Big Cartel vs Format
A detailed comparison to help you choose between Big Cartel and Format.
Big Cartel Simple online store for artists and makers | Format Portfolio website builder for photographers and artists | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Rating | 3.9 (165 reviews) | 4.2 (177 reviews)✓ |
| Pricing model | freemium | paid |
| Best for | Independent artists, crafters, and makers selling a small number of handmade products online | Professional photographers and visual artists wanting a gallery-focused portfolio site with client proofing |
| Pricing transparency | ||
| Intro price | $0.00/mo✓ | $7.00/mo |
| Renewal price | $15.00/mo | $15.00/mo |
| Renewal hike | — | +114% |
| Renewal transparency | good | moderate |
| Money-back days | 0 days | 14 days✓ |
| Uptime guarantee | 99.9% | 99.9% |
| Hosting amenities | ||
| cPanel included | ||
| WordPress 1-click | ||
| Staging environment | ||
| Daily backups | ||
| Free SSL | ||
| Free domain | ||
| Free migration | ||
| Phone support | ||
| Live chat | ||
| LiteSpeed server | ||
| Green hosting | ||
| Data-center locations | ||
| Regions | United States | United States |
| Tags | ||
| Tags | free tierfree ssl | free ssl |
| Visit Big Cartel → | Visit Format → | |
Big Cartel
Pros
- + Free plan for up to 5 products
- + Designed for artists and makers
- + Simple to set up and manage
Cons
- - No affiliate program
- - Very limited features vs Shopify
- - Artist-niche only
Format
Pros
- + Photography and art portfolio specialist
- + Client proofing for professional photographers
- + Print sales and ecommerce built-in
Cons
- - 114% renewal price increase
- - Very niche — photographers only
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