Square Online vs Big Cartel (2024 Comparison)
Square Online offers a comprehensive e-commerce solution with seamless POS integration and robust inventory management, making it ideal for businesses of all sizes.
- Comprehensive e-commerce features.
- Seamless POS integration.
- Robust inventory management.
- Learning curve for advanced features.
- Limited design customization.
Free plan?
YesStarting price
$29 per month
Big Cartel provides an affordable and intuitive platform for artists and small businesses, offering a simple interface and essential e-commerce features.
- Simple and intuitive interface.
- Affordable for small businesses.
- Ideal for artists and creatives.
- Limited scalability options.
- Basic e-commerce functionalities.
Free plan?
YesStarting price
$12 per monthWhat is Square Online?
Square Online is a comprehensive e-commerce platform that allows businesses to create an online store with ease. It offers a range of features including inventory management, payment processing, and customizable templates. Square Online is particularly beneficial for small to medium-sized businesses looking to establish an online presence quickly. With its user-friendly interface and seamless integration with Square's point-of-sale system, it helps businesses manage both online and offline sales efficiently.
What is Big Cartel?
Big Cartel is a website builder designed specifically for artists and small business owners who want to sell their products online. It provides a simple and intuitive platform to create a personalized online store without the need for extensive technical knowledge. Big Cartel offers customizable themes, inventory tracking, and basic marketing tools, making it an ideal choice for creatives looking to showcase and sell their work online.
Pros and Cons of Square Online vs Big Cartel
Pros & Cons of Square Online
- Square Online offers a wide range of e-commerce features, including inventory management, payment processing, and customizable templates, making it a versatile platform for businesses of all sizes.
- The integration with Square's point-of-sale system allows businesses to manage both online and offline sales efficiently, providing a unified solution for all sales channels.
- Square Online's inventory management tools help businesses keep track of stock levels, set alerts for low inventory, and manage product variations, ensuring smooth operations.
- While Square Online is user-friendly, some of its advanced features may require a learning curve, which could be challenging for users with limited technical skills.
- Although Square Online offers customizable templates, the design options may be limited compared to other platforms, which could restrict creativity for some users.
Pros & Cons of Big Cartel
- Big Cartel's straightforward and user-friendly interface makes it easy for artists and small business owners to create and manage their online stores without technical expertise.
- Big Cartel offers affordable pricing plans, making it an attractive option for small businesses and creatives looking to establish an online presence without breaking the bank.
- Designed with artists and creatives in mind, Big Cartel provides a platform that allows users to showcase and sell their work online, catering to their unique needs.
- Big Cartel's features and capabilities may not be sufficient for businesses planning significant growth, as it lacks the scalability options offered by other platforms.
- While Big Cartel provides essential e-commerce features, it may not offer the advanced functionalities required by larger businesses or those with more complex needs.
Square Online vs Big Cartel: At A Glance
Value to Price
Square Online offers a robust set of features at a competitive price, making it a great value for small to medium-sized businesses. Its integration with Square's POS system adds significant value. Big Cartel, while affordable, offers fewer features, which may limit its value for businesses looking for more comprehensive solutions. Square Online is better for those seeking more features for their investment.
Ease of Use
Big Cartel shines in ease of use with its straightforward and intuitive interface, perfect for artists and small business owners with limited technical skills. Square Online is also user-friendly but offers more advanced features that may require a slight learning curve. If simplicity is your priority, Big Cartel is the better choice.
Functionality
Square Online provides a wide range of functionalities, including inventory management, payment processing, and customizable templates, making it suitable for businesses with diverse needs. Big Cartel offers basic e-commerce functionalities, which may be sufficient for artists and small businesses but could be limiting for larger operations. Square Online is better for those needing more comprehensive functionality.
Scalability
Square Online is designed to grow with your business, offering scalable solutions that can accommodate increasing sales and inventory. Big Cartel, while great for small businesses, may not offer the same level of scalability, making it less ideal for businesses planning significant growth. Square Online is better for businesses with growth ambitions.
Integrations
Square Online offers a wide range of integrations with third-party apps, enhancing its functionality and allowing businesses to customize their operations. Big Cartel has limited integration options, which may restrict its adaptability. If you need extensive integrations, Square Online is the better choice.
Customer Support
Square Online provides comprehensive customer support, including live chat and phone support, ensuring businesses can get help when needed. Big Cartel offers email support, which may not be as immediate. For businesses that value responsive support, Square Online is the better option.
Security
Square Online prioritizes security with robust measures to protect customer data and transactions, providing peace of mind for businesses and their customers. Big Cartel also offers security features, but Square Online's comprehensive approach makes it the more secure option. If security is a top concern, Square Online is the better choice.
Square Online vs Big Cartel: A Detailed Breakdown of Key Features
Customizable Templates
Square Online offers a wide range of customizable templates that allow you to create a unique online store that reflects your brand. The templates are modern and responsive, ensuring a great user experience across devices. Big Cartel also offers customizable themes, but the selection is more limited, which may restrict your ability to create a truly unique store. If you value design flexibility, Square Online is the better choice.
Inventory Management
Square Online provides robust inventory management tools that help you keep track of stock levels, set alerts for low inventory, and manage product variations. This feature is particularly useful for businesses with a large number of products. Big Cartel offers basic inventory tracking, which may be sufficient for smaller stores but lacks the advanced features of Square Online. If you need comprehensive inventory management, Square Online is the better option.
Payment Processing
Square Online excels in payment processing, offering seamless integration with Square's payment system, which supports a variety of payment methods and currencies. This makes it easy for businesses to manage transactions both online and offline. Big Cartel also supports multiple payment options, but the integration is not as seamless as Square Online. If you need efficient payment processing, Square Online is the better choice.
SEO Tools
Square Online provides a range of SEO tools to help improve your store's visibility in search engine results. These tools are easy to use and can significantly enhance your online presence. Big Cartel offers basic SEO features, which may be sufficient for small stores but lack the depth of Square Online's offerings. If SEO is a priority, Square Online is the better option.
Mobile Optimization
Square Online ensures that your store is fully optimized for mobile devices, providing a seamless shopping experience for customers on the go. This is crucial in today's mobile-first world. Big Cartel also offers mobile optimization, but the experience may not be as smooth as with Square Online. If mobile optimization is important to you, Square Online is the better choice.
Marketing Tools
Square Online offers a variety of marketing tools to help you promote your store and engage with customers. These tools include email marketing, social media integration, and discount codes. Big Cartel provides basic marketing features, which may be sufficient for small businesses but lack the advanced capabilities of Square Online. If you need comprehensive marketing tools, Square Online is the better option.
Pricing Comparison of Square Online and Big Cartel
To assist you in making an informed choice, we’ve outlined the pricing plans and essential features of Square Online and Big Cartel. This comparison will highlight the best option for creating your online store.
Square Online Pricing Plans
- Sync with Square POS for seamless operations.
- Offer pickup, local delivery, and shipping options.
- Sell on social media platforms for wider reach.
- Accept multiple payment types for convenience.
- QR code ordering for contactless service.
- Customer accounts for personalized experiences.
- Advanced item settings for better management.
- Free domain for 1 year to boost credibility.
- Real-time shipping rates for accurate checkout.
- Premium customer support for quick assistance.
- Waived in-house delivery fees for savings.
- Advanced features for scaling operations.
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 evaluate each e-commerce platform, focusing on key aspects like functionality, scalability, and customer support. By analyzing user reviews and conducting hands-on testing, we ensure our recommendations align with your needs. Each factor is weighted by importance to deliver a reliable final rating, helping you make informed decisions.
Square Online or Big Cartel: Which One Matches Your Business Needs?
Choose Square Online If You Need ...
- Advanced e-commerce features
If you are a business owner looking for a platform with advanced e-commerce features, Square Online is the better choice. It offers comprehensive tools for inventory management, payment processing, and more, making it ideal for businesses with diverse needs.
- Seamless POS integration
If you need a platform that integrates seamlessly with your point-of-sale system, Square Online is the better option. Its integration with Square's POS system allows you to manage both online and offline sales efficiently.
Choose Big Cartel If You Need ...
- Simple and intuitive interface
If you are an artist or small business owner looking for a simple and intuitive platform, Big Cartel is the better choice. Its user-friendly interface makes it easy to create and manage your online store without technical expertise.
- Affordable for small businesses
If you are a small business owner looking for an affordable e-commerce solution, Big Cartel is the better option. It offers budget-friendly pricing plans, making it an attractive choice for businesses with limited resources.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which platform is better for small businesses?
Can I integrate third-party apps with these platforms?
Which platform offers better customer support?
Are these platforms secure for online transactions?
Which platform is more scalable?
Do these platforms offer mobile optimization?
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.
