ChatGPT answers, unedited

For a two-person boutique on a tight budget, I’d narrow it to Square Online vs. Big Cartel.

• Square Online — best if minimizing monthly cost is the priority. Square’s Free plan has $0/month subscription cost; you pay payment-processing fees when you make a sale. It also includes a website builder, shipping/local delivery/pickup, and syncing with Square POS. Square Square
• Big Cartel — best if you have a relatively small catalog and want a simple boutique storefront. Its Platinum plan is $15/month and supports up to 50 products, inventory tracking, discounts, online/in-person selling, and custom domains. Big Cartel Big Cartel
• Shopify — best if you expect to grow substantially, but it's harder to justify on a very tight budget: Basic is $39/month month-to-month or $29/month annually, before payment-processing costs. Shopify
• Ecwid — worth considering if you already have a website. It can embed a store into an existing site, but its paid plans are now considerably more expensive than Big Cartel; Venture is $35/month and Business is $65/month when billed monthly. Ecwid Help Center Ecwid | E-Commerce Shopping Cart

What I'd choose

If you're starting from scratch and every $10 matters, I'd start with Square Online Free. You can put the money toward inventory, photography, packaging, and marketing rather than a monthly platform fee.

If your boutique has fewer than ~50 products and you care more about having a polished, boutique-oriented storefront than keeping the subscription at $0, Big Cartel at $15/month is compelling.

If you tell me roughly how many products you carry, whether you already use Square for in-store checkout, and your monthly online sales target, I can compare the actual monthly + transaction costs for your situation.

For a two-person boutique on a tight budget, I’d narrow it to three:

• Square Online — best if you already sell in person with Square. You can start at $0/month, and it connects online orders, inventory, payments, pickup, and local delivery with your Square setup. Square Square
• Big Cartel — best if you have a small catalog and want the lowest possible ongoing cost. It has a free tier for up to 5 products, with paid plans starting around $12–$15/month depending on billing. Shopify Shopify
• Shopify Basic — best if you expect the store to become a significant part of the business. It's $29/month when billed annually ($39 month-to-month) and includes unlimited products, hosting, checkout, inventory, and in-person selling. Shopify

What I'd do in your shoes

If you're already using Square at the boutique, I'd start with Square Online to avoid paying for another system.

If you have fewer than ~50 products and mostly want a simple, attractive web storefront, I'd look seriously at Big Cartel.

If you have dozens/hundreds of products, frequent inventory changes, or plans to grow online, I'd spend the extra ~$15–30/month on Shopify rather than having to migrate later.

One important point: monthly subscription isn't the whole cost. Payment-processing fees, apps, shipping tools, and add-ons can matter more than the headline monthly price. TechnologyAdvice

If you tell me roughly how many products you carry, whether you already use Square for in-store checkout, and your monthly online sales target, I can give you a simple cost comparison for the three.

For a two-person boutique on a tight budget, I’d narrow it to three:

🥇 My pick: Big Cartel

If you have a relatively small catalog—say 5–50 products—I'd start with Big Cartel. Its paid plans start at $15/month, and Big Cartel says it doesn't charge an additional transaction fee on sales; you'll still pay your payment processor's fees. Big Cartel Big Cartel

That's particularly attractive for a boutique where keeping fixed costs low matters more than having every possible ecommerce feature.

🥈 If you have a physical shop: Square

If you're also selling at markets, pop-ups, or a brick-and-mortar location, I'd seriously consider Square. Its Free plan is $0/month and combines online selling with in-person POS, inventory, and sales reporting. Square Square

That can be a much better deal than paying for separate online-store and POS systems.

🥉 Shopify if you expect to grow

Shopify is the one I'd choose if you expect the store to become a significant part of the business. Basic is currently $29/month when billed annually (or $39 month-to-month), with unlimited products and a much broader ecosystem. Shopify Shopify Help Center

You're paying more, but you get considerably more room to grow.

Bottom line:

• Tiny catalog + lowest possible cost → Big Cartel
• Local boutique + in-person sales → Square
• Serious online growth → Shopify

If you tell me roughly how many products you carry, whether you have a physical store, and your expected monthly online sales, I can calculate which one will actually be cheapest after payment fees—not just which has the lowest subscription.

If you have a relatively small catalog—say 5–50 products—I'd start with Big Cartel. Its paid plans start at $15/month, and Big Cartel says it doesn't charge an additional transaction fee on sales; you'll still pay your payment processor's fees. bigcartel.com bigcartel.com

That's particularly attractive for a boutique where keeping fixed costs low matters more than having every possible ecommerce feature.

🥈 If you have a physical shop: Square

If you're also selling at markets, pop-ups, or a brick-and-mortar location, I'd seriously consider Square. Its Free plan is $0/month and combines online selling with in-person POS, inventory, and sales reporting.

That can be a much better deal than paying for separate online-store and POS systems.

🥉 Shopify if you expect to grow

For a two-person local boutique on a tight budget, I’d prioritize low monthly fees, easy setup, and minimal maintenance over having every advanced ecommerce feature. My shortlist would be:

1. Square Online — best if you also sell in person

Estimated cost: Free plan available (you mainly pay payment processing fees) Shopify

Best for:

• A physical boutique with a small inventory
• Pop-ups, markets, or a storefront
• Already using Square for card payments

Pros:

• Very low upfront cost
• Syncs online and in-person inventory if you use Square POS
• Simple enough for two people to manage

Cons:

• Less customizable than Shopify
• Free plan has fewer branding and marketing features

My pick if you have a local shop: start here.

2. Big Cartel — cheapest for a small catalog

Estimated cost: Free tier available for very small stores Shopify

Best for:

• Handmade goods
• Boutique clothing/accessories
• Fewer than ~100 products

Pros:

• Very simple
• Designed for independent makers
• Low monthly commitment

Cons:

• Limited inventory tools
• You may outgrow it if you expand quickly

3. Shopify — best if you expect to grow

Estimated cost: Paid plans start higher than the budget options, though Shopify has lower-cost entry options depending on selling needs. Shopify

Best for:

• Building a serious online brand
• Selling through Instagram, marketplaces, email marketing, etc.

Pros:

• Easiest full-featured ecommerce system
• Huge ecosystem of themes and apps
• Scales well

Cons:

• Monthly cost + apps can add up
• Easy to spend more than you intended

4. WooCommerce — lowest software cost, but more work

Estimated cost: Plugin is free, but you pay for hosting and possibly extensions. WooCommerce

Best for:

• Someone comfortable managing a website
• Wanting maximum control

Pros:

• No platform subscription
• Flexible

Cons:

• More setup and maintenance
• Hosting, backups, updates become your responsibility

My recommendation for your situation

For a two-person boutique trying to keep expenses lean, I’d choose:

1. Square Online → if you have a physical store or do local sales
2. Big Cartel → if you have a small product line and want the absolute lowest cost
3. Shopify → once online sales become a meaningful revenue channel

I’d avoid starting with a complex WooCommerce setup unless one of you enjoys the technical side.

A couple questions would change the recommendation:

• Do you already have a physical storefront, or are you online-only?
• Roughly how many products/SKUs do you sell (10, 50, 500+)?
• Do you need shipping, local pickup, or both?

For a two-person local boutique on a tight budget, I’d prioritize low fixed cost + simple setup + low payment fees, rather than choosing the most powerful platform.

My picks

Current 2026 comparisons put Square Online and Big Cartel among the genuinely free starting options, while Shopify's standalone ecommerce plans cost considerably more. Shopify futurecommrce

My recommendation: start with Square Online if you have a physical boutique and already take payments through Square. The free plan gives you an online storefront and can synchronize online/in-person inventory, which is particularly useful for a two-person operation. Ecommerce CEO Guides Reviews

If your boutique is primarily online and branding/design is important, I'd instead consider Shopify. It's more expensive, but the ecosystem and ability to scale are much better. Shopify

If you tell me roughly how many products you have and your expected monthly online sales (e.g. $1k, $5k, $10k), I can calculate which platform will actually be cheapest after payment-processing fees.

For a two-person local boutique on a tight budget, I’d prioritize low fixed cost, easy maintenance, and not needing a developer. My top picks:

1. Square Online — best if you also sell in-store

Best for: boutiques with a physical shop, pop-ups, markets, or existing Square payments.

• Monthly cost: Free plan available (paid upgrades add features). Shopify
• Pros: - Very low upfront cost
• Syncs naturally with Square POS/inventory
• Good for local pickup, simple catalogs, and occasional online orders
• Less technical setup
• Cons: - Less “luxury boutique” design flexibility than some competitors

My pick if you already use Square in your store.

2. Big Cartel — best ultra-budget boutique option

Best for: a small curated catalog (jewelry, handmade goods, clothing drops, gifts).

• Monthly cost: Free plan for very small catalogs; paid plans start around $15/month. Big Cartel
• Pros: - Built for independent artists and small sellers
• Simple and inexpensive
• Attractive enough for a boutique aesthetic
• Less feature bloat
• Cons: - Can feel limiting if you grow into hundreds of SKUs

My pick if you have fewer than ~50 products and want the cheapest “real store.”

3. Shopify — best if you expect growth

Best for: a boutique that wants online sales to become a major channel.

• Cost: Higher than the cheapest options once you need a full storefront plan. TechnologyAdvice
• Pros: - Excellent inventory, shipping, discounts, analytics
• Huge app ecosystem
• Easier to scale later
• Cons: - Monthly cost plus potential app costs can add up
• More setup decisions

My pick if you expect to grow beyond a small local store.

4. WooCommerce — cheapest long-term if you’re comfortable with tech

• Plugin itself is free, but you pay for hosting and maintenance. Shopify
• Great if you already have a WordPress site.
• Not my first recommendation for a two-person shop that needs to save time.

What I would choose for your situation

For a typical two-person boutique trying to keep expenses down, I’d start with Square Online or Big Cartel, spend the savings on good product photos, email marketing, and local social media, then move to Shopify only when sales volume justifies it. Shopify Big Cartel

If you tell me what you sell (clothing, jewelry, gifts, home goods, etc.), how many products you carry, and whether you already use Square, I can narrow it to one choice.

For a two-person local boutique on a tight budget, I’d focus less on the absolute cheapest monthly fee and more on avoiding hidden costs (apps, plugins, setup time, and maintenance). My shortlist would be:

My recommendation for your situation

If you have a physical shop:

Start with Square Online. It’s probably the best match for a small local boutique because you can keep inventory, in-store checkout, pickup, and online orders connected without adding another expensive system. Square

If you’re mostly online with a small curated inventory:

Try Big Cartel first. A boutique selling 20–100 carefully chosen products usually doesn’t need a huge ecommerce engine. futurecommrce

If you expect to grow into a serious online brand:

Choose Shopify from the beginning. It costs more, but you’re less likely to rebuild your store later. Shopify

A few questions would change my recommendation:

1. Do you already have a physical storefront, or are you online-only?
2. About how many products/SKUs do you carry?
3. Do you need local pickup, shipping, or both?
4. Are you already using a payment system like Square, Clover, or something else?

If you have a physical shop:

Start with Square Online. It’s probably the best match for a small local boutique because you can keep inventory, in-store checkout, pickup, and online orders connected without adding another expensive system. Square

If you’re mostly online with a small curated inventory:

Try Big Cartel first. A boutique selling 20–100 carefully chosen products usually doesn’t need a huge ecommerce engine.

If you expect to grow into a serious online brand:

Choose Shopify from the beginning. It costs more, but you’re less likely to rebuild your store later.

A few questions would change my recommendation:

For a two-person boutique on a tight budget, I’d start with Big Cartel—especially if you have a relatively small catalog.

My picks

• 🥇 Big Cartel — best budget boutique option

• $15/month for the Platinum plan, with a free limited plan also available. Big Cartel Big Cartel
• No Big Cartel transaction fee; you pay the normal Stripe/PayPal processing fees. Big Cartel
• Simple storefront, inventory, discounts, shipping labels, and in-person selling.
• Particularly well suited to independent makers, designers, artists, and small shops.
• My choice if keeping monthly overhead low is priority #1.
• 🥈 Square Online — best if you also sell in person

• Square has a $0/month Free plan, so you only pay payment-processing fees when you sell. Square
• Excellent if your boutique already uses Square for a physical shop, pop-ups, or markets.
• I'd choose this over Big Cartel if your online and offline inventory need to work together.
• 🥉 Shopify — best if you expect to grow

• Shopify Basic is currently $39/month month-to-month or $29/month billed annually. Shopify
• Much more powerful ecosystem and better long-term scalability, but you're paying substantially more for it.
• For a two-person boutique that's watching every dollar, I wouldn't start here unless you already know you'll need Shopify's ecosystem.

What I'd do in your shoes

Start with Big Cartel at $15/month. Keep the store simple, use a custom domain, and avoid paid apps until you actually need them. If your business grows enough that you start bumping into its limitations, moving to Shopify later is reasonable.

If you tell me roughly how many products you carry, whether you have a physical storefront, and your approximate monthly online sales, I can tell you which option is likely to be cheapest in actual total fees, not just subscription price.

For a two-person local boutique on a tight budget, I’d prioritize low fixed costs, easy inventory management, and the ability to sell in person + online. My top picks:

1. Square Online — best budget choice for a local boutique

Best if you already sell at markets, pop-ups, or in-store.

• Monthly cost: $0 to start (paid upgrades available) Square
• Syncs naturally with Square payments/POS
• Good for: - Clothing, gifts, handmade items, small catalogs
• Local pickup
• Simple shipping
• Customer loyalty/gift cards
• Downside: less polished/customizable than Shopify for a brand-heavy boutique

My pick for many tiny boutiques: start here and upgrade only when sales justify it.

2. Ecwid — best if you already have a website

Best if you have a Squarespace/Wix/WordPress site and just need a store.

• Entry plans are designed for small catalogs and can be lower-cost than full ecommerce platforms. Ecwid | E-Commerce Shopping Cart
• Lets you add a store to an existing website
• Good for: - 10–100 products
• Seasonal collections
• Boutique-style catalogs
• Downside: advanced features often require upgrades

3. Big Cartel — best for very small handmade/curated shops

Best if you have a small number of products.

• Has a free tier for very small catalogs. Shopify
• Simple and inexpensive
• Good for: - Jewelry
• Art
• Handmade goods
• Limited drops
• Downside: you may outgrow it if you carry lots of sizes/colors/SKUs

4. Shopify — best long-term, but not the cheapest

Best if you expect to grow into a serious online brand.

• Excellent inventory, apps, marketing tools, and themes
• Easier to scale than cheaper options
• But monthly costs and add-ons can add up. Shopify

My recommendation for your situation

I’d choose:

1. Square Online if you’re a local shop with in-person sales
2. Ecwid if you already have a website you like
3. Big Cartel if you have fewer than ~50 products
4. Shopify only if you’re actively trying to grow online nationally

A good low-budget setup might be:

• Square Online ($0/month)
• Your own domain (~$10–20/year)
• Instagram/Facebook shopping
• Email list (free tier from an email provider)
• Upgrade only after consistent online sales

A couple questions would help narrow it down:

• What do you sell (clothing, jewelry, home goods, gifts, etc.)?
• Roughly how many products/SKUs do you carry?
• Do you already use Square for in-person checkout?

For a two-person boutique on a tight budget, I’d start with bigcartel.com—unless you already use Square in your physical shop.

My picks

• 🥇 Big Cartel — best overall for a small boutique

• $15/month for the paid plan, with a free trial.
• Designed around small independent shops, artists, and makers rather than large catalogs.
• Supports physical products, custom domains, inventory, shipping labels, discounts, and in-person selling. Big Cartel Big Cartel
• Big advantage: no platform transaction fee; you'll still pay normal payment-processing fees. Big Cartel Big Cartel
• My choice if you're starting from scratch.
• 🥈 Square Online — best if you already use Square

• The Square Free plan has $0/month subscription cost; you pay payment-processing fees when you sell. Square Square
• Particularly attractive for a local boutique because online inventory can work alongside your in-person operation, with pickup and local delivery options. Square
• I'd choose this over Big Cartel if you already take payments through Square.
• 🥉 Shopify — best if you expect to grow substantially

• Basic is currently $39/month when paid monthly ($29/month annually). Shopify
• It's much more powerful, but for two people trying to keep expenses down, you're potentially paying for capabilities you don't need yet.

What I'd do in your shoes

Start with Big Cartel at $15/month if you have a relatively small, curated catalog—say 20–100 products.

If you already have a Square POS, go with Square's free plan instead. That could genuinely keep your ecommerce software cost at $0/month. Square

I wouldn't start with Shopify unless you already know you'll need things like sophisticated inventory, lots of integrations, multiple sales channels, or significant scaling.

If you tell me roughly how many products you sell, your average order value, and whether you currently use Square/Stripe/PayPal in-store, I can tell you which one is likely to be cheapest including payment fees, not just the monthly subscription.

For a two-person boutique where keeping monthly overhead low is the priority, I’d start with Big Cartel.

My shortlist

• 🥇 Big Cartel — best budget pick

• $0/month for up to 5 products; $15/month for up to 50 products.
• Designed specifically around small creative businesses and independent sellers.
• No platform transaction fee; you still pay normal payment-processing fees.
• The main drawback is that it’s much less feature-rich than Shopify. Shopify Hobby Stall
• 🥈 Square Online — best if you sell in person

• $0/month entry plan.
• Particularly attractive if you already use Square for your physical boutique, since inventory/POS and online selling can work together.
• The tradeoff is a higher online payment fee on the free plan (currently listed as 3.3% + $0.30). Shopify Shopify
• 🥉 Shopify — best if you expect to grow

• Basic is currently $29/month when billed annually or $39 month-to-month.
• Much more powerful for inventory, marketing, integrations, shipping, and scaling.
• I'd avoid paying for it initially if you only have a small catalog and modest sales. Shopify TechRadar

My recommendation: If you're selling a relatively small number of products and mainly want a polished online storefront without another substantial monthly bill, Big Cartel is probably the sweet spot. If you have a physical shop and already use Square, I'd choose Square Online instead.

If you tell me roughly how many products you carry and your expected monthly online sales (e.g. $1k, $5k, $10k), I can calculate which one would actually cost you the least—including transaction fees.

For a two-person boutique on a tight budget, I’d shortlist these three:

1. bigcartel.com — my budget pick

• $15/month for Platinum, or a limited free plan.
• Designed with small creative businesses in mind.
• Includes inventory, discounts, shipping labels, custom domains, and online + in-person selling. Big Cartel Big Cartel
• Best if you have a small-to-medium catalog and don't need a huge ecosystem of apps.
• squareup.com — best if you also sell in person

• $0/month on Square's Free plan; you pay payment-processing fees when you sell.
• Particularly attractive if you already use Square for your boutique's POS, because products and inventory can work across your physical and online sales. Square Square
• I'd seriously consider this if your shop has a physical location or does lots of markets/pop-ups.
• shopify.com — best if you expect to grow

• Basic is currently $29/month when billed annually (or $39 monthly). Shopify
• Much more powerful ecosystem, but you're paying for capabilities you may not need as a tiny operation.

What I'd choose

Big Cartel at $15/month if keeping the monthly bill as low as possible is the priority.

Square Free if you're already using Square for in-person checkout.

Shopify if you're expecting the online side to become a significant part of the business and want room to scale.

If you tell me roughly how many products you sell, whether you have a physical storefront, and your approximate monthly online sales, I can tell you which one is likely to be cheapest including payment fees, not just subscription price.

For a two-person local boutique on a tight budget, I’d shortlist these:

Big Cartel is particularly attractive if you have a relatively small inventory. Its free tier is limited, while the Platinum plan is $15/month and adds things like custom domains, inventory tracking, discounts, shipping labels, and in-person selling. Big Cartel Big Cartel

Square Online is probably my #1 choice if you're already taking payments through Square in your boutique. You can start with $0/month, and having your online and physical sales/inventory tied together can save a two-person team a lot of administrative work. Square

I'd choose Shopify if you expect the online side to become a significant part of the business. Basic is currently $39/month when paid monthly or $29/month billed annually, with unlimited products and both online and in-person selling. Shopify

My recommendation

Start with Square Online if you have a physical storefront. Otherwise, start with Big Cartel.

I wouldn't pay for Shopify yet unless you need its more extensive inventory, marketing, integrations, or scaling capabilities. For a two-person operation, keeping the monthly software bill low is often more valuable than having dozens of features you won't use.

If you tell me roughly how many products you sell, whether you have a physical storefront, and your expected monthly online sales, I can tell you which one will actually be cheapest after payment-processing fees—not just which has the lowest subscription price.

For a two-person local boutique in the UK, I’d keep it simple and avoid paying for a platform you don’t need yet.

My shortlist

Current UK comparisons put Square's entry plan at £0, Shopify around £19/month when billed annually, Wix around £16, and WooCommerce as free software plus hosting. ExpertSure Whito

What I'd choose for you

If you're already selling in a physical shop: go with Square Online. You can start with essentially no monthly platform cost, while keeping online and in-person selling within the same ecosystem. The trade-off is that payment processing costs more than with some paid plans. ExpertSure

If online sales are going to become an important part of the business: I'd spend the ~£19/month on Shopify Basic. It's more expensive, but you get a much stronger ecommerce system, and you won't have to rebuild everything when your product range and order volume grow. Shopify Hostinger

If you have only, say, 10–50 products and care heavily about the visual feel of the site: I'd consider Wix or Squarespace instead. They're particularly attractive for a boutique where the website needs to function as a brand/showcase as much as a sales machine. Stripe

One important point: don't judge solely by the monthly subscription. Card-processing fees can easily become a larger expense than the platform fee once you're doing meaningful sales. Shopify

If you tell me roughly how many products you have, your average order value, monthly online sales, and whether you already use Square for your physical shop, I can tell you which would actually be cheapest for your specific business, rather than just comparing headline prices.

For a two-person boutique on a tight budget, I’d start with Big Cartel.

My picks

• 🥇 Big Cartel — best overall for your situation. Its free plan supports up to 5 products, with no monthly fee or platform transaction fee. The Platinum plan is $15/month for up to 50 products, and the Diamond plan is $30/month for up to 500. Big Cartel Big Cartel Big Cartel

bigcartel.com

• 🥈 Square Online — best if you already use Square in your physical shop. The Free plan is $0/month, includes a website builder, shipping/local delivery/pickup, and syncs with Square POS. Online payments are currently 2.9% + 30¢ per transaction. Square

squareup.com

• 🥉 Shopify — best if you expect to grow substantially. It's much more capable, but the normal Basic plan is $39/month month-to-month or $29/month when billed annually, so I'd consider it overkill for a tiny boutique unless you need its more advanced ecosystem. Shopify

shopify.com

What I'd do

If you have under ~50 products, I'd choose Big Cartel Platinum at $15/month. You get inventory tracking, a custom domain, customizable templates, discounts, shipping tools, and in-person selling without committing to Shopify-level costs. Big Cartel

If your boutique already runs on Square for checkout/POS, I'd instead choose Square Online Free because the inventory/POS synchronization can be more valuable than saving a few dollars on the storefront.

If you tell me roughly how many products you sell, your monthly online sales, and whether you already use Square, I can tell you which one will actually be cheapest after payment/transaction fees—not just which has the lowest subscription price.

For a two-person local boutique on a tight budget, I’d prioritize low fixed costs, easy setup, and not needing a developer. My shortlist would be:

1. Square Online — best if you also sell in person

Best fit if you have a physical shop, pop-ups, markets, or already use Square for payments.

• Monthly cost: $0 to start (free plan available) Square
• Includes website, product listings, pickup/local delivery options, and syncing with Square POS. Square
• Tradeoff: design flexibility is more limited than Shopify.

My pick for: a small boutique with mostly local customers and occasional online orders.

2. Big Cartel — cheapest for a small curated catalog

Best if you sell a small number of unique items.

• Free tier for very small catalogs; paid plans are relatively inexpensive. Shopify
• Simple and less overwhelming than bigger platforms.
• Tradeoff: fewer advanced features for inventory, marketing, and growth.

My pick for: handmade goods, clothing capsules, jewelry, gifts, art, or seasonal collections.

3. Shopify — best if you expect to grow

Best if online sales could become a major part of your business.

• More expensive than the ultra-budget options, but easier to scale. Shopify
• Huge ecosystem for themes, shipping tools, email marketing, and integrations.
• Tradeoff: apps can add up, so the “cheap” plan can become less cheap over time.

My pick for: a boutique that wants to build a serious online brand.

4. WooCommerce — lowest software cost, highest maintenance

• The plugin itself is free, but you pay for hosting and may need paid extensions. Shopify
• Great if one of you is comfortable with WordPress.
• Tradeoff: more technical upkeep.

My pick for: someone who enjoys managing a website and wants maximum control.

What I’d choose in your situation

For a two-person boutique watching every dollar:

1. Already use Square in-store → Square Online
2. Under ~50 products and mostly curated items → Big Cartel
3. Planning to grow online seriously → Shopify
4. Already have WordPress skills → WooCommerce

I’d avoid starting with a more complex platform just because it has more features. Your biggest wins early are usually:

• great product photos
• easy checkout
• local pickup/shipping options
• email capture
• consistent social media traffic

If you tell me what you sell (clothing, jewelry, gifts, vintage, home goods, etc.), number of products, and whether you have a physical storefront, I can narrow it down to one recommendation.

For a two-person local boutique on a tight budget, I’d shortlist these:

1. squareup.com — best if minimizing monthly cost is priority

• $0/month on Square’s Free plan.
• You pay payment-processing fees when you sell rather than a monthly subscription.
• Particularly attractive if you also sell in person, since your online and in-store inventory can stay synced. Square Square
• My pick if you're just getting started.
• ecwid.com — best inexpensive dedicated ecommerce option

• Venture is $35/month month-to-month or $29/month billed annually, supports up to 100 products, and has no Ecwid transaction fees. Ecwid | E-Commerce Shopping Cart Ecwid | E-Commerce Shopping Cart
• Good if you already have a website and want to bolt a store onto it.
• shopify.com — best if you expect to grow

• Basic is $39/month monthly or $29/month when paid annually. Shopify
• More expensive, but considerably stronger if you eventually need sophisticated inventory, marketing integrations, shipping, multiple sales channels, etc.

What I'd do in your shoes

Start with Square Online Free if you have a relatively small catalog and primarily want a simple online storefront alongside your local shop. You can keep your fixed costs essentially at $0/month and upgrade later if you need more functionality. Square

If you tell me roughly how many products you sell, whether you already use Square for your physical store, and your approximate monthly online sales, I can tell you which one is likely to be cheapest in actual dollars, including payment fees.

For a two-person local boutique on a tight budget, I’d usually avoid paying for a big platform until your sales justify it. My top picks would be:

1. Square Online — best if you also sell in person

Best overall budget choice for a local boutique

• Monthly cost: $0 to start on the free plan Square
• Great for: boutiques with a physical shop, pop-ups, markets, or local pickup
• Pros: - Syncs with Square POS if you already take in-person payments
• Supports pickup, local delivery, and shipping
• Simple inventory management
• No website-building expertise needed Square
• Cons: - Design options are more limited than Shopify or Wix

My pick for you if: you have a storefront, do weekend markets, or expect most customers to be local.

2. Big Cartel — best for a small curated catalog

Best if you sell a limited number of products

• Monthly cost: free plan available; paid plans start around $15/month Hobby Stall Big Cartel
• Great for: handmade goods, clothing drops, jewelry, art, small collections
• Pros: - Very inexpensive
• Clean, boutique-friendly feel
• No platform transaction fee (payment processor fees still apply) Big Cartel
• Cons: - Not ideal if you have hundreds of SKUs, lots of variants, or complex inventory

My pick for you if: you have 20–100 products and want something simple.

3. Shopify — best if you plan to grow

The “pay more now, avoid switching later” option

• Monthly cost: more than the budget options for a full online store; plans vary by features and billing cycle TechnologyAdvice
• Pros: - Excellent inventory, shipping, marketing, and integrations
• Handles growth well
• Huge ecosystem
• Cons: - Apps can add up
• More expensive than you likely need at the beginning

My pick for you if: you expect online sales to become a major part of the business.

My recommendation for your situation

For a two-person boutique trying to keep overhead low, I’d choose:

1. Square Online → if you sell locally and/or have a physical checkout system
2. Big Cartel → if you have a small curated collection and mostly ship orders
3. Shopify → only once sales volume makes the extra features worth it

A few questions would change the recommendation:

• Do you have a physical storefront or are you online-only?
• About how many products/SKUs do you carry?
• Do you need local pickup, shipping, or both?
• What do you sell (clothing, gifts, jewelry, home goods, etc.)?

For a two-person boutique on a tight budget, I’d lean toward Big Cartel—especially if you have a relatively small catalog.

My picks

• 🥇 Big Cartel — best overall for your situation. Its Platinum plan is $15/month, with no platform/listing fees, and it supports custom domains, physical/digital products, inventory, shipping labels, discounts, and in-person selling. There’s also a limited free plan. Big Cartel Big Cartel

bigcartel.com

• 🥈 Square Online — best if you already sell in person. Square has a $0/month Free plan; you pay payment-processing fees when you make sales. It also integrates online orders with Square POS, inventory, pickup, and local delivery, which is particularly useful for a local boutique. Square Square

squareup.com

• 🥉 Shopify — best if you expect to grow substantially. It's considerably more expensive at the entry level: $39/month if paid monthly or $29/month annually for Basic, before payment processing. It's excellent, but I'd consider it overkill for a very small, budget-conscious shop. Shopify

shopify.com

What I'd choose

If you have fewer than ~50–100 products: Big Cartel at $15/month.

If you have a physical storefront and already use Square: Square Online Free.

If you're planning to build a much larger ecommerce operation: Shopify, despite the higher monthly cost.

One important point: don't look only at the monthly subscription. Payment-processing fees can easily outweigh the subscription once sales increase. Big Cartel, for example, doesn't add a platform fee, but Stripe/PayPal still charge their normal payment-processing fees. Big Cartel

If you tell me roughly how many products you sell, your average order value, and whether you already use Square/Shopify/etc. for in-person sales, I can tell you which one would likely be cheapest per month for your actual business.

For a two-person local boutique on a tight budget, I’d lean toward Big Cartel first—unless you need more sophisticated inventory/POS features.

My picks

• 🥇 Big Cartel — best overall for a small boutique

• Free plan for up to 5 products
• $15/month Platinum plan for up to 50 products
• No Big Cartel transaction fee; you still pay your payment processor.
• Includes inventory tracking, discounts, shipping labels, custom domains, and in-person selling. Big Cartel Big Cartel
• Best if: you have a relatively small curated catalog and want to keep monthly overhead very low.
• bigcartel.com
• 🥈 Square Online — best if you also sell heavily in person

• $0/month on the Free plan.
• Includes an online store, pickup/local delivery/shipping, and syncing with Square POS.
• Online card processing is currently 2.9% + 30¢ per transaction on the Free plan. Square
• Best if: you already use Square at markets, pop-ups, or a physical shop.
• 🥉 Shopify — best if you expect to grow substantially

• Basic is currently $39/month monthly or $29/month when paid annually.
• Much more powerful for inventory, marketing, integrations, social selling, and eventually multiple sales channels. Shopify
• Best if: you're willing to spend more now to avoid migrating platforms later.

What I'd choose for you

Start with Big Cartel at $15/month if your boutique has perhaps 20–50 core products and your main goal is "look polished, sell online, don't spend a fortune maintaining the website."

If you're doing lots of in-person sales and want online + POS inventory synchronized, I'd choose Square Online instead.

I wouldn't pay for Shopify yet unless you already know you'll need its more advanced ecosystem.

If you tell me roughly how many products you carry, whether you sell in person, and your monthly online sales target, I can tell you which one is likely to be cheapest in total, including payment fees.

For a two-person boutique on a tight budget, I’d lean toward Big Cartel—unless you need sophisticated inventory/POS features.

My pick: bigcartel.com

• $0/month on its limited Gold plan, with up to 5 products.
• $15/month for Platinum, which supports up to 50 products and adds things like inventory tracking, discounts, shipping labels, and a custom domain. Big Cartel Big Cartel
• Big Cartel says it has 0% selling fees, although normal payment-processing fees still apply. Big Cartel
• It's intentionally geared toward small independent shops, so you don't pay for a huge ecosystem you may not need.

Two alternatives

Square Online — best if you already sell heavily in person. Its Free plan has no monthly subscription cost, and you pay processing fees when you make a sale. It can be particularly attractive if you already use Square for your boutique's checkout/POS. Square

shopify.com — best if you expect the store to grow substantially. Shopify Basic is currently $39/month month-to-month or $29/month when billed annually, so it's considerably more expensive than Big Cartel, but you get a much broader commerce ecosystem. Shopify

For your situation, I'd rank them:

1. Big Cartel Platinum — $15/mo → best budget choice
2. Square Online Free — $0/mo → best if you're already using Square in-store
3. Shopify Basic — $29–$39/mo → best if you're planning for significant growth

If you tell me roughly how many products you carry and whether you already use Square for in-person sales, I can tell you which one I'd actually choose for your boutique.

For a two-person boutique on a tight budget, I’d start with Square Online.

My pick: Square Online

squareup.com offers a $0/month Free plan, so you can avoid a monthly ecommerce subscription while you're getting established. You pay payment-processing fees when you actually make sales. The free plan includes an online store, inventory/order management, pickup and local delivery, and integration with Square's in-person POS. Square Square

That makes it particularly attractive if you're a local boutique that also sells at markets, pop-ups, or a physical shop.

How I'd compare the main options

Shopify's Basic plan is considerably more capable for ecommerce, but you're paying for that capability: currently $29/month when billed annually or $39 month-to-month. Shopify

For your situation, I'd choose Square unless you already know you'll need Shopify-specific features. You can start at $0/month, test whether online sales are worthwhile, and upgrade later rather than committing scarce cash to software.

One caveat: Square's free plan has a 3.3% + $0.30 online payment-processing fee, so if your online sales become substantial, we'd want to compare the total cost against Shopify rather than looking only at the monthly subscription. Square Square

If you tell me roughly how many products you sell and your expected monthly online sales (e.g. $2k/month), I can calculate which platform would actually be cheapest for your boutique.

For a two-person boutique on a tight budget, I’d start with Big Cartel.

My pick: Big Cartel

It’s particularly well suited to small, curated catalogs rather than huge inventories:

• $0/month on its Gold plan, with up to 5 products. www.bigcartel.com
• $15/month for Platinum, with more products and features; annual billing brings that to $12/month. www.bigcartel.com
• Designed specifically around artists, makers, and small businesses.
• Simple storefronts mean less time spent managing the website—which matters when there are only two of you.
• You can sell online and in person, which is useful for a local boutique. www.bigcartel.com

Two alternatives I'd consider

Square Online is especially worth considering if your boutique already takes payments through Square, because you can connect online and in-person selling. technologyadvice.com

I wouldn't start with Shopify purely to "future-proof" the business. It's excellent, but you're paying for a much larger ecosystem before you necessarily need it. Current comparisons put a full Shopify store around $39/month, versus Big Cartel's $0–$15 range. www.shopify.com

Bottom line: If you have, say, 5–50 core products, I'd choose Big Cartel. If you have a physical shop and already use Square, I'd lean Square Online.

If you tell me roughly how many products you sell, your average monthly online sales, and whether you already use Square, I can tell you which one is likely to be cheapest in total (including payment fees).

For a two-person local boutique on a tight budget, I’d usually avoid paying for a big ecommerce stack at the beginning. Your best choice depends on whether you already have a physical store/POS and how many products you carry.

My top picks

What I’d choose in your situation

If you have a physical storefront or do markets/pop-ups:
→ Square Online. It’s hard to beat $0/month while you’re building sales, and syncing inventory with in-person selling is a major advantage. squareup.com

If you have a small curated collection (say 10–100 items):
→ Big Cartel. It fits the “boutique” feel and avoids paying for features you won’t use. www.shopify.com

If you want the store to become a major sales channel later:
→ Start with Shopify only if you expect enough growth to justify it. It’s excellent, but a two-person shop can often do fine without the extra monthly overhead at first. www.shopify.com

A few cost-saving tips:

• Don’t buy paid themes at launch.
• Avoid installing lots of paid apps/plugins.
• Use your phone for product photos before paying a photographer.
• Connect Instagram/Facebook shopping if your customers already discover you there.
• Keep inventory management simple until orders justify complexity.

If you tell me what you sell (clothing, jewelry, gifts, home goods, etc.), how many products you have, and whether you already use Square/another POS, I can narrow it to one recommendation.

For a two-person local boutique on a tight budget, I’d start with Square Online.

My ranking

Square's free plan has no monthly subscription, and its online card processing is currently 3.3% + $0.30 per transaction. It also connects naturally with Square's in-person POS, which is particularly useful for a local boutique. squareup.com

Square Online pricing

Why I'd choose Square for you

If you're selling at your physical shop, pop-ups, markets, etc., having one inventory/order system for both online and in-person sales can be worth more than saving a few dollars on the website itself.

I'd start with Square Free, use a free template, and avoid paid apps initially. Your fixed ecommerce-platform cost can essentially be $0/month; you pay processing fees when you actually make sales. squareup.com

The one caveat: Square's online processing rate is higher than Shopify Payments' Basic rate (Shopify currently lists 2.9% + $0.30), so Shopify can become cheaper overall as your online sales volume grows. Shopify Basic is currently $39/month month-to-month or $29/month when billed annually. www.shopify.com

A simple rule I'd use

• Under ~$2–3k/month online: Square Free
• $3–8k/month online: I'd compare Square's fees against Shopify carefully
• Growing into a serious ecommerce brand: Shopify
• Tiny product catalog / handmade goods: Big Cartel is worth considering

If you tell me roughly how many products you carry and your expected monthly online sales, I can calculate the actual monthly cost of Square vs. Shopify vs. Big Cartel for your boutique.

For a two-person local boutique on a tight budget, I’d usually avoid overbuilding and pick a platform that is cheap, easy to maintain, and doesn’t require hiring a developer.

My shortlist:

www.shopify.com

My recommendation by situation

1. You have a physical storefront and use Square for payments
→ Choose Square Online.
You can keep inventory, in-person sales, and online orders connected without adding another complicated system. The free tier makes it attractive for a small shop just getting started. www.shopify.com

2. You sell a small curated collection (for example 20–200 items)
→ Look at Big Cartel or Ecwid.
They’re simpler and cheaper than a full Shopify setup. Big Cartel is especially suited to independent makers and small catalogs. www.shopify.com

3. You want to build a serious brand over the next few years
→ Start with Shopify if you can afford the monthly fee.
It costs more, but it has stronger inventory tools, marketing integrations, and room to grow without migrating later. fitsmallbusiness.com

For a two-person boutique, I’d probably rank them:

1. Square Online — lowest cost + best for local retail
2. Ecwid — low cost + flexible
3. Shopify — best growth path
4. Big Cartel — best for tiny curated catalogs
5. WooCommerce — only if you already like WordPress

A few questions would change my recommendation:

• Do you already have a physical shop or are you online-only?
• Roughly how many products/SKUs do you carry?
• Are you already using Square, Shopify POS, or another checkout system?
• Do you need things like local pickup, appointments, or Instagram selling?

For a two-person local boutique on a tight budget, I’d start with Big Cartel—unless you need sophisticated inventory/POS features.

My pick: Big Cartel

Its paid Platinum plan is $15/month and includes a custom domain, up to 50 products, inventory tracking, discounts, shipping labels, online/in-person selling, and sales-tax tools. Big Cartel itself doesn't charge transaction fees; you still pay Stripe/PayPal processing fees. www.bigcartel.com

Why I'd choose Big Cartel: You're a two-person shop, so you probably don't need Shopify's enormous app ecosystem and $29–$39/month starting cost. Big Cartel is deliberately geared toward smaller creative businesses and keeps the setup relatively simple. www.bigcartel.comwww.shopify.com

One exception: If your boutique already does substantial in-person sales, I'd seriously consider Square Online. Square has a $0 monthly tier and combines online selling with its POS ecosystem, which can make inventory and payments much easier to manage across your physical and online shop. squareup.com

I wouldn't start with Shopify on a tight budget unless you expect to grow quickly. It's excellent, but the Basic plan is currently $39/month month-to-month or $29/month when billed annually. www.bigcartel.comwww.shopify.com

If you tell me roughly how many products you carry, your monthly online sales, and whether you already use Square for in-store checkout, I can tell you which one will likely cost you the least overall, including payment fees.

For a two-person boutique on a tight budget, I’d shortlist these:

Big Cartel's free plan supports up to 5 products, while its $15/month plan supports up to 50; importantly, it doesn't add its own transaction fee on sales. www.shopify.comwww.bigcartel.com

What I'd choose

If you have ≤50 products: I'd start with Big Cartel. It's deliberately designed for independent makers/creators, simple to manage, and avoids the feature bloat that can make Shopify expensive. www.shopify.comwww.bigcartel.com

If you have a physical storefront/pop-ups and already use Square: I'd strongly consider Square Online. The free tier makes the monthly software cost attractive, and having online and in-person sales tied together can be valuable for a local boutique. www.shopify.com

If you expect to grow substantially: I'd bite the bullet and use Shopify. Its $5 Starter plan is cheap, but it's mainly for social/link-based selling; a proper standalone Shopify store starts substantially higher. www.shopify.com

My default recommendation for you: Big Cartel at $15/month, assuming your catalog is relatively small. I'd rather see a two-person boutique spend $15 on a simple store than $39–$100+ on a platform whose extra features you don't yet need.

If you tell me roughly how many products you sell and whether you also have a physical shop, I can narrow it down to the cheapest option that won't box you in.

For a two-person local boutique on a tight budget, I’d start with Big Cartel—unless you need a lot of inventory or sophisticated ecommerce features.

My ranking

Big Cartel currently has a free plan and a $15/month Platinum plan. The paid plan supports a custom domain, physical/digital products, inventory tracking, discounts, shipping labels, and in-person selling. Big Cartel itself doesn't charge transaction fees; payment processors such as Stripe or PayPal charge their normal processing fees. www.bigcartel.com

Big Cartel pricing

Square Online is especially compelling for a local boutique because its Free plan has no monthly subscription cost—you pay processing fees when you make a sale. If you're also selling in a physical shop, pop-up, market, etc., having online and in-person sales in the same Square ecosystem can be a big advantage. squareup.com

Square Online pricing

Shopify is excellent, but I'd probably wait. Its Basic plan is currently $39/month when paid monthly ($29/month annually), so you're spending substantially more before you've proven how much online revenue you'll generate. www.shopify.com

Shopify pricing

What I'd do in your shoes

• Under ~50 products and primarily boutique/curated goods: Big Cartel $15/mo
• You already use Square for checkout/POS: Square Online Free
• You expect ecommerce to become a major part of the business: Shopify
• You want a beautiful marketing/brand website with a smaller shop attached: Wix or Squarespace

For a two-person business, I'd avoid paying $30–$40+/month just for the sake of having a "serious" ecommerce platform. Your money is probably better spent on photography, packaging, email marketing, and getting customers to the site.

If you tell me roughly how many products you carry, whether you sell in a physical storefront, and your expected monthly online sales, I can tell you which one I'd pick and what your actual monthly + per-sale cost would look like.

For a two-person local boutique on a tight budget, I’d lean toward Square Online rather than Shopify.

My ranking

Square's current Free plan has no monthly subscription cost; you pay payment-processing fees when you make a sale. It also gives you a website builder and online selling capabilities. squareup.com

Square Online pricing

Why I'd choose Square for you

If you're already selling in person at your boutique, markets, pop-ups, or events, Square is particularly attractive because your online and physical sales can live in the same ecosystem. You can start without committing to another $25–$40/month bill. squareup.com

I'd only jump to Shopify if you expect ecommerce to become a major part of the business. Shopify Basic is currently $39/month month-to-month or $29/month when billed annually, but it gives you a much deeper ecommerce ecosystem and more room to grow. www.shopify.com

Shopify pricing

Bottom line:

• Under ~$10k/month online sales: I'd start with Square and keep overhead tiny.
• Growing rapidly / lots of products / serious online marketing: choose Shopify.
• Already have a website and just need a small store: consider Ecwid.

If you tell me roughly how many products you sell, whether you already use Square for your in-person checkout, and your expected monthly online sales, I can tell you which one is likely to be cheapest in total, including transaction fees.

For a two-person boutique on a tight budget, I’d shortlist these three:

🥇 My recommendation: Big Cartel

Big Cartel is particularly well suited to a small independent boutique. Its current Platinum plan is $15/month, while there's also a limited free option. The $15 plan supports physical and digital products, custom domains, inventory tracking, shipping labels, discounts, and in-person selling. www.bigcartel.com

The big advantage is that you're not paying $30–$40/month for a bunch of enterprise-ish features you probably don't need yet.

🥈 Square Online if you also have a storefront

Square Online has a $0/month Free plan, with you paying processing fees when you make a sale. squareup.com

I'd choose this over Big Cartel if you're already using Square for your physical shop/POS, because keeping your in-person and online inventory/orders within the same ecosystem can save you considerable hassle.

🥉 Shopify if you're serious about scaling

Shopify is excellent, but I'd probably not start there purely to save money. Its full Basic store is currently $39/month when paid monthly or $29/month billed annually; Shopify Starter is $5/month but is designed more for selling through social links/messages than for running a full standalone store. www.shopify.com

Bottom line:

• Small catalog + beautiful/simple boutique site → Big Cartel
• Physical shop + Square already → Square Online
• Lots of products + ambitious growth → Shopify

If you tell me roughly how many products/SKUs you have and whether you already have a physical storefront/POS, I can tell you which one I'd actually pick for your specific shop.

For a two-person local boutique on a tight budget, I’d start with Big Cartel unless you have a large catalog or expect rapid growth.

My picks

Big Cartel is particularly attractive for a small boutique: its free plan supports 5 products, online selling, cards/PayPal, sales-tax automation, and basic stats. Its Platinum plan is $15/month for up to 50 products. www.bigcartel.com

Square Online is my choice if you also sell at a physical shop, pop-ups, or markets. Square's Free plan has no monthly subscription cost, and it can sync online and in-person inventory/orders. Online card processing is currently 3.3% + 30¢ on the Free tier. squareup.com

Shopify is excellent, but I'd probably not pay for it yet if keeping overhead low is the priority. Basic is $39/month month-to-month or $29/month when billed annually. www.shopify.com

What I'd do in your shoes

• 5 or fewer products: Big Cartel Free
• 6–50 products: Big Cartel Platinum at $15/mo
• You already use Square for POS: Square Online Free
• 50+ products / complex inventory / serious online growth: Shopify

For a two-person boutique, I'd rather put the extra $15–$40/month into inventory, photography, or local marketing than spend it on ecommerce software you don't yet need.

If you tell me roughly how many products/SKUs you carry and whether you already use Square, Shopify, or another POS, I can narrow it down to the cheapest option that won't box you in.

For a two-person local boutique on a tight budget, I’d usually narrow it to three choices:

www.shopify.comwoocommerce.com

My recommendation for your situation:

1. If you sell mostly locally → choose Square Online

For a boutique with a physical shop, markets, or pop-ups, Square Online is hard to beat on cost. You can start with no monthly subscription and connect online orders with Square payments and inventory. squareup.com

Good fit if you:

• sell clothing, gifts, handmade items, home goods, etc.
• already take card payments through Square
• need pickup/local delivery
• don’t want to maintain a website

2. If you want the brand to grow → choose Shopify

Shopify costs more, but it saves time. For a two-person team, the value is often in not having to troubleshoot plugins, hosting, or checkout issues. It has strong inventory, marketing, and selling-channel tools. www.shopify.com

Good fit if you:

• expect online sales to become a major revenue stream
• want a polished boutique feel
• plan to run ads, email marketing, or sell nationally

3. If you’re already comfortable with websites → WooCommerce

WooCommerce has no platform subscription fee, but you pay for hosting, themes, and extensions. It can be very inexpensive if you’re technically comfortable, but your time becomes the hidden cost. www.shopify.comwoocommerce.com

For a tiny boutique, I would avoid starting with WooCommerce unless one of you already knows WordPress.

My short ranking for your situation:

1. 🥇 Square Online — lowest monthly cost, best for local boutique retail
2. 🥈 Shopify — best if you want growth and simplicity
3. 🥉 WooCommerce — cheapest on paper, but more work

A couple questions would change the recommendation:

• Do you already use Square POS in your store?
• Roughly how many products/SKUs do you carry (20, 200, 2,000)?
• Are you mainly selling locally or trying to ship nationwide?

For a two-person boutique on a tight budget, I’d shortlist these:

My recommendation: Big Cartel

If you're selling a relatively small number of products—say clothing, jewelry, art, handmade goods, gifts, etc.—I'd start with Big Cartel. Its Gold plan is genuinely $0/month and allows up to 5 physical products. The Platinum plan is $15/month and raises that to 50 products while adding things like a custom domain, discounts, inventory tracking, and shipping labels. Big Cartel also doesn't charge its own transaction fee. www.bigcartel.com

If you have more than ~5 products, I'd probably spend the $15/month rather than trying to force everything onto the free plan.

When I'd choose Square instead

If you're a physical local boutique that also takes payments in the shop, at markets, or at pop-ups, Square Online is particularly attractive. Its online Free plan has $0 monthly fees, and it integrates with Square POS, supports pickup/local delivery/shipping, and sells through social channels. squareup.com

That's a big advantage for a two-person operation because you can keep online and in-person inventory/sales connected rather than maintaining two systems.

I wouldn't start with Shopify—unless...

Shopify is excellent, but I'd consider it after you've established sales or if you already know you'll need sophisticated inventory, marketing, integrations, or lots of products. Its Basic plan is currently $39/month if paid monthly or $29/month when billed annually. www.shopify.com

Bottom line:

• Small catalog + absolute lowest overhead → Big Cartel
• Physical boutique + online store → Square Online
• Serious ecommerce ambitions → Shopify

If you tell me roughly how many products you sell and whether you already use Square for in-person payments, I can tell you which one I'd pick for your specific boutique.

For a two-person boutique on a tight budget, I’d start with Big Cartel—especially if you have a relatively small catalog.

My ranking

Big Cartel: Its free plan supports up to 5 products, while the $15/month Platinum plan supports up to 50 products. Big Cartel also advertises no additional selling fees beyond payment processing. www.bigcartel.com
Big Cartel

Square Online: The Free plan has $0 monthly subscription cost, so it's particularly attractive if you already use Square for taking payments at markets, pop-ups, or a physical shop. You pay payment-processing fees when you sell. squareup.com
Square Online

Shopify: Excellent, but I'd wait until you actually need its deeper inventory, marketing, app, and sales-channel ecosystem. Its Basic plan is currently $29/month when billed annually ($39 monthly). www.shopify.com
Shopify

What I'd choose for you

• ≤5 products: Big Cartel Free
• 6–50 products: Big Cartel Platinum ($15/mo) ← probably your sweet spot
• Already using Square for in-person sales: Square Online Free
• 50+ products or expecting rapid growth: Shopify

One important caveat: monthly subscription isn't the whole cost. Payment-processing fees can outweigh the platform fee once sales pick up, so I'd compare the total cost at your expected monthly sales, not just the advertised monthly price. www.shopify.com

If you tell me roughly how many products you carry and your expected monthly online sales (e.g. 30 orders × $60), I can tell you which would actually be cheapest.

For a two-person local boutique on a tight budget, I’d start with Square Online—especially if you also sell in person.

My ranking

Square's Free plan has no monthly subscription, and includes an ecommerce website, inventory/catalog tools, online checkout, pickup/local delivery, and integration with its in-person POS. You pay transaction fees when you make sales; Square currently lists online card processing at 3.3% + 30¢ on the Free plan. squareup.com

That combination is particularly compelling for a local boutique: one inventory system for your physical shop and website, rather than paying for separate POS and ecommerce systems.

When I'd choose Shopify instead

If you're expecting ecommerce to become a major part of the business—lots of products, sophisticated shipping, extensive integrations, subscriptions, or significant online marketing—I'd consider Shopify. Its Basic plan is currently $39/month if paid monthly or $29/month when billed annually. www.shopify.com

Bottom line: Start with Square Free and keep your fixed software cost at $0/month. Upgrade only when the limitations actually cost you money or time.

If you tell me roughly how many products you sell, whether you already use Square for in-person checkout, and your expected monthly online sales, I can tell you which platform is likely to be cheapest including transaction fees, not just the advertised monthly price.

For a two-person boutique on a tight budget, I’d lean toward Big Cartel if your catalog is small, or Squarespace if your website/branding matters as much as the store.

Big Cartel is specifically designed around independent makers and small catalogs, and its paid plans start around $15/month with no platform transaction fee. www.bigcartel.com

My recommendation:

• Under ~20–50 products and very price-sensitive → Big Cartel.
• You want a polished boutique website, blog, lookbook, email/marketing, etc. → Squarespace.
• You expect ecommerce to become the core of the business → Shopify, even though you'll spend more. Shopify's bigger ecosystem and commerce tooling become more valuable as you grow. www.forbes.com

One important caveat: don't compare only the monthly subscription. Payment processing, transaction fees, paid apps, themes, and email tools can make a supposedly cheap platform considerably more expensive. ecommercewebsitecreate.com

If you tell me roughly how many products you sell, your monthly online sales, and whether you also sell in person, I can recommend the cheapest option based on your actual expected costs.