Top 9 Etsy Alternatives for Sellers: Unlock More Freedom and Lower Fees!

Selling on Etsy often means adhering to someone else’s guidelines.

With increasing fees, stringent policies, and limited control over your online store, many sellers eventually seek greater freedom and better opportunities to grow their businesses on their own terms.

The reality is that you don’t have to remain confined to a marketplace that restricts your brand. There are robust alternatives that empower you to regain control, lower expenses, and establish a store that truly reflects your vision.

We have dedicated years to assisting creators and small business owners in achieving this goal — from launching their own shops using WooCommerce to selling digital products through Easy Digital Downloads. Throughout this journey, we have tested and collaborated with numerous platforms tailored for independent sellers.

In this guide, we will present the top Etsy alternatives that enable you to retain more of your earnings, connect directly with your customers, and cultivate a business that evolves alongside you.

Overview of the Best Etsy Alternatives for Sellers

Short on time? Here’s a quick summary of the best Etsy alternatives for sellers.

Reasons to Consider Alternatives to Etsy

Since its inception in 2005, Etsy has become a favored marketplace for artisans and collectors to sell their unique, handmade, or vintage products. The platform supports a diverse array of items, including home decor, collectibles, furniture, apparel, seasonal goods, crafts, and much more.

However, many Etsy sellers have begun to notice a surge of mass-produced items that do not fit the handmade ethos. This trend is just the beginning.

Additionally, in 2022, Etsy increased its seller transaction fees from 5% to 6.5%, further squeezing the already slim profit margins for vendors. This change sparked significant discontent among Etsy sellers, leading some to participate in strikes.

In addition to facing intense competition and rising fees, you may also wish to have full control over your customer data. Relying on a third-party marketplace limits your ability to manage your business effectively.

Etsy can only support your eCommerce ambitions to a certain extent. The platform offers limited customization options and a restrictive store layout.In contrast, other platforms provide the flexibility to personalize your store’s theme, design, and color scheme. Some even allow you to incorporate your own upsells and cross-sells.ls.

One of the greatest advantages of choosing alternatives to Etsy is that you retain ownership of your customer data. This allows you to communicate directly with your customers through emails, keeping them informed about new products, product categories, store discounts, and other important updates.

Our Approach to Evaluating Etsy Alternatives

To provide our readers with trustworthy recommendations, we created demo online stores on various popular Etsy alternatives. Our evaluation focused on several key criteria:

• User-Friendliness: We examined how easy it is to navigate each platform, set up an online store, and manage inventory, paying particular attention to its suitability for beginners.
• Customization Features: We assessed the level of customization each platform allows for store design and branding.
• Fee Structure: We analyzed the fee structures of each platform, including listing fees, commission rates, and transaction fees, ensuring that each option offers good value for your investment.
• Growth Potential: We evaluated how well each platform can accommodate your business’s growth, including support for multiple products, increased traffic, and expanding product lines.
• User Reviews:We gathered feedback from users to understand their experiences with the platform and identify any common challenges.
• Dependability: We personally utilized each platform to create stores, list products, and handle transactions, ensuring their dependability.
• Customer Support:We assessed the quality and accessibility of customer support by testing response times and evaluating the helpfulness of the support teams.

Now, let’s explore the top Etsy alternatives available online.

1. WooCommerce

WooCommerce is the ideal eCommerce platform for creators looking to transition from Etsy and expand their businesses. Integrated with WordPress, it provides complete control over your online store, allowing for extensive customization and the use of plugins to enhance functionality.

We have extensive experience with WooCommerce, assisting our readers and clients in establishing successful online stores, and we highly recommend it. For more details, check out our comprehensive WooCommerce review.

WooCommerce is our top recommendation due to its user-friendly setup and straightforward store management features. Additionally, transferring your shop from Etsy to WooCommerce is a smooth process, thanks to its intuitive product editor for adding new items.

One of the standout features of WooCommerce is its comprehensive suite of resources and tools that enable you to tailor your online store to reflect your brand. In contrast, Etsy makes it challenging to differentiate yourself from competitors.

If your store resembles others, customers may perceive your unique products as just another commodity. However, WooCommerce allows you to showcase your individuality.

With WordPress’ built-in tools, including the block editor and full site editor, you can effortlessly create your ideal eCommerce website.You can also utilize a user-friendly page builder like SeedProd to enhance your site’s design..

We appreciate the flexibility to select your preferred payment gateways, create engaging pop-up campaigns to retain visitors, enhance SEO for better traffic, implement one-click upsells, and much more.

Here’s an example of a website fully developed using WooCommerce.

Notice the sleek design and the strategically placed buttons that simplify the process of adding items to the cart.

We also value how WooCommerce centralizes everything in one location, allowing you to manage your business without switching between different platforms. Everything can be handled directly from your WordPress dashboard.

Using WordPress with WooCommerce enables you to easily run a companion blog, edit website content, and manage orders, all without needing to switch screens. This reduces confusion and minimizes subscription costs.

You might also want to explore our curated list of the best WooCommerce plugins to enhance your store.

Advantages of WooCommerce:

• Complete control over your store and customer information.
• No monthly fees, just the cost of hosting.
• Lower transaction fees compared to Etsy, approximately 2.9% versus 6.5%.
• Endless customization possibilities with thousands of themes available.
• Integrated SEO tools to help attract organic traffic.
• A vast selection of plugins for every feature you require
• Capable of managing unlimited products and accommodating traffic growth
• Complete control over customer interactions and marketing strategies

Drawbacks of WooCommerce:

• You are responsible for maintaining security and backups

Reasons to choose WooCommerce:If you aim to build an Etsy-like store using WordPress, WooCommerce is your best option. By selecting WooCommerce, you retain all your profits, meaning Etsy won’t take a percentage that reduces your earnings.

Additionally, the Woo Marketplace provides a wide array of plugins, allowing you to incorporate any features you desire into your store. This makes WooCommerce extremely scalable and customizable.

2. Easy Digital Downloads

Easy Digital Downloads (EDD) is the top choice for those selling digital products such as artwork, planners, Canva templates, and other downloadable goods.

Many of our partner brands utilize EDD to sell popular plugins like WPForms and Duplicator, appreciating its seamless transaction processing and straightforward store management.

We have also published a comprehensive review of Easy Digital Downloads that details its features and pricing options.

Easy Digital Downloads (EDD) is a user-friendly plugin that integrates seamlessly with the WordPress dashboard, allowing you to manage everything from a single platform for added convenience.

While EDD may not be the first option that comes to mind, it is a great choice for selling digital downloads, especially as Etsy has gained popularity in this area. EDD enables graphic designers and artists to sell their creations without the expenses associated with printing, packaging, and shipping.

Additionally, using EDD helps you avoid the high transaction fees that Etsy imposes on sellers.

Our testing revealed that creating and customizing product pages with Easy Digital Downloads is a straightforward process. Once customers complete their purchase, they can instantly access their downloads directly from your website or via email.

For example, here’s a sample product page showcasing a digital download created with EDD.

One of the standout features of EDD is the ability to fully customize the checkout experience. You can enable users to create accounts for quicker checkouts, offer various payment options including subscriptions, provide discount codes, and much more.

Additionally, Easy Digital Downloads (EDD) offers a diverse range of extensions. For example, you can integrate the plugin with an email marketing service to consistently send customers new promotions, reminders, and more.

If you’re considering using EDD, be sure to check out our comprehensive guide on selling digital downloads through WordPress.

Advantages of Easy Digital Downloads:

• Designed specifically for digital products, eliminating physical shipping concerns.
• Lower transaction fees compared to Etsy, approximately 2.9% versus 6.5%.
• Complete ownership of customer data and relationships.
• Integrated software licensing and update management for digital products.
• Flexible pricing options, including subscriptions and product bundles.
• In-depth sales reporting and access to customer purchase history.

Disadvantages of Easy Digital Downloads:

• Limited built-in marketing reach compared to Etsy’s extensive marketplace.
• Advanced features are not included in the free plan.

Reasons to choose Easy Digital Downloads:We recommend EDD as the preferred solution for selling downloadable products. This plugin provides instant access to products for users, and since everything operates within WordPress, there’s no need to switch to a different eCommerce platform.

3. Shopify

Shopify is a leading eCommerce platform that supports over 2 million sellers across more than 170 countries. While it may not be our top recommendation, it serves as an excellent alternative to Etsy for those seeking a straightforward, all-in-one solution, especially beginners who prefer minimal customization.

We believe the standout feature of Shopify is its user-friendly, plug-and-play experience. Everything you need is conveniently available within the Shopify ecosystem.

The platform provides easy access to hosting, domain registration, payment processing, website building tools, marketing resources, order tracking, and much more, all in one place.

Additionally, we were highly impressed by its seller dashboard, which offers extensive reporting and analytics. You can track your recent sales and compare them to previous periods.

Shopify includes a built-in discount tool that allows you to create automatic discount triggers based on specific products, links, or seasonal promotions without any coding required.

This tool also enables you to set various discount types, including percentage off, fixed amount off, or ‘buy X, get Y’ offers.

You can also access other important metrics, such as your store’s average order value, evaluate the performance of your sales channels, and analyze your visitor traffic sources.

Advantages of Shopify:

• User-friendly platform that requires no technical skills to get started
• Sleek, professional themes that enhance the appearance of your store
• Integrated payment processing with a variety of payment methods
• Comprehensive app marketplace for expanding your store’s features
• Generally lower overall fees compared to Etsy for most sellers
• Outstanding mobile responsiveness across all available themes
• Round-the-clock customer support for assistance anytime

Drawbacks of Shopify:

• Additional transaction fees on top of payment processing charges
• Limited customization options compared to WordPress platforms

Reasons to choose Shopify:Shopify is a reliable and well-established name in the eCommerce sector, making it a safe choice. It offers an all-in-one, user-friendly platform equipped with all the necessary marketing and selling tools to grow your online business.

4. eBay

For those interested in auctioning their products, eBay serves as an excellent alternative to Etsy. It provides all the advantages of an eCommerce marketplace while offering greater profit opportunities.

eBay is particularly attractive for sellers of rare or collectible items, as many users specifically search for these unique products.

Although you can’t fully customize your storefront like you can with WooCommerce or Shopify, you benefit from Etsy’s large existing audience of over 134 million active buyers. The platform has a significant global reach, second only to Amazon.

eBay’s standout feature is its auction system, making it an excellent choice for selling unique items. These limited-quantity products tend to attract higher demand.

You can utilize auctions to secure the highest bidder for your items. Additionally, incorporating a countdown timer can create urgency, helping you sell your products more effectively.

eBay provides protection for both buyers and sellers, which helps to prevent scams. This support means the platform can assist in resolving any issues that may arise between you and your buyers, giving them confidence to shop knowing they are covered by eBay’s protection policies.

Advantages of eBay:

• Access to a vast global marketplace with over 180 million active buyers
• Ideal for selling collectibles, vintage items, and rare products
• Integrated international shipping options
• Comprehensive seller analytics and optimization tools
• The Best Offer feature enhances conversion rates
• Robust buyer protection fosters trust

Drawbacks of eBay:

• eBay’s interface can be cumbersome
• The fee structure may be complicated at first glance
• Not ideal for sellers with consistent product offerings

Reasons to consider eBay:eBay serves as an excellent alternative to Etsy, particularly for those selling collectibles or rare items. While Etsy excels in handmade products, eBay’s auction feature and built-in SEO capabilities can significantly increase visibility and sales for your listings.

5. Wix

Wix is a user-friendly website builder tailored for beginners. If you prefer a straightforward setup without extensive customization, it’s an excellent option for your online store.

Wix also integrates effortlessly with platforms like eBay, Amazon, and Etsy, making it perfect for those looking to broaden their reach across multiple marketplaces.

One of the standout features of Wix is its intuitive drag-and-drop editor. Our research revealed that it offers over 900 stunning templates suitable for various business types, from e-commerce sites to vibrant portfolios.

Additionally, Wix is designed with performance in mind, which is crucial for enhancing your SEO. A fast website is a key factor in improving search engine rankings.

Wix ensures fast loading times for all web pages through its globally distributed CDN and data centers.

We appreciate that all Wix websites are optimized for core web vitals, ensuring excellent speed. Additionally, they offer multi-cloud hosting services to prevent site crashes, guaranteeing that your customers can place orders without interruptions.

Wix seamlessly integrates with various online marketplaces, including eBay, Amazon, Etsy, and more. This allows you to engage in multichannel selling, reaching new audiences and increasing your sales potential.

Advantages of using Wix:

• Sell across multiple channels including Facebook, Instagram, Amazon, and Google
• No transaction fees apart from payment processing costs
• Built-in SEO tools to enhance your search engine visibility
• Responsive designs that look great on all devices
• Integrated email marketing and social media management tools
• 24/7 customer support available for assistance
• Access to an app market for enhanced functionality

Disadvantages of using Wix:

• Fewer advanced eCommerce features compared to specialized platforms
• Can become costly when using premium applications

Reasons to choose Wix:Wix may not match WordPress in features, but it remains an excellent choice for beginners. Its integration with various online marketplaces allows you to effortlessly upload products to platforms like Etsy or eBay, helping you grow your business with ease.

6. Amazon Handmade

Amazon Handmade is perhaps the most significant competitor to Etsy. It serves as a fantastic alternative for those seeking a wide audience, lower seller fees, and fulfillment options.

The fulfillment program is particularly attractive if shipping management has been a barrier to increasing your sales.

Our research revealed that Amazon Handmade is a dedicated section of the marketplace for artisans, focusing exclusively on handmade products. Here, you can offer personalized items instead of mass-produced goods.

The advantage of Amazon Handmade lies in its connection to the world’s largest online retailer, which attracts over 2.7 billion visits each month. This vast potential audience could even extend globally.

In our view, the lower seller fees represent an even greater benefit. There are no listing fees, allowing you to maximize your profits. In fact, 33% of sellers on Amazon Handmade enjoy profit margins exceeding 20%.

Additionally, you can utilize the Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) service. This allows you to send your products in bulk to Amazon’s warehouses, where they take care of all aspects of shipping, packing, and labeling for you. With free 2-day shipping for Prime members, you can provide an excellent customer experience from the start.

Advantages of Amazon Handmade:

• Gain access to Amazon’s extensive customer base, consisting of millions of active shoppers.
• Enjoy lower seller fees compared to those on Etsy.
• Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) manages storage, packing, and shipping for you.
• Benefit from the built-in customer trust associated with Amazon’s strong reputation.
• Leverage powerful search and recommendation algorithms that help drive traffic to your products.
• No monthly subscription fees for individual sellers, making it cost-effective.
• Reach an international marketplace across multiple countries.

Disadvantages of Amazon Handmade:

• The application process is strict, and not all sellers are approved.
• There are limited opportunities for customization and branding.
• Face high competition from other handmade sellers in the marketplace.

Reasons to consider Amazon Handmade:If you’re dissatisfied with the Etsy platform, transitioning to Amazon Handmade is a straightforward option. It directly competes with Etsy and provides similar features, but with lower fees and a more efficient fulfillment process.

7. Big Cartel

Big Cartel is an eCommerce platform tailored for creative and artistic sellers. With over 83,000 online stores powered by its services, Big Cartel offers an affordable and customizable solution.

One of the standout features of Big Cartel is its user-friendly interface. You don’t need extensive website building experience to get started.

Our research revealed that Big Cartel provides a range of free templates, allowing you to avoid starting from scratch. The pre-designed website themes cater to various niches, including artists, creatives, bloggers, photographers, and more.

What sets Big Cartel apart is its offering of live classes designed to help you establish the basics. This ensures you won’t be left struggling to figure things out on your own.

An instructor guides you through each step in recorded sessions, teaching you how to set everything up, including adding products, creating discounts, and packaging your items.

Advantages of using Big Cartel:

• Tailored specifically for artists and creative professionals
• No transaction fees—only payment processing charges apply
• Easy setup process that delivers professional results
• Sleek, modern themes that beautifully highlight creative work
• Outstanding mobile responsiveness
• Cost-effective subscription plans for expanding businesses
• Integrated inventory management and order tracking

Drawbacks of Big Cartel:

• Limited advanced features compared to larger platforms
• Less customization flexibility compared to WordPress options
• Smaller customer support team
• Not ideal for high-volume sellers

Reasons to choose Big Cartel:Big Cartel provides essential tools to help you succeed. Its user-friendly interface is perfect for artists who prefer to focus on their craft. Additionally, it offers a free plan, making it a great option for those on a budget.

8. Redbubble

Redbubble is an excellent alternative to Etsy, especially for those focused on print-on-demand products. Similar to Amazon Handmade, it also manages the fulfillment process for you.

Print-on-demand products typically feature designs printed on items like t-shirts, mugs, socks, hats, and more. While they are often mass-produced, they still cater to specific niche markets.

If your Etsy products are in the print-on-demand category, Redbubble is a fantastic option. It offers a diverse range of over 70 product types, including wall art, gifts, clothing, and more.

Redbubble attracts a substantial audience, boasting over 40 million visitors each month.

The platform allows you to upload your unique designs, which are then listed for sale in your selected product categories. If you prefer not to engage in brand promotion or advertising, you can simply enhance your listings on Redbubble and see your sales grow.

We value that Redbubble takes care of printing, packing, and shipping all orders directly to customers, freeing you from the logistics of fulfillment.

Advantages of using Redbubble:

• No upfront costs or need to invest in inventory
• Fully automated fulfillment – no need for printing, packing, or shipping
• A vast global audience actively seeking unique designs
• A diverse range of products available for your designs
• Automatic handling of international shipping and currency conversion

Disadvantages of Redbubble:

• Profit margins are lower compared to direct sales
• Limited control over customer relationships and data
• Restrictions on customizing how your products are presented

Reasons to choose Redbubble:If you’re looking to sell custom t-shirts, mugs, or any products featuring your designs, Redbubble is the ideal platform. Simply upload your artwork, optimize your listing, and you’re ready to go! It’s a straightforward process with minimal effort required.

9. BigCommerce

BigCommerce serves as an excellent alternative to Etsy, offering a fully hosted eCommerce website builder that caters to both beginners and experienced users. It comes equipped with essential features for a quick setup and delivers high-performance capabilities to help expand your online store.

One of the advantages of BigCommerce is its extensive selection of premium themes, along with a user-friendly page builder that allows you to customize your store’s design to your liking. During our evaluation, we discovered that it includes plug-and-play widgets, enabling you to easily incorporate social media links, customer testimonials, upsell buttons, countdown timers, and more.

A standout design feature is the swatch option, which lets users hover over product images for instant zoomed-in views. This enhances the shopping experience by allowing customers to examine products closely without needing to navigate to the product page.

Additionally, BigCommerce offers robust checkout features designed to improve conversion rates. For instance, you can set up customer logins, add progress indicators, and display all available shipping options.

During our research, we found that BigCommerce includes a built-in abandoned cart recovery system. This feature enables you to automatically send emails to customers who leave your store without finalizing their purchases.

Advantages of BigCommerce:

• No transaction fees on most plans, unlike Etsy’s 6.5% fee.
• Includes advanced features such as abandoned cart recovery and customer segmentation.
• Robust built-in SEO capabilities to enhance organic traffic.
• Supports multi-channel selling on platforms like Amazon, eBay, Facebook, and Google.
• Offers professional themes that are mobile-responsive.

Disadvantages of BigCommerce:

• Has a steeper learning curve compared to more straightforward platforms.
• Customizing themes requires a higher level of technical expertise.

Reasons to choose BigCommerce:BigCommerce serves as a strong alternative to Etsy. It shares similarities with WooCommerce and Shopify, giving you complete control over your online store’s appearance and the ability to customize the entire shopping experience. However, it may not offer as many apps and advanced SEO features as WooCommerce and Shopify.

What is the top alternative to Etsy?

In our expert opinion, WooCommerce stands out as the top alternative to Etsy for selling physical products due to its user-friendly interface, extensive customization options, and exceptional scalability.

For those focused on selling digital goods, Easy Digital Downloads is the ideal choice. This platform is tailored specifically for digital products and includes all the essential features.

We also suggest eBay for selling collectibles and unique items that may fetch higher prices through auction.

Redbubble is another excellent option for those interested in print-on-demand products, as it handles printing, packaging, and shipping directly to customers.

Common Questions About Etsy Alternatives

Here are some of the most commonly asked questions regarding alternatives to Etsy.

What is the best alternative to Etsy?

There isn’t a single best answer, but we recommend WooCommerce for physical goods and Easy Digital Downloads for digital products.

How can you sell art without using Etsy?

Easy Digital Downloads enables you to sell custom printable art. When a customer makes a purchase, they will be directed to an order page where they can download the product directly. You can also email them a copy of the file.

If you’re looking to sell physical artwork, consider setting up an online store with WooCommerce.

Which platform is best for selling handmade products?

WooCommerce simplifies the process of selling handmade products by allowing you to create detailed product pages. You can personalize the design of your online store to reflect your brand identity. Additionally, you can integrate it with various software tools to enhance functionality, such as OptinMonster for pop-ups, SeedProd for thank-you pages, and FunnelKit for one-click upselling.

Related Resources: Alternatives to Etsy

We hope this article has helped you find the ideal Etsy alternative to start selling your handmade and custom products. You may also find these related resources helpful:

• Proven Strategies to Boost WooCommerce Sales
• Top Alternatives to Shopify (More Affordable and Feature-Rich)
• Step-by-Step Guide to Creating an Etsy-Like Store with WordPress
• How to Build an Online Marketplace Using WordPress
• Lucrative Ecommerce Business Ideas for WordPress (Expert Recommendations)
• Top Alternatives to Wix (More Robust and Dependable)
• Guide to Creating a Multi-Vendor Ecommerce Website with WordPress

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