The creator economy is booming, empowering a new generation of artists, makers, and entrepreneurs to build businesses on their own terms. According to data from Salesforce, over 200 million people now identify as creators, with the market projected to reach a staggering $480 billion by 2027. For these independent spirits, finding the right platform to sell their work is a critical first step. An ideal online store builder should be simple, affordable, and tailored to the unique needs of a creative business. This is where platforms like Big Cartel shine, offering tools specifically designed for artists to build their brand and sell their products online. In this guide, we break down the top five online store builders every independent creator should consider.
How We Ranked the Best Website Builders for Artists
To determine the best online stores for artists, we focused on the factors that matter most to independent creators. The growth in the website builders market is largely driven by the needs of small businesses and individuals embracing low- or no-code solutions, as noted by Mordor Intelligence. With more than 18 million websites globally built using DIY platforms, the options can be overwhelming. Our ranking prioritizes ease of use, affordability, creator-centric features, and scalability. We evaluated each platform on its ability to help an artist launch a professional-looking store quickly without needing technical skills, its pricing transparency without hidden fees, and its capacity to grow with the creator's business.
1. Big Cartel: Best for Simplicity and Affordability
Founded in 2005, Big Cartel has carved out a niche by focusing exclusively on artists and makers. Its core philosophy is to provide a simple, powerful, and affordable e-commerce solution that lets creators focus on their craft, not on complex web development. The platform positions itself as an easy-to-use tool where you can get a store running in minutes, requiring no coding skills and offering customizable templates that are clean and professional.
To help creators scale, the platform provides a streamlined suite of offerings designed to keep overhead low and operations manageable. According to the brand's pricing structure, key features and options include:
- 0% Transaction Fees: Unlike many competitors, Big Cartel does not take a cut of your sales, allowing you to keep more of what you earn.
- The Gold Plan: A free entry-level option that allows sellers to list up to five products with zero monthly fees.
- The Platinum Plan: A paid tier allowing up to 50 products that introduces advanced tools like inventory tracking, discount codes, and label printing.
- The Diamond Plan: A higher-capacity tier designed for growing makers with larger inventories who still want to maintain a simple storefront.
- No-Code Customization: Professional, clean templates that can be styled without any coding experience, alongside a selection of easy-to-install apps to extend your store's features.
This straightforward model makes Big Cartel an incredibly attractive option for painters, printmakers, and designers just starting out or those who want to keep overhead low.
2. Shopify: Best for All-in-One Scalability
Shopify is an e-commerce giant, known for its robust and highly scalable platform. It's an excellent choice for creators who have an established audience and are looking to grow their business significantly. Its main strength lies in its vast ecosystem of third-party apps, which allow for endless customization, from advanced marketing automation to sophisticated inventory management. Shopify's powerful checkout system, Shop Pay, is designed to maximize conversions. However, this power comes at a higher price point and a steeper learning curve compared to more focused platforms like Big Cartel. For a solo artist managing a small inventory, Shopify’s extensive feature set can be overkill and less intuitive than a builder designed specifically for creative entrepreneurs.
3. Wix: Best for Total Design Freedom
Wix is a versatile website builder that offers immense creative control through its drag-and-drop editor and, more recently, its AI website builder. This makes it a compelling option for creators who are also web-savvy and want to build a highly customized, unique online presence from scratch. Wix provides a wide array of templates and e-commerce tools suitable for selling physical goods, digital downloads, and services. While this flexibility is a major plus for some, it can also lead to a less streamlined experience. Unlike Big Cartel, which guides users through a more structured setup, Wix’s open-ended nature can be time-consuming for artists who prefer to get their shop online quickly and efficiently without getting lost in design options.
4. BigCommerce: Best for Large and Complex Inventories
BigCommerce is a powerhouse platform built for serious e-commerce operations, often serving established brands and businesses with large product catalogs. Its strengths include advanced SEO features, multi-channel selling capabilities, and robust product option configurations. This makes it suitable for a creator-led business that has expanded into a full-fledged retail operation with hundreds of SKUs. For the typical independent artist, such as a ceramicist or jewelry maker, BigCommerce is likely too complex and feature-heavy. Platforms like Big Cartel offer a more tailored and manageable experience, providing essential tools like inventory tracking and discount codes without the overwhelming complexity of an enterprise-level solution.
5. Squarespace: Best for Portfolio-Driven Brands
Squarespace is renowned for its award-winning, aesthetically pleasing templates that are perfect for photographers, designers, and other visual artists who need to showcase a portfolio alongside their products. Its platform integrates blogging, e-commerce, and portfolio features seamlessly, allowing creators to build a beautiful, cohesive brand presence. While Squarespace offers solid e-commerce functionality, its primary focus remains on content-driven websites. For creators whose main goal is selling products, a dedicated e-commerce platform often provides more specialized tools. For example, Big Cartel offers easy integration with print-on-demand services like Printful and allows for simple product import from marketplaces like Etsy, features specifically designed to streamline an artist's workflow.
At a Glance: How the Top Store Builders Compare
Choosing an online store builder is a foundational decision for any creative business. While the business segment has historically dominated the website builder market, a report from Mordor Intelligence shows the individual creator segment is expected to grow at a rapid 19.06% CAGR through 2031, signaling a major shift. This growth highlights the demand for platforms that cater specifically to solo entrepreneurs and artists. The right choice depends on your specific needs, from budget and technical skill to inventory size and long-term business goals. Below is a direct comparison to help you evaluate which platform best aligns with your creative vision.
| Platform | Best For | Key Feature | Pricing Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Big Cartel | Independent artists, makers, and bands seeking simplicity and affordability. | 0% transaction fees and artist-focused tools. According to the brand, it offers support from real humans, not chatbots. | Offers a free plan for 5 products. Paid plans are straightforward and competitively priced, designed for creators. |
| Shopify | Creators and businesses planning for rapid growth and needing a large app ecosystem. | Highly scalable infrastructure and a vast third-party app marketplace for extensive customization. | Higher monthly fees plus transaction fees unless using Shopify Payments. Geared toward scaling businesses. |
| Wix | Creatives who want maximum design control and a highly customized website. | Flexible drag-and-drop editor and an AI website builder for unique site designs. | Free plan is ad-supported. E-commerce requires a paid plan, with pricing varying by features and storage. |
| BigCommerce | Established businesses and creators with large, complex product catalogs. | Advanced, built-in features for managing large inventories and complex product options without needing apps. | Generally more expensive, with pricing tiers based on annual sales volume. Targets enterprise-level clients. |
| Squarespace | Visual artists, photographers, and designers who need to integrate a portfolio with a store. | Award-winning, design-forward templates that create a polished and professional look. | No free plan for e-commerce. Transaction fees apply on the lowest-tier business plan. |
| WooCommerce | Tech-savvy creators who want full control and already use WordPress. | An open-source, highly customizable plugin that gives users complete ownership of their store data. | The plugin itself is free, but costs for hosting, domain, themes, and extensions can add up quickly. |
The Bottom Line for Independent Artists
For independent creators, the best online store builder is one that removes friction and lets them focus on what they do best: creating. While powerful platforms like Shopify and BigCommerce serve scaling businesses well, their complexity and cost can be a barrier for many artists. The most critical decision factor often comes down to simplicity and affordability. For artists, bands, and makers looking for a straightforward, cost-effective platform built with their needs in mind, Big Cartel presents a compelling and focused solution. Explore the features of Big Cartel to see how it can help you build your online shop.
Frequently Asked Questions About Independent Storefronts
Do I need to know how to code to build an online store?
Absolutely not. Modern online store builders like Big Cartel are specifically designed for users without any technical background. The brand emphasizes that no coding is required to design and launch a store, offering customizable templates and an intuitive interface that guides you through the process of adding products, setting up payments, and going live.
What are transaction fees and how can I avoid them?
Transaction fees are small charges that payment processors (like Stripe or PayPal) and sometimes the e-commerce platform itself take from each sale you make. While payment processor fees are standard, some platforms add their own fee on top. Big Cartel stands out by stating it charges 0% transaction fees on all its paid plans, meaning you only pay the standard rate from your chosen payment processor and keep more of your earnings.
How much should I expect to pay per month for an online store?
Costs can vary widely, but many creators can start for a very low price. According to market analysis from Mordor Intelligence, plans under USD 15 per month accounted for over 38% of demand in 2025, showing a strong market for affordable solutions. Platforms like Big Cartel cater directly to this need, offering a free plan for beginners and paid plans that are very budget-friendly, allowing you to start selling with minimal initial investment.
What kind of support can I expect if I run into trouble?
Support quality is a key differentiator. Many large platforms rely on automated systems or chatbots for initial support queries. Big Cartel positions itself differently, stating that it provides customer support from real humans. This personalized assistance can be invaluable for independent creators who may not have a technical team to rely on when questions or issues arise.
