Squarespace vs Big Cartel: A Definitive Comparison [January 2025]

By Aleksey Haritonenko read
16 Jan, 2025
Squarespace vs Big Cartel: A Definitive Comparison [January 2025]

Building an online store isn’t just about choosing a platform but about finding the right fit for your products and your goals. I’ve been through the trial-and-error phase, figuring out which platform ticks all the boxes when selling my products. Each platform has its strengths, and the best choice depends on what you value most.

Big Cartel is perfect for creators who want a quick and easy setup. Its simplicity makes launching a store a breeze, but its limited features might make growing your business a challenge.

Squarespace stands out with its sleek, visually stunning templates that make your store look professional and polished. It’s an excellent choice for showcasing your brand, but its focus on aesthetics can sometimes come at the expense of advanced eCommerce tools.

This is when I realized I had to throw Sellfy into the mix. I liked this platform because it strikes a balance between simplicity and functionality. It offers everything you need to build a clean, user-friendly store while providing tools to help your business grow.

In this comparison, I’ll break down how Big Cartel, Squarespace, and Sellfy compare in four key areas:

  • Creating an online store
  • Marketing and eCommerce tools
  • Design and customization
  • Pricing and scalability

By the end of the blog post, you’ll have a clear picture of which platform isn’t just good but right for your unique vision.

Sellfy

Big Cartel

Squarespace

Price

🏆
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Plans start at $22/mo with no transaction fees, allowing you to sell digital and physical products. Includes robust built-in marketing and eCommerce tools.

🏆
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Free plan available for up to 5 products. Paid plans start at $15/month with no transaction fees.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
$25/month starting price. 3% transaction fees on Business plan; no fees on Commerce plans.

Creating an online store

🏆
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Fully customizable storefront with support for digital, physical, subscription, and print-on-demand products.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Quick setup with basic tools. Perfect for small businesses or creators just starting out.

🏆
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
You can build a highly customizable online store with stunning templates. Full control over design.

Marketing features

🏆
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Built-in marketing tools including email campaigns, cart recovery, upselling, affiliate marketing, and discount codes.

⭐️⭐️⭐️
Limited tools, you'll require third-party integrations for email campaigns and adva

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Offers basic tools like discounts, SEO and email marketing; advanced tools need third-party integrations.

Customization and design

🏆

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Fully customizable themes, drag-and-drop store customizer, and white-label options for complete brand control.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Simple drag-and-drop editor with customizable themes. Code editing available on paid plans.

🏆
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Over 100 customizable templates, branding contorol, and AI powered tool for design suggestions.

Ease of use

🏆

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Intuitive platform designed for non-tech-savvy users. Drag-and-drop simplicity for quick store creation.

🏆
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Extremely easy to set up and navigate. Great for small-scale sellers.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Moderate learning curve, but rewarding with design flexibility.

Customer support

🏆

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Responsive email support and an extensive knowledge base tailored for both beginners and pros.

⭐️⭐️⭐️
Email support with a basic help center.

🏆
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Live chat, email support, and a robust knowledge base.

Best for

Creators and entrepreneurs looking for an all-in-one solution with advanced marketing and customization tools.

Independent artists or small businesses seeking a simple, affordable eCommerce platform.

 
Entrepreneurs and small businesses seeking design flexibility and control over branding.

What is Squarespace?

Your vision, your story—elegantly brought to life. ✨

Squarespace is a versatile, all-in-one platform that makes creating beautiful, professional websites a reality for anyone, as there’s no coding required. It was launched in 2003, and it has become a trusted tool for millions of creatives, entrepreneurs, and small businesses looking to stand out online.

At the heart of Squarespace are its award-winning website templates, which are modern, sleek, and highly customizable. It doesn’t matter if you want to showcase your portfolio, launch an online store, or build a blog; its intuitive drag-and-drop editor makes designing seamless. Plus, Squarespace goes beyond aesthetics with built-in eCommerce functionality, appointment scheduling, and robust SEO tools to help your site get noticed.

For online stores, Squarespace Commerce offers everything you need to sell digital and physical products, from secure payment processing with Stripe and PayPal to inventory management and sales analytics. It’s a perfect fit for creators and small business owners who want a website that’s as polished as their vision.

Still, although Squarespace stands out with its design and user-friendliness, it’s best suited for those who prioritize elegance and simplicity over highly complex marketing or scaling needs.

What is Big Cartel?

“Where creativity meets commerce—simple, stylish, and stress-free.” 🎨

Big Cartel is an eCommerce platform designed with independent artists, makers, and boutique brands in mind. Since its launch in 2005, it has become a go-to for over a million creators worldwide, helping them turn their passions into thriving online shops.

Big Cartel stands out with its minimalist approach to online selling. Its straightforward setup and intuitive drag-and-drop editor make creating your store easy, even if it’s your first time. You can sell physical and digital products (third-party apps required), manage inventory, and customize your storefront to reflect your brand’s personality without breaking the bank.

The platform seamlessly integrates with payment gateways like PayPal and Stripe, offering secure payment processing. It also provides real-time order tracking and a free plan for those just getting started, though more advanced features may require an upgrade or third-party integrations.

Big Cartel is perfect for independent artists and small-scale sellers who want a clean, no-fuss solution for showcasing and selling their creations. However, if you’re looking for advanced marketing tools, heavy customization, or scalability for larger operations, you might find its offerings a bit limited. 

What is Sellfy?

Effortless eCommerce for creators—simple, streamlined, and empowering. 🛍️

Sellfy launched in 2011 to provide creators and small business owners an intuitive platform to sell their products online. Whether you’re offering digital downloads, physical goods, or subscription-based services, Sellfy simplifies the entire process and gives you full control over your store while maintaining your brand’s uniqueness.

What sets Sellfy apart is its ease of use combined with powerful features. Creating a fully customizable storefront takes just a few simple steps. The platform includes built-in marketing tools like email campaigns, discount codes, and upselling options, helping you drive sales directly from your store. It seamlessly integrates with payment gateways like PayPal and Stripe, and both desktop and mobile users can enjoy a smooth shopping experience.

Sellfy makes it easy for creators to sell their work without third-party app integrations. It’s perfect for selling digital products, with built-in file delivery and protection. Plus, it has an integrated print-on-demand service that allows you to effortlessly sell custom-designed products—no inventory or upfront costs needed. Sellfy supports physical product sales, making it an incredibly versatile solution for businesses of all types.

What I liked most about this platform is how straightforward it is. Sellfy allows you to focus on what you do best—creating—while it takes care of the technical details. For creators who want to scale their businesses easily, Sellfy offers built-in analytics, marketing tools, and an intuitive interface that eliminates the need for complex setups or technical knowledge. 

Squarespace vs Big Cartel vs Sellfy: Creating an online store 

Sellfy offers full white-label branding and advanced tools for creators, Squarespace combines polished design with branding flexibility, while Big Cartel keeps things simple but leaves its mark on free plans unless you upgrade.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

⭐️⭐️⭐️

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Big Cartel is a better fit for sellers with a small inventory; Squarespace and Sellfy offer more room to scale

Big Cartel is a great option for small-scale sellers just starting out. It can store a maximum of 500 products, which means it’s perfect for independent creators and small business owners who want a simple, easy-to-manage online store. The platform is designed with straightforward customization and doesn’t overwhelm new users with unnecessary features. However, scalability can be a concern, especially for businesses that want to grow beyond the product limit. Additionally, Big Cartel has limited SEO features, which can make it harder for sellers to expand their reach organically through search engines.

Big Cartel store example
Big Cartel is great for independent creators and small business owners who want a simple, easy-to-manage online store

For those planning to scale their business, Squarespace and Sellfy offer much more flexibility. Both platforms are perfect for growing businesses, offering the freedom to sell unlimited products with no restrictions. Their diverse product support, including digital products, physical items, and services, makes them a powerful choice for expanding your offerings as your business scales.

Sellfy has all of the features that allow you to create a store and start selling online.
Sellfy has all of the features that allow you to create a store and start selling online.

Sellfy allows 15GB for digital files, Squarespace caps uploads at 300MB

Squarespace is a solid choice for selling digital products with a 300 MB upload limit. While this may be perfect for basic digital sales, businesses offering more extensive or high-quality content, such as large videos or overlays, may hit some limits. You might need to split content or sacrifice quality to stay within the limit. Squarespace works well for simple sales but isn’t built for handling larger, complex digital products.

Squarespace offers a more robust setup for digital sales with a 300 MB file limit, which is ideal for items like eBooks or mid-size design packs.

On the flip side, Sellfy is made for digital sales. With a generous 20 GB storage limit on the Premium plan, Sellfy supports a wide range of digital products, from eBooks and tutorials to videos, music, and memberships. Plus, it offers top-notch security features like PDF stamping, SSL encryption, and download restrictions to keep your content safe.

Digital product size limit Sellfy
Sellfy is the top choice for selling digital products thanks to its massive 20 GB size cap

Big Cartel also supports digital products, but you’ll need a third-party app to manage them, which adds an extra step to the process. 

Big Cartel requires an app to sell digital products

Big Cartel is great for physical products, but when it comes to selling digital items, you’ll need a bit of extra support. That’s where Pulley comes in!

Pulley
Big Cartel also supports digital products, but you’ll need a third-party app to manage them, which adds an extra step to the process.

Pulley makes selling digital products a breeze, whether it’s art, music, videos, photography, fonts, eBooks, or software. It has a file size limit of up to 100 MB, but it’s flexible enough to accommodate a variety of digital goods. Simply upload your files, and Pulley takes care of the rest—it sends secure download links to your customers via email and tracks all your sales seamlessly.

Keep in mind that you’ll need a paid Pulley plan starting at $6/month to access this feature. You can try it out with a 14-day free trial to see how it works.

Big Cartel wins for simplicity and no-fuss onboarding process

Big Cartel is perfect for creatives, artists, and small business owners who want a simple, straightforward way to sell their products online. If you’re just starting out or looking for something easy to navigate, Big Cartel’s clean interface and minimal features make the process a breeze.

Big Cartel dashboard

Setting up your shop is quick and hassle-free. So, it doesn’t matter if you need to manage just a few products or a simple checkout process for your customers; Big Cartel will get the job done without all the extra fluff. It’s ideal for those who don’t need advanced tools or scalability. However, if you’re ready to scale or want more marketing options, Big Cartel might feel a bit limited.

Squarespace and Sellfy let you fully customize and white label your store; Big Cartel’s branding stays visible.

When it comes to branding flexibility, Squarespace and Sellfy offer full customization and white-label options, whereas Big Cartel keeps its branding visible on your store—unless you take some extra steps.

Squarespace is great for creating a polished, professional site with customizable templates and even a free custom domain with an annual plan. However, users are stuck with Squarespace’s hosting, meaning you can’t easily move your website elsewhere. While, yes, Squarespace does offer some level of flexibility with branding, your store is tied to their platform, and design is owned by Squarespace, and you can’t transfer it when moving to another platform. 

Sellfy takes it a step further as it offers total control over branding, including full white-label options on its Business and Premium plans. You can connect your custom domain and make sure your store reflects your brand fully without any visible third-party branding.

Big Cartel, on the other hand, has visible branding unless you upgrade to a paid plan. Although it offers some flexibility in terms of design, like using CSS and HTML to customize themes, the default view includes Big Cartel’s branding on free accounts. A pro tip? You can remove Big Cartel’s branding with a bit of coding, but it’s a workaround.

🏆

Winner:

Sellfy is the clear winner as it allows you to create a sleek, distraction-free store that’s all about your brand. Squarespace follows closely, as it offers sleek templates and a free custom domain, but its platform limitations might not suit everyone.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Big Cartel vs Squarespace vs Sellfy: Marketing and eCommerce tools

Sellfy and Squarespace offer integrated marketing and eCommerce tools, whereas Big Cartel depends on external apps for essential functionality.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

⭐️⭐️⭐️

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Sellfy and Squarespace pack built-in tools; Big Cartel relies on third-party integrations

When it comes to marketing and eCommerce functionality, Sellfy and Squarespace are packed with built-in tools, while Big Cartel heavily relies on third-party integrations to fill in the gaps.

Sellfy stands out with its all-in-one approach. It provides creators with tools for email marketing, discount codes, affiliate marketing, and upselling right out of the box. You can also track sales, recover abandoned carts with automated emails, and even integrate tracking pixels for Facebook and Twitter ads without any extra apps. Sellfy also makes selling on social media a breeze with “buy now” links and customizable product cards that you can embed into your website. Plus, its seamless support for digital, physical, and print-on-demand products makes it an ideal choice for creators who are looking for simplicity and versatility.

Squarespace offers many similar tools; however, it requires integrations for advanced features. Basic SEO and email marketing are built-in, but for more robust options like cart abandonment emails or intricate affiliate marketing programs, users often turn to platforms like Mailchimp or Zapier. It also supports discount codes and basic product recommendations, but creating dynamic upsell flows or complex discount structures often means paying for additional services like Shopify.

Meanwhile, Big Cartel is designed with simplicity in mind, but that comes at a cost. Essential marketing features like live chat, pop-ups, or email campaigns rely on third-party tools like Chatway, Fera, or Mailchimp. While this can give you some flexibility when choosing specific services, it also requires more setup time, additional subscriptions, and a lot more things to learn to keep everything running smoothly.

Big Cartel marketing
Big Cartel mostly requires third-party integrations for advanced eCommerce features

Squarespace has improved inventory tools, but it still struggles with multi-currency sales

Squarespace has significantly improved its inventory management features over the years. Now, sellers can manage product variants, track stock, set low-stock alerts, and perform bulk edits—important features that were previously missing. Additionally, new elements like wholesale pricing and enhanced bulk editing create a smoother and more efficient backend experience, which makes Squarespace a stronger choice for product management.

However, Squarespace still falls short when it comes to selling on a global scale. The platform doesn’t offer native multi-currency support, meaning you’ll need to manually adjust prices for each market, which is very time-consuming for businesses with international audiences. Additionally, Squarespace lacks built-in multilingual functionality, so creating a page for a global audience requires manual translation or third-party tools. These gaps can add extra complexity for sellers who want to expand beyond their local markets.

On the other hand, Sellfy makes international selling a breeze. Thanks to its built-in multi-currency support, it automatically adjusts prices based on the customer’s location, saving you time and reducing friction in the buyer’s journey. Paired with seamless multilingual functionality and multicurrency selling, Sellfy is well-suited for businesses that want to tap into global markets without the hassle of constant manual updates.

Squarespace and Sellfy offer built-in email marketing to drive conversions

Squarespace is all about aesthetics and ease of use. Its email marketing templates seamlessly integrate with your website’s design for consistent branding that stands out in any inbox. From customizing layouts with a click to pulling in top-selling products or adding discount codes, Squarespace makes it simple to create emails that look professional and polished. Plus, responsive designs ensure your messages look great on any device. Squarespace also supports audience segmentation, automation, and native analytics to fine-tune campaigns. However, advanced features like deep personalization or complex automation may require third-party integrations.

Sellfy, on the other hand, offers an all-in-one solution. You don’t need any external tools to collect subscribers, create targeted campaigns, or even send plain text or HTML emails straight from your dashboard. Want to re-engage customers or promote a new product? Sellfy makes segmentation easy, allowing you to send updates to specific buyers or launch new offers with zero hassle. Plus, built-in analytics help track performance, while robust anti-spam measures protect your sender’s reputation.

Sellfy email marekting

🏆

Winner:

The winner here is Sellfy for its all-in-one approach, offering a solid set of built-in tools without relying on third-party integrations. Squarespace comes in a close second, with a polished interface, excellent design flexibility, and strong built-in tools, though it still relies on integrations for advanced features and international selling capabilities. 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

 

Squarespace vs Big Cartel vs Sellfy: Customization and design 

Squarespace and Sellfy provide more design flexibility, while Big Cartel focuses on simplicity and has limited customization options.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Squarespace and Sellfy offer greater design freedom than Big Cartel’s limited themes

Squarespace has a vast library of stunning, mobile-responsive themes designed to level up your brand’s aesthetic. You can customize layouts, colors, and fonts, and even use custom code for advanced tweaks. Its drag-and-drop builder and pre-built blocks simplify the design process, while plugins expand functionality. That said, some limitations, like fixed header sizes, might require creative workarounds. With Squarespace, you can also integrate website design with email marketing for seamless branding across channels.

Squarespace templates

Sellfy’s straightforward drag-and-drop builder is perfect for creators and entrepreneurs who want quick results without compromising on branding. You can easily customize themes, add logos, and organize products into categories effortlessly. It even auto-translates your store for international customers and ensures a smooth, mobile-friendly shopping experience. Although its templates may not be as extensive as Squarespace’s, Sellfy’s simplicity makes it a go-to for sellers who prioritize ease of use.

Big Cartel’s offering is more modest, with only 19 basic themes. Free plans have minimal customization options, such as uploading images and adding logos in predefined areas. Paid plans further unlock code editing (HTML, CSS, and Liquid Markup) for deeper customization, but this demands technical know-how. Unfortunately, checkout pages remain uneditable, often breaking branding continuity, which could deter customers.

So, if you want a unique and polished store, Squarespace and Sellfy are your best bets. Big Cartel’s limitations may work for hobbyists or small-scale sellers, but its lack of advanced customization options and small theme selection leaves much to be desired.

Squarespace’s 100+ templates and AI tools turn store design into a creative experience

Squarespace transforms the store design process into a creative adventure with its extensive collection of over 100 beautiful templates and the helpful AI design assistant, Squarespace Blueprint. These templates offer a polished, professional look right from the start, catering to various needs, from blogs to fully functional online stores. The AI even provides personalized recommendations for colors, fonts, and layouts, which makes the initial setup feel approachable and intuitive.

Although Squarespace offers stunning visuals, customization can still feel somewhat restricted. You can adjust colors, fonts, and basic page configurations, but deeper customization, like drastically altering layouts or adding unique features, often requires custom code or third-party plugins. For users who want to have complete creative freedom, this can feel limiting and require extra effort to achieve the desired look and functionality.

Moreover, the AI tool can be a helpful assistant, but it doesn’t always hit the mark. Sometimes, it generates designs that need more manual tweaking to align with your brand’s vision. Think of it as a guide, not a one-size-fits-all solution. This means you’ll likely spend some time fine-tuning your store to fully reflect your unique style.

Squarespace AI

Big Cartel keeps things minimal, perfect for showcasing small, curated 

Big Cartel’s minimalistic approach is ideal for artists and small businesses with curated inventories. With only 19 thoughtfully designed themes, Big Cartel focuses on simplicity, helping you to showcase your products in a clean and visually appealing way. This minimalism is perfect for creatives who prioritize quality over quantity, as it highlights individual pieces or a limited selection of handcrafted items.

Big Cartel minimalist

The straightforward interface makes it easy to display artwork, handmade goods, or unique products without overwhelming the customer. Additionally, the customization options for fonts, colors, and logos let you maintain your brand’s identity while keeping things sleek and professional. Big Cartel is the ideal platform for artists or small-scale sellers looking for a no-fuss platform. 

🏆

Winner:

Sellfy and Squarespace are equally great for customization. Squarespace offers stylish templates and AI-powered design tools, while Sellfy provides an easy-to-use drag-and-drop builder for creating your store.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Squarespace vs Big Cartel vs Sellfy: Transaction fees and pricing

Big Cartel provides a free plan for beginners, while Squarespace and Sellfy offer paid plans with more features. 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

All platforms have paid plans, but Big Cartel’s free plan is a rare win for small sellers

Big Cartel’s free plan is a great option for small business sellers looking to get started with minimal cost. Unlike Squarespace and Sellfy, which require paid plans even for basic features, Big Cartel offers a free tier with essential tools for selling online. With the free plan, you can list up to 5 products, use 1 image per product, and accept payments through cards and PayPal.

This makes it ideal for artists, small businesses, or side hustles that want a simple, affordable way to sell online. While there are some limitations, like fewer product variations and limited images, it’s a solid starting point. As your business grows, Big Cartel’s paid plans provide more features, such as unlimited products, advanced customization, and improved functionality.

Sellfy really packs a punch for the price

Squarespace, Big Cartel, and Sellfy each offer unique pricing plans to suit different business needs and help them grow.

Squarespace provides a range of pricing plans for various purposes, from personal portfolios to fully-fledged online stores. The Personal plan is $25/month, and it’s ideal for small websites or portfolios. It includes customizable templates, mobile optimization, and a free custom domain for a polished, professional look.

For businesses looking to expand their reach and take payments, the Business plan is $36/month. This plan includes advanced analytics, product selling, and a 3% transaction fee on online store sales. The Commerce Basic plan at $40/month offers powerful merchandising tools and no transaction fees on store sales. For businesses with more advanced needs, the Commerce Advanced plan is $72/month and it provides features such as shipping, discounting, and subscription selling, all with no transaction fees.

Business

Commerce Basic

Commerce Advanced

$36/month

Mobile optimized website + pre-designed templates + 3% transaction fee

$40/month

Everything on Business + merchandising tools + 0% transaction fee

$72/month

Everything on Commerce Basic + advanced shipping + advanced discounting + subscriptions

Big Cartel offers simple and transparent pricing with no hidden fees, which means it’s a great option for small businesses and artists. The Free plan supports up to 5 product listings, perfect for beginners looking to get started with basic sales tracking. As businesses grow, the Platinum plan at $15/month allows for up to 50 products, inventory tracking, and mobile apps for easy management. For larger stores, the Diamond plan at $30/month supports up to 500 products, abandoned cart recovery, and prioritized support for a more seamless experience. Big Cartel’s straightforward plans are ideal for businesses focused on simplicity and minimal fees.

Gold

Platinum

Diamond

$0/month

Sell online + 5 products + 1 image per product + store templates

$15/month

Everything on Gold + 50 products + 5 images per product + sell in person + shipment tracking + inventory tracking + apps for print-on-demand, product reviews, etc. + advanced template customization + use a custom domain

$30/month

Everything on Platinum + 500 products + 25 images per product + priority support + abandoned cart recovery + 

Sellfy also offers tiered plans designed to meet the needs of growing businesses. The Starter plan, priced at $29/month, offers up to $10,000 in annual sales, unlimited digital and subscription products, email marketing, and the ability to connect your own domain. The Business plan at $79/month supports up to $50,000 in annual sales, featuring tools like upselling, cart abandonment recovery, and affiliate marketing to boost conversions. Additionally, you can fully customize your store and remove Sellfy branding for a professional appearance. For businesses that aim to scale further, the Premium plan at $159/month increases the sales cap to $200k annually and adds advanced features like product migration, priority support, and enhanced design options. Sellfy’s higher-tier plans provide the flexibility and control necessary for fast growth, with no hidden fees or transaction costs.

Starter

Business

Premium

$22/month

Online store + Unlimited products + Discounts & Email Marketing + Connect your own domain

$59/month

Everything in Starter + Upselling + Cart abandonment + Affiliate marketing + Remove "Sellfy branding + Store design migration

$119/month

Everything in Business + Product migration + Priority support

🏆

Winner:

Sellfy is the winner in this category as it provides flexible pricing plans with no hidden fees or transaction costs.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Big Cartel vs Squarespace vs Sellfy: Pros & Cons

Pros

Cons

Simple, affordable pricing

Needs apo

No transaction fees

Limited features compared to larger platformsLimited customization and design options

Customizable storefront

Limited customization and design options

Easy setup

Basic marketing tools

Support for physical products

Great for small businesses or artists

Pros

Cons

Appealing and customizable store themes

Higher cost compared to other platforms

All-in-one platform offering web hosting and eCommerce features

Squarespace charges transaction fees on lover-tier plans

User-friendly drag-and-drop interface

Limited customization for pre-designed template

Responsive mobile-first design

Lack of built-in marketig features

Support for physical products

Robust built-in eCommerce tools

Pros

Cons

All-in-one eCommerce platform

Monthly subscription fee

Simple to set up, no learning curve

Need the Business plan to access cart abandonment, upselling, and white-label stores

Built-in marketing tools on the Starter plan

20GB size cap on digital products

Auto-translated stores for international audiences

Built-in  print-on-demand

100% customizable storefront

Pre-designed store themes

No transaction or listing fees

Squarespace vs Big Cartel vs Sellfy: Final verdict

Best for:
Creators and small businesses looking for an easy-to-use platform to sell digital and physical products with robust marketing tools and zero transaction fees.

Best for:
Creatives, entrepreneurs, and small businesses in need of an intuitive platform with stunning templates and integrated tools to build a professional online presence quickly and without coding expertise.

Best for:

Independent artists and small businesses seeking an affordable, straightforward platform with basic customization to showcase and sell their work.

Sellfy is an excellent choice for creators and small businesses selling digital or physical products. Its built-in marketing tools and diverse features make it an affordable and effective platform for growing your business. Squarespace stands out with its stunning website templates and versatile features, perfect for entrepreneurs who want a professional eCommerce site that grows alongside their needs. Big Cartel is ideal for independent artists and small-scale sellers looking for a cost-effective, user-friendly platform with simple customization options for their storefronts.

Use Sellfy if:

  • You’re a creator or small business selling both digital and physical products.
  • You want marketing tools built in to help grow your business effortlessly.
  • You prefer a platform with no transaction fees and an easy setup process.

Use Big Cartel if:

  • You’re an independent artist or small business looking for a low-cost solution.
  • You want simple storefront customization without a steep learning curve.
  • You prefer a straightforward eCommerce platform for smaller operations.

Use Squarespace if:

  • You need a sleek, customizable website with integrated eCommerce features.
  • You want tools for selling products, managing inventory, and scaling your store.
  • You prioritize design flexibility and branding consistency.

We’ve also included Shopify, Etsy, and Stan Store for comparison! Take a look to see how they measure up to find the best match for your business.

Aleksey is a Content Marketing Specialist at Sellfy. He loves using language and the power of words to make even the driest eCommerce topics fascinating. Using his degree in literary studies and passion for the latest trends, he creates well-researched and structured content to inspire other people and help them grow their eCommerce business.