Final verdict
Big Cartel and Strikingly both offer unique advantages, but they cater to different types of users.
-
Big Cartel (Overall Grade: 5.8/10)
is tailored for artists and small businesses looking for a simple, affordable way to sell their creations online. It excels in ease of use and offers essential ecommerce features like inventory management and sales tracking. However, it lacks the advanced customization and broader feature set found in more versatile platforms. For those prioritizing simplicity and cost-effectiveness, Big Cartel is a solid choice. -
Strikingly (Overall Grade: 6.6/10)
provides a more versatile and feature-rich platform, suitable for a wider range of website needs. It offers a user-friendly drag-and-drop interface, a variety of customizable templates, and advanced features like SEO tools and ecommerce integration. Strikingly is ideal for users seeking a professional-looking website with more design flexibility and comprehensive support resources.
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Design functionalities & templates |
6.9 |
7.2 |
|
Ease of use |
8.0 |
8.1 |
|
Ecommerce |
6.2 |
7.2 |
|
Website Editors |
6.8 |
7.5 |
|
Product testing options |
5.9 |
7.1 |
|
Price |
7.8 |
8.1 |
|
Hosting quality |
5.0 |
7.2 |
|
Website speed optimization |
5.0 |
7.9 |
|
Plugins and integrations |
5.8 |
5.1 |
|
Marketing features |
6.2 |
7.2 |
|
Customer support |
5.4 |
7.2 |
|
Security |
7.3 |
7.5 |
|
AI capabilities |
0.0 |
1.6 |
|
User Management |
1.3 |
7.3 |
Best for ecommerce
6.2
7.2
Verdict
: Strikingly is more versatile and feature-rich for ecommerce, while Big Cartel is tailored for artists and small-scale creators.
-
Big Cartel
: Designed specifically for artists and makers, Big Cartel offers a straightforward setup and essential ecommerce features like inventory tracking, sales analytics, and social media integrations. It is ideal for small businesses and independent creators who need a simple, affordable platform to sell their creations online. However, in the Big Cartel vs Strikingly comparison, Big Cartel may lack the advanced features needed for larger-scale operations. -
Strikingly
: With its user-friendly interface and customizable templates, Strikingly is a versatile platform that supports a range of ecommerce needs. It offers features like product listings, inventory management, coupons, and advanced SEO tools, making it suitable for businesses looking to create professional-looking websites with integrated ecommerce capabilities. Strikingly’s more advanced features and flexibility make it a better choice for those needing more robust ecommerce solutions.
Best for informational & business websites
7.2
7.4
Verdict
: Strikingly slightly outperforms Big Cartel for informational and business websites, thanks to its versatile design options, ease of use, and comprehensive support.
-
Big Cartel
: Big Cartel is tailored for artists and small businesses, offering a straightforward setup and essential features for online stores. While it provides customizable templates and a user-friendly interface, it may lack the advanced design flexibility and broader feature set needed for more complex informational websites. Its score of 7.2 reflects its niche focus and simplicity. -
Strikingly
: Strikingly excels with its drag-and-drop interface, customizable templates, and a variety of features suitable for both personal and business websites. It offers better mobile responsiveness and a more comprehensive set of tools for SEO and blogging, making it a versatile choice for creating professional-looking informational sites. With a score of 7.4, Strikingly is well-suited for users seeking an easy-to-use platform with robust design capabilities.
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
7.2
🏆
Winner: Strikingly.
Strikingly offers a wider variety of templates and designs, more customization flexibility, and better mobile responsive design.
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, Strikingly offers a wide variety of templates and designs for its website builder. With over 60 unique templates to choose from, users can find a design that suits their needs and preferences. The templates are modern, visually appealing, and customizable, allowing users to personalize their websites.
Get a head start on website creation with AI
Create a custom website tailored to your business needs 10X faster with 10Web AI Website Builder!
No credit card required
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
8.1
🏆 Winner: Strikingly
. With a score of 8.1, Strikingly slightly edges out Big Cartel, which scored 8.0. Both platforms are praised for their simplicity and user-friendliness, but Strikingly offers a bit more versatility, making it the winner in this category.
Learning Resources
🏆 Winner: Strikingly
. Both platforms provide solid support, but Strikingly seems to offer a more comprehensive set of resources, including tutorials, guides, and a comprehensive support center with written and video resources.
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
7.2
Big Cartel and Strikingly both offer ecommerce capabilities, but they cater to different needs and scales 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. Strikingly, on the other hand, is a more versatile platform that allows users to create professional-looking websites and integrate ecommerce features.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Ecommerce themes and templates |
5.5 |
6.5 |
|
Product page customization |
6.8 |
6.0 |
|
Payment processing and commissions |
7.0 |
6.8 |
|
POS capabilities |
6.5 |
5.0 |
|
Payment gateways |
6.0 |
7.0 |
|
Product numbers |
4.5 |
5.5 |
|
Additional ecommerce features |
5.7 |
6.5 |
Big Cartel ecommerce features:
- Inventory tracking
- Sales analytics
- Social Media integrations
- Marketing tools
Strikingly ecommerce features:
- Product Listings
- Inventory Management
- Coupons and Discounts
- SEO tools
- Analytics
- Social Media 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. Strikingly offers a variety of eCommerce website templates tailored to meet various website building needs. These templates are designed by a world-class team of website designers and developers, focusing on modern trends and best practices to ensure your eCommerce site stands out.
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. Strikingly, on the other hand, allows for showcasing your products with high-quality images in the “Portfolio” or “Product Catalog” section, emphasizing a premium feel to attract buyers.
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. Strikingly supports secure payment processing through Stripe, Square, and other gateways like PayPal, offering a range of options for ecommerce sites.
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
7.5
🏆
Winner: Strikingly
. Strikingly, with a score of 7.5, is a user-friendly website editor designed to help individuals and businesses create professional websites quickly and easily, without the need for coding knowledge. It features a drag-and-drop interface for easy customization of website elements, such as text, images, and videos. Users can choose from a variety of templates that can be personalized to fit their brand, making it possible to launch a unique online presence swiftly. Strikingly also emphasizes mobile responsiveness, ensuring websites look great on any device, and offers SEO tools and social media integration to enhance online visibility and engagement.
Big Cartel’s website builder editor, scoring 6.8, is designed with simplicity in mind, catering primarily to artists and small-scale sellers. Users can easily customize their online store’s look and feel without needing advanced technical skills, thanks to its user-friendly interface. The editor allows for the customization of themes, addition of products, and setup of different pages like home, about, and contact pages. Additionally, it offers basic SEO settings and integration options with social media and other tools, making it a straightforward solution for those looking to sell their work online with minimal fuss.
Mobile editor/app
7.5
2.0
🏆
Winner: Big Cartel
. Both Big Cartel and Strikingly offer mobile capabilities, but they cater to different needs and skill levels. Big Cartel’s mobile app allows users to manage their online store directly from their mobile device. Key features include the ability to add and edit products, process orders, check inventory, and view store statistics. It provides a convenient way for store owners to keep their business running smoothly on-the-go, without the need for a computer. The interface is user-friendly, ensuring that even those with minimal technical skills can easily navigate and make use of its functionalities. However, website design changes can be applied only on the desktop version.
On the other hand, Strikingly does not have a dedicated mobile app. It is possible to edit a website using the mobile browser, however the interface is very inconvenient. Therefore, Big Cartel is the clear winner in this category due to its dedicated mobile app and 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
7.1
Overall Result
:
Strikingly Wins
. Strikingly scores 7.1, outperforming Big Cartel’s score of 5.9 in product testing options. Strikingly offers a 14-day free trial with access to all features, providing a comprehensive testing experience. Big Cartel, on the other hand, offers a free plan with limited feature testing, but lacks a trial version for a more extensive evaluation.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Free Plan |
Yes | Yes |
|
Trial Duration |
No |
14 days |
|
Testing Premium Features |
Limited with free plan |
All features during free trial |
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
8.1
Strikingly offers more features and storage with its plans, but Big Cartel’s plans are slightly cheaper. Neither platform offers an Enterprise plan.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
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): Includes Strikingly.com subdomain, unlimited free sites, 5 GB monthly bandwidth, 500 MB total storage per site, simple store with 1 product per site, and 5 pages per site and 24/7 support. |
|
$5-$15 |
Platinum ($9.99/month): The Platinum plan increases the product listing limit to 50 and allows up to five images per product. It adds features like the use of a custom domain, template code editing, Google Analytics, ads support, inventory tracking, the ability to offer discounts and run promos, bulk editing, and shipment tracking. Value for price: 7.5 |
Limited ($12/month): Allows connection to custom domain, includes 2 limited sites, unlimited free sites, 50 GB monthly bandwidth, 1 GB total storage per site, free domain with yearly plans, and allows selling a single product and 5 page per site. Value for price: 6.5 |
|
$15-$25 |
Diamond ($19.99/month): The Diamond plan further extends the product limit to 500 with the same benefits as the Platinum plan, including advanced Google Analytics reporting, ads with audience targeting, and priority customer support. Value for price: 8.5 |
Pro ($20/month): Offers 3 pro sites, unlimited free sites, unlimited bandwidth, 3 GB total storage per site, simple store with 300 products per site and up to 100 pages per site, site membership, custom forms, multiple pages, and removal of Strikingly branding, among other advanced features. Value for price: 8.5 |
|
$50+ |
No offering at this amount. |
VIP ($59/month): Includes all Pro features plus 5 pro sites, 10 GB total storage per site, priority customer service, English phone support, account management, and allows selling unlimited products. 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
7.2
Winner: Strikingly
. Strikingly offers managed hosting with a 99.9% uptime guarantee. Although they do not disclose detailed information about their data centers, they use multiple data centers to ensure a secure and highly available service. Big Cartel, on the other hand, does not provide specific information about their hosting type, uptime, or data centers, which makes it difficult to assess their hosting quality.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Do they offer hosting? |
Yes | Yes |
|
Data Centers: |
Not disclosed | Multiple, not disclosed |
|
Type of hosting: |
Not disclosed | Managed Hosting |
|
Uptime: |
Not disclosed | 99.9% |
|
Uptime Guarantee: |
No | Yes, 99.9% |
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
7.9
🏆 Winner: Strikingly
Strikingly has a clear edge over Big Cartel when it comes to website speed optimization. While Big Cartel does not provide any specific information about their speed optimization strategies or Core Web Vital improvements, Strikingly has a comprehensive approach to speed optimization.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Focus |
Not specified | CDN, Code Minification, Caching |
|
Performance Tools |
Not specified | Optimized Server Response Time, Image Optimization and Compression, Responsive Design |
|
Key Strategies |
Not specified | CDN, Code Minification, Caching, Optimized Server Response Time, Image Optimization and Compression, Responsive Design |
|
Load Times |
Varies depending on optimization and website complexity | Varies depending on different factors |
|
Page Speed Scores Range |
Not specified | 80-90/100 average |
|
Core Web Vitals Improvement |
Not specified | Not specified |
Strikingly’s approach to speed optimization includes the use of a Content Delivery Network (CDN), code minification, caching, optimized server response time, image optimization and compression, and responsive design. These strategies help to ensure that websites built with Strikingly load quickly and perform well. Strikingly’s PageSpeed scores average between 80 and 90 out of 100, indicating a strong focus on speed optimization.
On the other hand, Big Cartel does not provide any specific information about their speed optimization strategies or Core Web Vital improvements. The load times and PageSpeed scores for Big Cartel websites can vary depending on the level of optimization and the complexity of the website. Without more specific information, it’s difficult to compare Big Cartel’s performance to that of Strikingly. However, based on the information available, Strikingly appears to have a more comprehensive approach to website speed optimization.
Get a head start on website creation with AI
Create a custom website tailored to your business needs 10X faster with 10Web AI Website Builder!
No credit card required
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
5.1
🏆 Winner: Big Cartel.
Big Cartel scores 5.8, slightly ahead of Strikingly’s 5.1. Big Cartel offers a variety of apps and integrations to enhance ecommerce store functionality, including marketing, shipping, and store management tools. Strikingly also offers a wide range of plugins and extensions to enhance the functionality of your website. However, Big Cartel’s integrations with services like MailChimp, Printful, Zapier and Elfsight give it an edge over Strikingly.
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: Strikingly
. Strikingly stands out for its integrated blogging platform and more advanced SEO features. Big Cartel, while lacking in blogging, offers basic SEO tools and third-party integrations for email marketing.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
SEO Tools |
Basic SEO features |
Advanced SEO features |
|
Email Marketing |
Through third-party integrations like Mailchimp |
Integrated email marketing tools |
|
Blogging |
No |
Yes |
|
Social Media Integration |
Yes |
Yes, with enhanced features |
|
Analytics and Reporting |
Basic analytics and reporting |
Advanced analytics and reporting |
|
Ads and Promotions |
Yes, using third-party integration |
Integrated tools for 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
7.2
🏆 Winner: Strikingly
. In the Big Cartel vs Strikingly comparison, Strikingly takes the lead with a higher customer support score of 7.2 compared to Big Cartel’s 5.4. Strikingly offers 24/7 customer support via email and live chat, ensuring users can get help at any time. For VIP users, phone support is also available, providing an additional layer of assistance.
Big Cartel, on the other hand, provides customer support from Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm EST, with a team of twelve members. While they offer email support and resources for common issues, their limited hours and smaller support team may not be as responsive as Strikingly’s round-the-clock service.
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: Strikingly
. Strikingly edges out Big Cartel with a slightly higher security score. Strikingly’s commitment to security is reflected in its proactive approach towards implementing advanced technology infrastructure and security measures, including two-factor authentication and DDoS protection.
Big Cartel, while offering comprehensive measures such as SSL encryption and strict data processing protocols, falls short in achieving PCI compliance on its own. However, it does facilitate secure payment processing via third-party PCI-compliant gateways like PayPal and Stripe.
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
1.6
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
AI Builder |
|
Strikingly integrates AI-powered features to aid website creation |
|
AI Ecommerce features |
|
|
|
AI Content Generation |
|
|
|
Additional AI features |
|
|
🏆 Winner: Strikingly
. Although neither platform has extensive AI capabilities, Strikingly has a slight edge over Big Cartel with a score of 1.6, due to its integration of some AI-powered features to aid website creation.
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
7.3
🏆 Winner: Strikingly
. The user management capabilities of Big Cartel and Strikingly are quite different.
- Big Cartel allows only one user to build and edit a website.
- On a Strikingly website, you can invite up to 10 teammates to edit and manage your site. You can assign different roles to these teammates, such as Admin, Editor, Store Manager, Blogger, and Agent, each with specific levels of access and permissions.
Strikingly User Roles and Access Levels:
| Role | Description | Access Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Admin | Has access similar to the site owner but with specific limitations. | Can edit content, manage store and events, and view analytics, but cannot add/remove teammates. |
| Editor | Can make changes to the site with some restrictions. | Edits site content but lacks access to store management, settings panel, or analytics. |
| Store Manager | Primarily focused on e-commerce functionalities of the site. | Manages products, orders, and store settings, with no capabilities to edit non-store content. |
| Blogger | Specialized in writing and managing blog posts. | Can write and manage blog posts, with optional publishing rights. |
| Agent | Dedicated to managing audience interactions, primarily through live chat. | Has access to audience data, can respond to live chats, and send individual messages, with no site editing access. |
Big Cartel does not provide user roles and access levels as it allows only one user to build and edit a website.
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.
Strikingly users appreciate features like the ability to import data from LinkedIn, a variety of attractive templates, and responsive customer service. However, there are some reported issues, such as unexpected subscription renewals and limitations in customization options. Despite these drawbacks, Strikingly is valued for its ability to quickly create professional-looking websites, making it suitable for personal projects, startups, and small businesses. While pricing and customer service options may not appeal to everyone, those seeking an uncomplicated website building experience with diverse design choices may find Strikingly to be a suitable solution for their needs.
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 makers, Big Cartel or Strikingly?
Can I build a professional-looking website without coding knowledge on both platforms?
Which platform offers better ecommerce features?
How do Big Cartel and Strikingly compare in terms of customer support?
Which platform is more affordable?
Can I manage my website on the go with both platforms?
Which platform is better for SEO and marketing?
Build your website in 1 minute
Build your website in 1 minute
Tired of comparing? Try 10Web AI Website Builder and create your website in one minute.
