Big Cartel Live Chat Integration

Add MyLiveChat to your Big Cartel site

Big Cartel lets you add MyLiveChat by editing your theme’s layout — paste the MyLiveChat code once before the closing body tag and the chat button appears across the store. MyLiveChat helps you answer sizing, shipping and stock questions before a shopper gives up.

Use this guide to add MyLiveChat to Big Cartel. The free plan includes one agent, unlimited chats, and unlimited websites — no credit card required.

If you do not have a MyLiveChat account yet, create a free MyLiveChat account.

Start free

Sign in to the MyLiveChat web console and click Deployment menu on the left. Choose Embedded Chat tab and copy the MyLiveChat code.

1. In your Big Cartel admin, open Design and choose Advanced → Edit theme code.
2. Open the layout file for your theme.
3. Paste the MyLiveChat code from Step 1 immediately before the closing </body> tag.
4. Save, then open your store — the chat button appears on every page.

Keep a copy of the code somewhere outside the theme. If you switch themes later, the new theme has its own layout file and the chat code will need to be added again.

Do not assume the install worked because you saw no error. Open your site in a private browsing window and walk through this once:

1. Look for the chat launcher on the page. If it is missing, view the page source and search for mylivechat to confirm the code is really being served.
2. Start a chat as a visitor and send a test message.
3. Sign in to the web console and confirm the message arrives and that you can reply.
4. Close the chat and check the transcript is saved, so you know follow-up will work.

Test the storefront rather than the admin. Open your store in a private browsing window so you are not served a cached or signed-in view.

• The theme was changed or updated afterwards. Switching themes replaces the layout file, and the chat code goes with it. Re-add the code after any theme change.
• The code was pasted into the wrong file. The layout file is the one that wraps every page. Product or home templates cover part of the store only.
• The code went above the content. Paste immediately before </body> so the widget loads after your store content.
• The store was tested while signed in as the owner. Check in a private browsing window so you see what a shopper sees.

After setup, sign in to the web console to answer visitors from your browser. You can also use the desktop app from the download page if your team prefers it.

Want the AI to answer first? Point the AI assistant at your site content and it handles routine questions 24/7, then hands off to a human with the full transcript when one is needed.

Big Cartel stores usually have a small catalogue and a personal brand behind them, which is exactly the situation where a shopper will ask before buying: will this fit, when does it ship, can you post it abroad. Answering that in the moment is often the sale.

Because the answers repeat, the optional AI assistant can take the routine ones from your own product and policy pages and hand you anything unusual, with the full transcript.

Will I have to add the code again if I change theme?

Yes. The code lives in the theme layout, so a new theme needs it added again. Keep a copy somewhere safe.

Does it appear on product pages?

Yes. The layout file wraps every storefront page, including product and cart pages.

Can the AI answer shipping questions?

It can answer from the content you point it at, such as your shipping and returns pages, and hand anything else to you.

Will it slow my store down?

The chat code loads asynchronously after your store content, so it does not block rendering.

Is it really free?

Yes. One agent, unlimited chats, and unlimited websites are free forever, with no credit card required.

Colours, position, language, the pre-chat form and your offline message are all set in your MyLiveChat dashboard rather than in your Big Cartel code, so you can change them without editing your site again. See customization options for what can be changed, and visitor monitoring if you want to see which page a visitor is on before you reply.

New to live chat? Start with how to add live chat to your website and the live chat launch checklist, then live chat best practices once you are answering real conversations. Also useful: Live chat for abandoned carts and Live chat for returns and exchanges. If you are worried about page speed, see does live chat slow down your website.

If anything is unclear, contact our support team from the chat button on this page or visit the Support page. We can help you choose the right setup path.