Introduction
When it comes to eCommerce platforms, there are many names you must have heard. Being a first-time website owner, choosing the best eCommerce platform is the most crucial choice you have to make. Thus, we have compared two major platforms, WooCommerce vs Big Cartel, side-by-side so you can make a well-informed decision.
There are many different aspects on which an eCommerce platform can be ranked, such as customer support, features, SEO capabilities, design, etc. Starting, one of the major differences between WooCommerce and Big Cartel is that WooCommerce is an open-source free platform whereas Big Cartel is a hosted platform.
Follow our article for a detailed comparison of WooCommerce vs Big Cartel and decide for yourself which platform is suitable for your needs.
Checkout our detailed guide on WooCommerce vs OpenCart – Both are open-source eCommerce platforms that can help you create an amazing online store.
Pros And Cons – WooCommerce vs Big Cartel
WooCommerce
WooCommerce is an open-source eCommerce platform that converts WordPress sites into online stores. It is available for free download and consists of many out-of-the-box features that can help you set up an attractive online store easily. Moreover, WooCommerce also provides unlimited options for plugins, extensions, and themes. It is also a completely customizable and flexible platform.
Pros
- Simplifies product management.
- An open-source platform that enables complete customization.
- Free solution due to many free themes and plugins available.
- Easy to use and set up.
Cons
- Does not include domain, security, and hosting.
- Need to add plugins for additional functionality.
- Need to have WordPress.
Big Cartel
Big Cartel is perfect for small-sized businesses. It’s a hosted and premium eCommerce platform that has multiple pricing plans available. Its cheapest pricing plan is for $10/mo and supports 50 products. It is great for artists and creators who operate in a close-knit group. It also provides free and customizable themes, real-time stats, Google Analytics, bulk editing, and much more.
Pros
- Cost-effective solution for small-sized businesses.
- Provides real-time stats and shipment tracking
- Multiple attractive themes.
- Easy to use and set up.
Cons
- Accommodates limited products per plan.
- Difficult to customize.
- A limited set of features per plan.
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WooCommerce vs Big Cartel: Let’s Compare The Fundamentals
Below we have compared both eCommerce platforms on some fundamental aspects to look for when choosing a platform for your business, so let’s see which one is crowned the winner: WooCommerce or Big Cartel?
1. Pricing
One of the most important things that people look for is pricing. How much the platform will cost them? What will be the maintenance costs? Etc. Let’s see where WooCommerce and Big Cartel stand in this regard.
WooCommerce is a free eCommerce platform that is integrated with WordPress. It requires no startup cost, although you do need to pay for hosting, security, and domain. WooCommerce comes with many out-of-the-box features like product management, adding coupons, discounts, subscriptions, payment gateways, etc. Thus, you can easily set up an advanced store using WooCommerce.
Big Cartel provides 3 different pricing plans, for instance, Platinum Plan for $9.99/mo, Diamond Plan for $19.99/mo, and Titanium Plan for $29.99/mo. Each plan is restricted by the number of products you can list, although they are very limited, from 50-500 products regarding the plan. It also has a “Free” plan available, but you can only list 5 products. Big Cartel provides multiple features per plan such as real-time stats, shipment tracking, free themes, adding images, inventory tracking, etc.
WooCommerce vs Big Cartel? In terms of pricing, WooCommerce is the clear winner as it is available for free download and site creation.
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2. Ease of Use
WooCommerce is a pretty straightforward platform to use. It is great for beginners and developers alike. Once installed, the WooCommerce Setup Wizard helps you create a website in under 5 minutes by a step-by-step questionnaire. It also helps you set up promotional offers, products, shipping, and payment taxes. WooCommerce is also compatible with multiple plugins and extensions, even from 3rd party sources. It is a completely flexible and scalable platform and is perfect for all sizes of businesses.
Big Cartel is an extremely easy-to-use platform that comes with an intuitive dashboard where you can easily manage all orders and processes. With Big Cartel, a setup guide is available to help you throughout the process of creating your site. Many functions are automated or easily applied as it is a hosted platform. Thus, it’s favorable for beginners and non-developers.
With regards to usability, Big Cartel is the winner as it a hosted platform, and many processes are managed through one-click.
3. Security
When it comes to security, WooCommerce is considered a safe and secure platform as it is built on WordPress, which runs one-third of the websites in the world. Although an SSL certificate is not provided out-of-the-box, it is still a cheap investment that runs a long way. WooCommerce security is also dependent on the hosting service you choose. Also, the use of third-party plugins can raise security concerns.
Big Cartel is also a safe and secure eCommerce platform. It provides an SSL certificate in each of its plans. The checkout page is encrypted to protect customers’ information. The admin page is also password protected.
In terms of security, both WooCommerce and Big Cartel are equal, and online store users can easily accept transactions.
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4. Customization
In terms of customization, WooCommerce is the ultimate platform. It enables you to scale your business however you like, as you are not restricted by any plans. As mentioned above, WooCommerce provides unlimited themes, plugins, and extensions, all of which you can customize according to your business. It is a completely customizable and flexible platform.
Big Cartel also provides free themes, which can be customized by using the WordPress style editor provided. But that’s just about it, any further customization would require for you to opt for the paid plans.
WooCommerce vs Big Cartel? In terms of customizations, there is no one as powerful and flexible as WooCommerce.
5. Customer Service
WooCommerce customer service is dependent on the hosting service selected by you. As it is a self-hosted platform, there is no live chat or call support provided out-of-the-box. But since WooCommerce is a widely popular eCommerce platform, it has an extensive community service where WooExperts are available to help you out regarding troubleshooting and queries. You can also find detailed documentation regarding plugin installation and workings on the WooCommerce official website.
Big Cartel also does not provide live chat and call support. Although, customers can send emails from Monday to Friday. It also has many communities available where you can find the help you need.
WooCommerce and Big Cartel are both similar in customer service but due to its popularity, WooCommerce has more developed communities and experts.
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Conclusion: WooCommerce vs Big Cartel – Who’s The Winner?
All conclusions point towards WooCommerce as the winner. It is no surprise that WooCommerce is far more flexible, versatile, and popular than Big Cartel. Although Big Cartel is a hosted platform, its advantages and ease of use cannot be denied. But when it comes to the abundance of features, themes, plugins, and extensions, there is no match for WooCommerce. Not only it provides its users with free download and free plugins, but it also enables them to customize the website according to their style. So for us and 7% websites in the world, WooCommerce is the best eCommerce platform.
