Bluehost vs Big Cartel (2024 Comparison)
Bluehost offers reliable hosting solutions with free domain registration and 24/7 customer support. Its easy WordPress installation makes it a great choice for beginners.
- Free domain registration included
- 24/7 customer support available
- Easy WordPress installation
- Limited e-commerce features
- No inventory management
- No payment processing
Free plan?
NoStarting price
$1.99 per month
Big Cartel is perfect for artists and small businesses, offering seamless payment processing and strong inventory management. Its intuitive platform makes online selling easy.
- Great for artists and small businesses
- Seamless payment processing
- Strong inventory management
- No free domain registration
- Limited hosting options
- No WordPress installation
Free plan?
YesStarting price
$12 per monthWhat is Bluehost?
Bluehost is a popular web hosting service that provides a range of hosting solutions, including shared, VPS, and dedicated hosting. It is known for its reliability and ease of use, making it a great choice for beginners and small businesses. With Bluehost, you can easily set up a website with its user-friendly interface and one-click WordPress installation. It also offers 24/7 customer support, ensuring that help is always available when you need it.
What is Big Cartel?
Big Cartel is a website builder specifically designed for artists and small business owners who want to sell their products online. It offers a simple and intuitive platform that allows users to create an online store without any coding knowledge. With Big Cartel, you can customize your store's design, manage inventory, and process payments seamlessly. It's an ideal choice for those looking to showcase their creativity and sell unique products online.
Pros and Cons of Bluehost vs Big Cartel
Pros & Cons of Bluehost
- Bluehost offers free domain registration with its hosting plans, making it a cost-effective choice for those looking to establish an online presence. This feature is particularly beneficial for beginners who may not have a domain yet.
- Bluehost provides 24/7 customer support, ensuring that help is always available when needed. Its support team is knowledgeable and responsive, making it a reliable choice for those seeking assistance.
- Bluehost's one-click WordPress installation makes it easy for users to set up a WordPress website quickly and efficiently. This feature is particularly beneficial for beginners who may not have technical knowledge.
- While Bluehost offers a range of hosting solutions, its e-commerce features may be limited compared to platforms specifically designed for online selling. This may be a drawback for those looking to set up an online store.
- Bluehost does not offer inventory management features, which may be a drawback for those looking to manage their online store's inventory. This feature is essential for any online store, as it helps keep track of products.
Pros & Cons of Big Cartel
- Big Cartel is specifically designed for artists and small business owners, offering a simple and intuitive platform that allows users to create an online store without any coding knowledge.
- Big Cartel offers seamless payment processing features, allowing users to accept payments from customers easily. This feature is essential for any online store, as it ensures a smooth transaction process.
- Big Cartel offers robust inventory management features, making it easy for users to manage their online store's inventory. This feature is particularly beneficial for artists and small business owners who need to keep track of their products.
- Big Cartel does not offer free domain registration, which may be a drawback for some users. This feature is particularly beneficial for beginners who may not have a domain yet.
- Big Cartel offers limited hosting options compared to platforms like Bluehost, which provide a range of hosting solutions, including shared, VPS, and dedicated hosting.
Bluehost vs Big Cartel: At A Glance
Bluehost vs Big Cartel: A Detailed Breakdown of Key Features
Free Domain Registration
Bluehost offers free domain registration with its hosting plans, making it a cost-effective choice for those looking to establish an online presence. This feature is particularly beneficial for beginners who may not have a domain yet. Big Cartel, however, does not offer free domain registration, which may be a drawback for some users. If you're looking for a hosting provider that offers free domain registration, Bluehost is the better choice.
SSL Certificates
Bluehost provides free SSL certificates with its hosting plans, ensuring that your website is secure and trustworthy. This feature is essential for any website, as it helps protect sensitive information and build trust with visitors. Big Cartel also offers SSL certificates, but they may not be as comprehensive as Bluehost's. For those seeking a hosting provider with strong security measures, Bluehost is the better option.
One-Click WordPress Installation
Bluehost's one-click WordPress installation makes it easy for users to set up a WordPress website quickly and efficiently. This feature is particularly beneficial for beginners who may not have technical knowledge. Big Cartel, on the other hand, does not offer this feature, which may be a drawback for those looking to use WordPress. If you're looking for a hosting provider that offers easy WordPress installation, Bluehost is the better choice.
Inventory Management
Big Cartel offers robust inventory management features, making it easy for users to manage their online store's inventory. This feature is particularly beneficial for artists and small business owners who need to keep track of their products. Bluehost, while offering hosting solutions, does not provide inventory management features. If you're looking for a platform with strong inventory management capabilities, Big Cartel is the better choice.
Payment Processing
Big Cartel offers seamless payment processing features, allowing users to accept payments from customers easily. This feature is essential for any online store, as it ensures a smooth transaction process. Bluehost, while offering hosting solutions, does not provide payment processing features. If you're looking for a platform with strong payment processing capabilities, Big Cartel is the better choice.
Social Media Integration
Big Cartel offers social media integration features, making it easy for users to connect their online store with social media platforms. This feature is particularly beneficial for artists and small business owners looking to promote their products on social media. Bluehost, while offering hosting solutions, does not provide social media integration features. If you're looking for a platform with strong social media integration capabilities, Big Cartel is the better choice.
Pricing Comparison of Bluehost and Big Cartel
To assist you in making an informed choice, we’ve outlined the pricing plans and essential features of Bluehost and Big Cartel. This comparison will highlight the best option for creating your website.
Bluehost Pricing Plans
- 100 concurrent visitors support, ideal for 40k visits per month.
- AI site creation tools for easy website setup and management.
- Free domain for the first year to establish your online presence.
- Free SSL and CDN for enhanced security and performance.
- 500 concurrent visitors support, ideal for 200k visits per month.
- Daily website backups free for the first year for data safety.
- Domain privacy free for the first year to protect your information.
- Phone support for immediate assistance and troubleshooting.
- Automated real-time backups with Jetpack for data protection.
- Store analytics for tracking sales and performance.
- Secure online payments and booking appointments features.
- Product search and filtering for enhanced customer experience.
- 1000 concurrent visitors support, ideal for 400k visits per month.
- Advanced security features with web application firewall.
- Daily website backups free for the first year for peace of mind.
- Enhanced caching for faster website performance and speed.
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.
Our Rating Methodology
We thoroughly test each website builder, evaluating key features like ease of use, functionality, and scalability. We also analyze user reviews to ensure our recommendations fit your needs. Each of the seven evaluation factors is weighted by importance to provide an accurate final rating, helping you avoid poor-quality tools and make informed decisions.
Bluehost or Big Cartel: Which One Matches Your Business Needs?
Choose Bluehost If You Need ...
- Easy-to-use website builder
If you are a beginner or small business owner looking for an easy-to-use website builder, Bluehost is the better choice. Its user-friendly interface and one-click WordPress installation make it easy to set up and manage your website.
- Advanced hosting solutions
If you need advanced hosting solutions, such as VPS or dedicated hosting, Bluehost is the better choice. Its range of hosting options and scalability make it a great choice for businesses expecting growth.
Choose Big Cartel If You Need ...
- Great for artists and small businesses
If you are an artist or small business owner looking to sell your products online, Big Cartel is the better choice. Its intuitive platform and strong inventory management features make it easy to set up and manage your online store.
- Seamless payment processing
If you need seamless payment processing features, Big Cartel is the better choice. Its payment processing capabilities ensure a smooth transaction process, making it easy for customers to purchase your products.
Frequently Asked Questions
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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.
