Shopify vs Etsy: Which Is Better to Sell On?

Are you looking to sell your handmade knitted hats, carefully designed prints, or adorable hand-painted figurines? If you’re looking to sell any of your creative products, you need a platform to do it.

Etsy and Shopify are two of the most popular websites that help people start their online business. How do you know which one is best for what you’re selling?

In this guide, we consider how to start an online business with Shopify vs Etsy. You’ll find out which site you should take your business to. You can also check amazon vs shopify.

Keep reading to learn all about Shopify vs. Etsy, and how one is a better option for you.

Etsy’s Major Features

The Etsy store is its site that gathers sellers onto its platform. It is a great marketplace for artists and creators to promote their handmade items to a sea of Etsy shoppers.

Keep in mind that one-of-a-kind items thrive on Etsy and resellers do not. Etsy is a great place to start a small online business. Customers can find you on the site, so you don’t have to do much promoting.

Etsy makes it easy for you to open a store and start selling. They even have their in-house payment processor. Etsy helps you manage your listings, orders, messages, and postage all on their dashboard.

Etsy welcomes independent creators of all kinds to sell with them. Because of this, people with limited stock or unique items thrive on the platform.

Shopify’s Major Features

Shopify is one of the biggest eCommerce platforms out there today. If you are unfamiliar with how it works, review this eCommerce guide. They have tons of features to help you build, market, and manage your small business.

When you start using Shopify, they help you build your website. You can choose from more than 70 customizable templates, so your storefront reflects your personality.

With Shopify, you can also securely accept nearly all kinds of payments through Shopify Payments. Alternatively, they give you the option to integrate your favorite third-party payment processors.

Once your online store is open for business, Shopify offers you a helpful dashboard of management features. They include the following.

• Save your customers billing and personal information
• Use dropshipping apps
• Easily fulfill orders
• Connect to fulfillment centers
• Access your performance analytics

Shopify is also prepared to help you market your business. They have built-in SEO tips, blogging, connections to your social media profiles, and discount offers for your customers.

Shopify is great for people whose life is their business. They give you all the tools you need to get your shop off the ground and keep it running.

Etsy’s Pricing

Etsy’s pricing is simple compared to some eCommerce sites. Their standard plan is free to use, and they currently have one subscription plan option. Their Plus plan is $10 per month, and it gives you access to more tools.

These tools include shop customization, a custom address, and email marketing tools. No matter if you go with the free or paid plan, you’ll still need to pay three fees per listing.

These are the listing fee, the transaction fee, and the payment processing fee. Etsy’s fees are inexpensive, but they can add up depending on how much you are selling.

If your shop begins selling large volumes of products, you may outgrow Etsy. The fees may become too expensive. Owning your storefront might become more attractive and cost-effective.

Shopify’s Pricing

Shopify uses a monthly subscription model for pricing. Shopify has 3 pricing plans. Basic, Standard and Advanced packages. To keep your shop running, you pay a flat monthly fee plus any credit card rates from each sale you make.

With Shopify, you don’t have to pay any listing fees. You can sell as many products as you want as long as you pay your subscription fees each month.

The basic Shopify package costs $29 per month. The standard package costs $79 per month, and the advanced package costs $299 per month. Each package has its rates for online and in-person credit card transactions.

Shopify offers a two-week grace period before you are required to sign up for a package. Once you do you will also receive a discount with well-known shipping services such as UPS, USPS, and DHL.

Etsy’s Pros and Cons

Etsy is a popular online selling platform that shoppers and sellers both love. Etsy makes it easy to buy, sell, and give your business the jump start it needs. Despite this, it does still have some drawbacks we will get into.

Pros

Etsy makes it easy to gain exposure. You don’t have to promote your brand or market your products, because they bring your customers to you. You can begin building a loyal customer base by simply listing your products.

Additionally, Etsy is super simple to use. You don’t have to build a website, hire a graphic designer, or a marketing team. Just set up your account, upload your products, and wait for Etsy to do its magic.

Another perk is that Esty is cheap compared to its competitors. You don’t have to pay a monthly fee, and the fees you do pay are minimal.

Cons

It’s true Etsy’s fees are minimal, but they can stack up if your page becomes too popular. There is a transaction fee of 5% and a listing fee of 20 cents. These are only pocket change as long as your store’s sales are low.

Etsy also has restrictions on what you can sell. You can sell handmade or vintage goods and craft supplies. This means if you want to journey into reselling, you won’t be able to sell your stuff on Etsy.

Also, keep in mind that you have no creative control. Your shop’s design is the same as everyone else’s. It is difficult to create a well-built brand identity on their platform.

Shopify’s Pros and Cons

When considering Shopify vs. Etsy it can be difficult to compare the two giants. They are both helpful to different kinds of sellers. Shopify is one of the best eCommerce platforms to allow your shop to take off.

They are helpful in every step of the way to making your store a successful one. By using a site like Shopify you can create and use a beautiful storefront that reflects you. Yet, Shopify is not free of a few drawbacks too.

Pros

Shopify’s biggest advantage is that it offers some of the best tools for online sales. From marketing to shipping out your products, they got you covered.

Another thing Shopify is doing right is their customization. You don’t have to settle for a decent website. Yours can be perfect for you and your customers’ needs.

Finally, you can sell all you want with no restrictions. Shopify has no fees. You just pay your subscription and credit card rates and you’re good to go.

Cons

Unfortunately, Shopify provides you with no exposure. While Etsy gives you access to millions of buyers, you are on your own with Shopify. You have to bring in buyers to your website yourself.

Another con of Shopify is its add-ons and plugins. While they are immensely helpful for many shops, they also come at a cost. This can be expensive and problematic for small businesses with low sales.

Shopify vs Etsy: Which Is Better?

Depending on the seller, they will have a different answer to the Shopify vs Etsy debate.

If you sell your homemade delicately crafted earrings, Etsy might be best for you. Yet, if you resell popular sneakers, Shopify is where you will likely thrive.

When you have questions about online marketplaces and eCommerce sites, check out the rest of our page for more articles like this one.