Etsy vs Big Cartel: An Ultimate Comparison (2024)

Etsy and Big Cartel are two of the best-known sites for selling and buying handmade and creative products. But which is superior? This question can prove quite difficult for an artist, a designer or anyone interested in selling through such markets. In this article, we’ll help you understand which online marketplace is better for your business – Etsy vs Big Cartel.

If you’re exploring other platforms, check out 14 Etsy Alternatives to Sell Your Crafts Online in 2024

Overview of Etsy vs Big Cartel

What’s Etsy?

 

Etsy is a global marketplace focused on handmade, vintage, and unique goods. Founded in 2005, it has become a go-to platform for crafters, artists, and small business owners. Etsy’s extensive reach and built-in audience make it an attractive option for sellers looking to tap into a large market.

What’s Big Cartel?

 

Big Cartel started in 2005 and is an ecommerce solution for independent artists and designers. Different from Etsy that is a platform connecting buyers with sellers, Big Cartel empowers individuals to build their own stores. It is characterized by its plain design, low cost and targeting mostly small businesses.

What’s the difference between Etsy and Big Cartel?

Feature	Etsy	Big Cartel
Ease of Setup	Easy setup with marketplace format, no website needed	Involves creating your own website for sales, but quite easy.
Products	Emphasis on items made by hand, antiques, and goods that are not mass-produced.	Independent stores for artists and creators
Size & Scale	A popular and existing marketplace with availability in millions of users.	A specific, less popular platform aimed at independent content creators
Pricing Plan	Commission charges, operating charges, and paid-for listing services.	Free version offered; paid plans are affordable with no processing fees
Integration	Integrations are few and specific only to the marketplace tools	Compatible with numerous other third-party apps and services
Customization	Lack of options for customization outside of Etsy services	Full customization of online stores with HTML/CSS access
Community & Support	High seller engagement, numerous and diverse resources	Basic support, smaller community
Marketing Tools	Integrated marketing communication tools and choices for promotions	Primary marketing instruments, more dependent on external marketing communication

Etsy vs. Big Cartel: Detail Comparison

1. Ease of Setup

Etsy offers an extremely user-friendly setup process, where you can start selling without needing any technical skills. Simply set up an account, list your products, and start selling. The marketplace format means you don’t need to worry about building a website.

New to Etsy? Start your journey with our guide on How to Sell on Etsy for Beginners: 12 Easy Steps

Big Cartel, while also straightforward, requires you to set up your own online store. This gives you more control over your branding and store’s appearance, but it also means more responsibility. For those with some basic technical knowledge, setting up a store on Big Cartel is easy and the platform provides step-by-step guidance.

Criteria	Etsy	Big Cartel
Initial Setup	Quick and easy, no technical skills required	Simple but requires setting up your own store
Account Creation	Fast, integrated with the marketplace	Fast, with a guided setup process
Time to Launch	Immediate, once products are listed	Dependent on store customization
Ease of Use	Very user-friendly for non-tech users	User-friendly with more customization options

2. Products

Etsy’s product offerings are centered around handmade, vintage, and craft supplies. The platform is ideal for sellers who create unique items or source rare vintage pieces. The marketplace attracts customers specifically looking for these types of goods, making it a natural fit for crafters and artists.

Big Cartel is more flexible in terms of the products you can sell, but it primarily targets independent creators, such as artists, musicians, and designers. Unlike Etsy, Big Cartel doesn’t restrict sellers to handmade or vintage items, allowing for a broader range of products.

Criteria	Etsy	Big Cartel
Product Type	Handmade, vintage, craft supplies	Any products, ideal for art, music, apparel
Target Audience	Shoppers looking for unique, handmade, or vintage items	Fans of independent creators
Product Categories	Extensive categories within handmade and vintage niches	More open-ended categories
Product Restrictions	Restrictions on mass-produced items	Few restrictions, broad product range

3. Size & Scale

 

Etsy is a marketplace with a high level of recognition with millions of active customers all around the globe. This large level of coverage means that there are potential customers and high likelihood that products will be sold. However, the competition is high, considering the fact that currently there are millions of listings available.

Big Cartel is less versatile, and it is designed exclusively for independent artists and other creatives. However, the audience is more targeted, which, in turn, can be rather beneficial for a seller if he or she targets Big Cartel’s audience. This implies that by having such a small size Shopify has less competition as compared to Etsy.

Criteria	Etsy	Big Cartel
User Base	Over 200 million active users worldwide	Smaller, niche audience
Market Reach	Global, extensive	More specific, aimed directly to individual content producers
Competition Level	Very high, its inventory includes millions of listings.	Lower, there was relatively less competition overall.
Sales Potential	High, because of a big number of users	Moderate depending on its specificity

4. Pricing Plan

Etsy has a variety of monetization strategies which include listing fees, transaction fees and the memberships such as Etsy Plus. However, the fees are higher than other platforms, but thanks to vast potential customers and sales on the site, many sellers cover the costs.

Big Cartel has a free plan that allows users to sell up to 5 products and with multiple paid plans for bigger stores. Another benefit that makes Big Cartel most preferred by independent artists is that the platform does not have transaction fees. However, sellers need to bear payment processing fees themselves.

Criteria	Etsy	Big Cartel
Listing Fees	$0.20 per listing	None
Transaction Fees	6.5% per sale + payment processing fees	None, only payment processing fees
Subscription Plans	Optional Etsy Plus plan at $10/month	Paid plans from $9.99/month
Overall Cost	Can be high due to multiple fees	Generally lower, especially with the free plan

5. Integration

 

Etsy offers a range of built-in tools and integrations, primarily focused on marketplace functionality. This includes integration with shipping services, payment processors, and marketing tools. However, the platform’s focus on being a marketplace limits the scope of integrations available

Big Cartel provides more flexibility with integrations, offering connections to a variety of third-party apps and services. This allows sellers to customize their store’s functionality more freely, integrating everything from payment processors to email marketing services and analytics tools.

Criteria	Etsy	Big Cartel
Built-In Tools	Extensive marketplace tools	Basic eCommerce tools, with room for third-party integrations
Third-Party Integrations	Limited compared to dedicated eCommerce platforms	Extensive, with a focus on customization
Payment Processing	Integrated with Etsy Payments	Requires setup through third-party services
Shipping Integration	Built-in shipping tools, with label printing and tracking	Depends on third-party integrations

6. Customization

Etsy’s customization options are limited by the platform’s marketplace structure. Sellers can personalize their shop’s appearance to a degree, but they are ultimately constrained by Etsy’s design and layout rules. This makes Etsy more suitable for sellers who prefer a streamlined, uniform storefront.

Big Cartel, on the other hand, offers much more freedom in customization. Sellers can fully control their store’s appearance, including the ability to edit HTML/CSS for a truly unique design. This makes Big Cartel ideal for sellers who want to create a distinct brand identity.

Criteria	Etsy	Big Cartel
Shop Customization	Limited to certain visual elements	Full customization of store design
HTML/CSS Access	No access to code	Full access, allowing for deep customization
Branding	Limited by Etsy’s marketplace structure	Complete control over branding
Design Flexibility	Low, uniform marketplace appearance	High, tailored to individual brand needs

7. Community & Support

Etsy has a large and active seller community, which is a great resource for new and experienced sellers alike. The platform offers extensive support resources, including detailed help articles, forums, and direct customer support. Sellers can connect with others, share experiences, and learn from the community, which is one of Etsy’s strengths.

Big Cartel’s community is smaller and more niche, reflecting the platform’s focus on independent creators. While the community may not be as large as Etsy’s, it is still supportive, with resources tailored to artists and small businesses. Big Cartel offers a straightforward help center, with easy access to customer support, but it lacks the expansive community forums that Etsy provides.

Criteria	Etsy	Big Cartel
Community Size	Large, active community	Smaller, niche community
Support Resources	Extensive, including forums, help articles, and blogs	Basic, with a well-organized help center
Customer Support	Available through multiple channels, but can be slow	Responsive, but fewer support options
Peer-to-Peer Support	Strong, with active seller forums	Limited, less peer interaction

8. Marketing Tools

 

Etsy provides built-in marketing tools that make it easy for sellers to promote their products. This includes options for paid advertising, social media integration, and discount codes. Etsy’s internal marketing tools are designed to help sellers reach the platform’s large audience, making it easier for your products to be discovered by potential buyers

Big Cartel’s marketing tools are more basic and require more effort from the seller to drive traffic to their store. While it offers essential features like discount codes and social media integration, it lacks the advanced marketing options that Etsy provides. Big Cartel sellers often rely on external marketing efforts, such as social media campaigns and email marketing, to attract customers.

Criteria	Etsy	Big Cartel
Advertising Options	Built-in, including Etsy Ads and Google Shopping	Limited, external ads required
Discount Codes	Easily created and managed within the platform	Available, but basic functionality
Social Media Integration	Integrated with major platforms	Basic integration with social media
Email Marketing	Limited, with optional integrations	Requires third-party tools
SEO Features	Optimized for Etsy’s marketplace search engine	Requires manual optimization for search engines

Which is Better: Etsy or Big Cartel?

When comparing Etsy vs Big Cartel, the best platform for your craft business depends on your specific needs and goals. Below is a summary of the pros and cons of each platform to help you decide.

Platform	Pros	Cons
Etsy	– Large, established audience- Easy setup and use- Extensive seller support and resources	– High competition- Multiple fees (listing, transaction, and optional subscription fees)
Big Cartel	– Full control over store customization- Affordable pricing with no transaction fees- Niche audience	– Smaller audience- Requires more effort in marketing and driving traffic

Etsy is best suited for:

• • Sellers who create handmade, vintage, or unique items.
  • Those looking for a large, established marketplace with a built-in audience.
  • Sellers who prefer a straightforward setup with extensive support.

Big Cartel is best suited for:

• • Independent artists, musicians, and creators who want full control over their branding.
  • Sellers looking for a more affordable platform without transaction fees.
  • Those who prefer a smaller, niche community with more flexibility in store design.

Conclusion

Etsy vs Big Cartel both offer valuable platforms for selling crafts, but they cater to different types of sellers. Etsy’s large marketplace and extensive resources make it ideal for those who want easy access to a broad audience. On the other hand, Big Cartel’s flexibility and affordability are perfect for independent creators who want more control over their store’s branding and don’t mind putting in extra effort for marketing.

The Masstic team is confident that after reviewing this side-by-side comparison of the two leading global marketplaces, you’ll be able to determine which one best matches your product focus, target audience, and business model.

FAQs – Etsy vs Big Cartel