Whether you’re a creator selling custom t-shirts or an artist testing your first product launch, Big Cartel is one of the most affordable platforms out there.
With a generous free plan and two low-cost paid tiers, it’s especially appealing to small businesses and print-on-demand sellers who want to keep costs low while validating product ideas.
Big Cartel keeps things simple — just three pricing tiers:
| Plan Name | Monthly Cost | Products Included | Recommended For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gold | $0/month | Up to 5 | Testing and beginners |
| Platinum | $9.99/month | Up to 50 | Growing side hustles |
| Diamond | $19.99/month | Up to 500 | Small eCommerce brands |
Let’s break down each plan in detail to see what you’re getting — and what you’re missing.
1. Big Cartel Gold Plan – $0/month
Best for: Creators just getting started
Price per month: $0
Free trial required: No — this is a free forever plan
Big Cartel’s Gold plan is completely free and doesn’t require a credit card.
You can list up to five products, add a few images per listing, and even publish your store with a custom domain (if you own one).
What you get:
- List up to 5 products
- Add one image per product
- Choose from pre-designed themes
- Offer both physical and digital products
- Accept payments via Stripe or PayPal
- Basic order management
What’s limited:
- No inventory tracking
- No discount codes
- No shipment tracking
- No custom code editing
- No integrations (e.g. Printful, Google Analytics)
This plan is ideal if you’re simply testing a new idea or building your first product page. But if you want to automate anything — especially with print on demand — you’ll need to upgrade.
Should you use the free plan?
Yes, if you’re in the earliest stages.
It’s a helpful sandbox for launching a prototype store or validating an idea. But expect to run into limitations quickly. The Gold plan is more of a starting point than a long-term solution.
2. Big Cartel Platinum Plan – $9.99/month
Best for: Small product stores or print-on-demand sellers using integrations
Price per month: $9.99 (flat rate)
Free trial available: Yes — 14 days
The Platinum plan is Big Cartel’s entry-level paid tier and by far its most popular.
It supports up to 50 products and includes all the essential features a seller would need to run a lightweight eCommerce store.
What you get (in addition to Gold):
- List up to 50 products
- Add 5 images per product
- Inventory tracking
- Discount codes and promo pricing
- Google Analytics integration
- Theme code editing (HTML/CSS)
- Product options (e.g. size, color, etc.)
- Bulk editing
- Integration with Printful, Printify, and Zapier
- Shipment tracking
Why it’s the best value:
This plan unlocks almost every key feature. For most print-on-demand sellers, this is the minimum tier you’ll need to connect to tools like Printful for automated order fulfillment.
Should you choose Platinum?
If you’re serious about making sales and want to automate fulfillment, Platinum is essential.
It’s low-cost and gives you the tools needed to handle orders without jumping into higher-priced platforms like Shopify.
3. Big Cartel Diamond Plan – $19.99/month
Best for: Stores with larger catalogs or small brands with steady traffic
Price per month: $19.99
Free trial available: Yes — 14 days
The Diamond plan is Big Cartel’s top-tier pricing option and allows you to list up to 500 products.
While it doesn’t offer any exclusive features beyond the Platinum plan, the only real upgrade is increased product volume.
What you get:
- Everything from the Platinum plan
- Up to 500 active products
- More flexibility for sellers with diverse catalogs
Who it’s for:
- Sellers offering apparel in multiple styles/sizes
- Artists with large product lines
- POD brands with dozens of active campaigns
- Handmade sellers with varied SKUs
Is it worth the upgrade?
Only if you’re hitting the 50-product limit on the Platinum plan. Otherwise, Platinum delivers the same core functionality at half the price.
Comparing Big Cartel Pricing to Shopify and Etsy
Here’s how Big Cartel stacks up against other popular eCommerce platforms:
| Platform | Starting Price | Transaction Fees | Free Plan | Product Limit | POD Support | Ideal For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Cartel | $0 – $19.99 | None (processor fees only) | Yes | 5–500 | Yes | Small brands, artists |
| Shopify | $39/month | 2% (unless using Shopify Payments) | No | Unlimited | Yes | Scalable stores |
| Etsy | $0/month | 6.5% + 3% + $0.20/listing | Yes | Unlimited | Yes | Marketplace sellers |
Big Cartel is significantly cheaper and doesn’t charge its own transaction fees, making it a leaner option for low-margin businesses like POD.
While Shopify is great for scaling, its $39/month starting price and extra fees make it less beginner-friendly. It offers more advanced features, but for small stores, it can be overkill.
Etsy is easier to start with, but fees add up quickly. You’re also limited by their marketplace rules and branding. Big Cartel gives you more control without the ongoing listing and transaction costs.
Additional Big Cartel Costs to Know About
While Big Cartel’s pricing is straightforward, there are still external fees involved with running your store.
Common costs include:
- Stripe fees – 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction
- PayPal fees – 3.49% + $0.49 per transaction
- Custom domain – ~$12–15/year if not included with your host
- Email marketing tools – if using Mailchimp or similar integrations
- Print-on-demand base costs – these depend on the provider and product
You won’t face app store fees like with Shopify, but there’s still a basic cost of doing business online.
Value for Money: Which Plan Is the Best?
In terms of sheer value, the Platinum plan at $9.99/month is the clear winner. Here’s why:
Why Platinum wins:
- Low monthly cost
- Full access to core features
- Enables integrations (essential for POD)
- Supports enough products for most small stores
- Includes discount codes, inventory, and tracking
For $10/month, you’re getting access to nearly all of Big Cartel’s capabilities, which is significantly cheaper than Shopify’s $39/month entry plan.
If you’re a side hustler, a solo artist, or just launching your POD brand, Platinum hits the sweet spot between affordability and functionality.
Big Cartel Features Overview
Here’s a side-by-side breakdown of the features you can expect on each plan:
| Feature | Gold (Free) | Platinum ($9.99) | Diamond ($19.99) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Products | 5 | 50 | 500 |
| Product Images | 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Discount Codes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Inventory Tracking | No | Yes | Yes |
| Shipment Tracking | No | Yes | Yes |
| Google Analytics | No | Yes | Yes |
| Theme Code Editing | No | Yes | Yes |
| Product Options (Size, Color) | No | Yes | Yes |
| Printful/Printify Integration | Manual only | Yes | Yes |
As you can see, the main differences between Big Cartel’s plans come down to product limits and access to essential selling tools.
The Platinum and Diamond plans unlock everything most sellers need — including automation, analytics, and integrations — while the free Gold plan is better suited for basic testing or hobby stores.
How To Choose the Right Big Cartel Plan
Still not sure which plan is best for your needs? Here’s a simple breakdown:
- Choose Gold if you want to test an idea with minimal risk
- Choose Platinum if you’re planning to sell real products or use print on demand
- Choose Diamond if you already have a wide product catalog
Ask yourself:
- Do I need to automate orders using Printful or Printify?
- Am I selling more than 5 products?
- Do I want to use discount codes or custom designs?
- Will I need inventory tracking?
If you answered yes to any of the above, skip the free plan and go straight to Platinum.
Final Verdict: Is Big Cartel Worth It?
If you’re looking for a low-cost, no-fuss way to start selling online, Big Cartel is one of the best value platforms out there — especially for creators, artists, and print-on-demand sellers.
It’s not built to scale like Shopify or WooCommerce, but for early-stage businesses, it hits all the essentials:
- Clean interface
- Simple product management
- No extra fees
- Seamless Stripe/PayPal setup
- Print-on-demand ready (on paid plans)
For $9.99/month, Big Cartel’s Platinum plan gives you the tools you need to build, launch, and automate a functional online store.
Unless you’re planning to list hundreds of SKUs, it’s unlikely you’ll need to upgrade beyond that.
