Final verdict
SmugMug and Big Cartel offer unique strengths tailored to their specific audiences, with SmugMug focusing on photographers and Big Cartel catering to artists and small businesses.
-
SmugMug (Overall Grade: 6.3/10)
excels in providing a platform optimized for photographers, offering robust photo protection features, customizable templates, and e-commerce capabilities tailored for selling prints and digital downloads. Its design functionalities and website editor are specifically geared towards showcasing high-quality images, making it the preferred choice for photographers looking to display and sell their work online. -
Big Cartel (Overall Grade: 5.8/10)
stands out for its simplicity and ease of use, making it an ideal choice for artists and small businesses looking to sell their creations online. With straightforward setup processes, customizable themes, and essential e-commerce features like inventory management and sales tracking, Big Cartel supports creative endeavors with an emphasis on affordability and user-friendliness.
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Design functionalities & templates |
7.1 |
6.9 |
|
Ease of use |
7.8 |
8.0 |
|
Ecommerce |
7.3 |
6.2 |
|
Website Editors |
7.3 |
6.8 |
|
Product testing options |
7.4 |
5.9 |
|
Price |
7.8 |
7.8 |
|
Hosting quality |
5.0 |
5.0 |
|
Website speed optimization |
5.5 |
5.0 |
|
Plugins and integrations |
6.2 |
5.8 |
|
Marketing features |
3.8 |
6.2 |
|
Customer support |
7.9 |
5.4 |
|
Security |
6.0 |
7.3 |
|
AI capabilities |
0 |
0.0 |
|
User Management |
7.2 |
1.3 |
| Overall |
6.3 |
5.8 |
Best for ecommerce
7.3
6.2
Verdict
: For creatives looking to sell online, SmugMug and Big Cartel offer tailored solutions, but SmugMug’s focus on photography and Big Cartel’s artist-centric approach cater to different niches.
-
SmugMug
: Best suited for photographers seeking to showcase and sell high-quality images online. It offers robust photo protection, customizable templates optimized for visual content, and ecommerce capabilities tailored for selling prints and digital downloads. SmugMug’s platform is designed to meet the specific needs of photographers with features that support the sale of photographic work. -
Big Cartel
: Ideal for artists and makers who value simplicity and ease of use in selling their creations. Big Cartel provides a straightforward platform with essential ecommerce features, including inventory management and promotional tools, tailored for small businesses and independent creators. Its focus on artists and makers makes it a suitable choice for those looking for an uncomplicated way to start selling online.
Best for informational & business websites
7.5
7.2
Verdict
: SmugMug slightly edges out Big Cartel for informational and business websites, particularly for those that are visually driven, such as portfolios for photographers and creatives.
-
SmugMug
: Tailored for photographers and visual artists, SmugMug shines with its customizable templates optimized for showcasing high-quality images. Its focus on photo protection and e-commerce capabilities for selling prints and digital downloads makes it a robust platform for informational websites that also need to manage and sell creative work. -
Big Cartel
: Designed with artists and small businesses in mind, Big Cartel offers a straightforward platform for selling creations online. While it may not specialize in the same visual display capabilities as SmugMug, its ease of use and focus on essential e-commerce features make it a solid choice for informational business websites with a sales component.
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.
7.1
6.9
🏆
Winner: SmugMug.
If you’re a photographer or a visual artist looking for a platform that offers a range of customizable, easy-to-use templates optimized for displaying high-quality images, SmugMug is the preferred choice.
SmugMug offers a variety of templates and designs, catering to the diverse needs of photographers and visual artists. Users can choose from an extensive collection of customizable templates, ensuring their website or portfolio reflects their unique style and brand. The platform continuously updates its design offerings, incorporating the latest trends and user feedback, to provide a rich selection of modern, sleek, and professional layouts.
Compared to SmugMug, 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.
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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.
7.8
8.0
🏆 Winner: Big Cartel
. With a score of 8.0, Big Cartel edges out SmugMug (7.8) in terms of ease of use. Big Cartel’s simplicity and intuitive user interface make it particularly accessible for artists and small-scale sellers, even those without extensive technical skills. While SmugMug also offers a user-friendly interface, it is more specialized for photographers and may not be as versatile for other types of websites.
Learning Resources
🏆 Winner: Big Cartel
. Both platforms offer learning resources, but Big Cartel provides a more comprehensive set of support materials, including articles and guides on setting up and customizing stores. SmugMug, on the other hand, relies more on YouTube tutorials created by content creators.
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.
7.3
6.2
SmugMug and Big Cartel are both designed with creatives in mind, but they cater to different niches. SmugMug is specifically designed for photographers who want to sell their work online, while Big Cartel is tailored for artists and makers.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Ecommerce themes and templates |
8.0 |
5.5 |
|
Product page customization |
6.5 |
6.8 |
|
Payment processing and commissions |
6.0 |
7.0 |
|
POS capabilities |
0.0 |
6.5 |
|
Payment gateways |
5.0 |
6.0 |
|
Product numbers |
9.0 |
4.5 |
|
Additional ecommerce features |
6.5 |
5.7 |
SmugMug ecommerce features:
- Digital Downloads
- Product Pricing
- Tax handling
- Discounts and Coupons
- Multiple Currencies support
Big Cartel ecommerce features:
- Inventory tracking
- Sales analytics
- Social Media integrations
- Marketing tools
Ecommerce themes & templates
Almost all of the templates of SmugMug are designed with ecommerce in mind, providing built-in shopping cart functionality. On the other hand, 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
SmugMug prioritizes photography, offering a platform tailored for photographers to showcase and sell their work, despite having more limited product page customization compared to dedicated e-commerce platforms. It still provides enough functionality to detail digital and printed photography products effectively, enabling users to sell online with ease.
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, 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
SmugMug has a unique approach to payment processing, payment processing for your sales is managed through your account settings, where you must complete a Tax & Payment form to set up your payment preferences. You can choose your profit payment schedule, with automatic monthly payments for balances over $500, or request payments for lower amounts. Your earnings are calculated as 85% of the markup on print prices or download sales, with SmugMug retaining 15% to cover various costs. Payments are made via ACH direct deposit for U.S. users or PayPal for international users, processed on the first business day after the 7th of each month for profits accumulated through the end of the previous month.
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.
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.
7.3
6.8
🏆
Winner: SmugMug
. Scoring 7.3, SmugMug’s website builder editor offers a user-friendly interface that allows for the creation of visually appealing, professional-grade photography websites without the need for coding knowledge. Users can customize their site by choosing from a variety of templates, adjusting layouts, and incorporating their own branding elements like logos and colors. The editor also supports easy uploading, organizing, and showcasing of high-quality images, with robust privacy and security settings to protect content.
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.
Mobile editor/app
7.5
7.5
🏆
Draw: SmugMug vs Big Cartel
. Both SmugMug and Big Cartel offer mobile apps for managing your website, but their functionalities differ. SmugMug’s mobile app is limited to adding new photos and editing descriptions, which may be sufficient for photographers who primarily need to update their portfolio on the go.
On the other hand, Big Cartel’s mobile app allows users to manage their online store, including adding and editing products, processing orders, checking inventory, and viewing store statistics. This makes it a convenient tool for small business owners who need to manage their store on the go.
However, neither platform allows for layout changes on the website through their mobile apps. Therefore, the choice between SmugMug and Big Cartel would depend on the specific needs of the user.
Product testing options
Product Testing OptionsAssesses the options for trying out platform features before commitment.Score Components:
- Trial quality (40%): Extent and usefulness of the trial or free version.
- Feature accessibility (30%): How many features are available to test.
- Trial duration (20%): Length of the trial period.
- Ease of transition (10%): Smoothness of moving from trial to paid plans.
7.4
5.9
Overall Result
:
SmugMug Wins
. SmugMug scores 7.4, while Big Cartel scores 5.9 in product testing options. SmugMug offers a 14-day free trial during which users can test all premium features. Big Cartel, on the other hand, offers a free version with limited features and does not provide a trial version or a money-back guarantee.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Free Plan |
No |
Yes |
|
Trial Duration |
14 days |
No |
|
Testing Premium Features |
During the free trial |
Limited, with free plan |
|
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
7.8
SmugMug and Big Cartel have the same price score, but their offerings differ significantly. SmugMug offers more advanced features and discounts for annual subscriptions, while Big Cartel offers a free plan and does not require long-term commitments.
| Price range |
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Free |
No offering at this amount. |
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 |
No offering at this amount. |
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-$20 |
Power ($15.00/month): Best for the photographer who wants their entire photo catalog safe and shareable on their own terms. Unlimited storage, Seamless Lightroom integration. Value for Price: 6.5 |
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 |
|
$30-$40 |
Portfolio ($31.00/month): Best for the photographer who wants to start selling photos and keep their archive organized perfectly. All Power plan’s features, plus 21 premade templates, prints and digital downloads sales, Custom Watermarks, Payment integration for credit cards and PayPal, Integrated cart and checkout experience, Sales statistics. Value for Price: 8.0 |
No offering at this amount. |
|
$40-$50 |
Pro ($45.00/month): Adds to Portfolio with custom price lists and coupons, Platform access for assistant or second shooter, Full control over client downloads, Branded packaging and thank you notes for print sales, coupon creator. Value for Price: 8.5 |
No offering at this amount. |
|
$500+ |
Venture (Starts with $500/month): All Pro features, plus dedicated support contacts and account representative for all Smugmug needs, Design, workflow, and organization consultation and support. |
No offering at this amount. |
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
5.0
Winner: Tie
. Both SmugMug and Big Cartel offer hosting services, but neither provides detailed information about their hosting features, types, uptime statistics, or data centers. However, SmugMug does offer an uptime guarantee of 99.9%. Given the lack of information, both platforms have the same hosting quality score.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Do they offer hosting? |
Yes | Yes |
|
Data Centers: |
Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
|
Type of hosting: |
Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
|
Uptime: |
Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
|
Uptime Guarantee: |
Yes, 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.
5.5
5.0
🏆 Winner: SmugMug
Both SmugMug and Big Cartel have similar website speed optimization scores, but SmugMug edges out slightly due to its focus on mobile responsive design.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Focus |
Mobile Responsive design |
Not specified |
|
Performance Tools |
Not specified |
Not specified |
|
Key Strategies |
Mobile Responsive design |
Not specified |
|
Load Times |
Varies widely, depending on optimization |
Varies depending on optimization |
|
Page Speed Scores Range |
Varies widely, depending on optimization |
Varies depending on optimization |
|
Core Web Vitals Improvement |
Not specified |
Not specified |
SmugMug, a website builder designed for photographers and creatives, focuses on mobile responsive design as a strategy for speed optimization. However, both load times and PageSpeed scores can vary widely, depending on the optimization and website complexity. SmugMug does not provide any information on Core Web Vital improvements.
Big Cartel, a website builder designed for artists and makers, does not mention any specific strategies for speed optimization. Like SmugMug, Big Cartel’s load times and PageSpeed scores can vary depending on optimization and website complexity. Big Cartel also does not disclose any information about its Core Web Vitals improvements.
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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.
6.2
5.8
🏆 Winner: SmugMug.
With a score of 6.2, SmugMug edges out Big Cartel, which scored 5.8. SmugMug’s integrations are specifically tailored for photographers, allowing for efficient importation of photos from popular photo-hosting services and seamless gallery management. Big Cartel, on the other hand, offers a variety of apps and integrations to enhance ecommerce store functionality, including marketing, shipping, and store management tools. However, the total number of direct apps and integrations is around 27, which may be fewer than other platforms offer.
Marketing Features
Design FunctionalitiesRepresents how well each platform allows for creative design and customization of websites.Score Components:
- Template Variety (30%): Range and quality of design templates.
- Customization (30%): Flexibility and options for design alterations.
- User Interface (20%): Ease and intuitiveness of the design process.
- Responsiveness (10%): Adaptability to different devices and screen sizes.
- Innovation (10%): Unique design features and tools.
3.8
6.2
🏆
Overall Winner: Big Cartel
. Big Cartel offers a more comprehensive set of marketing features, including basic SEO tools, email marketing through third-party integrations, social media integration, analytics and reporting, and ads and promotions. SmugMug, while offering some marketing features, lacks in areas such as email marketing, blogging, and ads and promotions.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
SEO Tools |
Basic SEO tools |
Basic SEO tools |
|
Email Marketing |
|
(through third-party integrations) |
|
Blogging |
|
|
|
Social Media Integration |
|
|
|
Analytics and Reporting |
Google Analytics integration |
Google Analytics integration |
|
Ads and Promotions |
|
(using third-party integration) |
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
5.4
🏆 Winner: SmugMug
. With a customer support score of 7.9, SmugMug outperforms Big Cartel, which has a score of 5.4. SmugMug provides customer support mainly through email and chat, available 364 days a year, with rapid response times. They also offer phone support exclusively for users with a higher-tier business subscription. In addition, SmugMug offers specialized support for enterprise-level customers, including hands-on account representatives for any SmugMug needs, design, workflow, and organization consultation and support, as well as dedicated support contacts.
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. However, Big Cartel does not offer 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.
6.0
7.3
🏆
Winner: Big Cartel
. Big Cartel takes a comprehensive approach to security, with SSL encryption across all shops and custom domains, strict data processing protocols, and technical and organizational safeguards to prevent unauthorized access or loss of merchant personal data. While it’s not PCI compliant on its own, it facilitates secure payment processing through integration with PCI-compliant third-party gateways like PayPal and Stripe.
SmugMug also takes privacy and security seriously, with strict privacy settings and controls, and data protection practices to safeguard user information and content. However, it does not disclose detailed information about its website security measures, which makes it difficult to compare with Big Cartel’s more transparent approach.
AI Capabilities
AI capabilitiesMeasures the effectiveness of AI-driven features and tools.Score Components:
- Automation efficiency (40%): Impact of AI on streamlining processes.
- Personalization (30%): AI-driven customization for users or customers.
- AI-Assisted design (20%): Role of AI in website design and functionality.
- Data analysis (10%): Use of AI in interpreting user data and analytics.
0
0.0
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Personalized Design |
|
|
|
SEO Optimization |
|
|
|
Customer Behavior Analysis |
|
|
|
Sales Predictions |
|
|
|
Inventory Management |
|
|
|
Content Generation |
|
|
🏆 Winner: None
. Both SmugMug and Big Cartel do not have AI capabilities. These platforms focus on providing straightforward, user-friendly website building tools, particularly for creatives and small businesses. While they offer a range of features to support website creation and management, neither SmugMug nor Big Cartel currently utilize AI technology in their platforms.
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.
7.2
1.3
🏆 Winner: SmugMug
. SmugMug and Big Cartel have different approaches to user management.
- SmugMug allows the primary account holder full control over the account, with the ability to add additional users through “Shared Account Management” for Portfolio and Pro level accounts. These additional users can be given various roles with different permissions, enabling them to manage or edit the website without full access to billing or account settings. The number of users and the extent of their permissions depend on SmugMug’s current offerings.
- Big Cartel, on the other hand, allows only one user to build and edit a website.
SmugMug User Roles and Access Levels:
| Role | Description | Access Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Owner | The primary account holder who has full control over the site. | Complete access to all features, settings, content management, and billing. |
| Admin | Users granted almost the same level of access as the owner, minus some critical billing or account settings. | Manage content, order prints, access to stats, and settings except for account and billing changes. |
| Contributor | Users who can upload and manage content in specific galleries. | Upload content to assigned galleries, edit captions, and keywords. Limited access to settings. |
Big Cartel does not provide 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
Users appreciate SmugMug for its reliability, ease of use, and the platform’s ability to securely host and share high-resolution photographs and videos. Highlights include seamless mobile device syncing, excellent gallery features for showcasing assets, and robust customization options minus JavaScript support. However, some users desire improvements in facial recognition technology for automatic album creation, expanded asset management capabilities beyond primarily photos, and more advanced search functionalities. Concerns about rising costs and the platform’s intuitiveness were also mentioned. Overall, SmugMug is valued for its central storage solution, privacy features for client photos, and its ability to simplify file sharing and photo sales.
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.
FAQ
Which platform is better for photographers, SmugMug or Big Cartel?
Can I sell physical products on both SmugMug and Big Cartel?
Which platform is easier to use for beginners?
How do SmugMug and Big Cartel compare in terms of price?
Which platform offers better customer support?
Are there any significant differences in website speed optimization between SmugMug and Big Cartel?
Which platform offers better security features?
Can I manage multiple users on either platform?
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