Siter.io vs Big Cartel: guide for 2024

Final verdict

Siter.io vs Big Cartel both offer unique advantages, but they cater to different user needs and preferences.

Siter.io (Overall Grade: 5.1/10)

is a versatile website builder that excels in design functionalities and ease of use. It is particularly suitable for users who prioritize creative control and design flexibility, thanks to its drag-and-drop interface and Figma integration. However, its ecommerce capabilities are limited, making it less ideal for users focused on online selling. Siter.io is best for those looking to create visually appealing websites with minimal coding knowledge.
Big Cartel (Overall Grade: 5.8/10)

is tailored for artists and small business owners who want to sell their creations online. It offers a straightforward setup process, essential ecommerce features, and a variety of customizable templates. While it may lack some advanced design and integration options, its simplicity and affordability make it a great choice for independent creators and small-scale sellers. Big Cartel is best for users seeking an easy-to-use platform for setting up an online store quickly.

	Overall grade: 5.1	Overall grade: 5.8
Design functionalities & templates	7.5	6.9
Ease of use	8.3	8.0
Ecommerce	3.4	6.2
Website Editors	7.8	6.8
Product testing options	8.2	5.9
Price	8.1	7.8
Hosting quality	3.9	5.0
Website speed optimization	1.5	5.0
Plugins and integrations	5.5	5.8
Marketing features	2.6	6.2
Customer support	4.1	5.4
Security	6.8	7.3
AI capabilities	0.0	0.0
User Management	7.1	1.3

Best for ecommerce

3.4

6.2

Verdict

: Big Cartel is better suited for ecommerce, especially for artists and small businesses, while Siter.io offers basic ecommerce features more suitable for simple online stores.

Siter.io

: Siter.io provides a basic set of ecommerce tools, including a shopping cart, checkout, and purchase button. It is primarily a design-focused platform, making it ideal for users who prioritize website aesthetics and customization. However, its ecommerce capabilities are limited, scoring 3.4 in this category.
Big Cartel

: Big Cartel excels in supporting small businesses and independent creators with its ecommerce features. It offers inventory tracking, sales analytics, social media integrations, and marketing tools, making it a more robust option for ecommerce. With a score of 6.2, Big Cartel is better equipped to handle the needs of online sellers.

Best for informational & business websites

7.2

Verdict

: When it comes to creating informational and business websites, both Siter.io and Big Cartel score equally at 7.2. However, their strengths cater to different user needs, making them suitable for distinct types of users.

Siter.io

: Siter.io is a versatile website builder that excels in providing creative control and a wide array of design features. Its drag-and-drop interface and unique freehand design tool make it easy for users without coding knowledge to create and customize their sites. The platform includes a range of templates and design elements, built-in SEO tools, and responsive design for mobile devices. Siter.io is particularly beneficial for users who want a comprehensive web development solution with the flexibility to import designs from Figma.
Big Cartel

: Big Cartel is tailored for artists and makers looking to sell their creations online. It offers a straightforward setup process and a variety of customizable themes that fit the brand and style of the artist. Big Cartel includes essential features such as inventory management, sales tracking, and promotional tools, making it a favored choice for small businesses and independent creators. Its simplicity and affordability make it an excellent option for those who prioritize ease of use and support for creative endeavors.

Detailed comparison

7.5

6.9

🏆

Winner: Siter.io.

If you’re looking for a platform that offers more creative control and a wide array of design features, Siter.io is the preferred choice.

Siter.io includes a handful of customizable templates for various website types, such as landing pages, portfolios, and e-commerce sites, ensuring users can start with a solid foundation and tailor each site to their needs. However, the limited number of templates is compensated with a UI which is very similar to design tools like Figma and AdobeXD. Additionally Siter.io has built in Figma plugin, which helps to export Figma designs directly to Siter.io platform, and make changes and tweaks right on Siter.io.

Compared to Siter.io, Big Cartel provides a variety of free, customizable templates designed to ensure that online stores look appealing on all devices. These templates are geared towards artists, creators, and small business owners, offering features like high-quality product displays and adjustable product grids without the need for coding knowledge. With over 15 different styles to choose from, Big Cartel’s templates allow for easy customization to fit any brand’s aesthetic, making it simple for anyone to start an online store quickly.

Big Cartel Themes

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8.3

8.0

🏆 Winner: Siter.io

. With a score of 8.3, Siter.io edges out Big Cartel (8.0) in terms of ease of use. Siter.io’s intuitive interface and unique features like the ability to import designs from Figma make it a user-friendly choice for both beginners and experienced designers. Big Cartel, while also user-friendly, is more focused on simplicity and may lack some advanced features.

Learning Resources

🏆 Winner: Siter.io

. Siter.io offers a range of learning resources and tutorials designed to help users create and design websites effortlessly. Big Cartel also provides support and learning resources, but they are more focused on setting up and customizing stores.

Learn Siter.io

Learn Big Cartel

3.4

6.2

When it comes to ecommerce, Big Cartel outperforms Siter.io with a score of 6.2 against 3.4. Big Cartel is specifically designed for artists and makers to sell their creations online, offering features like inventory tracking, sales analytics, social media integrations, and marketing tools. On the other hand, Siter.io, primarily a website design tool, offers very basic ecommerce features like a shopping cart, checkout, and purchase button.


Ecommerce themes and templates	4.5	5.5
Product page customization	6.5	6.8
Payment processing and commissions	3.0	7.0
POS capabilities	2.0	6.5
Payment gateways	3.5	6.0
Product numbers	2.5	4.5
Additional ecommerce features	3.0	5.7

Siter.io ecommerce features:

Shopping cart
Checkout
Purchase button

Big Cartel ecommerce features:

Inventory tracking
Sales analytics
Social Media integrations
Marketing tools

Ecommerce themes & templates

Siter.io has only a few ecommerce specific templates, but its built-in Figma integration enables the use of a variety of third-party website templates designed in Figma to create a fully functional website directly on the platform. In contrast, 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.

Product page customization

Siter.io prioritizes its design capabilities, offering a wide range of customization options that are only limited by the user’s skill level. Big Cartel, on the other hand, 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, allowing for specific pricing and quantities for each variant. Additionally, for products with complex attributes, the Advanced Product Options offer a structured way to present multiple variations through up to three option groups per product, simplifying the shopping experience.

Payment processing

Siter.io’s functionality for integrating payment gateways is quite limited, although it does support custom code injection, enabling users to integrate third-party payment widgets like PayPal or Stripe. 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, enhancing flexibility for both online and offline business operations.

Big Cartel Add a product

7.8

6.8

🏆

Winner: Siter.io

. Siter.io, with a score of 7.8, offers an editor designed to empower users with the ability to create websites seamlessly without any coding skills. It features an intuitive interface, real-time collaboration, and Figma integration, enhancing productivity and creativity for designers and teams. The editor supports inserting custom code for additional functionality, accessing thousands of free icons, and integrating with Unsplash for high-quality, royalty-free photos.

Siter.io editor

Big Cartel’s editor, scoring 6.8, is designed with simplicity in mind, catering primarily to artists and small-scale sellers. Users can easily customize their online store’s look and feel without needing advanced technical skills, thanks to its user-friendly interface. The editor allows for the customization of themes, addition of products, and setup of different pages like home, about, and contact pages. Additionally, it offers basic SEO settings and integration options with social media and other tools, making it a straightforward solution for those looking to sell their work online with minimal fuss.

Mobile editor/app

7.5

🏆

Winner: Big Cartel

. Big Cartel offers a mobile app that allows users to manage their online store directly from their mobile device. Key features include the ability to add and edit products, process orders, check inventory, and view store statistics. 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.

Siter.io, on the other hand, does not have a dedicated mobile editor app, which puts it at a disadvantage in this category.

In summary, Big Cartel receives a higher rating due to its mobile app that allows users to manage their online store directly from their mobile device, while Siter.io does not have a dedicated mobile editor app.

8.2

5.9

Overall Result

:

Siter.io Wins

. Siter.io scores 8.2 in product testing options, significantly higher than Big Cartel’s 5.9. Both platforms offer a free version, but Siter.io stands out by allowing users to test all premium features with the free plan. Neither platform offers a trial version or a money-back guarantee.


Free Plan	Yes	Yes
Trial Duration	No	No
Testing Premium Features	All features with free plan	Some features with free plan
Money Back Guarantee	No	No

8.1

7.8

Siter.io and Big Cartel both offer affordable pricing plans, but Siter.io provides more flexibility with multiple pricing tiers and a discount for annual billing.

	Offerings	Offerings
Free	Start (Free/month): Includes unlimited teammates, up to 10 pages, 3 forms, Figma plugin, and SSL certificate. Additional websites are free, and SEO and page speed features are not included. Additionally, it’s not possible to publish any of the websites with the free plan.	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.
$0-$10	Solo ($8/month): For 1 website and includes 2 editors, up to 10 pages, 3 forms, Figma plugin, and SSL certificate. Additional editors cost $4 each. Value for price: 6.0	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
$10-$15	Plus ($14/month): Offers 3 websites with 4 editors, up to 50 pages, 5 forms, Figma plugin, and SSL certificate. Additional editors cost $6 each. Value for price: 7.5	No offering at this amount.
$15+	Pro ($29/month): Provides 5 websites, 6 editors, unlimited pages, unlimited forms, Figma plugin, and SSL certificate. Additional websites cost $8 each. Value for price: 8.5	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

In some cases companies have different prices based on various components like a
location. As a result in rare cases the prices displayed here can differ from the ones you see on their
websites.

3.9

5.0

🏆

Winner: Big Cartel

Both Siter.io and Big Cartel offer hosting services, but they lack detailed information about their hosting features, including uptime, data centers, and specific hosting features. However, Big Cartel has a slight edge over Siter.io as it allows users to manually backup their websites, which is a crucial feature for data safety and site integrity.


Do they offer hosting?	Yes	Yes
Type of hosting:	Cloud based hosting	Not specified
Uptime:	Not disclosed	Not disclosed
Uptime Guarantee:	No	No
Data Centers:	Not disclosed	Not disclosed

1.5

5.0

🏆 Winner: Big Cartel

Both Siter.io and Big Cartel do not disclose specific information about their load times, PageSpeed scores, or Core Web Vital improvements. However, Big Cartel has a higher website speed optimization score than Siter.io, making it the winner in this category.


Focus	Mobile Responsiveness, SEO optimization	Not disclosed
Performance Tools	Not disclosed	Not disclosed
Key Strategies	Mobile Responsiveness, SEO optimization	Not disclosed
Load Times	Not disclosed	Varies depending on optimization and website complexity
Page Speed Scores Range	Not disclosed	Not disclosed
Core Web Vitals Improvement	Not disclosed	Not disclosed

Siter.io is a website builder designed to simplify the process of creating and managing websites. It offers a drag-and-drop interface and freehand design tool unique to Siter.io, making it easy for users without coding knowledge to design and customize their sites. Siter.io provides a range of templates and design elements, allowing users to create professional-looking websites for various purposes, including business, personal, and e-commerce. Additionally, it includes features such as built in Figma plugin, SEO tools, responsive design for mobile devices, and integration with social media and other online services, aiming to provide a comprehensive web development solution. However, Siter.io does not disclose specific information about its load times, PageSpeed scores, or Core Web Vital improvements.

Big Cartel is an easy-to-use, web-based website builder specifically designed for artists and makers to sell their creations online. It offers a straightforward setup process, allowing users to create a customized online store without the need for coding knowledge. Big Cartel supports a variety of themes that can be tailored to fit the brand and style of the artist, and it includes essential features such as inventory management, sales tracking, and promotional tools. This platform is particularly favored by small businesses and independent creators for its simplicity, affordability, and its focus on supporting creative endeavors. However, Big Cartel does not disclose specific information about its load times, PageSpeed scores, or Core Web Vital improvements. Despite this, Big Cartel has a higher website speed optimization score than Siter.io, making it the winner in this category.

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5.5

5.8

🏆 Winner: Big Cartel.

With a score of 5.8, Big Cartel edges out Siter.io (5.5) in the plugins and integrations category. Big Cartel offers a variety of apps and integrations to enhance ecommerce store functionality, including marketing, shipping, and store management tools. Siter.io, on the other hand, offers limited integrations, primarily prioritizing its design capabilities. However, it does support custom code injection, allowing users to incorporate third-party plugins as needed.

2.6

6.2

🏆

Overall Winner: Big Cartel

. Big Cartel stands out for its more advanced marketing tools, especially in email marketing and social media integration. Siter.io is strong in analytics and reporting, ideal for data-driven strategies.


SEO Tools
Email Marketing
Blogging
Social Media Integration
Analytics and Reporting
Ads and Promotions

4.1

5.4

🏆 Winner: Big Cartel

. Comparing Siter.io vs Big Cartel, Big Cartel takes the lead in this category with a more structured and accessible support system. Big Cartel offers customer support from Monday through Friday, 8am to 6pm EST, with a dedicated team of twelve members ready to assist users. They provide email support and recommend that account holders log in for faster assistance, ensuring that users can get help when they need it.

On the other hand, Siter.io primarily relies on its help center and articles for customer support. While email support is available, the platform does not specify the days or hours of operation, which can be a drawback for users needing timely assistance. This lack of clarity and limited support options make Siter.io less favorable in terms of customer support compared to Big Cartel.

6.8

7.3

🏆

Winner: Big Cartel

. Big Cartel scores higher in security with a score of 7.3 compared to Siter.io’s 6.8. 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. However, it’s important to note that while Big Cartel facilitates secure payment processing via third-party PCI-compliant gateways like PayPal and Stripe, it does not achieve PCI compliance on its own.

On the other hand, Siter.io prioritizes user privacy by employing a zero-knowledge storage system. This ensures that your data is encrypted both in storage and during transfer, making it inaccessible even to Siter.io itself. To further safeguard your information, Siter.io utilizes multi-factor authentication and conducts regular security audits. However, Siter.io does not disclose any information regarding its security measures, apart from free SSL certificates.

0.0


AI Builder
AI Ecommerce features
AI Content Generation
Additional AI features

🏆 Winner: Tie

. Both Siter.io and Big Cartel do not have any AI capabilities. This includes AI builders, AI ecommerce features, AI content generation, and additional AI features. Therefore, neither platform has an advantage in this category.

7.1

1.3

🏆 Winner: Siter.io

. Siter.io and Big Cartel have different approaches to user management.

Siter.io focuses on its real-time collaborative features, offering varying numbers of editors depending on the plan. Each plan provides access for 2 to 6 editors who can edit and design websites, with the option to include additional editors for an extra fee.
Big Cartel, on the other hand, allows only one user to build and edit a website.

This makes Siter.io a better choice for teams, while Big Cartel might be more suitable for individual creators.

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

Siter.io

4 reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars

Big Cartel

26 reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars

Overall, users appreciate Siter.io for its user-friendly interface and robust features, such as the drag-and-drop editor and customizable templates, making website building accessible to teams without coding expertise. However, there’s a consensus that the platform could improve its integration options to enhance workflow efficiency further. Nevertheless, Siter.io effectively addresses the challenge of website creation without coding skills, benefiting designers, small business owners, and individuals seeking to establish an online presence or portfolio quickly and efficiently.

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 making of this blog

We followed a clear, step-by-step process to write and research this article.

Our Ranking Criteria

FAQ

Which platform is better for creative design, Siter.io or Big Cartel?

Siter.io is the better choice for users prioritizing creative control and design flexibility. With its unique drag-and-drop interface, freehand design tool, and Figma integration, Siter.io caters to designers seeking a platform that bridges the gap between design and web development.

For selling art online, should I choose Siter.io or Big Cartel?

Big Cartel is specifically designed for artists and small businesses, making it the superior choice for selling art online. It offers tailored ecommerce features like inventory tracking, sales analytics, and promotional tools, all within a user-friendly interface.

Which platform offers better customer support, Siter.io or Big Cartel?

Big Cartel leads in customer support with a dedicated team available during business hours and a variety of resources for self-help. Siter.io also offers support but primarily through its help center and articles, with less emphasis on direct customer service.

How do Siter.io and Big Cartel compare in terms of ecommerce capabilities?

Big Cartel stands out for its ecommerce capabilities, especially for small-scale creators and artists. It provides essential tools for online selling, such as inventory management and promotional features. Siter.io offers basic ecommerce functions but lacks the depth of features found in Big Cartel.

Can I manage multiple users with Siter.io and Big Cartel?

Siter.io is better suited for team collaboration, offering access for multiple editors depending on the chosen plan. Big Cartel, however, is designed for individual creators or small teams, with limited user management options.

Which platform is more affordable, Siter.io or Big Cartel?

Both platforms offer affordable pricing plans, but Siter.io provides more flexibility with multiple pricing tiers and a discount for annual billing. Big Cartel’s simplicity and flat monthly fees make it a cost-effective option for small businesses and startups.

Are Siter.io and Big Cartel suitable for beginners?

Yes, both platforms are designed with ease of use in mind. Siter.io offers a user-friendly interface with drag-and-drop functionality, while Big Cartel simplifies the process of setting up and customizing online stores for artists and makers.

Which platform has better website speed optimization, Siter.io or Big Cartel?

Big Cartel has a higher website speed optimization score than Siter.io, making it the winner in this category. However, specific details about load times and PageSpeed scores are not disclosed by either platform.

Do Siter.io and Big Cartel offer AI capabilities?

Neither Siter.io nor Big Cartel offers AI capabilities, making them equal in this category. Both platforms focus on providing user-friendly website building and ecommerce tools without the integration of AI features.

Which platform is recommended for users needing advanced marketing tools?

Big Cartel is recommended for users needing advanced marketing tools, especially in email marketing and social media integration. Siter.io offers strong analytics and reporting but lacks some of the marketing features provided by Big Cartel.