Understanding Your Options
When it comes to setting up an online store, the myriad of available platforms can make the choice daunting. Two prominent contenders often considered by small business owners and creative entrepreneurs are WooCommerce and Big Cartel. Both platforms offer unique benefits tailored to different needs, but how do you know which one is right for you? Today, we’ll walk through a detailed comparison of WooCommerce and Big Cartel, aiming to provide clarity and assist you in making an informed technology decision that aligns with your business goals.
What is WooCommerce?
WooCommerce is a customizable, open-source ecommerce plugin designed to function seamlessly with WordPress. Since its inception, WooCommerce has transformed countless WordPress websites into fully functioning online stores. It’s flexible, scalable, and supported by a vast community, making it a popular choice for those wanting to leverage their existing WordPress site for ecommerce.
What is Big Cartel?
On the other hand, Big Cartel is a straightforward, user-friendly ecommerce platform that caters mainly to artists, makers, and small businesses. Unlike WooCommerce, Big Cartel is a standalone solution designed to simplify the process of setting up an online store without requiring deep technical knowledge or extensive customization.
Setup and Usability
When considering the initial setup and usability of a platform, it’s essential to understand your technical comfort level and the time you’re willing to invest.
WooCommerce
Setting up WooCommerce requires a bit of groundwork. First, you need a WordPress website, hosting service, and a registered domain. From there, installing the WooCommerce plugin is relatively straightforward. However, fine-tuning the store can require some technical know-how, or at the very least, a familiarity with WordPress. For those comfortable with tweaking settings and perhaps diving into a bit of coding or theme customization, WooCommerce offers limitless possibilities.
Big Cartel
Big Cartel shines in its simplicity. There’s no need to worry about hosting, domain registration, or navigating through multiple dashboards. Everything is streamlined, making it an appealing option for creators who want to get an online store up and running quickly with minimal fuss. The platform’s user-friendly dashboard guides you through the setup process, ensuring that even those with limited technical skills can have a professional-looking store in minutes.
Customization and Flexibility
The depth of customization can often dictate which platform is best suited to your needs.
WooCommerce
With WooCommerce’s open-source nature, customization options are virtually boundless. You can modify everything from the store’s design to its functionality. Whether you want to integrate additional plugins for enhanced features or custom-code certain elements, WooCommerce’s flexibility caters to businesses with unique requirements. If you have specific functionalities in mind, WooCommerce and its extensive library of plugins can likely accommodate them.
Big Cartel
Big Cartel is designed for simplicity and ease of use, and while it provides several customization options, they do not match the vast potential of WooCommerce. The platform offers various themes and some level of coding in the Gold plan, but the primary objective is to keep things straightforward. Big Cartel is perfect for those looking for a clean, minimalistic store without the desire or need for extensive customization.
Cost and Value
Every business decision eventually circles back to cost and the value derived from the investment.
WooCommerce
WooCommerce itself is free, but additional costs can rapidly accumulate, including hosting fees, premium extensions, and professional themes. Depending on the hosting provider and the specific needs of your business, these expenses can vary widely. However, the cost often translates into value, especially if you require a highly customizable and scalable solution.
Big Cartel
Big Cartel offers a tiered pricing structure, starting with a free plan that supports up to five products, an excellent option for hobbyists or those just getting started. Paid plans are also reasonably priced but add limitations on the number of products and available features. For small, creator-focused businesses, Big Cartel’s transparent pricing and straightforward plans offer excellent value without unexpected costs or complexities.
Scalability
Growth potential is an important consideration for any small business or creator looking to establish an online presence.
WooCommerce
One of WooCommerce’s standout features is its scalability. As an open-source platform, it supports businesses from small startups to substantial enterprises. Its ability to integrate with various services and handle significant traffic and transactions makes it a reliable choice for businesses with growth ambitions. WooCommerce’s scalability ensures that your ecommerce platform can grow alongside your business, accommodating increased loads and more complex requirements over time.
Big Cartel
Big Cartel targets smaller enterprises and individual creators, and while it is effective within its niche, scalability could be a limiting factor. The platform is ideal for businesses that anticipate a slightly slower growth trajectory or those content to remain small, focusing on a tight-knit community of customers. If you envision needing more advanced features or expanding significantly in the future, Big Cartel might require transitioning to another platform.
Support and Community
Having access to support and a helpful community can significantly enhance your experience with an ecommerce platform.
WooCommerce
WooCommerce benefits from a large, active community and extensive documentation. Numerous forums, tutorials, and professional services are available to help with almost any issue. Additionally, because WooCommerce is so widely used, finding specialized support is generally straightforward. However, official support is somewhat limited, often requiring reliance on the community or third-party providers.
Big Cartel
Big Cartel offers responsive customer support, with a team ready to assist with questions or issues. The platform’s straightforward nature means that users often require less support than more complex solutions might necessitate. While the community around Big Cartel is smaller compared to WooCommerce, the provided resources and assistance are often more than sufficient for users within its target market.
Which One is Right for You?
When deciding between WooCommerce and Big Cartel, the choice boils down to your specific needs and vision for your ecommerce venture.
Choose WooCommerce If:
- You already have a WordPress site.
- You need extensive customization and flexibility.
- Scalability and future growth are paramount.
- You're comfortable or have resources to handle more complex configurations.
Choose Big Cartel If:
- You seek simplicity and ease of use without extensive technical involvement.
- You're a creator-focused business or small enterprise.
- Limited product ranges and straightforward stores meet your needs.
- You appreciate transparent, straightforward pricing with fewer integrations and customizations.
Final Thoughts
Selecting the right ecommerce platform is a critical decision that can impact your business's overall success. Both WooCommerce and Big Cartel offer unique advantages tailored to different needs. By understanding their capabilities, strengths, and limitations, you can confidently choose the platform that best aligns with your business goals and growth trajectory.
At Deploi, we believe in empowering digital leaders with the information and tools they need to thrive. No matter which platform you choose, we're here to support you on your journey toward ecommerce excellence.
