15 best Etsy competitors and alternatives to consider in 2024

For years, Etsy has consistently been the top online marketplace for creators selling handmade products, personalized crafts, and vintage items to showcase and sell to interested buyers.

While Etsy remains an extremely popular online marketplace for small businesses selling unique products and goods, it's important to acknowledge that sellers may encounter some limitations with running their Etsy shops. These include listing fees, limited control over the branding and appearance of each online store, and steep competition.

If you find that your Etsy shop isn't meeting your expectations, you'll be relieved to hear several Etsy alternatives are worth considering to increase revenue, build a loyal audience, and take your business to the next level.

In this post, we'll highlight the best Etsy alternatives and break down the benefits and features of each alternative to help you find a platform that suits your online store's needs.

• Many Etsy alternatives can give sellers more branding control and drive more sales.

• Creating an online store on a new ecommerce platform will help you cast a wider net and grow your business.

• Etsy's limitations have encouraged many sellers to seek alternatives to Etsy that offer better features, improved sales channels, and the functionality to create a personal website for their businesses.

• Shopify, Amazon Handmade, eBay, and Wix are among the popular Etsy alternatives listed in this post.

• When selecting an Etsy alternative, consider budget, goals, and your confidence in creating an ecommerce store. Evaluate platforms based on their alignment with your business strategy and the support they offer for scaling and customization.

• Gelato is a print on demand service that integrates with platforms like Shopify, Wix, and Squarespace. It empowers creators to focus on design and branding while handling printing, fulfillment, and customer service to streamline business operations.

Even though Etsy is a well-established marketplace particularly known for handmade goods, there are several reasons to consider its alternatives to Etsy, such as:

• Limited branding control: Etsy enforces a certain look and feel for stores, which can limit your ability to create a unique brand identity. Alternative platforms like Shopify and Wix offer greater customization options for your online store.

• Competition: With a massive user base, Etsy can be a crowded marketplace. This can make it challenging for your products to stand out, especially for new sellers. Exploring alternatives like Folksy or Society6, which cater to specific niches, might give you a more focused audience.

• Fees: Etsy charges listing fees and transaction fees, which can eat into your profits. Some alternative platforms, like Bonanza, have lower fees or no listing fees at all.

• Expanding your sales channels: Many Etsy alternatives offer additional sales channels beyond their own marketplace. For instance, Shopify allows you to sell on social media platforms and other online marketplaces alongside your own store.

• The desire for a standalone website: If you envision a long-term online business presence, building your own website with an ecommerce platform like Squarespace gives you complete control and ownership of your brand experience.

Here are 15 of the best Etsy alternatives available to run your online store and leverage your creativity and talents to expand your audience, increase revenue, and build a better business.

If you're ready to increase sales and have complete control of your online store, Shopify is a great choice. Shopify is an ecommerce site that supports small businesses selling their products in their own online store and on social media.

Unlike Etsy, Shopify offers sellers helpful resources, templates, and guides that help them sell online. It's one of the best Etsy alternatives you'll find, regardless of what you're selling. Many sellers migrate from Etsy to Shopify once their business is up and running and they're ready to scale.

Key features:

• Custom domain for your online store

• Templates, tools, and resources for a branded experience

• Flexible pricing plans

• Analytics and marketing tools to scale and grow

• Impressive customer support

Pricing:

Shopify's pricing and plans include the following:

• Basic plan - $39 per month

• Business plan - $105 per month

• Advanced plan - $399 per month

These plans include discounts on shipping costs, reporting, a POS system, inventory tracking, and multiple sales channels to sell from within the platform. Each pricing tier has a $0.30 transaction fee on every purchase made.

For those selling handmade crafts and products looking to expand beyond the Etsy marketplace, Amazon Handmade is becoming one of the biggest online marketplaces for handmade craft sellers.

Amazon Handmade is available for sellers of accessories, artwork, pet supplies, clothing, home decor, and more. If you're looking for an extension of the Etsy experience with more convenient shipping options, Amazon Handmade may be the right fit to market and sell your crafts and handmade products.

Key features:

• Helpful analytics to expand your reach

• No listing fees or listing expirations

• Shipping completed by Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA)

• Your handmade business and products will be featured in Amazon-sponsored ads

Pricing:

The pricing and fees you'll find through Amazon Handmade include the following:

• Monthly fee of $39.99 for an Amazon Professional selling account (although you can apply to have this fee waived)

• 15% transaction fees

• No listing or payment processing fees

• Discounted shipping fees

• No free trial

Long touted as the reselling giant, eBay is an excellent Etsy alternative for those selling more products (often mass-produced) that don't fit into one particular niche. In 2022, eBay had around 138 million active shoppers, making it one of the largest online marketplaces.

If you are in the clothing and jewelry industry or sell electronics and accessories, eBay is a highly lucrative market for these items. As an Etsy alternative, an eBay seller can create and control their own store and sell a diverse line of products. eBay isn't our first choice for selling handmade and vintage items, but you may get lucky if you go this route!

Key features:

• Sellers can create their own online store and build a branded experience

• Advertising and selling fees are lower and more accessible to manipulate than Etsy's

• Seller Levels are rewarded based on the customer experience you provide

• Sales reports, templates, and a mobile app to scale your business from anywhere

Pricing:

Here are the pricing plans and monthly subscription fee if you choose to create an eBay Store:

• Starter store - $4.95/ month with 250 free listings

• Basic store - $21.95/ month with 1,000 free listings

• Premium store - $59.95/ month with 10,000 free listings

• Discounted shipping costs and coupons

• All sellers pay final value fees depending on what they are selling

• No free trial

Wix is a platform where you can build your own website and add an ecommerce store. As an alternative to Etsy, Wix is an excellent option for new businesses who want more creative freedom and to gain experience working with a website builder.

You'll develop valuable marketing and technical skills if you design an ecommerce website through Wix, which many business owners want.

Key features:

• Templates and a custom domain to create a branded online store

• Email marketing tools and SEO analytics

• Resourceful community forums and customer support

• Small businesses can accept online payments through Paypal and credit card payments

• Wix offers a free trial

Pricing:

Here are the three pricing plans for businesses looking to run their own site and store via Wix:

• Business Basic - $27/ month

• Business Unlimited - $32/ month

• Business VIP - $59/ month

Depending on the product, location, and subscription plan, wix transaction fees are between 1.9% and 2.9%. There are also payment processing fees based on location and the type of payment used.

Bonanza is a great Etsy alternative and is considered one of the largest online marketplaces but with much more emphasis on providing buyers for handmade craft sellers.

If Etsy has become too challenging or saturated to make a substantial profit, Bonanza offers a similar setting where shoppers know what they are looking for and are ready to buy.

Key features:

• Create your own store

• Sellers are willing to negotiate prices

• Built-in audience ready to buy

• Every listing is automated on Google Shopping and eBay

• Analytics and marketing tools

• Sellers can pay for advertising to promote their stores

Pricing:

• No listing fee

• Final value fee based on the sale price of the product (3.5% to 5%)

• A flat-rate transaction fee of $0.25 on every sale

Big Cartel shows significant promise as one of the best Etsy alternatives for artists. If you have a few products you're selling, you can set up an online store for free, use the website builder to create the look and feel you want, and develop marketing skills to drive traffic to your store.

Big Cartel's audience base is much smaller, unlike Etsy’s, which may challenge some creators. However, if selling art or handmade goods is your passion, it's worth exploring Etsy alternatives that give you more freedom to build a brand and a business you're proud of, and that brings in the profit you need to keep going.

Key features:

• Custom domain and free templates and themes

• Shipment tracking and inventory tracking

• Marketing tools, Google Analytics

• Sellers can offer discounts and promos

Pricing:

• Free for up to five products

• $9.99/ month - 50 products

• $19.99/ month - 500 products

Squarespace is one of the fastest-growing ecommerce platforms because of its user-friendly interface, drag-and-drop website builder, and many convenient features for any ecommerce business.

As an Etsy alternative, Squarespace empowers creators to run their own stores, whether they're selling handmade goods, digital prints, or custom hoodies. Etsy sellers can even import products from their existing Etsy store if they want to migrate to Squarespace and build a custom ecommerce site.

Key features:

• Learn to create a website and online store with an easy-to-use website builder

• Free domain, built-in marketing tools, and social media integrations

• Inventory tracking and advanced website analytics

• Powerful merchandising tools to drive sales

Pricing:

• Business - $23/month with 3% transaction fees

• Commerce (basic) - $27/ month with 0% transaction fees

• Commerce (advanced) - $40/ month with 0% transaction fees

WooCommerce is a powerful open-source plugin that transforms your WordPress website into a fully functional online store. Unlike Etsy, which operates as a singular marketplace, WooCommerce offers complete control and ownership of your online storefront. This empowers you to design a unique shopping experience tailored to your brand and target audience.

Key features:

• Extensive customization options to design your storefront to perfectly reflect your brand aesthetic

• Easy management of a wide variety of physical and digital products using comprehensive inventory management tools.

• Diverse payment gateway options like Stripe and PayPal ensure a smooth and secure checkout experience for your customers.

• Built-in marketing and analytics tools that integrate with popular marketing platforms

• Scales seamlessly to accommodate your growing business's needs.

Pricing:

WooCommerce itself is a free plugin for WordPress. However, you will need to:

• Pay for WordPress hosting to run your online store. Depending on the provider you choose, hosting fees can be as little as $3.99 per month and as high as $5,000. 

• Purchase a domain name for your online store (e.g., [invalid URL removed]). This typically costs around $15 per year.

• Purchase premium extensions to unlock advanced functionalities.

• Pay transaction fees depending on the payment gateway you choose.

Redbubble is a popular print on demand (POD) marketplace where artists can upload their designs and sell them on a variety of products, like t-shirts, mugs, phone cases, and wall art. While it differs from Etsy's marketplace model where sellers manage their own inventory, Redbubble offers a unique selling proposition for creators who want to focus on design and artwork.

Key features:

• Simple setup for uploading designs and choosing the products you want to sell on

• Includes everything from printing and fulfillment to customer service

• Large customer base worldwide, offering a broad reach with international shipping.

• Built-in marketing tools to drive store traffic and increase your exposure

Pricing:

• Redbubble operates on a royalties-based system where artists can earn royalties ranging from 20% to 60%.

• The platform has three tiers for artist accounts: Redbubble Standard, Premium, and Pro. 

  • The Standard tier is the starting point and has an account fee payable on making sales. 

  • Active and successful artists who interact positively with the marketplace are moved to the Premium tier. 

  • Artists with high sales and unique products may qualify for the Pro tier. Tiers are determined by account activity and adherence to community and content guidelines.

Mercari is a popular online resale marketplace known for offering a wide variety of secondhand goods, including clothing, electronics, and homeware. While it might not be the first platform that comes to mind for handmade crafts, it can be a suitable alternative for Etsy sellers who also create unique, upcycled, or vintage items alongside their handcrafted products.

Key features:

• A large and active user base to increase your exposure to a wider audience interested in unique finds

• Mobile-friendliness to cater to consumers on the go

• Secure transactions that build trust among users

• Intuitive interface that simplifies navigation for a seamless experience

• Diverse product categories that include electronics and apparel

• Seller protection mechanisms to ensure fair dealings

• Social elements like following sellers and "liking" items to create a community of engaged users

• AI Integration to personalize recommendations and enhance user experience

Pricing:

• The platform charges a flat fee of 10% of the final selling price of every product.

• An additional 2.9% + $0.50 payment processing fee (this includes the item price, shipping, service fee, and sales tax) is applied to each sale.

Folksy is a popular online marketplace specifically designed for UK crafters and artists to sell their handmade and artisanal products. While it doesn't boast the global reach of Etsy, Folksy offers a unique selling proposition for creators based in the UK or targeting a UK audience to have their handmade products seen by a relevant audience who appreciates handcrafted goods.

Key features:

• Optimized for selling handmade and vintage items.

• Facilitates customization for sellers, enabling them to showcase their personal style and brand vision.

• Good platform for cultivating a loyal following and impressing customers with unique product offerings.

• House to a variety of niche markets, allowing products to stand out amongst their category.

Pricing:

• Folksy offers the first three listings free of charge. Subsequently, the Basic account, which operates on a pay-as-you-go basis, charges £0.15 + VAT per item. This includes relisting products if needed. 

• If you sign up for Folksy Plus, you pay £7.50 per month or £75 for a year-long subscription. This upfront payment entitles you to unlimited listings.

• On top of listing fees, there's a sales commission of 6% + VAT on the selling price of all items, regardless of account type. 

• Transaction fees are also applicable, charged by PayPal and Stripe. At present, Stripe charges 1.4% + 20p for European cards and 2.9% + 20p for non-European cards. PayPal's transaction fee is 2.9% + 30p of the amount received. Stripe's total fee thereby includes their transaction fee and the 6% + VAT Folksy sales fee. 

• An additional 20% VAT is charged on the subtotal of your listing and selling fees, so factor this into your potential returns.

Society6 is another online platform where independent artists can showcase their work. Its print on demand operation significantly cuts down inventory risks for creators. Like Redbubble, it has a wide range of products ready for your designs, ranging from home decor to clothing. Thanks to its great visuals and specific product categories, it serves as a sound Etsy alternative, particularly for artists seeking a wider audience without the hassle of handling physical inventory.

Key features: 

• Feature designs on a variety of products, including apparel, home decor items, and lifestyle products

• User-friendly interface

• Quick and easy store setup for a head start

• Creative community of 450000+ independent artists who interact and learn from each other

• Large international customer base, allowing artists to reach a global audience.

Pricing:

There are three Artist plans available:

• Free: Upload up to 10 designs and earn 10% of the net sale on every sale

• Basic: $4.99 per month. Upload up to 100 designs and set your own prices.

• Pro: $12.99 per month. Upload up to 10,000 designs and set your own prices.

Storenvy is a great platform for independent artists and new brands. It provides a mix of Shopify's flexibility and Etsy's community engagement, making it an excellent choice for sellers to launch their unique brands. Storenvy stands out as an Etsy competitor with its attractive storefront features and low commission costs.

Key features:

• A social marketplace that positions your products right before consumers who are looking for unique items.

• Customize your storefront to match your brand. No coding skills are required.

• Connect directly with your customers for an extraordinary seller-buyer relationship.

• Reach a global audience with the platform's robust shopping community

• Community Engagement via social media integrations, forums, or buyer-seller interaction tools.

• Lower commission fees on sales, making it a potentially more cost-effective option for sellers.

Pricing:

Storenvy offers four pricing tiers:

• Free:  $0 per month

• Artisan: $4.99 per month

• Growth: $12.49 per month

• Professional: $24.99 per month

Poshmark is a highly social ecommerce platform known primarily for the sale of preloved fashion, but it has opened its doors to home decor and personal care products as well. It's designed as a cross between an ecommerce and social networking site, imitating a 'virtual boutique' protocol where you can follow other sellers and collaborate with them for sales events. Its focus on community interaction sets this platform apart and makes it a solid Etsy alternative. Users can connect and even share style tips with each other.

Key features: 

• Offers a user-friendly platform for both buyers and sellers

• A highly social platform integrating shopping and networking features.

• Allows sellers to curate their virtual boutiques.

• Facilitates cross-promotions and collaborations with other sellers.

• Offers Posh Protect, a buyer protection feature safeguarding transaction integrity.

Pricing:

Listing products on Poshmark is free. However, they do levy fees once you make a sale.

• For any order below $15, Poshmark simply charges a flat fee of $2.95.

• For sales exceeding $15, the platform claims a 20% commission.

While Etsy offers a dedicated marketplace for handmade goods, social media platforms like TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest have emerged as powerful alternatives for crafters and artists to showcase their work, connect with potential customers, and build a thriving brand. The key lies in leveraging the unique strengths of each platform:

1. TikTok: The short-form video powerhouse

• Key features:

  • Short-form video format (60 seconds or less) perfect for eye-catching product demonstrations and creative tutorials.

  • Trending hashtags and challenges can increase visibility and reach a wider audience.

  • Strong engagement features like comments, duets, and stitches foster direct interaction with potential customers.

• Pricing:

  • Free to use for creating a profile and posting content.

  • Paid advertising is available to further boost reach and target specific demographics, which starts at $500.

2. Facebook: The established social network

• Key features:

  • Large and diverse user base, offering the potential to reach a broad audience.

  • Facebook Groups dedicated to handmade crafts can be a valuable space to connect with potential customers and fellow artisans.

  • Facebook Shops functionality allows creating a mini storefront directly on your Facebook page.

• Pricing:

  • Free to create a profile and Facebook Group.

  • Facebook Shops require no listing fees, but paid advertising options exist to enhance product visibility.

3. Instagram: The land of visual storytelling

• Key features:

  • Highly visual platform, ideal for showcasing high-quality product photos and lifestyle imagery.

  • Instagram Stories and Reels offer engaging formats for behind-the-scenes glimpses and product demonstrations.

  • Shoppable Instagram posts allow users to purchase products directly from your profile.

• Pricing:

  • Free to create a profile.

  • Paid advertising and product promotions can be leveraged to expand reach. An advertiser on Instagram can choose to pay per click, which could range from $0.20 to $2.00, or per 1000 impressions, which is around $6.70 on average. Keep in mind that these rates should be taken with a grain of salt as Instagram uses a bidding system for ad placement.

4. Pinterest: The visual inspiration board

• Key features:

  • Pinterest functions like a visual search engine, where users discover and save inspiring content.

  • Create high-quality product pins with enticing visuals and strategic keywords to attract potential customers.

  • Run targeted ads to reach users actively searching for products related to your crafts.

• Pricing:

  • Free to create a profile and post pins.

  • Paid advertising options can significantly increase the reach of your pins and drive traffic to your website or online store (if you have one). The cost of Pinterest ads can range from $0.00 to $0.10 per click, $0.00 to $2.00 per conversion, and $0.00 to $1.50 per 1000 impressions.

When considering using social media platforms to boost your online visibility and sales, remember that building a following takes time and consistent effort. You can stand out from the crowd by creating a strategic plan with a well-thought-out content schedule, high-quality images, and smart hashtag use. 

Remember that while social media is great for establishing your brand and connecting with your audience, you should also integrate a sales platform, such as a website or an Etsy store, to transform your followers into paying customers.

Many creators opt to utilize the Etsy platform because the setup is so easy and affordable, allowing them to launch a store and start selling their products quickly.

While the ease of setting up a shop can be enticing for many Etsy sellers, the platform's limitations may encourage creators to seek other online marketplaces for a better experience selling their handmade items.

Selecting a suitable Etsy alternative means you'll need to consider the various facets of your business. From your budget to your goals as an online business, your skills and confidence in creating an ecommerce store, there's a lot to think about as you browse various ecommerce platforms to find the right fit.

Are you looking to launch an ecommerce site that creates and sells high-quality custom products? Gelato is here to help. We offer premier print on demand services for businesses of all sizes, and we conveniently offer an Etsy integration, along with Shopify, Wix, Squarespace, and WooCommerce, for a seamless experience, no matter your skill level.

Gelato empowers you to:

• Become a brand, not just a seller: Craft a one-of-a-kind online store that reflects your brand identity and sets you apart.

• Expand your horizons: Reach a global audience eager for fresh designs, with Gelato's international production network ensuring efficient delivery.

• Focus on what you do best: Unleash your creativity and design captivating products. Gelato handles the printing, fulfillment, and customer service, allowing you to focus on what truly matters - bringing your vision to life.

Ready to start designing and selling unique custom items like hats, t-shirts, hoodies, wall art, phone cases, mugs, and more? Sign up for Gelato and subscribe to one of our plans to unleash your brand's full potential!

Several other Etsy alternatives are worth exploring depending on your business goals and the products you sell. Unlike Etsy, many ecommerce platforms support businesses selling crafts, white-label products, and everything in between.

If your Etsy shop is not bringing in the profit and sales you want, you'll enjoy branding control and increased sales channels from Etsy alternatives like Squarespace, Wix, and Shopify.

Amazon Handmade is likely Etsy's biggest competitor in the online marketplace setting.

Amazon can easily compete because it's the largest online retailer in the United States, with over $300 billion in annual sales. While Etsy has long since established itself as the leading handmade goods marketplace, Amazon is a close second.

Unlike Etsy, Amazon does not charge listing fees, which appeals to those selling crafts or handmade items in bulk. However, Amazon takes a flat 15% commission on every sale, which is hefty. On the other hand, Etsy charges 6.5% selling fees (with payment processing fees as well).

The user interfaces of both platforms are simple to use and provide helpful analytics and metrics for business owners. Sellers need a professional selling account to operate on Amazon Handmade, which costs $39.99 monthly. Unlike Etsy, Amazon offers shipping and fulfillment once an order is made.

When it comes to the best Etsy alternative, Shopify checks many boxes for creators and sellers. Ultimately, deciding if Shopify is the better option for your online business will depend on your business goals, profit margins, marketing budget, and staffing within your company.

However, if you're looking for a platform that offers unique customization options, additional sales channels, intuitive ecommerce, and merchandising features, Shopify will grow alongside your business and help you scale.

Many platforms cater specifically to handmade goods, with each offering unique benefits. However, the ultimate "best" depends on your business needs. Platforms like Etsy and Mercari emphasize unique craftsmanship, while platforms like Shopify, Wix, WooCommerce, and Squarespace give greater control over brand presentation and customer interaction. 

Before deciding on the most suitable platform, it’s crucial to consider factors such as your target audience, fees, integration with printing services like Gelato, and the platform's specific focus.