HonestyPot vs CottageCMS: Built for Modern Food Businesses
Both platforms serve cottage food businesses, but HonestyPot offers integrated POS for in-person sales, custom domains from your first paid tier, and a pricing model that rewards high-volume sellers. Perfect for producers who want to sell both online and at markets.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | HonestyPotRECOMMENDED | CottageCMS |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Free Tier | Permanent free listing - no expiration | Free basic site available |
| Transaction Fees | 8% + 30p (free) down to 2% + 30p (premium) | Standard payment processor fees (~2.9% + 30p) |
| Monthly Subscription | Optional: £25-£100/month to reduce transaction fees | Typically £15-40/month for paid features |
| E-commerce | ||
| Online Storefront | Full e-commerce storefront with custom branding | CMS-based storefront with product listings |
| Custom Domain | Included from Starter Pro (£25/month) | Typically requires higher tier |
| Shopping Cart & Checkout | Full integrated checkout | Checkout with payment processing |
| Pre-Orders & Local Pickup | Supported with collection points system | Core feature - designed for pre-orders |
| Stock Management | Real-time inventory tracking with low-stock alerts | Basic inventory management |
| In-Person Sales | ||
| POS (Tap to Pay) | Included on all paid tiers - integrated hardware support | Limited POS integration; may require separate setup |
| Inventory Sync | Real-time sync between online and in-person sales | Manual sync between systems |
| Business Tools | ||
| Order Management | Advanced order tracking and fulfillment | Order management for pre-orders and pickup |
| Customer List | Customer database with email marketing (paid tiers) | Customer contact management |
| Stock Alerts | Automated low stock notifications (paid tiers) | Manual stock tracking |
| Batch/Lot Tracking | Track production batches and expiry dates (paid tiers) | Not available |
| Email Marketing | 1 email/week (Starter) to unlimited (Pro+) | Not available |
| Collection Points | Multiple pickup locations (1 free, 5 Starter, unlimited Pro+) | Single or limited pickup locations |
| Advanced Features | ||
| Wholesale/B2B | Separate wholesale pricing and business accounts (Pro+) | Not available |
| Subscription Boxes | Recurring subscription products (Pro+) | Not available |
| Production Planning | Plan production batches and track yields (Pro+) | Not available |
| Label Generation | Generate compliance labels (Pro+) | Not available |
| Support | ||
| Customer Support | Email support and documentation | Email support and community |
| Onboarding | Setup guidance and best practices | Tutorials and documentation |
Integrated POS for All Paid Tiers
Sell at farmers' markets and pop-ups with Tap to Pay. CottageCMS focuses on pre-orders and local pickup but lacks integrated POS hardware support.
Professional Branding from Starter Pro
Get a custom domain (shop.yourfarm.com) starting at just £25/month. CottageCMS typically requires higher tiers for custom domains.
Lower Fees for Powersellers
Premium tier offers just 2% + 30p per transaction - perfect for high-volume sellers. CottageCMS typically uses standard payment processor fees regardless of volume.
Start Free, Scale as You Grow
Free listing tier with no expiration. Start selling with 8% + 30p fees, or upgrade to reduce fees as your business grows. No pressure, no time limits.
Why Food Producers Choose HonestyPot Over CottageCMS
Sell Everywhere: Unlike CottageCMS's focus on pre-orders and local pickup, HonestyPot includes POS (Tap to Pay) on all paid tiers. Perfect for producers who sell at farmers' markets, farm shops, and pop-up events.
Professional Branding Early: Get a custom domain starting at Starter Pro (£25/month). CottageCMS often requires higher tiers for custom domains, making it harder to establish a professional brand early.
Reward High-Volume Sellers: Our Premium tier offers just 2% + 30p per transaction - significantly lower than standard payment processor fees. For powersellers doing £10,000+ per month, this can save hundreds in fees.
Simplified, Focused Platform: We've removed complex features like API access to keep the platform simple and focused on selling. CottageCMS can feel overwhelming with too many options for small businesses.
Grow at Your Own Pace: Start with a free listing and upgrade when you're ready. No trial expiration, no pressure. Build your business organically.
Pricing Comparison
HonestyPot
- ✓Free: £0/month + 8% + 30p per transaction
- ✓Starter Pro: £25/month + 5% + 30p
- ✓Pro: £50/month + 3% + 30p
- ✓Premium: £100/month + 2% + 30p
CottageCMS
- —Free basic site available
- —Paid tiers typically £15-40/month
- —Standard payment processor fees (~2.9% + 30p)
- —POS integration limited or requires separate setup
Ready to Switch to HonestyPot?
Join food producers who are growing their businesses with integrated POS, custom domains, and transparent pricing.