Format vs Big Cartel (2024 Comparison)
Format empowers creatives with customizable templates and a user-friendly interface, making it easy to build stunning portfolios. Ideal for artists and photographers seeking a professional online presence.
- Highly customizable templates for creatives.
- User-friendly interface for easy website building.
- Strong focus on portfolio presentation.
- Limited e-commerce features.
- May not suit large-scale businesses.
Free plan?
YesStarting price
$8 per month
Big Cartel offers a simple setup and excellent e-commerce tools, perfect for small businesses and independent creators looking to sell products online affordably.
- Excellent e-commerce tools for small businesses.
- Simple setup for quick online store launch.
- Affordable for independent creators.
- Limited customization options.
- Focuses more on simplicity than features.
Free plan?
YesStarting price
$12 per monthWhat is Format?
Format is a website builder tailored for photographers, artists, and creative professionals. It offers a range of customizable templates and tools to showcase portfolios beautifully. With its user-friendly interface, Format helps users create stunning websites without needing extensive technical skills, making it an ideal choice for those looking to present their work professionally.
What is Big Cartel?
Big Cartel is an e-commerce platform designed for artists and makers to sell their creations online. It provides a simple, straightforward interface to set up an online store quickly. With features like customizable themes and easy product management, Big Cartel empowers small businesses and independent creators to reach their audience effectively.
Pros and Cons of Format vs Big Cartel
Pros & Cons of Format
- Format offers a wide range of templates that can be tailored to fit the unique style of any creative professional, making it easy to create a personalized and visually appealing portfolio.
- With its intuitive design, Format allows users to build and manage their websites effortlessly, even without technical expertise, making it accessible to beginners and experts alike.
- Format is specifically designed to showcase creative work, providing tools and features that highlight the visual aspects of portfolios, making it ideal for artists and photographers.
- While Format does offer some e-commerce capabilities, it is primarily focused on portfolio presentation, which may not meet the needs of users looking for comprehensive online selling tools.
- Format is tailored for individual creatives and small businesses, so it may not provide the scalability and advanced features required by larger enterprises.
Pros & Cons of Big Cartel
- Big Cartel provides a robust set of e-commerce features, including inventory management and payment processing, making it an ideal choice for small businesses looking to sell products online.
- Big Cartel's straightforward interface allows users to quickly set up and launch their online stores, making it accessible to those with limited technical skills.
- With its cost-effective pricing plans, Big Cartel is an attractive option for independent artists and makers who want to sell their creations without breaking the bank.
- While Big Cartel offers some customization, it is more focused on simplicity, which may not satisfy users looking for extensive design flexibility.
- Big Cartel prioritizes ease of use, which can result in fewer advanced features compared to other e-commerce platforms, potentially limiting its appeal to more experienced users.
Format vs Big Cartel: At A Glance
Format vs Big Cartel: A Detailed Breakdown of Key Features
Customizable Templates
Format offers a wide range of customizable templates that cater specifically to creative professionals, allowing you to showcase your work in a visually appealing manner. Big Cartel, while offering customization, focuses more on simplicity and ease of use for online stores. If you want to create a unique and personalized portfolio, Format is the better choice.
E-commerce Tools
Big Cartel shines in its e-commerce capabilities, providing robust tools for managing online stores, including inventory management and payment processing. Format offers e-commerce features but is more focused on portfolio presentation. If selling products is your primary goal, Big Cartel is the superior option.
SEO Optimization
Both Format and Big Cartel offer SEO optimization features to help improve your website's visibility. Format's SEO tools are tailored for creative portfolios, while Big Cartel focuses on optimizing online stores. If SEO is crucial for your creative work, Format might be more beneficial.
Mobile Responsiveness
Format ensures that your portfolio looks great on any device with its mobile-responsive designs. Big Cartel also offers mobile responsiveness, ensuring a seamless shopping experience for customers. If mobile presentation is a priority, both platforms perform well, but Format's designs may offer a slight edge.
Social Media Integration
Big Cartel provides strong social media integration, allowing you to promote your products across various platforms. Format also offers social media tools, but its focus is more on showcasing creative work. If social media marketing is key to your strategy, Big Cartel might be more advantageous.
Analytics and Reporting
Format provides analytics tools to track the performance of your portfolio, offering insights into visitor behavior. Big Cartel offers similar analytics for online stores, helping you understand sales trends. If detailed analytics are important for your creative work, Format may provide more relevant insights.
Pricing Comparison of Format and Big Cartel
We’ve compiled the pricing tables and highlighted the key features of both Format and Big Cartel to aid in your decision-making process. Let’s explore what each platform has to offer.
Format Pricing Plans
- 70 high-resolution images for optimal display.
- Mobile-optimized website for seamless viewing on devices.
- Free mobile app for easy management on the go.
- Lightroom integration for streamlined photo editing.
- 1500 high-resolution images for comprehensive portfolios.
- 100GB image storage for ample creative work.
- 15 hosted video minutes for multimedia content.
- Custom fonts to personalize your website's appearance.
- 1TB image storage for vast creative collections.
- 120 hosted video minutes for rich multimedia content.
- 1000 commission-free online store products for sales.
- Priority 24/7 customer support for quick assistance.
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.
Format or Big Cartel: Which One Matches Your Business Needs?
Choose Format If You Need ...
- Ideal for creative professionals
If you are a creative professional looking for a platform that offers highly customizable templates and a strong focus on portfolio presentation, Format is the ideal choice. Its user-friendly interface and tailored features make it perfect for showcasing your work beautifully.
- Best for showcasing portfolios
If your primary goal is to create a stunning online portfolio that highlights your creative work, Format is the better option. Its advanced customization options and focus on visual presentation make it the perfect tool for artists and photographers.
Choose Big Cartel If You Need ...
- Perfect for small businesses
If you are a small business owner or independent creator looking for a simple and affordable e-commerce platform, Big Cartel is the right choice. Its excellent e-commerce tools and straightforward setup make it easy to launch and manage your online store.
- Great for selling products
If your main focus is selling products online, Big Cartel is the superior option. Its robust e-commerce features, including inventory management and payment processing, make it ideal for small businesses and independent creators.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which platform is better for showcasing creative work?
Which tool offers better e-commerce features?
Is Format suitable for large-scale businesses?
Can Big Cartel handle complex website designs?
Which platform offers better customer support?
Are both platforms mobile-responsive?
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.
