Can’t decide which platform to start with? WooCommerce or Big Cartel, which one is perfect for your online business in 2025? Yes, choosing one platform for your business success is crucial with the rapid evolution of digital commerce. Entrepreneurs and business owners need a solution to fulfill their needs in terms of pricing, features, scalability, and ease of use.
In this in-depth comparison guide, we have evaluated WooCommerce vs. Big Cartel based on multiple factors, including features, pricing, customization, SEO, scalability, payment options, and customer support. If you are considering Big Cartel to WooCommerce migration, we will also discuss whether switching is worth it.
Overview of WooCommerce and Big Cartel
WooCommerce and Big Cartel are two e-commerce platforms for serving different types of users. WooCommerce is highly customizable and scalable. It is excellent for businesses of all sizes, while Big Cartel is simple and budget-friendly, ideal for independent artists and small businesses.
What is WooCommerce?
WooCommerce is an open-source WordPress e-commerce plugin used by millions of businesses worldwide. As of 2025, WooCommerce powers over 30% of all online stores. It is the most widely used ecommerce solution. WooCommerce offers complete control over your store for customization with themes, extensions, and advanced features. We’ve learned that WooCommerce handles over $20 billion in annual transactions worldwide.
Key Features of WooCommerce:
- It is free to use but requires web hosting.
- Unlimited product listings and customization options.
- Extensive plugin and extension marketplace.
- Supports multiple payment gateways.
- Scalable for businesses of all sizes.
- SEO-friendly with customizable URLs, metadata, and site structure.
What is Big Cartel?
Big Cartel is a simple ecommerce solution for small businesses, artists, and creatives who want to sell products without dealing with complex setups. Though it has a smaller market share, over 60% of its users are independent artists or creative entrepreneurs who use it as a niche platform. As of now, Big Cartel supports over 85,000 active stores globally.
Key Features of Big Cartel:
- Free and premium plans with limitations on product listings.
- Simplified store setup with limited customization options.
- Built-in SEO and essential marketing tools.
- Integrated payment options, including Stripe and PayPal.
- There is no need for hosting or coding knowledge.
- Ideal for small-scale businesses, artists, and independent creators.
1. WooCommerce vs. Big Cartel: Key Differences
As you know, WooCommerce and Big Cartel are designed for different types of online sellers. To help you better understand their differences, we will compare key aspects such as customization, scalability, pricing, and ease of use.
Target Audience
WooCommerce is best for businesses of all sizes, from startups to large enterprises that require extensive features and customization. It provides a wide range of plugins, themes, and integrations to help businesses grow and scale efficiently.
Big Cartel is ideal for artists, small business owners, and those who want a simple, low-maintenance ecommerce solution. It offers a straightforward platform with minimal setup. It is easy for users to start selling quickly without technical knowledge.
Customization & Flexibility
WooCommerce offers many plugins and themes to customize their site as needed. Big Cartel, on the other hand, is a simple platform designed for small businesses and independent creators who prefer an easy setup over advanced customization.
Ease of Use
WooCommerce takes time to learn, especially for beginners, but it offers more advanced features for growing businesses. Big Cartel is simple and easy to use, making it perfect for those who want a quick and hassle-free setup.
2. Pricing and Cost Comparison
Businesses need to budget for hosting, themes, plugins, and transaction fees. Long-term sustainability depends on selecting a pricing model that aligns with business goals. Below is a breakdown of pricing structures to help you compare and decide wisely.
WooCommerce Pricing
WooCommerce is free, but additional costs include:
Hosting: Starting at $5–$30/month.
Themes & Plugins: Premium themes cost $30–$100, while plugins can range from $10–$300.
Extensions: Paid features like subscriptions, memberships, and payment gateways can add to costs.
Remember that the average WooCommerce store spends $500 to $2,000 annually on add-ons and services.
Big Cartel Pricing
Big Cartel offers tiered pricing:
Free Plan: Limited to 5 products.
Platinum Plan ($9.99/month): Up to 50 products.
Diamond Plan ($19.99/month): Up to 500 products.
Big Cartel is a budget-friendly option because it has no additional hosting or plugin costs.
3. Features Comparison
Features determine a platform’s flexibility, scalability, and user-friendliness. Below, we compare the key features of WooCommerce and Big Cartel to help you decide which best suits your needs.
WooCommerce Features
Reports suggest WooCommerce users experience an average revenue increase of 30% after implementing advanced features. What are the features that help to grow revenue?
- Full control over store design and functionality.
- Large selection of themes and plugins.
- Supports unlimited products.
- Advanced SEO capabilities.
- Integration with marketing tools, CRMs, and analytics.
Big Cartel Features
Studies indicate that Big Cartel stores generate an average of $5,000 annually. What features are the reason behind it?
- Simplicity and ease of use.
- Limited product listings.
- Basic SEO tools.
- No hosting or maintenance is required.
- Great for independent creators and artists.
4. SEO & Marketing Capabilities
The right platform should provide tools to optimize product listings, improve search rankings, and effectively market to potential customers. Here is the comparison between these platforms for strong e-commerce SEO and marketing strategies to grow your e-commerce business.
SEO-Friendliness
If you use WooCommerce, you can effectively optimize your online store for search engines with powerful plugins like Yoast SEO and Rank Math. You have complete control over metadata, URLs, and schema markup to rank higher in search results. Big Cartel has basic SEO tools but lacks advanced customization options, making it harder to optimize fully for search engines.
Marketing & Advertising
WooCommerce offers robust marketing integrations, such as connecting with email marketing tools, social media platforms, and advertising networks. These features are powerful because they help to automate campaigns, track customer behavior, and boost sales. Big Cartel provides limited marketing tools and primarily relies on social media for promotions, which may restrict growth opportunities for businesses looking to expand their reach.
5. Payment Gateways & Transaction Fees
Payment options and transaction fees are crucial to profitability. Businesses need secure and reliable payment gateways that align with their target audience. Some platforms charge additional transaction fees, while others only require payment processor fees.
WooCommerce
WooCommerce supports multiple payment gateways, including PayPal, Stripe, and Square. These payment options provide flexibility for businesses to choose the best option for their needs. Transaction fees vary depending on the selected payment processor. So, businesses can manage costs effectively based on their sales volume and customer preferences.
Big Cartel
Big Cartel supports Stripe and PayPal, allowing sellers to accept online payments easily. Unlike some e-commerce platforms, it does not charge additional transaction fees beyond those required by the payment processor, making it a cost-effective option for small businesses and independent creators.
6. Security & Customer Support
Customers need to trust that their payment and personal information are protected. Similarly, reliable customer support can make a big difference when resolving technical issues or concerns. Compare the security measures and support options available in WooCommerce and Big Cartel to choose which one is suitable for your e-commerce store.
Security
WooCommerce requires SSL certificates, security plugins, and regular updates to maintain strong security standards. It gives store owners control over security measures to implement additional protections like firewalls and malware scanning. Big Cartel comes with built-in security features and automatic updates, which is a hassle-free and protected shopping experience for users but with less flexibility for custom security enhancements.
Customer Support
WooCommerce offers an extensive community support network and relies on third-party providers for assistance. Business owners can find help through forums, documentation, and external developers who provide custom solutions. On the other hand, Big Cartel provides direct customer support for users on premium plans, offering a more hands-on approach for resolving issues and inquiries.
7. Scalability & Growth Potential
Businesses with scalable platforms can expand their product range, handle increased traffic, and integrate new features as they grow. The right choice ensures that entrepreneurs do not outgrow their platform too quickly, and it also avoids costly migrations in the future.
WooCommerce Scalability
80% of WooCommerce stores expand their product range within the first year. Why are they able to do it? Because,
- Suitable for businesses of any size.
- Can handle high traffic and unlimited products.
Big Cartel Scalability
- Best for small businesses.
- Limited to 500 products.
8. WooCommerce vs. Big Cartel: Pros & Cons
Evaluation becomes easier when the Pros and Cons of both platforms are compared side-by-side. The comparison below makes it easy to understand the final decision to choose between the platforms.
Here is the comparison table for the pros of both platforms:
| Pros of WooCommerce | Pros of Big Cartel |
|---|---|
| Full customization and flexibility. | Simple and easy to use. |
| Advanced SEO features. | No hosting or maintenance required. |
| Scalable for large businesses. | Affordable pricing. |
Here is the comparison table for the cons of both platforms:
| Cons of WooCommerce | Cons of Big Cartel |
|---|---|
| Requires hosting and maintenance. | Limited customization and scalability. |
| Steeper learning curve. | Fewer marketing and SEO tools. |
9. Alternative Comparisons
Compare WooCommerce with Shopify
Shopify vs Etsy: Which Ecommerce Platform is Best for Sellers?
10. WooCommerce vs. Big Cartel in 2025 for Ecommerce
In 2025, WooCommerce and Big Cartel remain the top choices for e-commerce stores. WooCommerce powers 30% of all online stores and offers scalability, customization, and advanced features for growing businesses. Big Cartel, with 60% of its users being independent artists and creatives, focuses on simplicity over complexity.
WooCommerce integrates AI-driven tools for better performance; Big Cartel sticks to its minimalist approach. The right choice depends on your business needs, growth plans, and technical skills.
Conclusion
For scalability, flexibility, and customization, WooCommerce is the better option. If you need a simple, affordable solution for a small store, Big Cartel is a great choice. However, for those considering Big Cartel to WooCommerce migration, switching to WooCommerce provides better growth potential, advanced features, and complete control over your ecommerce business.
If you’re currently using Big Cartel on your website, should you switch from Big Cartel to WooCommerce? Decide by evaluating the table below:
Still confused about which one to choose? Contact Ekomfy to discuss and get inside for a better outcome of your e-commerce business.
FAQs
Is Big Cartel suitable for beginners?
Yes, Big Cartel is easy to use. Big Cartel’s user-friendly features are great for beginners who want a simple way to start selling online.
How does WooCommerce handle high-traffic stores?
Yes, WooCommerce is designed to manage large product catalogs and high traffic to grow businesses.
Can I migrate my store from Big Cartel to WooCommerce easily?
Yes, you can migrate your store using plugins or by manually transferring your data.
Which platform has better SEO capabilities?
WooCommerce offers stronger SEO features with plugins like Yoast SEO, giving it an edge over Big Cartel.
Which is more cost-effective for a small business in 2025?
Big Cartel is cheaper upfront, but WooCommerce offers better value for long-term growth.
