Big Cartel

Big Cartel is a niche platform built specifically for artists, makers, and very small independent brands. It emphasizes simplicity and authenticity over complex feature sets. It offers a free plan for up to 5 products, making it an accessible starting point. The platform provides essential tools for listing products, managing inventory, and processing orders, with clean, minimalist themes.

It lacks the advanced marketing, SEO, and customization options of broader platforms. Its strength is its focused community and straightforward approach for creatives who want to sell their work online with minimal fuss and no technical overhead, before potentially graduating to a more powerful system.