Big Cartel vs Patreon
A side-by-side look at Big Cartel and Patreon. On our scoring, Patreon comes out ahead — but the right pick depends on your priorities.
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| Scores | ||
| SellingScene score | 3.8/5 | 3.8/5 |
| User rating | 3.9 | 4 |
| Reviews | 690 | 1,480 |
| Pricing | ||
| Starting price | Free | Free |
| Pricing model | free up to 5 products + paid tiers | no monthly fee, percentage of income |
| Transaction fees | 0% (processing applies) | 8–12% of monthly income (plus processing) |
| Hosting & setup | ||
| Hosting type | Fully hosted (SaaS) | Fully hosted (SaaS) |
| Free trial | Free plan available | Free to start |
| Staff accounts | Single account | Team access |
| Product limit | 5 / 50 / 500 by plan | N/A (membership tiers) |
| Payments & security | ||
| Payment gateways | Stripe, PayPal | Patreon-managed (cards, PayPal) |
| SSL included | Yes | Yes |
| PCI compliant | Yes | Yes |
| Gift cards | No | Yes |
| Catalog & content | ||
| Themes / templates | Customizable themes | Creator page styling |
| App marketplace | Limited integrations | Apps & integrations |
| Multi-currency | No | Yes |
| Multi-language | No | No |
| POS included | No | No |
| Abandoned cart recovery | No | No |
| Built-in blog | No | Yes |
| Tools & flexibility | ||
| Drag-and-drop editor | No | No |
| API access | No | Yes |
| Mobile app | Yes | Yes |
| Support channels | Email & help center | Help center, email, creator support |
| Actions | Read review | Read review |
Why pick Big Cartel?
Big Cartel is purpose-built for artists who want a clean, no-fuss shop without commerce overwhelm, and the free plan is genuinely useful. Its hard product limits and minimal features mean growing brands will outgrow it.
Best for: Artists and makers with small product counts
Read the full Big Cartel reviewWhy pick Patreon?
Patreon is the default home for recurring fan memberships, with tiers, gated posts, and a community layer that keeps supporters engaged. Its fees plus payment processing take a real bite, and discovery on-platform is weak.
Best for: Creators building recurring membership income
Read the full Patreon review