Etsy vs Big Cartel

Etsy is a global online marketplace celebrated for connecting buyers with creative, handmade, and vintage goods.

It fosters human-driven commerce by offering a curated platform where artisans and small businesses reach a worldwide audience with unique, expressive products.

With a focus on individuality and craftsmanship, Etsy continues to support independent entrepreneurship and retains a distinct identity in e-commerce through its community ethos.

Big Cartel is a lightweight e-commerce platform designed especially for artists, makers, and creative entrepreneurs who want to sell their work online without unnecessary complexity. It offers easy store setup, free themes, and HTML/CSS customization so you can build a shop that reflects your aesthetic.

The platform supports selling both online and in person, accepts multiple payment methods (cards, PayPal, wallets, etc.), enables inventory tracking and shipping options, and offers promotional tools like discount codes.

Big Cartel has a free plan (limited products, basic features) and tiered premium plans that increase number of listed products, image uploads, domain control, and access to features like app integrations, real-time stats, and deeper customization.