Different marketplaces can help brands create their online store in a couple of minutes and start selling. We are all familiar with Shopify, but have you heard of Etsy? We want to compare these two marketplaces to help you decide which of the Shopify vs. Etsy platforms is the best for you.
If you are new to online marketing and looking for the perfect platform to create your online store, we have your answer. In this guide, we will compare two popular options, Esy vs. Shopify.
Shopify VS. Etsy: X Differences
Every day, brands and businesses seek new ways to grow their customer base and increase revenue. Creating an online store is one of the best choices that every business can make. Here, we will compare selling on Shopify vs. Etsy to help you choose the best platform.
1. Overall Look
Comparing Shopify vs. Etsy, they are similar at first glance but differ in many aspects. As you know, both of these platforms are designed to create online stores and sell products online; however, Etsy has some product restrictions. On Shopify, you can sell any item of your own and items of other brands as long as they go under its ‘Acceptable Use Policy.’
But Etsy is for selling artwork. On Etsy, you can sell your own handmade products/paintings, showcase vintage items, or you need to be a craft supply. Clearly, due to product restrictions, Shopify is a better option than Etsy unless you’re an artist.
2. Ease of Use
The next thing to check on the Etsy vs Shopify guide is creating your online store. Both platforms are designed for beginners, and the process of creating accounts is easy to follow.
On Etsy, you must add at least one product to your signup process and provide payment information. But on Shopify, you can create your store and explore Shopify tools before adding your products.
3. Shop Appearance
One of the best things that differentiates Shopify from other Shopify alternatives is different store customization tools. So, let’s check selling on Shopify vs. Etsy based on the store appearance features. Shopify offers over 140 free and paid store templates; you can edit each as much as you want.
On the other hand, Etsy doesn’t offer any templates and designing tools for your store. The only options you have are arranging your items, customizing the shop banner, and editing the order recipient banner. So again, by comparing Etsy patterns vs. Shopify, Shopify is the winner!
4. Annual Revenue
Both services have shown impressive statistics for their active store and annual revenue. In this section, let’s compare selling on Etsy vs. Shopify based on their revenue.
Over 4.8 million online stores are active on Shopify, and their revenue in 2023 was $6.651B. On Etsy, there are 7.5 million users and $2.6 billion in revenue in 2022 on the platform (source: Statista)
5. Shopify Fees VS. Etsy Fees
Now, it’s time to compare Shopify fees vs. Etsy fees, and that’s where everything is different. Let’s check the plans first. Shopify offers no free plan; the packages start from $5. Here are Shopify prices:
- Starter: €5 EUR/month
- Basic: €36EUR/mo
- Shopify: €105EUR/mo
- Advanced: €384EUR/mo
Now, let’s look at Shopify vs. Etsy fees, but looking at its plans. But on Etsy, you can create your shop for free (other than the product listing fees. If you would like to access more tools on Etsy, you can try their Etsy-Plus package, which costs $10 per month. Here are the benefits of the Etsy-plus plan:
- A monthly budget of credits for listings and Etsy Ads.
- Access to a discount on a custom web address for your Etsy shop.
- Restock requests for shoppers interested in your items that have sold out.
- Advanced shop customization options.
- Access to discounts on custom packaging and promotional material like boxes, business cards, and signage.
6. Transactions
Do you think Etsy is more affordable? Then you have forgotten about comparing Shopify fees vs Etsy for transactions. Etsy has a 6.5% transaction fee on the total item price, including shipping, gift wrapping, and additional personalization costs.
Based on the plan you choose, Shopify can come with up to 2.5% transactions for each sale. So again, by comparing Shopify vs. Etsy, Shopify is a better option.
7. Additional Fees
As we saw in the Etsy vs. Shopify fees section, you can create your store on Etsy for free, but there are some additional charges you need to consider. On Etsy
Product listing can cost 20 cents per listing, expiring after four months. (You need to renew it). On the other hand, Shopify doesn’t charge additional fees for product listings.
Conclusion
Both Shopify and Etsy have their own advantages and disadvantages for creating an online store and selling products. In this Shopify vs. Etsy guide, we helped you choose the best option for your business.
While Shopify is suitable for those who want to sell any product of their own or other brands, Etsy is the perfect platform for artists and creators who want to sell their handmade or vintage items.
FAQs
You can sell your artwork on both platforms, but Etsy is a well-known platform among artists. But if you are also active on social media platforms, you can join Shopify and connect it to your Instagram, TikTok, Facebook pages, etc. Overall, comparing Shopify vs. Etsy depends on your business and budget.
There are different marketplaces where you can create your store and start selling online, and Etsy is one of them. This American e-commerce company is focused on handmade or vintage items (at least 20 years old)and craft supplies. The items can go under different categories, such as jewelry, bags, clothing, home décor and furniture, toys, art, etc.
You can create your website on Etsy for free or use Etsy Plus for $10 monthly. In addition to that, you need to pay $0.20 for each item you list and a 6.5% transaction fee for every sale.
