PayPal vs Big Cartel

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Our analysts compared PayPal vs Big Cartel based on data from our 400+ point analysis of eCommerce Platforms, user reviews and our own crowdsourced data from our free software selection platform.

Big Cartel Software Tool

Product Basics

PayPal is a payment processing solution that serves as an electronic alternative to traditional methods like money orders and checks. It allows users to shop online, send and receive money securely, and receive payments. It is a two-sided network that connects merchants to consumers in various markets. As a merchant, add a one-touch payment point to the business website, provide customers with faster checkouts, offer credit lines and EMIs, receive recurring payments, accept credit and debit cards, and send multiple payments with a single click. It is a secure and fully PCI-compliant payment facilitator.
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Big Cartel is an eCommerce website builder that helps artists quickly design and launch an online storefront. They can set up professional websites on a custom domain for free, and move onto paid plans during scaling for features like inventory management, theme code editing, Google Analytics and more. The free plan supports five products and paid plans can support up to 500 products.
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$0.30/Transaction, 5.4% Flat Rate
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$12 Monthly, Freemium
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Product Assistance

Documentation
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Live Online
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Webinars
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Email
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Chat
FAQ
Forum
Knowledge Base
24/7 Live Support
Email
Phone
Chat
FAQ
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Knowledge Base
24/7 Live Support

Product Insights

  • Enhanced Security: PayPal employs end-to-end encryption and fraud detection technologies to protect both buyers and sellers, reducing the risk of unauthorized transactions and data breaches.
  • Global Reach: With support for multiple currencies and a presence in over 200 markets, PayPal enables businesses to accept payments from customers worldwide, expanding their market reach.
  • Convenience: PayPal offers a seamless checkout process, allowing customers to pay quickly without entering their payment details for every transaction, leading to higher conversion rates for businesses.
  • Flexible Payment Options: PayPal supports a variety of payment methods, including credit cards, bank accounts, PayPal balance, and PayPal Credit, offering flexibility to customers and increasing the likelihood of successful transactions.
  • Buyer Protection: PayPal's Buyer Protection policy covers eligible purchases, providing refunds for transactions that don’t go as planned, thereby increasing consumer trust and confidence.
  • Seller Protection: Similarly, PayPal's Seller Protection program safeguards merchants against claims, chargebacks, and reversals for unauthorized transactions and items not received by buyers, minimizing potential losses.
  • Easy Integration: PayPal offers easy-to-use APIs and plugins for major eCommerce platforms and shopping carts, simplifying the integration process for businesses and enabling them to start accepting payments quickly.
  • Financial Management: With comprehensive reporting tools and the ability to send invoices directly through the platform, PayPal helps businesses manage their finances efficiently, saving time and resources.
  • Customer Insights: PayPal provides access to valuable data and analytics about purchasing trends and customer behavior, helping businesses tailor their offerings and marketing strategies for better engagement.
  • Mobile Optimization: PayPal's mobile-optimized payment solutions cater to the growing number of consumers who shop on their smartphones and tablets, ensuring a smooth and secure checkout experience on any device.
  • Nonprofit Support: PayPal offers discounted transaction rates for registered nonprofits, making it easier for them to accept donations and manage their fundraising efforts online.
  • Subscription Services: Businesses can easily set up and manage subscription-based services with PayPal, offering automatic billing and payment options that ensure continuous access to products or services for their customers.
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  • Design Unique Storefronts: Create branded storefronts with automated tax calculators, site searching, shipment connections and real-time statistics using templates and coding. 
  • Improve Engagement: Track KPIs, cart recovery, engagement rates and bounce rates to identify weaknesses and drill down on opportunities. Attract customers and boost engagement through unique promos and discounts. 
  • Work From Anywhere: Stay on top of every business process with real-time updates and notifications on the mobile app for Android and iOS. 
  • Add Custom Features: Leverage partnership with Zapier to facilitate connections with over 1,000 third-party solutions like Google Analytics, Facebook Store, Instagram, Pulley, MailChimp and more. 
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  • Accept Payments: Receive funds and streamline the checkout experience with the available tools: 
    • Invoices and Estimates: Generate free customizable invoices to simplify the payment process. Alternatively, create estimates with business logos and personalized details, and automatically convert them into invoices after customer acceptance. 
    • Checkout: Provide customers with a one-touch payment point to check out and make payments without leaving the business website. 
    • Recurring Payments: Improve customer retention by allowing repeat customers to skip the checkout process and set up subscription-based payments. 
    • Installment Payments: Get paid up-front while providing customers a pay-later option with “Pay in 4,” an interest-free installment solution, at no additional cost. 
    • Sell on Social: Quickly create product listings with photos and descriptions. Receive a shareable link to promote and push sales through social media, email, chat and more. Host listings on the vendor’s servers and let customers securely pay through a payment portal. 
    • Point of Sale: Accept in-person card payments with a selection of chip, tap and swipe readers and accessories compatible with mobile devices and desktops. 
    • QR Codes: Generate and print unique QR codes that customers can scan to make payments through mobile apps. 
  • Make Payments: Securely link bank accounts to transfer money to digital wallets and vice versa. 
    • Business Debit Mastercard: Withdraw or spend money as soon as it arrives in the digital wallet and earn rewards and cashback from participating retailers. Use at all locations accepting Mastercards. 
    • Send Money: Electronically pay vendors anywhere within the USA without incurring any additional costs and receive payment receipts instantly through the mobile app. Thorough monitoring helps prevent fraudulent transactions. 
    • Payouts: Send mass payouts to vendors and employees across the world, and auto-convert currencies. Supports more than 24 currencies and 180 markets across the globe. 
    • Crypto Payments: Make payments and checkout from participating online stores with cryptocurrency seamlessly. 
    • Payment Regulations: Leverage tools like transaction monitoring, recipient verification and compliance screening to manage compliance with regulations. Available with the enterprise solution. 
  • Risk Management: Uses intelligent two-sided networks, machine learning and analytics to protect businesses from existing and potential threats. Safeguard card details and transactional ledgers with a secure vault. Receive expert advice on maintaining compliance and security strategies. 
  • Growth Acceleration: Expedite business growth rate with critical funding, sales push and growth insights: 
    • PayPal Working Capital: A fixed-fee loan available without requiring a credit check, based on the account’s history. Repay it automatically with a percentage of each sale through the digital wallet. 
    • PayPal Business Loan: Finance operating expenses with a term loan based on the business’s history and growth since inception. Automate regular weekly payments from the bank. 
    • Cart Recovery: Reduce cart abandonment and drive return visits by sending notifications to shoppers who left midway. Offer incentives and discounts through a Store Cash campaign and boost customer loyalty. 
    • Insights: Get actionable insights and expert advice based on estimated audience size and potential ROI to optimize operations, improve marketing and push sales. 
  • Operation Management: Streamline daily operations and automate repetitive tasks with the following tools: 
    • Shipping Labels: Receive discounts on shipping through United Parcel Services (UPS) and United States Postal Service (USPS). Automatically receive tracking information. Select service type, package size and other details to auto-calculate costs. 
    • Dispute Management: Interact with buyers and customers through the “Resolution Center” to resolve disputes mutually. Clients can escalate claims for unresolved conflicts. Gain expert advice on building a case against a chargeback or a claim against the business. 
    • Funds Now: Receive money from completed sales instantly without any hold or delay at no extra cost to the business. 
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  • Professional Website: Build and design a niche standalone website to create product USPs. Personalize web pages and add business branding through design templates or editing source code with the HTML and CSS editor. Websites are compatible with both mobile and PC. Host sites on the vendor’s domain or use a custom domain, available with paid plans. 
  • Inventory Management: Keep track of sold units, add new products, supply products with descriptions and photos, and receive notifications when a product is about to go out of stock. Available with paid plans. 
  • Order Management: Send confirmation emails after purchases. Arrange shipping, print shipping labels, track orders and bulk export order history to a CSV file from a unified dashboard. 
  • Search Engine Optimization (SEO): Provide targeted product descriptions, collect inbound links and receive expert advice on optimizing search engine results. 
  • Discounts: Provide discounts on the checkout page to boost customer retention and improve loyalty. 
  • Analytics: Track monthly sales, visitor statistics, conversion rates and more from the analytics dashboard. Leverage integrations with third-party applications for in-depth analysis, available with paid plans.  
  • Mobile App: Access free mobile apps to streamline workflows and increase efficiency. Available apps assist in custom printing, social media marketing, site analytics, customer support, shipping management and more.  
  • Payment Processing: Choose between PayPal and Stripe to provide customers with a one-touch checkout and payment point on the website. Additionally, utilize the mobile application and a card swiper to accept in-person payments, without incurring additional processing fees. 
  • Integrations: Leverage partnership with Zapier to facilitate connections with over 1,000 third-party solutions like Google Analytics, Facebook Store, Instagram, Pulley, Mailchimp and more, available at a cost. 
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Product Ranking

#1

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eCommerce Platforms

#11

among all
eCommerce Platforms

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User Sentiment Summary

Excellent User Sentiment 23875 reviews
Great User Sentiment 32 reviews
94%
of users recommend this product

PayPal has a 'excellent' User Satisfaction Rating of 94% when considering 23875 user reviews from 3 recognized software review sites.

84%
of users recommend this product

Big Cartel has a 'great' User Satisfaction Rating of 84% when considering 32 user reviews from 2 recognized software review sites.

5.0 (23)
n/a
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4.2 (21)
4.63 (404)
4.18 (11)
4.7 (23448)
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Awards

PayPal stands above the rest by achieving an ‘Excellent’ rating as a User Favorite.

User Favorite Award

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Synopsis of User Ratings and Reviews

Convenient and Widely Accepted: PayPal is a popular online payment method that is accepted by many online retailers, making it a convenient option for shoppers.
Enhanced Security: PayPal offers buyer and seller protection policies, which can help to protect users from fraud and scams. For instance, if a buyer does not receive an item they purchased, or if the item is significantly different from its description, they may be eligible for a refund under PayPal's Buyer Protection program.
Dispute Resolution: The platform provides a dispute resolution process to help resolve issues between buyers and sellers.
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Simple Store Setup: Big Cartel is known for its straightforward and user-friendly interface, making it easy for users to set up their online stores quickly, even with limited technical expertise.
Free Plan Availability: The platform offers a free plan that allows users to sell up to five products, making it an attractive option for individuals or small businesses starting with a limited budget or inventory.
Affordable Paid Plans: Big Cartel's paid plans are generally considered affordable compared to other eCommerce platforms, providing scalability for growing businesses without breaking the bank.
Focus on Artists and Makers: Big Cartel caters specifically to artists, crafters, and independent creators, offering features and tools tailored to their needs, such as customizable themes and the ability to sell digital products.
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Limited Seller Protection: PayPal's seller protection policies can be difficult to navigate and may not cover all types of transactions or disputes, leaving sellers vulnerable to fraud or chargebacks.
Account Holds and Freezes: PayPal has been known to hold or freeze accounts without warning or clear explanation, which can disrupt business operations and cause frustration for users who rely on the platform for their livelihood.
Customer Service Challenges: Getting timely and effective support from PayPal's customer service can be difficult, with long wait times and inconsistent responses being common complaints among users.
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Limited Design Flexibility: The platform's design options can feel restrictive for users seeking extensive customization, especially when compared to other platforms that offer a wider range of themes and more advanced design tools.
Feature Limitations: Big Cartel may not be the best fit for businesses with complex needs, as it lacks certain features commonly found in other eCommerce platforms, such as abandoned cart recovery, detailed analytics, and extensive marketing tools.
Scalability Challenges: While suitable for smaller stores or those just starting out, Big Cartel may not be the best choice for rapidly growing businesses due to limitations in product variations, inventory management, and order processing capabilities.
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PayPal users generally give it a thumbs-up for its convenience and security. Setting up an account is a breeze, and the platform is widely accepted by online merchants, making it a go-to for quick and easy payments. The security features, like encryption and fraud protection, give users peace of mind when making transactions. However, some users find the fees, especially for international transactions and credit card payments, to be a bit of a bummer. Additionally, while PayPal is widely accepted, it's not universally accepted, so users may occasionally encounter situations where they need to whip out a different payment method. Compared to other digital payment platforms like Zelle, Venmo, and Cash App, PayPal stands out with its robust buyer and seller protection policies, making it a safer choice for larger transactions or purchases from unfamiliar sellers. But for splitting bills with friends or sending small amounts of money, the simplicity and social features of Venmo or Cash App might be more appealing. So, who's PayPal's ideal user? It's perfect for folks who frequently shop online and value security and convenience. If you're someone who makes international payments or deals with large transactions, PayPal's buyer and seller protection features are a major plus. However, if you're mainly looking for a way to split the bill at dinner or send a few bucks to a friend, you might find other platforms more user-friendly and cost-effective.

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Big Cartel has been making waves in the eCommerce world, but like any platform, it has its fans and its critics. Users who dig Big Cartel often point to its user-friendliness and affordability as major pluses. It's a great starting point for small businesses and artists who want to get their online stores up and running without breaking the bank or getting bogged down in technical complexities. However, some users find Big Cartel's features a bit too basic, especially compared to more robust platforms like Shopify or WooCommerce. If you're looking for advanced marketing tools, extensive customization options, or top-tier customer support, Big Cartel might leave you wanting more. Ultimately, Big Cartel is a solid choice for those who prioritize simplicity and affordability, but if you need a platform that can scale with your business, you might want to explore other options. "Big Cartel: the perfect platform for your big dreams." Whether you're an artist selling handmade crafts or a musician hawking merch, Big Cartel provides a straightforward way to turn your passion into profit. Just remember, as your business grows, you might need to upgrade to a platform with more bells and whistles.

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