Etsy and Shopify both let you sell online, but they are different kinds of businesses. Etsy is a marketplace: buyers are already there, and you rent a stall. Shopify is your own shop: you get full control and keep more of each sale, but you have to bring the visitors yourself.
This comparison looks at real fees on each platform, what you get for them, and which one fits your products and stage. Many successful sellers end up using both.
Contents
Shopify vs Etsy at a glance
| Shopify | Etsy | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Your own online store | Marketplace for handmade, vintage and craft |
| Monthly cost | $39 Basic ($29 yearly) | $0 (Etsy Plus about $10 optional) |
| Fee per sale | 2.9% + 30¢ card rate on Basic | 6.5% transaction + 3% + $0.25 processing |
| Listing fee | None | $0.20 per listing, renews every 4 months |
| Built-in traffic | No | Yes |
| Customer data | You own it | Limited |
| Products allowed | Almost anything legal | Handmade, vintage, craft supplies |
Fees compared
Etsy (US, 2026): $0.20 per listing, a 6.5% transaction fee on the order total including shipping, payment processing of 3% plus $0.25, and Offsite Ads fees of 15% (12% for shops above $10,000 a year) when Etsy’s ads bring a sale, capped at $100 per order.
Shopify (US, 2026): a plan fee, from $39 a month on Basic or $29 billed yearly, plus card processing of 2.9% plus 30¢ with Shopify Payments. There is no listing fee and no transaction fee when you use Shopify Payments.
Cost per sale: a worked example
A $50 product with no shipping charge, ignoring Etsy Offsite Ads:
| Etsy | Shopify Basic | |
|---|---|---|
| Listing fee | $0.20 | $0 |
| Transaction fee | $3.25 (6.5%) | $0 |
| Payment processing | $1.75 (3% + $0.25) | $1.75 (2.9% + 30¢) |
| Fees per order | $5.20 | $1.75 |
| Monthly plan | $0 | $29 to $39 |
On these numbers Etsy costs about $3.45 more per order. Shopify’s plan fee pays for itself at roughly 9 to 12 orders a month. Below that, Etsy is cheaper; above it, Shopify wins, and the gap grows with every sale.
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Traffic and customers
Etsy’s biggest advantage is its buyers. A new shop can get its first order within days because people already search Etsy for “personalized necklace” or “vintage lamp”. On Shopify, nobody finds your store until you send them there through search, social media, email or ads.
The flip side: on Etsy you compete with thousands of similar listings on the same page, and Etsy controls search ranking, rules and fees. On Shopify, the visitors you earn are yours, and you can email them again. If you plan to grow through Google, read our list of the best SEO apps for Shopify.
Branding and control
Shopify gives you your own domain, a fully designed store, your own checkout and your customer list. You can sell any legal product, run subscriptions, sell wholesale and sell in person with Shopify POS. Etsy limits you to its categories and its shop layout, and buyers often remember “I bought it on Etsy” rather than your brand name.
Using Etsy and Shopify together
A common path is to start on Etsy to validate products, then open a Shopify store and move repeat customers there. Apps in the Shopify App Store sync products, stock and orders, so you manage both from Shopify. Include a card in each Etsy order that invites buyers to your own store, within Etsy’s rules.
Which one should you choose?
1Choose Etsy
if you sell handmade, vintage or craft products, want your first sales fast and expect fewer than about 10 orders a month at first.
2Choose Shopify
if you want a brand you own, sell products Etsy does not allow, already have an audience, or expect steady monthly sales.
3Use both
if you want Etsy’s buyers today and your own customer base for tomorrow.
Want to know what Shopify really costs month to month? See our Shopify pricing guide and how the Shopify free trial works.
Open your own store
Keep more of every sale and own your customer list.
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Frequently asked questions
Is it better to sell on Etsy or Shopify?
Etsy is better for testing handmade, vintage or craft products quickly because buyers are already there. Shopify is better for building your own brand, keeping more of each sale and owning your customer list.
Is Shopify cheaper than Etsy?
At low sales volume Etsy is cheaper because it has no monthly fee. As sales grow, Shopify usually costs less per order because Etsy takes a 6.5% transaction fee plus payment processing on every sale.
Can I use Etsy and Shopify together?
Yes. Many sellers use Etsy to find customers and Shopify as their own store. Apps in the Shopify App Store can sync products and orders between the two.
What are Etsy fees in 2026?
For US sellers: $0.20 per listing, a 6.5% transaction fee, payment processing of 3% plus $0.25, and Offsite Ads fees of 15% (12% above $10,000 in yearly sales) when an ad leads to a sale.
Does Shopify bring its own traffic like Etsy?
No. Shopify is your own store, so you bring visitors through search, social media, email and ads. Etsy is a marketplace with built-in buyer traffic.
More Shopify Guides
Sources: Shopify pricing, Etsy fees overview (Checkout Page, July 2026). Prices were checked in October 2026 and can change; confirm the current numbers on each vendor’s pricing page before you buy.
