Final verdict
Shift4shop and Carbonmade cater to different user needs, each excelling in their respective domains.
-
Shift4shop (Overall Grade: 6.4/10)
is a robust ecommerce platform offering a wide range of features for online business operations. It supports various business models, including dropshipping and print-on-demand, and provides extensive customization options, making it ideal for businesses looking to establish a strong online presence. When comparing Shift4shop vs Carbonmade, Shift4shop stands out for its comprehensive ecommerce capabilities, advanced marketing tools, and strong security features. -
Carbonmade (Overall Grade: 4.4/10)
is designed specifically for creatives who want to showcase their work online without the need for coding skills. It offers fully customizable layouts perfect for photographers, illustrators, motion designers, graphic designers, and copywriters. Considering Shift4shop vs Carbonmade, Carbonmade excels in ease of use and design flexibility, making it a great choice for users who prioritize simplicity and creative freedom over ecommerce functionalities.
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Design functionalities & templates |
7.5 |
7.3 |
|
Ease of use |
7.0 |
8.3 |
|
Ecommerce |
7.6 |
0 |
|
Website Editors |
7.2 |
7.6 |
|
Product testing options |
5.0 |
7.2 |
|
Price |
6.7 |
7.9 |
|
Hosting quality |
7.8 |
6.1 |
|
Website speed optimization |
6.3 |
5.0 |
|
Plugins and integrations |
7.3 |
0 |
|
Marketing features |
8.0 |
1.0 |
|
Customer support |
7.9 |
5.8 |
|
Security |
8.9 |
5.8 |
|
User Management |
7.9 |
2.8 |
Best for ecommerce
7.6
0
Verdict
: Shift4shop is the clear winner for ecommerce, offering a comprehensive suite of features tailored for online businesses. Carbonmade, on the other hand, is not designed for ecommerce and lacks the necessary functionalities.
-
Shift4shop
: Shift4shop is a robust ecommerce platform designed to support various business models, including dropshipping and print-on-demand. It offers a comprehensive suite of ecommerce features, making it suitable for businesses looking to establish a strong online presence. Key features include payment gateway integrations, inventory management, abandoned cart recovery, and order management. With a best for ecommerce score of 7.6, Shift4shop is well-equipped to handle the needs of online businesses. -
Carbonmade
: Carbonmade is a portfolio builder designed specifically for creatives who want to showcase their work online. It offers fully customizable layouts perfect for professionals such as photographers, illustrators, and graphic designers. However, Carbonmade does not provide any ecommerce features, making it unsuitable for businesses that require online selling functionalities. With a best for ecommerce score of 0, Carbonmade is not a viable option for ecommerce needs.
Best for informational & business websites
7.2
5.9
Verdict
: Shift4shop is better suited for informational and business websites due to its comprehensive features and customization options, while Carbonmade is more tailored for creatives looking to showcase their portfolios.
-
Shift4shop
: Shift4shop offers a variety of professional, customizable, and mobile-friendly website templates, making it a strong choice for informational and business websites. Its extensive range of tools for website creation, payment processing, marketing, and business management provides a robust platform for various business models. With a score of 7.2, Shift4shop stands out for its versatility and comprehensive feature set, making it ideal for businesses looking to establish a strong online presence. -
Carbonmade
: Carbonmade, with a score of 5.9, is designed specifically for creatives who want to showcase their work online. It offers fully customizable layouts and an easy-to-use drag-and-drop interface, making it perfect for photographers, illustrators, and other creative professionals. However, its focus on portfolio creation means it lacks some of the advanced business features that Shift4shop offers. For those prioritizing simplicity and ease of use in showcasing creative work, Carbonmade is a suitable choice.
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.
7.5
7.3
🏆
Winner: Shift4shop.
If you’re looking for a platform with a wide range of free templates and extensive customization options, Shift4shop is the preferred choice.
Shift4shop provides a selection of over 100 free eCommerce templates, catering to a wide array of design preferences and brand identities. These templates are professionally designed with an emphasis on optimizing sales, employing the latest in technology and design trends. This variety ensures that businesses can find a design that closely aligns with their brand and aesthetic requirements.
Compared to Shift4shop, Carbonmade does not have traditional templates. Instead, the platform creates a personalized portfolio website based on the inputs of the users. This approach is tailored for creatives, enabling personalized, profession-specific layouts, responsive designs across devices, and support for unlimited uploads, including 4K videos. It provides a plethora of premade blocks and layouts for easy, drag-and-drop website design, along with specific features for various creative professions.
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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.
7.0
8.3
🏆 Winner: Carbonmade
. Scoring an impressive 8.3, Carbonmade excels in ease of use with its straightforward drag-and-drop interface, making it ideal for creatives who want to showcase their work without needing coding skills. Shift4shop, with a score of 7.0, offers a robust ecommerce platform but comes with a steeper learning curve, especially for beginners.
Learning Resources
🏆 Winner: Shift4shop
. While both platforms offer solid learning resources, Shift4shop provides a more comprehensive range of articles, videos, and 24/7 customer support, making it easier for users to navigate its complexities.
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.
7.6
0
Shift4shop is a robust ecommerce platform designed to support various business models, including dropshipping and print-on-demand. It offers a comprehensive suite of ecommerce features, making it suitable for businesses looking to establish a strong online presence. On the other hand, Carbonmade is a portfolio builder with no ecommerce capabilities, making it unsuitable for businesses that require online selling functionalities.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Ecommerce themes and templates |
6.5 |
0.0 |
|
Product page customization |
7.8 |
0.0 |
|
Payment processing and commissions |
8.4 |
0.0 |
|
POS capabilities |
7.0 |
0.0 |
|
Payment gateways |
9.0 |
0.0 |
|
Product numbers |
7.5 |
0.0 |
|
Additional ecommerce features |
7.2 |
0.0 |
Shift4shop ecommerce features:
- Payment Gateway integrations
- Inventory management
- Abandoned cart recovery
- Order management
Carbonmade ecommerce features:
Carbonmade does not provide any ecommerce features, as it is primarily designed for showcasing creative portfolios.
Ecommerce themes & templates
Shift4shop offers a variety of templates specifically designed for online stores, ensuring that businesses can create professional and functional ecommerce websites. In contrast, Carbonmade does not offer any ecommerce templates, as its focus is on portfolio creation.
Product page customization
Shift4shop provides extensive product page customization options, including advanced product options with inventory tracking, customizable product layouts, and the ability to showcase products through images, zoom, and video. Additionally, the Product Designer app allows for personalized product customization. Carbonmade, lacking ecommerce capabilities, does not support product page customization.
Payment processing
Shift4shop supports over 200 payment gateways, including major providers such as PayPal, Visa, and Stripe, without charging additional transaction fees from the platform itself. This makes it a versatile option for global markets. Carbonmade does not have payment processing capabilities, further emphasizing its focus on portfolio creation rather than ecommerce.
In summary, Shift4shop is a comprehensive ecommerce platform with a wide range of features to support online businesses, while Carbonmade is tailored for creatives looking to showcase their work, lacking any ecommerce functionalities.
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.
7.2
7.6
🏆
Winner: Carbonmade
. Carbonmade, with a score of 7.6, is designed specifically for creatives who want to showcase their work online without the need for coding skills. It offers fully customizable layouts perfect for a wide range of professionals such as photographers, illustrators, motion designers, graphic designers, and copywriters. Carbonmade provides an easy and fast way to create and manage online portfolios, featuring pre-designed templates along with various features and tools. Its editor provides responsive design across devices, 4K video support, unlimited image and video uploads, and premade blocks for customization.
Shift4shop’s editor, scoring 7.2, offers a comprehensive website builder with a focus on e-commerce, enabling the creation of various types of websites with an array of templates and customization options including a drag-and-drop editor. It integrates advanced features for product management, payment processing, and SEO optimization, alongside marketing tools for social media and email campaigns. While it provides significant resources for store management and marketing, some users experience a learning curve and report challenges with customer support and usability aspects.
Mobile editor/app
0
0
🏆
Winner: None
. Both Shift4shop and Carbonmade do not offer dedicated mobile editor apps. This means that users of these platforms will need to rely on desktop or web-based editors for managing and customizing their websites. While both platforms provide robust features for their respective target audiences—Shift4shop for ecommerce and Carbonmade for creative portfolios—the lack of mobile editing capabilities may be a limitation for users who prefer or require on-the-go website management.
In summary, neither platform stands out in this category due to the absence of a mobile editor app.
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.
5.0
7.2
Overall Result
:
Carbonmade wins
. Carbonmade scores 7.2, offering a trial version that allows users to test all premium features, making it easier for users to fully evaluate the platform. Shift4shop, with a score of 5.0, provides a free plan but only for US customers, and does not offer a trial version or a money-back guarantee.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Free Plan |
Yes, only for US customers | No |
|
Trial Duration |
No | Yes |
|
Testing Premium Features |
All the features within its free plan | All the features within the trial period |
|
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.
6.7
7.9
Carbonmade offers more affordable and flexible pricing plans compared to Shift4shop, which has a free plan with conditions and a single paid plan.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Free |
Free Plan ($0/month): Requires minimum $500/month processed payments with their Shift4shop payment with 2.90% + 30 Cents transaction fees. Unlimited Products, SEO & Marketing Tools, Unlimited Staff Users, Integrated Blog, Unlimited Bandwidth, 24/7 Customer Support, No Revenue Caps, API Access, Secure Online Payments. This plan allows to manage only 1 website and there is no limitation of number of pages offered. |
No offering at this amount. |
|
$0-$10 |
No offering at this amount. |
BEGINNER ($9/month): 8 Projects, Unlimited images/videos, Basic Blocks, Limited Support, 3 Navigations, SD Video, Audio Uploads Value for Price: 5.0 |
|
$10-$20 |
No offering at this amount. |
PRO ($12/month): 50 Projects, More Portfolio Grids, Premium Blocks, Unbranded, Portfolio statistics, Custom Pages, Private Portfolio, Unlimited images/videos, 5 Navigations, HD Video & Audio, Priority Support Value for Price: 7.0 |
|
$20+ |
Paid Plan ($29/month): All features of the free plan with support for other payment processors such as PayPal. This plan allows to manage only 1 website and there is no limitation of number of pages offered. Value for Price: 8.5 |
UNLIMITED ($22/month): UNLIMITED projects/pages, Everything else, All features in PRO, Extra Karma 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.
7.8
6.1
Winner: Shift4shop
. Shift4shop offers managed cloud hosting with a 99.9% uptime guarantee, making it a reliable choice for eCommerce businesses. Carbonmade, while providing managed hosting with unlimited storage, does not disclose uptime statistics or offer an uptime guarantee, which may be a concern for users needing consistent performance. Shift4shop’s transparency and reliability give it the edge in hosting quality.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Do they offer hosting? |
Yes, with unlimited bandwidth and storage, daily backups |
Yes, with unlimited storage |
|
Type of hosting: |
Managed Cloud Hosting |
Managed Hosting |
|
Uptime: |
99.9% |
Not disclosed |
|
Uptime Guarantee: |
99.9% |
No |
Website Speed Optimization
Website Speed OptimizationEvaluates optimization of website loading timesScore Components:
- PageSpeed Score (30%): Google’s score indicating performance optimization.
- Loading Time (30%): The average time until a website is fully interactive.
- Mobile Optimization (15%): Optimization effectiveness for mobile devices.
- Resource Optimization (15%): Optimizing images, scripts, and other heavy resources.
- CDN Usage (10%): Use of CDN to enhance speed across geolocations.
6.3
5.0
🏆 Winner: Shift4shop
Both Shift4shop and Carbonmade offer website building solutions, but Shift4shop has a more comprehensive approach to speed optimization, giving it an edge over Carbonmade.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Focus |
CDN, Code Minification, Image optimization, Caching |
Not specified |
|
Performance Tools |
Varies depending on optimization |
Varies depending on optimization |
|
Key Strategies |
CDN, Code Minification, Image optimization, Caching |
Not specified |
|
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 |
Shift4shop is an eCommerce platform that offers a variety of professional, customizable, and mobile-friendly website templates aimed at facilitating online business operations. It supports a wide array of business models including dropshipping and print-on-demand, and provides tools for website creation, payment processing, marketing, and business management. Shift4shop adopts a comprehensive pricing model, including a free plan with essential features for businesses willing to use Shift4shop’s payment processor. For speed optimization, Shift4shop employs strategies such as CDN, code minification, image optimization, and caching. However, specific load times and PageSpeed scores vary depending on the level of optimization applied.
Carbonmade, on the other hand, is a website builder designed specifically for creatives who want to showcase their work online without the need for coding skills. It offers fully customizable layouts that are perfect for a wide range of professionals such as photographers, illustrators, motion designers, graphic designers, and copywriters. Carbonmade provides an easy and fast way to create and manage online portfolios, featuring pre-designed templates along with various features and tools. However, Carbonmade does not specify any particular strategies for speed optimization, and like Shift4shop, its load times and PageSpeed scores vary depending on optimization.
Overall, while both platforms offer unique benefits, Shift4shop’s detailed approach to speed optimization gives it a slight advantage in this category.
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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.
7.3
0
🏆 Winner: Shift4shop.
Shift4shop scores 7.3, offering a diverse range of plugins and extensions that cater to various ecommerce needs, from advanced analytics to enhanced SEO tools. Carbonmade, with a score of 0, does not support any plugins or integrations, focusing instead on simplicity for portfolio creation.
Shift4shop’s extensive plugin ecosystem makes it a more versatile choice for users seeking to enhance their website’s functionality beyond the basic features.
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.
8.0
1.0
🏆
Overall Winner: Shift4shop
. Shift4shop excels with its extensive marketing tools, making it ideal for ecommerce businesses. Carbonmade, while user-friendly for creatives, lacks many essential marketing features.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
SEO Tools |
✓ |
✗ |
|
Email Marketing |
✓ |
✗ |
|
Blogging |
✓ |
✗ |
|
Social Media Integration |
Advanced integration for ecommerce |
Basic social network links |
|
Analytics and Reporting |
Comprehensive analytics and CRM |
Basic analytics with Google Analytics integration |
|
Ads and Promotions |
Discounts, coupons, and affiliate programs |
✗ |
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.
7.9
5.8
🏆 Winner: Shift4shop
. When comparing Shift4shop vs Carbonmade, Shift4shop takes the lead with its 24/7/365 customer support. Shift4shop offers multiple support channels, including US chat support, US phone support, and European support, ensuring that users can get help whenever they need it. The dedicated eCommerce support team based in the U.S. is available around the clock, providing immediate assistance for any issues or questions.
On the other hand, Carbonmade primarily relies on a ticket-based system for customer support. While users can submit inquiries via email and typically receive responses within a few hours, the lack of live customer support means that immediate answers are not available. This can be a drawback for users who need quick resolutions to their problems. Despite this, Carbonmade’s response times are generally quick, ensuring that users are not left waiting for too long.
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.
8.9
5.8
🏆
Winner: Shift4shop
. Shift4shop excels in security, offering comprehensive measures such as PCI compliance, free SSL certificates, daily backups, and advanced fraud protection. These features are crucial for eCommerce platforms to ensure safe transactions and protect sensitive customer data. Additionally, Shift4shop’s use of Cloudflare for DDoS protection and support for ADA compliance further enhance its security profile.
Carbonmade, while providing essential safeguards for user data, does not emphasize security features to the same extent. Its primary focus is on simplifying the creation of portfolio websites for creatives, which may not require the same level of security as an eCommerce platform. As a result, Shift4shop stands out as the more secure option for users who prioritize robust security measures.
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
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
AI Builder |
None |
None |
|
AI Ecommerce Features |
None |
None |
|
AI Content Generation |
None |
None |
|
Additional AI Features |
None |
None |
🏆 Winner: None
. Both Shift4shop and Carbonmade do not offer any AI capabilities. Shift4shop focuses on providing a comprehensive eCommerce platform with various business tools, while Carbonmade is tailored for creatives looking to showcase their work online. However, neither platform includes AI-driven features to enhance their services.
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.
7.9
2.8
🏆 Winner: Shift4shop
. Managing your online team with Shift4shop and Carbonmade involves different approaches to website editing access.
- Shift4shop allows for multiple users to manage and edit a website, with the number of staff user slots varying by plan. Additional users can be added as needed through the purchase of extra Staff User seats at $10 per user per month. This system is designed to accommodate business growth by enabling the distribution of website management tasks among staff members with customizable roles and permissions.
- Carbonmade allows only one user to manage and edit a website, which can be limiting for larger teams or businesses that require collaborative efforts.
Shift4shop User Roles and Access Levels:
| Role | Description | Access Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Admin | Full control over the platform, responsible for setting up and managing all aspects of the online store. | Complete access to all areas including configuration, order management, product listings, user management, and analytics. |
| Manager | Oversees day-to-day operations, including order processing, inventory management, and customer service. | Access to order management, inventory, reports, and limited settings for day-to-day operations. Does not have access to high-level configurations. |
| Sales Rep | Focuses on customer interaction, order entry, and sales tracking. | Access to customer information, order creation, and sales reporting tools. Cannot alter product listings or configurations. |
| Content Creator | Generates product descriptions, blog posts, and marketing material. | Access to content management systems, blog, and marketing tools. No access to order management or configurations. |
| Customer Service Rep | Handles customer inquiries, returns, and complaints. | Access to customer information, order status, and communication tools. Limited access to order modifications. |
Additional Features
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
SSL Certificate |
✓ |
X |
|
Custom Domain |
✓ |
✓ |
|
Free Custom Domain Included |
X |
X |
|
International Domains |
✓ |
✓ |
|
Mobile Responsive |
✓ |
✓ |
|
Page Speed |
✓ |
✓ |
|
Website Builder Mobile App |
X |
X |
|
Convert a Website To An App |
X |
X |
|
Website Analytics |
✓ |
✓ |
|
Multilingual Sites |
✓ |
✓ |
|
Multiple Users |
✓ |
X |
User Feedback
Shift4Shop reviews present a mixed but generally positive perspective from users. They appreciate the platform’s feature-rich storefront capabilities, ease of use, and versatility in integrating various services, which facilitates online sales and efficient eCommerce management. However, critiques focus on the less intuitive user experience, occasional technical issues such as slow site loading, and the perceived degradation of customer service quality since the Shift4Shop takeover. Additionally, some users find the setup process and system architecture to be overly complex and dated. Despite these criticisms, Shift4Shop is recognized for its cost-effectiveness, support for different customer types, and the ability to solve a variety of eCommerce-related problems, benefiting users by enhancing their online sales capabilities and operational efficiency.
Users appreciate Carbonmade for its ease of use, modern design templates, and no-code platform, which simplifies creating professional portfolios. However, some express a desire for a freemium plan and note limitations in customization and mobile site loading times. The platform is highly recommended for creatives, particularly illustrators and graphic designers, for its variety of design options and efficient customer service. Despite concerns over pricing, the overall sentiment is positive, with users finding value in Carbonmade’s ability to showcase their work effectively and streamline portfolio management.
The making of this blog
We followed a clear, step-by-step process to write and research this article.
FAQ
Which platform is easier to use, Shift4shop or Carbonmade?
Can I sell products on both Shift4shop and Carbonmade?
How do Shift4shop and Carbonmade differ in terms of customization?
What are the pricing options for Shift4shop and Carbonmade?
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