Final verdict
Big Cartel and Sellfy both cater to creators and small businesses, but they serve slightly different needs.
-
Big Cartel (Overall Grade: 5.8/10)
is designed for artists and makers who want a simple, affordable platform to sell their creations online. It offers a straightforward setup process, customizable templates, and essential ecommerce features like inventory management and sales tracking. However, it lacks advanced customization options and integrations, making it more suitable for small-scale sellers who prioritize ease of use and affordability. -
Sellfy (Overall Grade: 6.0/10)
provides a more comprehensive set of tools for creators looking to sell a wide array of products, including digital, physical, subscription-based, and print-on-demand items. It offers a user-friendly interface, versatile payment options, and integrated marketing tools, making it ideal for those who want to manage and scale their online business effectively. While it may not offer the same level of design flexibility as Big Cartel, Sellfy’s focus on simplifying the ecommerce process gives it an edge for more diverse selling strategies.
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Design functionalities & templates |
6.9 |
5.2 |
|
Ease of use |
8.0 |
7.8 |
|
Ecommerce |
6.2 |
6.8 |
|
Website Editors |
6.8 |
6.8 |
|
Product testing options |
5.9 |
7.3 |
|
Price |
7.8 |
7.9 |
|
Hosting quality |
5.0 |
7.3 |
|
Website speed optimization |
5.0 |
5.4 |
|
Plugins and integrations |
5.8 |
6.7 |
|
Marketing features |
6.2 |
7.1 |
|
Customer support |
5.4 |
5.8 |
|
Security |
7.3 |
7.2 |
|
AI capabilities |
0.0 |
0 |
|
User Management |
1.3 |
2.0 |
Best for ecommerce
6.2
6.8
Verdict
: Big Cartel is ideal for artists and makers seeking simplicity and affordability, while Sellfy offers a more comprehensive set of tools for a wider array of products, making it better suited for creators looking to scale their online business.
-
Big Cartel
: This platform is tailored for artists and small businesses, offering a straightforward setup and essential ecommerce features like inventory tracking, sales analytics, and social media integrations. It is particularly favored for its simplicity and affordability, making it a great choice for those who want to focus on their creative endeavors without getting bogged down by complex ecommerce functionalities. However, when comparing Big Cartel vs Sellfy, Big Cartel may lack some advanced features needed for larger-scale operations. -
Sellfy
: Sellfy stands out with its ability to handle a diverse range of products, including digital, physical, subscription-based, and print-on-demand items. It provides a user-friendly interface and a comprehensive set of tools for managing, marketing, and scaling an online business. Sellfy’s higher score in ecommerce features and marketing tools makes it a more robust option for creators looking to expand their business.
Best for informational & business websites
7.2
5.7
Verdict
: Big Cartel is better suited for informational business websites, offering a higher degree of flexibility and ease of use compared to Sellfy.
-
Big Cartel
: Big Cartel scores 7.2 in this category, making it a strong choice for artists and small-scale sellers looking to create informational websites. Its user-friendly interface and customizable templates are designed to support creative endeavors without requiring extensive technical skills. The platform’s focus on simplicity and affordability makes it particularly appealing for small businesses and independent creators. -
Sellfy
: Sellfy, with a score of 5.7, is more tailored for creators looking to sell a variety of products, including digital and physical items. While it offers a simple and user-friendly interface, it may not provide the same level of design flexibility and ease of use as Big Cartel for purely informational websites. Sellfy’s strengths lie in its comprehensive eCommerce tools, making it a better fit for those who prioritize selling over informational content.
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
5.2
🏆
Winner: Big Cartel.
Big Cartel offers a higher degree of flexibility and a wider variety of templates and designs, making it the preferred choice for artists and small-scale sellers.
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, Sellfy provides a collection of design templates through its theme store, located in the Store Customizer. Users have the option to preview these themes before applying them to their websites. However, Sellfy’s customization flexibility may not cater to those seeking advanced design features.
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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
7.8
🏆 Winner: Big Cartel
. Scoring 8.0, Big Cartel edges out Sellfy, which scored 7.8, in terms of ease of use. 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. Sellfy also offers a user-friendly interface, but Big Cartel’s focus on simplicity and ease of use gives it the edge in this category.
Learning Resources
🏆 Winner: Big Cartel
. Both platforms offer learning resources, but Big Cartel provides more comprehensive support, including a useful knowledge base and community resources. Sellfy, on the other hand, lacks a large community of users across various platforms.
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
6.8
Big Cartel and Sellfy are both ecommerce platforms designed for creators and small businesses. However, they cater to different needs and offer varying features.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Ecommerce themes and templates |
5.5 |
7.0 |
|
Product page customization |
6.8 |
6.5 |
|
Payment processing and commissions |
7.0 |
8.0 |
|
POS capabilities |
6.5 |
4.0 |
|
Payment gateways |
6.0 |
6.0 |
|
Product numbers |
4.5 |
7.5 |
|
Additional ecommerce features |
5.7 |
6.5 |
Big Cartel ecommerce features:
- Inventory tracking
- Sales analytics
- Social Media integrations
- Marketing tools
Sellfy ecommerce features:
- Product Listings
- Payment Gateways integration
- Product categories
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, Sellfy’s templates are all designed for online stores, offering a streamlined design process.
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. This allows for specific pricing and quantities for each variant. For products with complex attributes, the Advanced Product Options offer a structured way to present multiple variations, simplifying the shopping experience.
Sellfy supports a diverse range of products including digital goods like music, videos, ebooks, and software, as well as physical products and print-on-demand merchandise such as t-shirts and mugs. The platform enables the sale of subscriptions, offering a means for recurring revenue. Sellfy provides tools for product protection and piracy prevention, ensuring secure file hosting and delivery.
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. Big Cartel also offers POS capabilities, primarily through Stripe terminal for Android and iOS for in-person sales.
Sellfy supports two primary payment gateways, Stripe and PayPal, allowing for various payment options including credit/debit cards and localized payment methods in Europe. The platform does not charge transaction fees beyond its subscription cost, though payment processors’ standard fees apply. While Sellfy is robust in facilitating online sales with features for product management and marketing, it does not explicitly mention support for Point of Sale (POS) capabilities.
In conclusion, Big Cartel is a good choice for artists and makers who want a simple, affordable platform to sell their creations online. Sellfy, on the other hand, is more suited for creators looking to sell a wide array of products including digital, physical, subscription-based, and print-on-demand items. It offers a comprehensive set of tools to manage, market, and scale their online business effectively.
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 Sellfy scored 6.8 for their website editors, indicating a similar level of quality and user satisfaction.
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. 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.
Sellfy website builder offers a straightforward and user-friendly platform for creating online stores, focusing on simplicity over advanced customization. It supports the sale of digital, physical, subscription-based, and print-on-demand products, alongside integrated marketing tools for promotion and sales optimization. Payment processing is secure and direct, utilizing popular gateways like Stripe and PayPal with no transaction fees. Despite some limitations in design customization and app integrations, Sellfy aims to provide a comprehensive e-commerce solution for entrepreneurs and creators.
Mobile editor/app
7.5
7.5
🏆
Winner: Tie
. Both Big Cartel and Sellfy offer mobile apps that allow users to manage their online stores on the go.
Big Cartel’s mobile app provides key features such as the ability to add and edit products, process orders, check inventory, and view store statistics. It offers a user-friendly interface, 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.
Similarly, the Sellfy mobile app enables store owners to manage their online stores on the go, offering functionalities such as viewing store performance metrics, managing and tracking orders, and receiving customized notifications. Users can also access summary reports of their store’s performance on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. However, it’s not possible to change the layout or the design of the website itself via the mobile app.
In conclusion, both Big Cartel and Sellfy offer robust mobile apps for managing online stores, but neither allows for website design changes via the mobile app. Therefore, the choice between the two would depend on the specific needs and preferences of the user.
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
7.3
Overall Result
:
Sellfy Wins
. Sellfy scores 7.3, higher than Big Cartel’s 5.9, in product testing options. Sellfy offers a 14-day free trial during which users can test premium features. It also provides a 30-day money-back guarantee. On the other hand, Big Cartel offers a free version with the possibility to test some features, but it does not provide a trial version or a money-back guarantee.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Free Plan |
Yes |
No |
|
Trial Duration |
No |
14 days |
|
Testing Premium Features |
Some features with free plan |
During the free trial |
|
Money Back Guarantee |
No |
30 days |
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
7.9
Big Cartel and Sellfy have similar pricing scores, but Big Cartel offers a free plan, while Sellfy provides a discount for annual billing.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
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. |
|
$15-$30 |
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 |
Starter ($29/month): Ideal for growing businesses with sales up to $10k/year. Offers unlimited products, digital and subscription products, domain connection, and 2,000 email credits. Annual savings available. Value for price: 7.5 |
|
$70-$80 |
No offering at this amount. |
Business ($79/month): Targets businesses with up to $50k in yearly sales, offering everything in the Starter plan plus 10,000 email credits, product and store design migration, product upselling, cart abandonment tools, and Sellfy branding removal. Value for price: 8.0 |
|
$100+ |
No offering at this amount. |
Premium ($159/month): For businesses with up to $200k/year in sales. Includes everything in the Business plan plus 50,000 email credits, product migration, and priority support. Annual savings are also offered. 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
7.3
🏆
Winner: Sellfy
Sellfy edges out Big Cartel in hosting quality due to its disclosed uptime of 99.99%. Both platforms offer hosting but provide limited information about their hosting type and data centers. Big Cartel does not disclose its uptime or offer an uptime guarantee, which gives Sellfy the advantage in this category.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Do they offer hosting? |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Type of hosting: |
Not disclosed |
Not disclosed |
|
Uptime: |
Not disclosed |
99.99% |
|
Uptime Guarantee: |
No |
No |
|
Data Centers: |
Not disclosed |
Not disclosed |
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
5.4
🏆 Winner: Sellfy
Both Big Cartel and Sellfy have similar scores when it comes to website speed optimization, but Sellfy edges out slightly with a score of 5.4 compared to Big Cartel’s 5.0.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Focus |
Not specified |
Code Minification, Caching, Image Optimization |
|
Performance Tools |
Not specified |
Not specified |
|
Key Strategies |
Not specified |
Code Minification, 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 |
Not specified |
Sellfy’s approach to speed optimization includes code minification, caching, and image optimization. However, specific details about their load times, PageSpeed score ranges, and Core Web Vital improvements are not provided.
On the other hand, Big Cartel does not provide any specific information about their strategies for speed optimization, load times, PageSpeed score ranges, or Core Web Vital improvements. This lack of transparency makes it difficult to assess their performance in these areas.
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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
6.7
🏆 Winner: Sellfy.
Sellfy scores 6.7, offering a variety of integrations including Google Analytics, Facebook Live Chat, Zapier, and social media advertising tools. These integrations enhance ecommerce functionality and automate workflows. Big Cartel, with a score of 5.8, also 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.
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: Sellfy
. Sellfy edges out Big Cartel with a slightly higher score in marketing features. Both platforms offer similar features, but Sellfy’s tools may be more advanced or effective.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
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
5.8
🏆 Winner: Sellfy
. In the Big Cartel vs Sellfy comparison, Sellfy edges out Big Cartel with a slightly higher customer support score. Sellfy offers 24/7 customer support, ensuring that assistance is available at any time, although it is limited to email support without phone or live chat options. This round-the-clock availability can be crucial for users who may need help outside of regular business hours.
Big Cartel, on the other hand, provides customer support from Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm EST. While their support team is dedicated and can be reached via email, the limited hours may not be as convenient for users needing assistance during weekends or late hours. 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
7.2
🏆
Winner: Big Cartel
. Big Cartel 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. The platform implements technical and organizational safeguards to prevent unauthorized access to or loss of merchant personal data, with a focus on confidentiality and integrity of the data processed.
Although it may not offer the same level of specialized ecommerce security features as Big Cartel, Sellfy employs several security measures to safeguard sellers and their digital products from unauthorized access, fraud, and piracy. These measures include the use of secure payment processors like Stripe and PayPal, unique download links for each purchase, limited download attempts, and additional tools like PDF stamping to deter content sharing. While these strategies significantly mitigate risks, Sellfy also recognizes the inherent challenges of completely eliminating piracy in the digital space. The platform takes a pragmatic approach by providing tools that both protect creators’ content and assist in handling disputes effectively.
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
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Personalized Design |
|
|
|
SEO Optimization |
|
|
|
Customer Behavior Analysis |
|
|
|
Sales Predictions |
|
|
|
Inventory Management |
|
|
|
Content Generation |
|
|
🏆 Winner: None
. Both Big Cartel and Sellfy currently do not offer any AI capabilities. This includes AI builders, AI ecommerce features, AI content generation, and additional AI features. Therefore, if you are looking for a platform with AI capabilities, neither of these would be a suitable choice.
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
2.0
🏆 Winner: None
. Both Big Cartel and Sellfy have limited user management capabilities.
- Big Cartel allows only one user to build and edit a website.
- Sellfy does not support adding multiple users or staff to a single account.
Neither platform provides information about user roles and access levels.
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 Sellfy highlights its strengths in providing an efficient, compact online store setup that caters to specific needs with affordable pricing, including a 14-day trial period to familiarize users with the product. Many appreciate its user-friendly interface, internal marketing tools, and customization options, which enable sellers to tailor their storefronts to their brand, along with integrations for payment processing like PayPal and Stripe. However, criticisms include issues with mobile site speed, a desire for clearer insights, limitations on customization, and some customer service inefficiencies.
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-scale sellers, Big Cartel or Sellfy?
Can I test Sellfy or Big Cartel before committing to a plan?
Which platform offers better customer support, Big Cartel or Sellfy?
Are there any AI capabilities in Big Cartel or Sellfy?
How do Big Cartel and Sellfy compare in terms of hosting quality and website speed?
Which platform is more suitable for a business looking to scale, Big Cartel or Sellfy?
Do Big Cartel and Sellfy offer mobile responsive designs?
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