Big Cartel vs Payhip (2025 Comparison)
Big Cartel is perfect for small businesses and artists looking for an affordable, easy-to-use platform. With customizable themes and essential e-commerce features, it’s a great starting point for online sales.
- Easy to set up and use
- Affordable for small businesses
- Customizable themes available
- Limited scalability options
- Basic marketing tools
- Fewer integrations available
Free plan?
YesStarting price
$12 per month
Payhip offers comprehensive digital sales features and advanced marketing tools, making it ideal for entrepreneurs focused on digital content. Its robust capabilities support memberships and diverse payment options.
- Comprehensive digital sales features
- Advanced marketing tools
- Supports memberships
- Limited physical product support
- Higher learning curve
- Fewer theme options
Free plan?
YesStarting price
$29 per monthWhat is Big Cartel?
Big Cartel is a platform designed for artists and creators to easily set up an online store. It offers a straightforward interface, making it simple for users to showcase and sell their products without needing extensive technical knowledge. With customizable themes and essential e-commerce features, Big Cartel helps small businesses and independent creators manage their online presence effectively. It’s particularly beneficial for those who want a no-fuss solution to start selling online quickly.
What is Payhip?
Payhip is an e-commerce platform that allows creators to sell digital products, memberships, and courses directly to their audience. It provides a seamless experience for both sellers and buyers, with features like instant downloads, secure payments, and marketing tools. Payhip is ideal for entrepreneurs looking to monetize their digital content without the hassle of complex setups. Its user-friendly interface and comprehensive support make it a go-to choice for digital product sellers.
Pros and Cons of Big Cartel vs Payhip
Pros & Cons of Big Cartel
- Big Cartel offers a cost-effective solution for small businesses and independent creators, providing essential e-commerce features without breaking the bank. It's an ideal choice for those starting out.
- With a variety of themes to choose from, Big Cartel allows users to create a unique online store that reflects their brand's personality. This customization is a significant advantage for creative entrepreneurs.
- Big Cartel is designed for small businesses, which means it may not scale well for larger operations. As your business grows, you might find its features limiting.
- While Big Cartel offers some marketing tools, they are relatively basic compared to other platforms. Businesses looking for advanced marketing capabilities might need to look elsewhere.
Pros & Cons of Payhip
- Payhip excels in digital product sales, offering features like instant downloads and secure delivery. It's an excellent choice for businesses focused on digital content.
- With options like email marketing and affiliate programs, Payhip provides robust marketing tools that can help businesses expand their reach and increase sales.
- Payhip is primarily designed for digital products, which means it may not be the best choice for businesses selling physical goods. Consider this if your inventory includes tangible items.
- While Payhip offers powerful features, it may take some time to learn and fully utilize them. Users should be prepared for a steeper learning curve compared to simpler platforms.
Big Cartel vs Payhip: At A Glance
Value to Price
Big Cartel offers a cost-effective solution for small businesses and artists, providing essential e-commerce features at a reasonable price. However, Payhip stands out with its competitive pricing and additional features like digital product sales and memberships, making it a better choice for those looking to maximize value.
Ease of Use
Both Big Cartel and Payhip are user-friendly, but Payhip's intuitive interface and straightforward setup process make it slightly easier for beginners. If you're new to e-commerce, Payhip's ease of use can save you time and effort.
Functionality
Big Cartel provides basic e-commerce functionalities suitable for small stores, while Payhip offers more advanced features like digital downloads and marketing tools. For those needing more robust functionality, Payhip is the better option.
Scalability
Big Cartel is ideal for small businesses and artists, but it may not scale well for larger operations. Payhip, on the other hand, offers scalable solutions with features that grow with your business, making it a better choice for expanding enterprises.
Integrations
Big Cartel has limited integration options compared to Payhip, which offers a wider range of integrations with popular tools and platforms. If you rely on multiple tools for your business, Payhip's integration capabilities are more advantageous.
Customer Support
Both platforms offer reliable customer support, but Payhip's support is more comprehensive, with faster response times and more resources available. If customer support is a priority, Payhip is the better choice.
Security
Security is a priority for both Big Cartel and Payhip, but Payhip's advanced security measures and compliance with industry standards give it an edge. For those concerned about data protection, Payhip offers more robust security features.
Overall Rating
Overall, Payhip scores higher due to its comprehensive features, ease of use, and scalability. While Big Cartel is a solid choice for small businesses, Payhip's additional functionalities make it a more versatile platform for a wider range of users.
Big Cartel vs Payhip: A Detailed Breakdown of Key Features
Customizable Themes
Big Cartel offers a range of customizable themes that allow you to create a unique online store. However, Payhip provides more flexibility with its themes, enabling you to tailor your store's appearance to better match your brand. If you value design flexibility, Payhip is the superior choice.
Digital Product Sales
While Big Cartel supports digital product sales, Payhip excels in this area with features like instant downloads and secure delivery. If your business focuses on digital products, Payhip's robust capabilities make it the better option.
Marketing Tools
Big Cartel offers basic marketing tools, but Payhip provides more advanced options, including email marketing and affiliate programs. For businesses looking to expand their marketing efforts, Payhip's tools are more comprehensive and effective.
Memberships
Big Cartel does not support memberships, whereas Payhip allows you to create and manage membership programs easily. If memberships are a key part of your business model, Payhip is the clear winner.
Payment Processing
Both platforms offer reliable payment processing, but Payhip's integration with multiple payment gateways provides more flexibility. If you need diverse payment options, Payhip's processing capabilities are more advantageous.
Analytics
Big Cartel provides basic analytics, while Payhip offers more detailed insights into sales and customer behavior. For data-driven decision-making, Payhip's analytics tools are more beneficial.
Pricing Comparison of Big Cartel and Payhip
To assist you in making an informed choice, we’ve outlined the pricing plans and essential features of Big Cartel and Payhip. This comparison will highlight the best option for creating your online store.
Big Cartel Pricing Plans
- Manage your business and sell online with card and PayPal acceptance.
- Mobile apps available for iOS and Android for easy management.
- Import products from Etsy, Squarespace, and Shopify seamlessly.
- Customize your store with free, SEO-optimized templates.
- Offer discounts and run promotions to boost sales.
- Unlimited label printing with up to 90% off shipping.
- Advanced template customization for a unique store look.
- Track performance with Google Analytics integration.
- Prioritized support and abandoned cart recovery for better service.
- Ads with audience targeting for Google, Facebook, and more.
- Advanced Google Analytics reporting for detailed insights.
- Manage inventory with bulk editing and tracking features.
Payhip Pricing Plans
- Ability to sell unlimited products with no cap on revenue.
- 5% transaction fee applicable on all sales made.
- Immediate deposit of sales after transaction completion.
- Support for multiple payment methods including PayPal and cards.
- Unlimited access to all features for business growth.
- Ability to sell unlimited products with no revenue cap.
- Immediate deposit of sales after transaction completion.
- Support for multiple payment methods including PayPal and cards.
- Unlimited access to all features for maximum growth.
- Ability to sell unlimited products with no revenue cap.
- Immediate deposit of sales after transaction completion.
- Support for multiple payment methods including PayPal and cards.
Our Rating Methodology
We thoroughly evaluate each e-commerce platform, focusing on key aspects like functionality, ease of use, and scalability. By analyzing user feedback and testing features, we ensure our recommendations align with your needs. Each factor is weighted to provide an accurate final rating, helping you choose the best tool for your business.
Big Cartel or Payhip: Which One Matches Your Business Needs?
Choose Big Cartel If You Need ...
- Ideal for small businesses
If you are a small business owner or artist looking for an affordable and easy-to-use platform, Big Cartel is a great choice. Its customizable themes and essential e-commerce features make it perfect for those starting out.
- Simple setup process
If you prefer a straightforward setup process without the need for extensive technical knowledge, Big Cartel is the right option. Its user-friendly interface allows you to get your store up and running quickly.
Choose Payhip If You Need ...
- Comprehensive digital sales
If your business focuses on digital products and you need comprehensive sales features, Payhip is the better choice. Its robust capabilities, including instant downloads and secure delivery, make it ideal for digital content creators.
- Advanced marketing tools
If you want to expand your marketing efforts with advanced tools like email marketing and affiliate programs, Payhip is the superior option. Its marketing features can help you reach a wider audience and increase sales.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which platform is better for digital product sales?
Is Big Cartel suitable for large businesses?
Does Payhip support physical product sales?
Which platform offers better customer support?
Can I customize my store's appearance on Big Cartel?
What marketing tools does Payhip offer?
Martin Lunendonk
Martin Lunendonk is a senior tech writer specializing in website builders, web hosting, and ecommerce platforms. With a background in finance, accounting, and philosophy, he has founded multiple tech startups and worked in medium to large tech companies and investment banking, bringing deep expertise and reliable insights to his software reviews.
