Final verdict
Between Big Cartel and Square Online, Square Online emerges as the more comprehensive and versatile platform, particularly for businesses looking for an all-in-one solution.
-
Big Cartel (Overall Grade: 5.8/10)
is best suited for artists and small-scale creators who prioritize simplicity and affordability. It offers a straightforward platform that’s easy to set up and manage, with enough features for small, creative businesses to start selling online. However, its limitations in design flexibility, ecommerce features, and integrations make it less suitable for businesses looking to scale. -
Square Online (Overall Grade: 7.2/10)
stands out for its robust ecommerce capabilities, superior design options, and extensive suite of tools for business management. It’s particularly beneficial for retailers, restaurants, and service businesses aiming for a seamless online transition. With better support for ecommerce, marketing, and customer engagement, Square Online offers a more dynamic platform for growth and scalability.
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Design functionalities & templates |
6.9 |
7.4 |
|
Ease of use |
8.0 |
8.4 |
|
Ecommerce |
6.2 |
7.3 |
|
Website Editors |
6.8 |
6.6 |
|
Product testing options |
5.9 |
7.8 |
|
Price |
7.8 |
7.5 |
|
Hosting quality |
5.0 |
7.8 |
|
Website speed optimization |
5.0 |
6.2 |
|
Plugins and integrations |
5.8 |
7.6 |
|
Marketing features |
6.2 |
7.4 |
|
Customer support |
5.4 |
6.7 |
|
Security |
7.3 |
8.5 |
|
AI capabilities |
0.0 |
7.4 |
|
User Management |
1.3 |
5.2 |
| Overall |
5.8 |
7.2 |
Best for ecommerce
6.2
7.3
Verdict
: Square Online edges out Big Cartel with its broader range of features and better integration for businesses looking for a comprehensive ecommerce solution.
-
Big Cartel
: Best suited for artists and small-scale creators, Big Cartel offers simplicity and essential tools for selling online. It’s a good fit for those who prioritize ease of use over extensive features. -
Square Online
: With its higher score and more robust ecommerce capabilities, Square Online is the better choice for businesses seeking a fully integrated online store with advanced features like POS capabilities and comprehensive payment processing.
Best for informational & business websites
7.2
7.4
Verdict
: Square Online slightly edges out Big Cartel for informational and business websites, offering a more comprehensive set of features tailored for a broader range of business types.
-
Big Cartel
: Geared towards artists and makers, Big Cartel offers simplicity and ease of use, making it a solid choice for small businesses and independent creators looking for a straightforward platform to showcase their work. However, its focus on simplicity might limit its appeal to businesses seeking more comprehensive online capabilities. -
Square Online
: With a slightly higher score and a focus on integrated business solutions, Square Online is better suited for businesses looking for a robust online presence. Its comprehensive tools and customizable templates cater well to retailers, restaurants, and service businesses aiming for a seamless transition to online sales.
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
7.4
🏆
Winner: Square Online.
If you’re looking for a platform that offers more creative control and a wide array of design features, Square Online is the preferred choice.
Big Cartel provides a variety of free, customizable templates designed to ensure that online stores look appealing on all devices. These templates are geared towards artists, creators, and small business owners, offering features like high-quality product displays and adjustable product grids without the need for coding knowledge. With over 15 different styles to choose from, Big Cartel’s templates allow for easy customization to fit any brand’s aesthetic, making it simple for anyone to start an online store quickly.
Compared to Big Cartel, Square Online offers a flexible website builder with a focus on e-commerce, providing a variety of design options through integration with platforms like Weebly. Users can customize their sites extensively, choosing from themes and preset styles to best represent their brand. While the exact number of templates available directly from Square is not specified, the integration with Weebly provides about a hundred themes, including 15 for online stores, emphasizing professional design and mobile responsiveness. This setup caters well to users seeking a blend of ease of use and e-commerce functionality without requiring deep technical knowledge.
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Ease of use
Ease of useReflects the platform’s overall user-friendliness.Score
Components:
- Learning curve (40%): Quickness and ease of getting started.
- Interface design (30%): Simplicity and intuitiveness of layout.
- User guidance (20%): Quality of tutorials and support.
- Flexibility (10%): Adaptability to various user skills.
8.0
8.4
🏆 Winner: Square Online
. With a score of 8.4, Square Online slightly edges out Big Cartel, which scored 8.0. Square Online’s user-friendly interface and comprehensive set of tools make it a more accessible platform for users without coding skills.
Learning Resources
🏆 Winner: Square Online
. Both platforms offer support and learning resources, but Square Online’s comprehensive guides, video tutorials, active community forums, and accessible customer service make it a more robust resource for learning and support.
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
7.3
Big Cartel and Square Online are both website builders that offer ecommerce capabilities, but they cater to different types of businesses. 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, Square Online is a comprehensive website builder designed to help businesses create professional, fully integrated online stores and websites. It offers a range of customizable templates, easy drag-and-drop tools, and direct integration with Square’s suite of payment processing and business management tools.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Ecommerce themes and templates |
5.5 |
6.8 |
|
Product page customization |
6.8 |
7.6 |
|
Payment processing and commissions |
7.0 |
7.9 |
|
POS capabilities |
6.5 |
9.0 |
|
Payment gateways |
6.0 |
7.5 |
|
Product numbers |
4.5 |
7.0 |
|
Additional ecommerce features |
5.7 |
7.2 |
Big Cartel ecommerce features:
- Inventory tracking
- Sales analytics
- Social Media integrations
- Marketing tools
Square Online ecommerce features:
- Product Listing and Inventory management
- Payment Processing and POS features
- Shipping and Fulfillment
- Marketing features
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. Square Online, on the other hand, offers a range of eCommerce templates designed to meet various business needs, enabling users to customize their sites to match their brand identity. It includes dynamic styling tools, personalized user experiences, and integrated payment solutions, including Square’s own payment gateway.
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. In Square Online, you can add up to 250 variations per item, like different sizes or versions, through “Selectable Options” in the item details section of your online store.
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. Square’s website builder supports a variety of payment options including Square Pay, Apple Pay, Cash App Pay, Google Pay, and Afterpay, catering to diverse customer payment preferences. The platform charges a transaction fee of 2.9% + 30¢ per online transaction for its free plan, with a discounted fee available on the Premium plan.
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
6.6
🏆
Winner: Big Cartel
. Big Cartel, with a score of 6.8, offers a website builder editor 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.
Square Online’s website builder, scoring 6.6, is designed for businesses looking to establish an online presence with ease, focusing on e-commerce functionality. It offers limited customization options, aiming to simplify the design process, yet includes essential e-commerce and marketing tools suitable for a variety of business needs. The platform supports an unlimited number of products and integrates with Square’s payment processing, albeit with limited external payment options. While Square Online is user-friendly and efficient for quickly setting up a website, it may not cater to those seeking extensive design flexibility or advanced e-commerce features.
Mobile editor/app
7.5
5.5
🏆
Winner: Big Cartel
. Both Big Cartel and Square Online offer mobile capabilities, but they cater to different needs and skill levels. Big Cartel provides a mobile app that allows users to manage their online store directly from their mobile device. Key features include the ability to add and edit products, process orders, check inventory, and view store statistics. It provides a convenient way for store owners to keep their business running smoothly on-the-go, without the need for a computer. The interface is user-friendly, ensuring that even those with minimal technical skills can easily navigate and make use of its functionalities. However, website design changes can be applied only on the desktop version.
On the other hand, Square Online does not have a dedicated mobile editor app. Users can manage and edit a website built with Square Online using the mobile browser version, but it comes with certain limitations.
In summary, Big Cartel is the winner in this category due to its dedicated mobile app and its user-friendly interface.
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
7.8
Overall Result
:
Square Online wins
. Square Online scores 7.8, offering a 30-day free trial with the possibility to test premium features, while Big Cartel scores 5.9, offering a free version with limited premium feature testing and no trial version.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Free Plan |
Yes | Yes |
|
Trial Duration |
No |
30 days |
|
Testing Premium Features |
Limited with free plan |
Available during 30-day free trial |
|
Money Back Guarantee |
No | No |
Price
PriceLooks at the cost-effectiveness and value for money of each platform.Score Components:
- Plan value (40%): What each pricing tier offers.
- Transparency and clarity (30%): Clearness of pricing structures.
- Flexibility of plans (20%): Range of options to suit different budgets.
- Hidden costs (10%): Additional expenses not included in the plan.
7.8
7.5
Big Cartel and Square Online have similar pricing scores, with Big Cartel slightly leading. Both platforms do not offer discounts for longer-term commitments. Big Cartel does not have an Enterprise plan, while Square Online’s Premium plan is designed for larger businesses seeking efficiency and cost savings in processing and shipping.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
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 ($0/month): For businesses who want to start selling online fast. Online payments with 2.9% + 30¢, basic-site layouts and design controls, tax calculation, unlimited items, SEO tools, blog feature, Facebook ads. |
|
$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+ |
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 |
Plus ($29/month): For businesses looking to drive online growth and streamline operations. Includes all the features of the free plan, plus, free custom domain for a year, professional branding, custom embed code, manage multiple sites, pre-orders, abandoned cart recovery, free shipping and delivery progress bar, product reviews, discounts, website statistics. Value for price: 7.5 |
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
7.8
🏆
Winner: Square Online
Square Online outperforms Big Cartel in hosting quality, offering unlimited bandwidth and a 99.96% uptime. However, neither platform provides detailed information about their hosting type or data centers. Big Cartel does not disclose any specifics about their hosting, including uptime, which gives Square Online an edge in this category.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Do they offer hosting? |
Yes |
Yes, with unlimited bandwidth |
|
Type of hosting: |
Not specified |
Not specified |
|
Uptime: |
Not disclosed |
99.96% |
|
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
6.2
🏆 Winner: Square Online
Both Big Cartel and Square Online are website builders that prioritize website performance and page speed. However, Square Online has a slight edge over Big Cartel due to its disclosed strategies for speed optimization.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Focus |
Not disclosed | Lazy Loading, Code Minification, Caching, Image optimization |
|
Performance Tools |
Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
|
Key Strategies |
Not disclosed | Lazy Loading, 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 disclosed | Not disclosed |
|
Core Web Vitals Improvement |
Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
Square Online, a comprehensive website builder designed for businesses, has disclosed its strategies for speed optimization, which include Lazy Loading, Code Minification, Caching, and Image optimization. However, it does not provide any information on their Core Web Vitals improvements. The load times and PageSpeed scores vary depending on optimization and website complexity.
On the other hand, Big Cartel, a website builder designed for artists and makers, does not disclose any information about its strategies for speed optimization or its Core Web Vitals improvements. Like Square Online, its load times and PageSpeed scores vary depending on optimization and website complexity.
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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
7.6
🏆 Winner: Square Online.
With a score of 7.6, Square Online offers a wider array of app integrations that facilitate various aspects of business operations, including eCommerce, accounting, marketing, and employee management. These integrations span from free options to premium services, allowing businesses to tailor their Square setup to their specific needs.
On the other hand, Big Cartel, scoring 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, Square Online’s broader range and higher score give it the edge in this category.
Marketing Features
Design FunctionalitiesRepresents how well each platform allows for creative design and customization of websites.Score Components:
- Template Variety (30%): Range and quality of design templates.
- Customization (30%): Flexibility and options for design alterations.
- User Interface (20%): Ease and intuitiveness of the design process.
- Responsiveness (10%): Adaptability to different devices and screen sizes.
- Innovation (10%): Unique design features and tools.
6.2
7.4
🏆
Overall Winner: Square Online
. Square Online offers a more comprehensive set of marketing tools, including blogging and more advanced email marketing features. Big Cartel, while offering basic marketing features, lacks in blogging and requires third-party integrations for email marketing.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
SEO Tools |
Basic SEO features |
Comprehensive SEO features |
|
Email Marketing |
Through third-party integrations |
Integrated email marketing |
|
Blogging |
No |
Basic blogging features |
|
Social Media Integration |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Analytics and Reporting |
Basic analytics and reporting |
Comprehensive analytics and reporting |
|
Ads and Promotions |
Using third-party integration |
Integrated ads and promotions |
Customer Support
Customer supportEvaluates the quality and availability of support options.Score Components:
- Response time (40%): Speed of support responses.
- Support quality (30%): Effectiveness and helpfulness of the support.
- Availability (20%): Range of support channels (phone, chat, email).
- Resource richness (10%): Quality of self-help and educational materials.
5.4
6.7
🏆 Winner: Square Online
. With a customer support score of 6.7, Square Online outperforms Big Cartel, which has a score of 5.4. Square Online provides customer support through phone, live chat, and email, with availability ranging from 6 AM to 6 PM Pacific Time on weekdays for general inquiries. Additionally, the customer success team is accessible for account issues Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 9 PM EST. The level of support varies by subscription tier, with more extensive support available for higher tiers. Premium plan users benefit from 24/7 phone support in English, alongside weekend support hours from 8 AM to 5 PM PST.
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. For faster assistance, it’s recommended that Big Cartel account holders log in before seeking help. If you don’t have an account and need assistance, you can reach out via email at [email protected]. It’s important to note that Big Cartel does not fulfill orders or control refunds directly, but they do offer resources for these concerns. However, Big Cartel does not have support for enterprises.
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
8.5
🏆
Winner: Square Online
. Square Online takes the lead in security with a score of 8.5, compared to Big Cartel’s 7.3. Square Online prioritizes user privacy and data security through encryption, adherence to industry standards, and constant security monitoring. It also provides free SSL security for every site, ensuring that personal and financial information remains confidential and protected.
Big Cartel, while offering comprehensive measures such as SSL encryption and strict data processing protocols, falls short in achieving PCI compliance on its own. It relies on third-party PCI-compliant gateways like PayPal and Stripe for secure payment processing. This could be a potential area of concern for users who prioritize end-to-end security.
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
7.4
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Personalized Design |
|
|
|
SEO Optimization |
|
|
|
Customer Behavior Analysis |
|
AI algorithms for personalized product recommendations |
|
Sales Predictions |
|
|
|
Inventory Management |
|
|
|
Content Generation |
|
AI-generated photo environments, email copy, website content |
🏆 Winner: Square Online
. Square Online, with a score of 7.4, utilizes AI to enhance the ecommerce experience and streamline operations for businesses. Its AI features focus on customer behavior analysis and content generation.
Big Cartel, on the other hand, does not have any AI capabilities. This lack of AI features may limit the platform’s ability to provide personalized experiences and automate certain tasks.
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
5.2
🏆 Winner: Square Online
. User management capabilities differ significantly between Big Cartel and Square Online.
- Big Cartel allows only one user to build and edit a website.
- Square Online allows multiple staff accounts, however the platform does not specify how many accounts are supported.
Unfortunately, neither platform provided 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.
Users appreciate Square Online Store for its ease of setup, no initial payment requirement for registration, and dependable payment processing. The platform is lauded for its simple user interface, which allows for quick product sales and efficient inventory management. However, some users express dissatisfaction with the limited design customization options and the simplicity of the store layouts, noting that they do not match the design quality of competitors like Wix, Squarespace, or Shopify. Additionally, limitations in scheduled order processing and a desire for more advanced features and better support for custom HTML and SEO were highlighted.
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 small businesses, Big Cartel or Square Online?
Can I use both Big Cartel and Square Online for selling products internationally?
How do Big Cartel and Square Online differ in terms of customization and design flexibility?
What are the major differences in pricing between Big Cartel and Square Online?
Which platform offers better customer support, Big Cartel or Square Online?
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