features like inventory management and sales tracking. However, it does not provide specific information on strategies for speed optimization or Core Web Vitals improvements. Load times and PageSpeed scores for Big Cartel can vary widely depending on the level of optimization and the complexity of the website.

Portfoliobox, on the other hand, is tailored for creative professionals looking to showcase their work online. It employs strategies such as CDN, caching, and responsive design to enhance website performance. Although Portfoliobox does not provide detailed information on Core Web Vitals improvements, its focus on specific speed optimization strategies gives it an edge over Big Cartel. Like Big Cartel, Portfoliobox’s load times and PageSpeed scores can vary depending on the level of optimization applied to the website.

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5.8

7.2

🏆 Winner: Portfoliobox.

Portfoliobox scores 7.2, offering a wide range of plugins primarily through Common Ninja and Elfsight platforms. These plugins enhance the website’s functionality with features like social media feeds, e-commerce capabilities, and interactive forms, making it a versatile choice for creative professionals. Big Cartel, with a score of 5.8, provides essential integrations for ecommerce, such as Mailchimp for email marketing and Printful for print-on-demand services, but its range is more limited compared to Portfoliobox.

Portfoliobox’s higher score reflects its broader and more flexible integration options, catering to a diverse set of user needs and preferences.

Portfoliobox Applications

Portfoliobox Common Ninja plugins

6.2

7.0

🏆

Overall Winner: Portfoliobox

. Portfoliobox excels with its comprehensive blogging and SEO features, making it ideal for creative professionals looking to showcase their work. Big Cartel, while simpler, offers essential tools for small businesses and independent creators.


SEO Tools	Basic SEO features	Detailed SEO configurations
Email Marketing	Through third-party integrations like Mailchimp	Built-in email subscription forms
Blogging	No	Blog post scheduling, comments, categories, and tags
Social Media Integration	Yes	Comprehensive social media integration
Analytics and Reporting	Google Analytics integration, real-time statistics	Comprehensive analytics, Google Analytics integration
Ads and Promotions	Discount codes, social media integration	No ads and promotions features

5.4

7.0

🏆 Winner: Portfoliobox

. Comparing Big Cartel vs Portfoliobox, Portfoliobox takes the lead with its 24/7 customer support, ensuring users can get help at any time. This round-the-clock availability is crucial for creative professionals who may need assistance outside of regular business hours. Portfoliobox’s dedicated support team is praised for their professional guidance and quick response times.

Big Cartel, on the other hand, offers customer support from Monday through Friday, 8am to 6pm EST. While their support team is helpful and responsive during these hours, the limited availability can be a drawback for users needing assistance outside of these times. Despite this, Big Cartel provides useful resources and a straightforward support process for its users.

7.3

8.1

🏆

Winner: Portfoliobox

. Portfoliobox excels in security with a comprehensive approach to data protection and website security. It ensures all domains receive free SSL certificates, employs two-factor authentication, and complies with GDPR, providing a robust framework for safeguarding user data and maintaining secure connections.

Big Cartel, while offering SSL encryption and secure payment processing through third-party gateways, does not achieve PCI compliance on its own. It focuses on protecting personal data through technical and organizational measures but falls short compared to Portfoliobox’s more extensive security protocols and compliance standards.

0.0


AI Builder	Not available	Not available
AI Ecommerce Features	Not available	Not available
AI Content Generation	Not available	Not available
Additional AI Features	Not available	Not available

🏆 Winner: None

. Both Big Cartel and Portfoliobox do not offer any AI capabilities. They are focused on providing user-friendly website building experiences without incorporating AI-driven tools or features.

1.3

2.8

🏆 Winner: Portfoliobox

. Both Big Cartel and Portfoliobox have significant limitations in user management, allowing only one user to manage and edit a website. However, Portfoliobox scores slightly higher in user management, making it a marginally better choice for individual users.

Big Cartel

: Allows only one user to build and edit a website. This limitation makes it less suitable for collaborative projects or businesses requiring multiple users to manage the site.
Portfoliobox

: Similarly, allows only one user to manage and edit a website. Despite this limitation, it scores higher in user management, indicating a slightly better user experience for individual users.

Both platforms are best suited for solo entrepreneurs or creative professionals who do not require multi-user access.

Additional Features


SSL Certificate	✓	✓
Custom Domain	✓	✓
Free Custom Domain Included	✓	✓
International Domains	✓	✓
Mobile Responsive	✓	✓
Page Speed	✓	✓
Website Builder Mobile App	✓	X
Convert a Website To An App	X	X
Website Analytics	✓	✓
Multilingual Sites	✓	✓
Multiple Users	X	X

User Feedback

Big Cartel

26 reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars

Portfoliobox

31 reviews

4.3 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.

Users overwhelmingly appreciate Portfoliobox for its user-friendly interface, making it straightforward for both beginners and professionals to create and manage online portfolios. The platform’s customizable design options, responsive layouts, and diverse template selection stand out as significant advantages, allowing users to express their personal style and showcase their work effectively across devices. However, some critiques include limited template options compared to competitors, a learning curve for less tech-savvy users, and minor glitches with features like autosave on different devices. Despite these challenges, the positive impact of Portfoliobox on users’ ability to present their work to potential clients and employers, along with its value in making portfolio creation accessible without coding knowledge, is consistently highlighted.

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 creative professionals, Big Cartel or Portfoliobox?

Portfoliobox is generally better for creative professionals who need robust portfolio presentation capabilities. It offers a wide range of customizable templates and advanced features like Adobe Lightroom integration, making it ideal for photographers, artists, and other creatives.

Can I use both Big Cartel and Portfoliobox for selling products online?

Yes, both platforms support online sales. Big Cartel is tailored for artists and makers with a straightforward setup and essential ecommerce features, making it ideal for small-scale sellers. Portfoliobox, while also offering ecommerce, provides more advanced portfolio features suitable for creatives looking to showcase and sell their work.

How do Big Cartel and Portfoliobox differ in terms of ease of use?

Both platforms are user-friendly, but Portfoliobox offers a slightly more intuitive experience with a score of 8.1 compared to Big Cartel’s 8.0. Portfoliobox’s drag-and-drop functionality and customizable templates make it particularly easy for users without technical skills to create and manage their websites.

What are the major differences in pricing between Big Cartel and Portfoliobox?

Big Cartel offers a more affordable entry-level option with a free plan that includes basic features suitable for small businesses. Portfoliobox, while slightly more expensive, provides more comprehensive features and a greater range of templates and customization options, offering better value for users needing advanced portfolio capabilities.