Big Cartel

Big Cartel has sold for artists and bands since before most of this category existed, and the product still reflects that: a handful of themes, a product limit rather than a transaction limit, and no upsell machinery. Setting up a shop takes an evening. The free plan is genuinely usable for a first release, and the paid ones are cheaper than any general storefront. Anybody who wants apps, subscriptions or a hundred variants should look elsewhere.

A free Gold plan exists for a first release, described on the page as limited in features rather than in time. Platinum is $15 a month after seven free days, and Diamond is $30. What separates them is how many products you can list, along with custom domain support and priority support at the top. There is no transaction fee layered on the subscription, which is the comparison that matters against storefronts charging both.

An artist, band or maker with a small catalogue who wants a shop online this week and no ongoing platform to administer. The product-count model is generous to somebody selling five things repeatedly and punishing to anybody with a wide catalogue. A seller who needs subscriptions, dozens of variants or a marketplace of add-ons will hit the walls here quickly and should pay more elsewhere.