Haul vs Big Cartel for independent sellers
Big Cartel is simple and affordable — but what happens when you outgrow 500 products or need features it doesn’t offer? Here’s an honest look at both platforms so you can pick the right one for your business.
Haul vs Big Cartel at a glance
Big Cartel is a simple, affordable shop builder aimed at artists and makers selling a small number of items. Its top plan caps at 500 products for roughly £24/month. Haul is a UK-built e-commerce platform with 30+ built-in features — customer reviews, blog, page builder, discount codes, VAT invoices, and unlimited product variants — with zero transaction fees. Neither platform charges transaction fees, but Haul offers significantly more features and a higher product ceiling. For sellers who need more than a basic storefront, Haul provides better value and room to grow.
Feature-by-feature comparison
Big Cartel keeps things minimal. Haul includes every feature on every plan — no paid add-ons, no app store required.
| Feature | Big Cartel | Haul |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction fees | 0% | 0% |
| Max products | 500 (top plan) | Unlimited (Pro) |
| Product variants* | Limited | |
| Variant templates | ||
| Customer reviews | ||
| Blog / CMS pages | ||
| Discount codes | ||
| Scheduled discounts | ||
| VAT invoices | ||
| Page builder | ||
| Stock alerts | ||
| Analytics | Basic | |
| Custom domain | ||
| SEO tools | Basic | |
| Shipping zones | ||
| CSV import / export | Import only | |
| Shopify import tool | ||
| Email templates | Basic | |
| SSL certificate |
* Product variants: Big Cartel has basic variant options with no template system
Pricing side by side
Both platforms charge zero transaction fees. The difference is what you get for your money.
Big Cartel
4 plans available
Big Cartel prices converted from USD. No transaction fees — Stripe/PayPal/Square processing fees still apply.
Haul
2 simple plans
Zero transaction fees. Stripe processing (1.5% + 20p UK) is the only per-sale cost. Every feature included on every plan.
Big Cartel’s top plan caps at 500 products. Haul Pro is unlimited.
If you’re growing your catalogue, Big Cartel’s ceiling could hold you back.
The honest take
We respect Big Cartel — they’ve been championing independent sellers for years. Here’s where each platform genuinely shines.
Where Big Cartel wins
Free plan available
If you only sell a handful of items, Big Cartel’s free plan lets you list 5 products at no cost. It’s a genuinely free way to start selling online.
Extremely simple
Big Cartel is intentionally minimal. If you want the simplest possible storefront with no bells and whistles, it delivers exactly that.
Affordable for tiny catalogues
If you sell fewer than 50 products and don’t need reviews, blog, or advanced features, the Gold plan at roughly £11/month is hard to beat on price.
Clean aesthetic
Big Cartel themes are designed with artists and makers in mind. The templates are tasteful and art-focused out of the box.
Established in the creative community
Big Cartel has been around since 2005 and has a loyal following among artists, illustrators, and small-batch makers.
Where Haul wins
Far more features
30+ built-in features including customer reviews, blog, page builder, discount scheduling, VAT invoices, and stock alerts — none of which Big Cartel offers.
More products, no ceiling
Starter gives you 75 products; Pro gives you unlimited. Big Cartel maxes out at 500 on its most expensive plan.
Unlimited variants with templates
Create variant templates (size/colour combos) and apply them across products. Big Cartel’s variant system is basic and manual.
Built for UK & EU sellers
UK and EU VAT rates, Sterling and Euro pricing, UK shipping zones, and GDPR-compliant from day one. Big Cartel is a US platform priced in dollars.
Shopify import tool
Coming from another platform? Haul can import your Shopify CSV directly. Big Cartel has no equivalent migration tool.
Room to grow
As your business grows, Haul grows with you — more products, more features, better analytics. Big Cartel’s simplicity becomes a limitation.
When to choose Haul over Big Cartel
Big Cartel is great for getting started. Haul is where you go when you’re ready for more.
You have more than 50 products
Big Cartel’s Gold plan caps at 50. Even their top plan stops at 500. Haul Pro has no product limit.
You want customer reviews
Reviews build trust and boost conversions. Big Cartel doesn’t support them. Haul includes a full review system.
You need a blog
Content marketing drives organic traffic. Big Cartel has no blog. Haul includes one with every plan.
You sell in the UK or EU
Haul handles VAT rates, Sterling/Euro pricing, and UK shipping natively. Big Cartel is US-focused and priced in dollars.
You want to customise your shop
Haul’s page builder lets you design custom layouts. Big Cartel offers limited theme customisation.
You need proper invoices
VAT-compliant invoices are essential for UK businesses. Haul generates them automatically. Big Cartel doesn’t.
Frequently asked questions
Does Big Cartel charge transaction fees?
No — like Haul, Big Cartel doesn’t charge transaction fees on top of payment processing. You’ll still pay Stripe, PayPal, or Square processing fees (typically 1.5–2.9% + 20p per transaction), but Big Cartel itself takes no cut. This is one area where both platforms are equal.
Can I migrate from Big Cartel to Haul?
Yes. You can export your products from Big Cartel as a CSV and import them into Haul. If you’ve previously used Shopify, Haul also has a dedicated Shopify import tool. We’re working on a direct Big Cartel importer to make the process even smoother.
Is Big Cartel good for UK sellers?
Big Cartel works for UK sellers, but it’s a US-based platform priced in dollars. It doesn’t generate VAT invoices, doesn’t have built-in UK/EU VAT rates, and its pricing converts to pounds at fluctuating exchange rates. Haul is built specifically for UK and EU sellers with native Sterling pricing and VAT support.
What if I only sell a few products?
If you sell fewer than 5 products and don’t need reviews, a blog, or advanced features, Big Cartel’s free plan is a perfectly good option. But if you want to grow beyond that — or you want features like customer reviews, discount scheduling, or a page builder — Haul offers far more for £15/month.
How does Haul compare to Big Cartel on price?
Big Cartel’s paid plans range from roughly £11–£24/month. Haul Starter is £15/month with 75 products and 30+ features; Haul Pro is £35/month with unlimited products. For the £4 difference between Big Cartel Gold (£11) and Haul Starter (£15), you get customer reviews, a blog, page builder, VAT invoices, stock alerts, and more. Most sellers find that’s excellent value.
Ready for more than the basics?
Haul is launching soon. Register your interest to get early access and see what 30+ built-in features can do for your shop.