Etsy vs Shopify: Honest Comparison
Two options, side by side, with the real costs and the honest downsides. No hype, just what I'd want my own family to know before they choose.
| Etsy | Shopify | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall rating | 4 | 4 |
| Monthly cost | $0✓ | $39 |
| Category | Online selling platform | Online selling platform |
| Pros | No monthly fee to open a shop; Huge built-in audience of shoppers; Great for crafts, art, vintage and digital downloads; Simple to set up and start listing | Your own branded store, not a shared marketplace; Easy store builder with thousands of apps and themes; Free trial to get started; Handles payments, shipping and inventory |
| Cons | $0.20 listing fee per item, renewed every 4 months; 6.5% transaction fee on each sale, plus payment processing; Offsite Ads can take an extra 12% to 15% on some sales; Crowded marketplace with lots of competition | Basic plan costs $39 a month, more on higher plans; You have to bring your own traffic; Apps and themes can add extra monthly costs; Takes time to set up products and marketing |
| Verdict | Etsy is one of the easiest ways to start selling creative products from home, with buyers already searching the site every day. Fees add up, so price your items with listing, transaction and processing fees in mind. | Shopify is the go-to choice if you want your own online store with your own brand. Unlike a marketplace, buyers won't find you on their own, so plan how you'll get visitors. |
Choose Etsy if you make handmade, vintage or digital creative products. Choose Shopify if you want your own branded store and have a plan to bring visitors.
Etsy
An online marketplace, founded in 2005, where people sell handmade goods, vintage items, craft supplies and digital downloads.
Shopify
A popular platform for building your own online store, with plans from $39 a month and a free trial.
What I chose for my family
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