Best Etsy Alternatives: Top Marketplaces & Platforms

Many creative entrepreneurs and artisans are exploring alternatives to Etsy, although it remains a popular marketplace, particularly for handmade and vintage items. Etsy is known for its ease of use and the absence of monthly subscription fees. However, sellers often look for alternative platforms due to several factors, including fees, competition, policy changes, limitations on customization, and account suspensions.

Key reasons why sellers consider switching from Etsy:

• Fees: While Etsy doesn’t charge a monthly membership fee, it has various fees for listing and selling products that can accumulate as a business grows. In 2022, Etsy increased its seller transaction fees from 5% to 6.5%. There are also listing fees ($0.20 per listing), payment processing fees (3% + $0.25, varies by country), and a mandatory 5% Off-site Ads fee once a certain sales threshold is reached. These fees can significantly impact profit margins.
• Competition: Etsy is packed with merchants, many selling similar products, making it hard for new sellers to gain visibility without paying for ads. 
• Customization Limitations: Etsy offers limited customization options for shops unless merchants subscribe to Pattern, Etsy’s separate service for creating a connected website. Sellers can customize basic elements like the shop name, title, icon, banner, and featured items, but the overall design flexibility is restricted. This limitation makes it hard for businesses to build a unique brand identity compared to standalone platforms.
• Policy Changes and Suspensions: Etsy operates as a closed environment with its own rules, which can sometimes lead sellers to inadvertently break terms and face account suspension or cancellation without prior warning. Some sellers report arbitrary suspensions, such as when adding print-on-demand products or confirming bank accounts. Addressing these issues through customer support can take a long time.
• Platform Dependence and Data Limitations: Relying solely on Etsy means sellers do not have full control over their business and are at risk from platform changes or policies. Sellers also have limited access to customer data, which can hinder marketing efforts and prevent building a loyal customer base directly.

Types of Etsy Alternatives

The Etsy alternatives are divided into two main types: online marketplaces and standalone online stores (built using eCommerce platforms or website builders).

• Online Marketplaces: These platforms provide a ready-made audience but often come with fees, high competition, and limitations on customization. Examples include eBay, Walmart, Storenvy, Amazon Handmade, Bonanza, Redbubble, Depop, Creative Market, Big Cartel, Faire, Instagram, Ecrater, Folksy, Artful Home, Facebook Marketplace, Asos Marketplace, Pinterest Shopping, Mercari, Poshmark, and iCraftgifts.
• Standalone Online Stores: These platforms allow sellers to create their own website, offering complete control over branding, products, pricing, and customer experience. While requiring more initial effort, they can offer higher profit margins and the ability to build a loyal customer base. Examples include WooCommerce, Shopify, BigCommerce, Wix, Squarespace, Easy Digital Downloads (EDD), Sellfy, Gumroad, Fourthwall, SendOwl, Teachable, and IndieMade.

Specific Etsy Alternatives

Here are some of the alternatives in more detail:

Marketplace Alternatives:

eBay

One of the oldest online marketplaces, known for auctions and a wide variety of products. Buyers look for good deals. Setting up a regular store requires a paid plan starting at $7.95 per month. Fees include insertion fees ($0.35 per listing, can decrease) and final value fees (typically 12.9% to 15%). Customization options are limited compared to standalone stores. eBay is suitable depending on sales volume and allows dropshipping integration with Printify. It has consolidated traffic but also high competition and complex policies. eBay is a good option for selling vintage items.

Walmart

A large US retailer offering access to a massive market. Sellers must pass a complex business verification, provide a business tax ID, and have a proven eCommerce history. Walmart doesn’t require subscriptions or listing fees. Transaction fees are replaced by referral fees, typically 15% for most products. It offers high trust among customers and a developed structure but has a demanding admission process, huge competition, and no standalone store option.

Storenvy

Focuses on Indie brands, handmade products, and younger demographics, described as a hybrid marketplace and eCommerce platform. Sellers can set up a free store or a social marketplace store. Offers good customization options with themes, fonts, colors, etc.. There’s a free plan (up to 20 products) and paid plans starting at $9.99 per month (up to 100 products). Storenvy charges a 15% commission on marketplace sales. Pros include less saturation than some larger marketplaces, but cons include a limited audience and high selling commission. You can build your own website with no additional costs.

Amazon Handmade

A curated marketplace within Amazon focusing on handcrafted goods. Provides access to Amazon’s vast customer base and global reach. Sellers need an Amazon Professional selling account ($39.99/month, waived after approval for handmade-only sellers). There are no listing fees, but Amazon charges a 15% referral fee per transaction. It offers fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) services, handling production and shipping for eligible items. Pros include selling on the largest marketplace, fulfillment services, and listings that don’t expire. Cons include hefty competition, a long application process, strict rules, and high fees. Amazon Handmade is often considered Etsy’s biggest competitor due to its focus on handmade items and Amazon’s large customer base.

Bonanza

Allows selling for free with lower transaction fees compared to Etsy. Charges $0.50 + 3.5% of the item price in advertising fees for marketplace sales, with no listing fees. It looks similar to eBay but focuses on unique items. Buyers are accustomed to negotiating prices. Offers marketing tools and analytics in the free plan. Allows building a standalone store, though tools are limited. Offers expanded reach through Google Shopping and eBay integration. Bonanza is known for having lower fees than Etsy (3.5% commission).

Redbubble

A print-on-demand platform where you can sell designs on various products without managing inventory. Redbubble handles production and shipping. It’s a strong option for designers and artists. Fees involve Redbubble taking a percentage of each sale, with no upfront costs. It offers global reach and a variety of products. Pros include no inventory needed and hassle-free fulfillment. Cons can include account suspensions without explanation and limited customer support. For print-on-demand products, Redbubble is often considered better than Etsy because it handles fulfillment.

Big Cartel

Designed for independent artists and small businesses, often seen as an affordable alternative. Offers a free plan for up to five products and paid plans starting at $12 per month with no transaction fees. It’s simple to set up and manage, with customizable branding. Ideal for emerging artists and small-scale sellers prioritizing simplicity and affordability. It has a distinct artistic appeal. While user-friendly, it may lack built-in marketing tools compared to some other platforms.

Depop

Popular platform for selling fashion, accessories, and vintage items, particularly appealing to a younger audience. Has a social media-like interface. Depop charges a payment processing fee of 3.3% + $0.45. Also charges 20% commission on sales. Ideal for sellers of vintage fashion and unique apparel seeking a social shopping experience.

Creative Market

Marketplace for designers, illustrators, photographers, and other creatives to sell digital assets like fonts, templates, graphics, and photos. Focuses on digital products and has a creative community. Creative Market takes a 50% commission on each sale. Fees are 12% commission per sale, with no listing or subscription costs. Ideal for digital creators who want to sell assets in a marketplace setting.

Poshmark

Primarily focused on fashion and accessories, resembling a social media platform. Listing is free. For sales under $15, the fee is a flat $2.95. For sales above $15, the fee is 20%, and you keep 80%. Known for product authenticity verification.

Mercari

Allows sellers to list a wide variety of products. Charges buyers for items purchased instead of sellers (except for a $2 payout transfer fee). The simple interface makes listing easy. Described as notorious for scams, potentially making customers hesitant to buy expensive items, resulting in generally low prices.

iCraft

Claims to be “the place for everything handmade,” focusing solely on handmade items. Categories include jewelry, clothing, home decor, and artwork. You can start a store for $10 per month with unlimited products. iCraftgifts offers a free plan with no selling or listing fees, but has an outdated website design leading to lower traffic.

Standalone Store Alternatives:

WooCommerce

Started as a WordPress plugin but grew into a full eCommerce platform powering a significant portion of the global eCommerce market. It’s free but requires users to provide hosting and a domain name. Plugins and themes may have additional costs. Offers flexibility and scalability with extensive customization possibilities through themes and plugins. Benefits from a large network of payment gateways. It may have a steep learning curve and requires regular maintenance. WooCommerce is ideal for those wanting full ownership and control of their online store, suitable for selling both physical and digital products.

Easy Digital Downloads (EDD)

A powerful WordPress plugin tailored specifically for selling digital products like eBooks, software, and printables. The core plugin is free and allows selling unlimited digital products; paid plans unlock advanced features and remove payment processing fees. Requires WordPress hosting and a domain. Known for simplicity, efficiency, and speed. Offers features like a full shopping cart, secure payment gateways, reporting, and discount codes. EDD is recommended as the top choice for selling digital products due to its focus, user-friendliness, features, and cost-effectiveness, offering full control and eliminating fees.

Shopify

A popular hosted eCommerce platform known for its ease of use and all-in-one nature for beginners. Regular plans include features like a standalone store, custom domain, unlimited products, sales channels, discount codes, and abandoned cart recovery. Offers a drag-and-drop editor. Pricing is subscription-based, starting at $29 per month for regular plans, plus payment processing fees (unless using Shopify Payments, which has lower fees). Special plans like Shopify Starter ($5/month) and Lite ($9/month) allow embedding products but don’t offer a standalone store. Pros include complete eCommerce functions and ease of use. Cons include heavy dependence on third-party apps (which often charge extra fees) and potentially less control than WordPress-based solutions. Shopify is recommended as an all-in-one solution particularly suitable for beginners and those selling in-person and online.

BigCommerce

Competes directly with Shopify as a dedicated online store builder, targeting businesses of various sizes. Offers advanced eCommerce features from the start, including unlimited products, POS, sales channels (like Amazon and eBay), social media integration, and advanced reporting. Supports over 65 payment gateways. Pricing plans range from $29.95 to $299.95 per month (plus custom enterprise pricing). Offers free and premium themes but the theme library may be inconsistent. Pros include advanced features and scalability. Cons include mandatory plan upgrades based on sales volume and issues with the theme library. It’s a scalable platform with powerful features.

Wix

A website builder known for being user-friendly and intuitive. Offers several editors, including a drag-and-drop editor and an AI-driven editor. Wix Stores offer basic eCommerce functions for premium business plan subscribers. Business plans range from $34 to $64 per month. Marketing tools and advanced features may require additional subscriptions to Wix Ascend plans ($12 to $59 per month). Payment processors vary by country, with fewer options than some competitors. Pros include user-friendliness and being packed with resources. Cons include fewer payment options and requiring extra plans for advanced features. Wix is suitable for building your own site with a functional online store, especially for beginners not needing extensive customization. It integrates with multiple marketplaces for multichannel selling.

Squarespace

Popular website builder among creatives for building eCommerce sites with aesthetic templates. Every plan includes a custom domain and basic SEO tools. The eCommerce suite is available from the Business plan ($33/month). Basic Commerce ($36/month) removes Squarespace transaction fees (payment gateway fees still apply). Offers unlimited products and a drag-and-drop editor. Supports integrations, including Etsy inventory syncing. Payment processors are limited mainly to PayPal and Stripe. Transaction fees of 3% apply in the Business plan. Pros include user-friendliness and focus on visuals. Cons include limited eCommerce functions and integrations.

Sellfy

An all-in-one eCommerce solution allowing creators to build online stores or sell on existing websites. Supports digital, physical, subscription, and print-on-demand products. Offers customizable store themes, marketing tools, analytics, and integrations. Sellfy is free to set up and offers a 14-day free trial for paid plans. Pricing starts at $29 per month. Sellfy stands out for its ease of use, versatility, and transparent pricing with no transaction fees (payment processing fees may apply). Ideal for creators seeking an easy way to build a professional online store.

Gumroad

Simple platform specifically for selling digital products, also allows physical products. Free to use, but charges a flat 10% fee plus a transaction fee (e.g., 30¢) per sale. Offers features like memberships, subscriptions, and discount codes. Ideal for creators prioritizing simplicity over customization and control, especially for low-volume sellers. It’s a good option for quickly getting started. Gumroad no longer supports PayPal payouts, restricting users to bank transfers.

Fourthwall

An all-in-one eCommerce platform specifically for content creators (YouTubers, Twitch streamers, artists, etc.). Allows creators to launch their own website to design, source, and sell merch (including print-on-demand and handmade items), digital products, and memberships. There are no monthly fees, upfront costs, or contracts. For products from their catalog, you pay a flat fee and keep 100% of the profit; for self-shipped products, the fee is 0%; digital products have a 3% flat fee; memberships have a 5% flat fee. Standard credit card processing fees (2.9% + $0.30) apply for US-based transactions. Fourthwall handles payment processing and sales tax. They ship worldwide and offer customer support for catalog products. Offers extensive integrations with social media and streaming platforms. Ideal for creators wanting to build both their store and community.

Choosing the Right Alternative

When deciding on an Etsy alternative, sellers should consider factors such as their budget, the type of products they sell (digital, physical, handmade, vintage, print-on-demand), the level of control and customization they desire, their technical expertise, needed features (marketing tools, payment options), scalability requirements, target audience, and long-term business goals.

Exploring alternatives can help sellers diversify income streams, reduce dependence on a single platform, increase earnings, and build a stronger brand. While marketplaces offer access to existing audiences, building your own website provides greater control and branding opportunities.

Whichever route you take, Wisersell’s comprehensive ecosystem simplifies essential operations, including smooth inventory management with e-commerce integrations, easy shipping processes, and efficient order handling. Moreover, Wisersell offers free personalized consultancy to support you every step of the way, empowering you to scale your business confidently and effectively.