Squarespace vs Big Cartel: Design Flexibility for Small Creators vs Simple Ecommerce for Artists

As a technology leader in the web development world, I frequently receive inquiries from small business owners, artists, and entrepreneurs looking for the best platforms to showcase their creativity and products online. Today, we're diving into an insightful comparison between two popular platforms: Squarespace and Big Cartel. This post will help you understand their strengths and weaknesses, focusing on design flexibility for small creators versus simple ecommerce for artists.

Understanding Your Needs

Before diving into the nitty-gritty, it’s crucial to identify your primary needs. Are you an artist aiming to sell your work with ease or a creator needing design flexibility to make your brand stand out? Your unique requirements will heavily influence your choice between Squarespace and Big Cartel. Let’s unpack these two contenders to see which one will best serve your ambitions.

Design Flexibility with Squarespace

Squarespace has long been favored by small creators for its sophisticated design capabilities. If your goal is to create a visually striking online presence, Squarespace offers a robust suite of design tools and templates customizable to reflect your brand effortlessly.

Stunning Templates and Customizability

Squarespace’s templates are renowned for their modern, polished aesthetic. You have a range of templates across different categories—from portfolios to online stores—that are all meticulously crafted to look professional out-of-the-box. However, it doesn't stop there. The platform allows for extensive customization, giving creators the freedom to tweak templates according to their vision. Whether you are a freelance photographer, designer, or writer, Squarespace offers the versatility to build something distinct.

User Experience

The interface, while packed with features, is highly user-friendly. Even if you don’t have a background in web design, you’ll find the drag-and-drop editor intuitive. Squarespace also provides built-in analytics, marketing tools, and SEO-friendly features designed to help grow your audience. For those wanting to expand their digital footprint, the platform's comprehensive toolset is a huge advantage.

Content Management

An often-overlooked aspect of Squarespace is its robust content management system (CMS) capabilities. Whether you’re looking to maintain a blog, portfolio, or a media-heavy website, Squarespace supports a variety of content types, allowing creators to display their work in the best possible light.

Simple Ecommerce for Artists with Big Cartel

On the flip side, Big Cartel focuses on simplifying ecommerce for artists looking to sell their work online without jumping through hoops. If your primary objective is to have a straightforward, no-fuss platform to sell your art, Big Cartel might be your go-to solution.

Simplicity and Ease of Use

Big Cartel’s real strength lies in its simplicity. It’s built for artists by artists, which means the interface and workflow are intuitive. Setting up your store is a breeze compared to more complex platforms. The platform provides you with essential tools to manage your store, including inventory tracking, order management, and basic marketing features.

Pricing Structure

Where Big Cartel shines is its cost-effectiveness. They offer a free plan that allows you to list up to five products, making it an ideal starting point for new artists. Even their paid plans are very affordable. For artists who are just venturing into ecommerce, this is a less risky, budget-friendly option compared to platforms with higher upfront costs.

Features and Integrations

Although Big Cartel doesn’t offer the extensive design options found in Squarespace, it does integrate with essential third-party services like Stripe and PayPal for payments, Shipstation for shipping, and Facebook for social selling. These integrations cover the basic requirements to help you run your online store smoothly.

Comparative Analysis

Design Flexibility and Customization

If bespoke design and visual customization are your highest priorities, Squarespace is unparalleled. Its design flexibility extends beyond templates, offering detailed control over CSS, allowing more tech-savvy users to further personalize their website.

Big Cartel, however, does not focus as much on design flexibility. The platform offers a basic range of themes with limited customization options, aligning with its aim to be straightforward and user-friendly for artists who favor simplicity over complexity.

Ecommerce Capabilities

When it comes to ecommerce, both platforms offer fundamental selling features. Squarespace has a more intricate sales infrastructure, ideal for those intending to scale their business, including features like abandoned cart recovery and extensive product options.

Big Cartel is designed for simplicity. If your needs are basic—listing products, tracking inventory, and managing orders—Big Cartel suffices. However, for more advanced ecommerce features, you might find Squarespace more fitting.

User Experience and Support

Both platforms excel in user experience but cater to different user types. Squarespace can sometimes overwhelm those seeking simplicity due to its plethora of features. However, its comprehensive support system, including webinars, customer support, and a rich knowledge base, is a strong plus.

Big Cartel, in contrast, offers a straightforward setup and management process, which means less room for confusion. Its support may not be as extensive as Squarespace’s, but it aligns well with its uncomplicated design philosophy.

SEO and Digital Marketing

Squarespace offers robust built-in SEO tools, social media integrations, and email marketing capabilities. These tools provide a holistic solution for creating and promoting your brand online. For creators looking to expand their digital footprint, these features are invaluable.

Big Cartel’s SEO capabilities are basic but functional. While it doesn’t offer the same marketing bells and whistles, it allows artists to integrate with Google Analytics and other SEO tools, serving the basic needs of small sellers.

Making the Final Choice

Selecting between Squarespace and Big Cartel ultimately boils down to your priorities. If you need a platform that offers extensive design flexibility, powerful content management, and enriched digital marketing tools, Squarespace is your ideal match. It’s perfect for small creators looking to build a visually stunning, scalable online presence.

On the other hand, if you’re an artist seeking a no-frills, straightforward solution for selling your work online, Big Cartel provides the simplicity and specific functionality you require. Its ease of use, cost-effectiveness, and essential ecommerce features make it a perfect choice for those focused purely on selling their art without the overhead of managing a complex website.

In the end, both platforms offer tremendous value but cater to different needs. By clearly understanding your objectives, you can make an informed decision that best aligns with your goals and drives your creative business forward. At Deploi, we believe in simplifying technology choices to empower you to make decisions with confidence, ensuring your digital journey is both successful and fulfilling.