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Head-to-head · Small Business eCommerce Software

Square Online vs Big Cartel

  • Updated Sep 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 2 checks side by side
Higher score Square Online #4 in Small Business eCommerce Software 7.4/10 Free plan · 30-day trial Free plan✓ 0 of 3 features Visit Square Online
Big Cartel #7 in Small Business eCommerce Software 7.2/10 Free plan · paid from $15/mo · 7-day trial Free plan✓ 1 of 3 features Visit Big Cartel

Square Online leads on 0 checks, Big Cartel on 1, and 1 is even. Who comes out ahead on the 2 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreSquare Online · 7.4/10
  • Free planboth
  • Most featuresBig Cartel · 1 of 3

Square Online scores higher on our rubric for small business ecommerce software: 7.4 against 7.2 out of 10; our editors rank them #4 and #7.

Big Cartel offers abandoned cart recovery; Square Online doesn't publish it.

Square Online is the better fit for small sellers who want a free start and Square POS. Big Cartel is the better fit for artists and solo sellers starting with a free store.

  • Square Online fits best

    Small sellers who want a free start and Square POS

  • Big Cartel fits best

    Artists and solo sellers starting with a free store

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. We may earn a commission when you click some links. It never changes our verdict. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature Square Online 7.4/10 Visit ↗ Big Cartel 7.2/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 7.4 7.2
Ranking #4 in Small Business eCommerce Software #7 in Small Business eCommerce Software
Best for Small sellers who want a free start and Square POS Artists and solo sellers starting with a free store
Pricing model Free plan + paid Free plan + paid
Starting price Not published $15/mo
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Free trial length 30 days 7 days
Deployment Cloud Cloud, Mobile
Platforms Web Web, iOS, Android
Support Live chat, Email, Phone Email, Live chat, Docs · 24/7
Integrations 7 integrations 7,000+ integrations
Built for Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Solo, Small business
Features Square Online 0/3 · Big Cartel 1/3
Built-in POS Not published Not published
Abandoned cart recovery Not published ✓ (best)
Marketplace selling Not published Not published
Specs
Product limit Not published Not published
Staff accounts Not published Not published
Store deployment Not published Not published
Our review
Pros
  • Free plan includes a store and website builder with no monthly subscription cost
  • Syncs product catalog and inventory with Square Point of Sale
  • Supports shipping, local delivery, pickup, subscriptions, and bundles
  • Gold lets sellers list up to 5 products at no monthly cost.
  • Paid plans support online and in-person sales, including digital products.
  • Social selling, inventory tools, and shipping features support day-to-day sales.
Cons
  • Processing fees apply when taking payments on Square Free
  • Paid plan pricing is not specified for Square Plus or Square Premium
  • Its listed integrations center on Square, Google, and Meta services
  • Gold is limited to 5 products and one customizable store template.
  • Platinum and Diamond cap listings at 50 and 500 products, respectively.
  • Its feature scope is more focused than broader ecommerce platforms.
Our verdict

Square Online combines a website builder with e-commerce tools for businesses that want to list products, take online payments, and connect online sales with Square Point of Sale. It suits small sellers looking for a…

Read the review →

Big Cartel is a hosted ecommerce platform for independent creators, artists, and small businesses selling physical or digital products. Its free Gold plan gives a solo seller a straightforward starting point: an online store, card and…

Read the review →
  1. Square OnlineSmall Business eCommerce Software 7.4Free plan · 30-day trial
  2. Big CartelSmall Business eCommerce Software 7.2Free plan · paid from $15/mo · 7-day trial

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Square Online — where it wins

    • Free plan includes a store and website builder with no monthly subscription cost
    • Syncs product catalog and inventory with Square Point of Sale
    • Supports shipping, local delivery, pickup, subscriptions, and bundles

    Where it doesn't

    • Processing fees apply when taking payments on Square Free
    • Paid plan pricing is not specified for Square Plus or Square Premium
    • Its listed integrations center on Square, Google, and Meta services

  • Big Cartel — where it wins

    • Gold lets sellers list up to 5 products at no monthly cost.
    • Paid plans support online and in-person sales, including digital products.
    • Social selling, inventory tools, and shipping features support day-to-day sales.

    Where it doesn't

    • Gold is limited to 5 products and one customizable store template.
    • Platinum and Diamond cap listings at 50 and 500 products, respectively.
    • Its feature scope is more focused than broader ecommerce platforms.

More comparisons

All small business ecommerce software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Sep 2026

Last updated · How we research and update