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Big Cartel vs Square Online: two free plans, and what each leaves out
Updated Oct 15, 2026
Both start free. Big Cartel Gold allows up to 5 products and sends payments through Stripe or PayPal with no Big Cartel fee. Square Free lists unlimited items but charges 3.3% + 30¢ per online sale and can't connect your own domain. Your own domain costs $15 a month on Big Cartel Platinum and $49 a month per location on Square Plus.
At a glance, by our score
- Lowest price
#4 Big Cartel
Makers with up to 5 products who want a free plan and pay only Stripe's or PayPal's fees
7.0/10GoodOur scoreVisit Big CartelOn bigcartel.com - Lowest price
#6 Square Online
Sellers who want to start selling online for $0 a month and can do without their own domain
6.7/10FairOur scoreVisit Square OnlineOn squareup.com
Side by side
| Criterion | Big Cartel | Square Online |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 7.0/10GoodOur score #4 of 10 | 6.7/10FairOur score #6 of 10 |
| Fees per sale (30%) | 6.8 / 10 | 6.8 / 10 |
| Plan price (25%) | 10.0 / 10 | 10.0 / 10 |
| Included (20%) | 0.0 / 10 | 6.0 / 10 |
| Using another payment provider (15%) | 10.0 / 10 | 0.0 / 10 |
| Free trial (10%) | 10.0 / 10 | 10.0 / 10 |
| Price from | $0 / month | $0 / month |
| Best for | Makers with up to 5 products who want a free plan and pay only Stripe's or PayPal's fees | Sellers who want to start selling online for $0 a month and can do without their own domain |
| Visit | Visit Big CartelOn bigcartel.com | Visit Square OnlineOn squareup.com |
Who should pick which
- Big Cartel: Makers with up to 5 products who want a free plan and pay only Stripe's or PayPal's fees
- Square Online: Sellers who want to start selling online for $0 a month and can do without their own domain
Big Cartel and Square Online both let you sell online for $0 a month. They trade off different things: Big Cartel limits products, and Square Free charges a higher card rate and can't connect your own domain.
At a glance
| Big Cartel | Square Online | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry plan and price | Gold: $0 | Square Free: $0 a month per location |
| Fees on a $50 online card sale | No processor of its own: Stripe from 2.9% + 30¢, about $1.75 | 3.3% + 30¢ online: about $1.95 |
| Using another payment provider | 0% transaction fees; Stripe and PayPal only | No published way to use one |
| Included on the entry plan | Up to 5 products and SSL; no discounts, inventory tracking, abandoned-cart emails or own domain | Unlimited items, coupons, inventory, SSL; no own domain, no abandoned-cart emails |
| Free plan or trial | Gold is free; Platinum has a 7-day trial | The plan is $0; Plus and Premium have a 30-day free trial |
Prices from Big Cartel's Gold plan page and pricing page, read Sep 27, 2026, and Square's plans page, read Sep 25 and Sep 26, 2026.
Price
Both entry plans cost nothing. Big Cartel Gold covers up to 5 products. Square Free is $0 a month per location.
The first paid step differs a lot. Big Cartel Platinum is $15 a month or $144 a year, for up to 50 products, with a custom domain, discounts and inventory tracking. Square Plus is $49 a month per location, $588 a year, and cuts the online rate to 2.9% + 30¢. Square publishes no annual price. Square Plus and Premium have a 30-day free trial; Big Cartel Platinum has a 7-day trial.
Per sale, Square Free charges 3.3% + 30¢ online: about $1.95 on a $50 sale. Big Cartel adds no fee, and its payments article quotes Stripe from 2.9% + 30¢, about $1.75. That is $0.20 more per $50 sale on Square Free.
Where they differ
- Your own domain. Neither free plan connects your own domain. Square's "Custom domain connect" row starts on Plus. Big Cartel allows a custom domain on paid plans, from Platinum.
- Products. Square says you can list unlimited items, or import them from Square POS. Big Cartel Gold stops at 5 products.
- Store tools on the free plan. Square Free checks coupons and inventory across locations and channels. Big Cartel Gold has neither discounts nor inventory tracking. Neither free plan sends abandoned-cart emails.
- Payment processors. Square sets your site up with Square's own processor and publishes no way to use another. Big Cartel doesn't process payments; you choose Stripe or PayPal.
- In person and support. Square Free's in-person rate is 2.6% + 15¢ for tap, dip or swipe, and Square Premium lists 24/7 phone support.
Who should pick which
Pick Big Cartel if you have a handful of products and want the lower card rate, or want your own domain for $15 a month rather than $49.
Pick Square Online if you need more than 5 products for free, already take payments in person with Square, or want coupons and inventory tracking without paying for a plan.
Compare the rest in our ecommerce platform ranking and platform fees compared.