Big Cartel vs Shopify: ecommerce platform pricing compared
Updated 2026-11-10 · listed A to Z, not ranked
Big Cartel is an online store builder for makers, artists and musicians, with a free plan and two low-cost premium plans.
Shopify is an ecommerce platform for running an online store, in-person sales and selling on social and AI channels. Plans differ in staff accounts, reporting and payment rates.
Listed A to Z, from bigcartel.com and shopify.com. Every figure below is quoted from those pages.
- Main price table
- Gold, Platinum, Diamond
- Free option
- Gold plan: free, limited features
- Published prices
- Free limited Gold plan; Platinum 7 days free then $15/mo; Diamond $30/mo with abandoned cart recovery.
- Main price table
- Basic, Grow, Advanced, Plus, Agentic
- Free option
- Agentic plan $0/mo (selling in AI channels); store plans: 3 days free, then $1/month for 3 months
- Published prices
- Basic $29/mo, Grow $89/mo, Advanced $359/mo billed yearly ($39, $105, $399 monthly); Plus from $2,300/mo.
How we checked: Prices quoted from each official pricing page: Big Cartel checked Nov 10, 2026, Shopify checked Nov 10, 2026. Taxes, usage overages and promotions can change what you pay; confirm with each provider before you buy.
How they compare
- Main price table. Big Cartel lists 3 entries (Gold, Platinum, Diamond); Shopify lists 5 (Basic, Grow, Advanced, Plus, Agentic).
- Lowest listed paid tier. Big Cartel: Platinum $15/mo. Shopify: Basic $29, pay yearly. Billing terms differ (per user or flat, monthly or annual), so check what each tier includes below.
- Free option. Big Cartel: Gold plan: free, limited features. Shopify: Agentic plan $0/mo (selling in AI channels); store plans: 3 days free, then $1/month for 3 months.
Big Cartel plans and prices
| Plan | Price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Gold | Free (limited features) | The free plan |
| Platinum | 7 days free, then $15/mo | Custom domains, physical and digital products, shipping labels, shop design, apps |
| Diamond | $30/mo | Everything in Platinum plus abandoned cart recovery, product drops, password-protected products, Zapier, priority support |
No commitment, cancel anytime.
From bigcartel.com, checked Nov 10, 2026. Full breakdown: Big Cartel pricing.
Shopify plans and prices
| Plan | Pay yearly | Pay monthly | For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | $29 USD/mo | $39 USD/mo | Solo entrepreneurs |
| Grow | $89 USD/mo | $105 USD/mo | Small teams (up to 5 staff accounts) |
| Advanced | $359 USD/mo | $399 USD/mo | Global reach (15 staff accounts) |
| Plus | Starts at $2,300 USD/mo | Starts at $2,300 USD/mo | Complex businesses; "Try for $399" |
| Agentic | $0/mo | $0/mo | Selling in AI channels |
The page offers: try 3 days free, then $1/month for 3 months. POS Pro is an add-on at $89/mo per location.
| Rate | Basic | Grow | Advanced | Plus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Online standard card rates | 2.9% + 30¢ | 2.7% + 30¢ | 2.5% + 30¢ | 2.25% + 30¢ |
| Online premium card rates | 3.5% + 30¢ | 3.3% + 30¢ | 3.1% + 30¢ | 2.95% + 30¢ |
| In-person card rates | 2.6% + 10¢ | 2.5% + 10¢ | 2.4% + 10¢ | 2.3% + 10¢ |
| USDC rates | 2.9% + 30¢ | 2.7% + 30¢ | 2.5% + 30¢ | 2.25% + 30¢ |
| Third-party transaction fees | 2% | 1% | 0.6% | 0.2% |
Online international rates add 1% on every plan. PayPal Wallet rates start at 3.49% + 49¢.
From shopify.com, checked Nov 10, 2026. Full breakdown: Shopify pricing.
FAQ
How much does Big Cartel cost?
Free limited Gold plan; Platinum 7 days free then $15/mo; Diamond $30/mo with abandoned cart recovery. (checked Nov 10, 2026).
How much does Shopify cost?
Basic $29/mo, Grow $89/mo, Advanced $359/mo billed yearly ($39, $105, $399 monthly); Plus from $2,300/mo. (checked Nov 10, 2026).
Do Big Cartel and Shopify have a free option?
Big Cartel: Gold plan: free, limited features. Shopify: Agentic plan $0/mo (selling in AI channels); store plans: 3 days free, then $1/month for 3 months.
What is the cheapest paid plan, Big Cartel or Shopify?
Lowest listed paid tier: Big Cartel Platinum $15/mo; Shopify Basic $29, pay yearly (as quoted on each pricing page). Billing units differ, so compare what each includes.
Which is better, Big Cartel or Shopify?
We do not pick a winner. The two price and package their products differently; the tables above quote each official pricing page so you can match a plan to your own usage.
Where do these prices come from?
Each vendor's own pricing page: bigcartel.com (checked Nov 10, 2026) and shopify.com (checked Nov 10, 2026). Prices change; confirm on the vendor's page before you buy.
Sources (official pages, read 2026-11-10)
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