The best Etsy alternatives for sellers are Amazon Handmade for makers who want a bigger marketplace, eBay for vintage and collectibles, Mercari and Depop for secondhand and fashion, Faire for selling wholesale to shops, Folksy for UK crafters, and Shopify or Big Cartel for your own website. None of them is simply “cheaper Etsy”. Each trades fees against traffic, and the right one depends on what you sell and who already buys it.
My view, up front: most sellers should add a second channel rather than leave Etsy. I’ll show the fees on each platform, a $35 sale worked through, and my verdict by seller type.
Etsy’s fees, as the baseline
Etsy charges $0.20 per listing, a 6.5% transaction fee on the order total including shipping, and US payment processing of about 3% plus $0.25. Offsite Ads add 15% on sales they generate (12% for shops above $10,000 in yearly sales, and those shops cannot opt out). Our breakdown of how much Etsy takes from sellers walks through every line.
The alternatives compared
| Platform | Best for | Main seller fees (US unless noted) |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon Handmade | Makers who want Amazon’s traffic | 15% referral fee (minimum $0.30); monthly Professional fee waived after the first month |
| eBay | Vintage, collectibles, supplies | 13.6% final value fee in most categories, plus $0.30 or $0.40 per order; 250 free listings a month |
| Mercari | Secondhand and casual sellers | 10% selling fee; no payment processing fee since January 2025 |
| Depop | Fashion and vintage clothing | No US selling fee since July 2024; payment processing applies |
| Faire | Selling wholesale to independent shops | 15% commission plus a one-time $10 fee per new retailer; 0% on Faire Direct orders |
| Folksy (UK) | UK craft sellers | 15p + VAT per listing and 6% + VAT commission on the Basic plan |
| Shopify | Your own branded store | From $25 a month (Basic, billed monthly), plus card processing |
| Big Cartel | Small artist shops | Free for up to 5 products; paid plans from $15 a month |
A $35 sale, side by side
Illustrative, assuming free shipping, a single item, and no ads:
| Platform | Fees on a $35 sale | Share of the sale |
|---|---|---|
| Etsy (no Offsite Ad) | $0.20 + $2.28 + $1.30 = $3.78 | About 10.8% |
| Etsy (sale from an Offsite Ad) | $3.78 + $5.25 = $9.03 | About 25.8% |
| Amazon Handmade | $5.25 | 15% |
| eBay | $4.76 + $0.40 = $5.16 | About 14.7% |
| Mercari | $3.50 | 10% |
Two things stand out to me. Etsy is not expensive on an ordinary sale; Offsite Ads are what push it up. And Amazon Handmade costs more per sale but puts you in front of far more shoppers, which is the real trade.
Depop, Faire, Shopify and Big Cartel do not fit a per-sale comparison: Depop shifts most costs to buyers, Faire is wholesale pricing, and the website builders charge a monthly fee plus card processing.
A closer look at each
Amazon Handmade. You apply, and Amazon approves makers and collaborative groups whose items are handcrafted, hand-altered, hand-designed, repurposed or upcycled. Once in, the monthly Professional selling fee is waived (you pay $39.99 for the first month only). In my view this is the strongest alternative for a maker with proven products, because the audience is enormous. When you list there, expect Amazon-style competition on price and reviews.
eBay. Good for vintage, collectibles and craft supplies, where buyers already search. The 250 free listings a month suit sellers with many one-off items. When you sell one-of-a-kind pieces, I’d look here first.
Mercari. A flat 10% and no processing fee make it simple. Honestly, it suits clearing secondhand stock more than building a brand.
Depop. Strong with younger fashion buyers. US sellers pay no selling fee, though payment processing still applies; check Depop’s current rate before pricing.
Faire. A different model: you sell wholesale to boutiques and gift shops. It suits makers who can produce in volume at wholesale prices. Don’t price it like retail: wholesale prices are often set around half of retail, and your margin must survive that plus commission. Retailers you bring yourself through Faire Direct cost 0% commission.
Folksy. A UK marketplace for handmade goods with low fees. Useful for UK makers; the audience is smaller than Etsy’s.
Shopify and Big Cartel. Your own site, your own customers, no marketplace fee per sale. The catch: you must bring every visitor yourself. I’d only lean on one of these once you have an audience, whether social followers or repeat buyers. Our comparison of selling on Amazon or Shopify covers that choice.
Which one should you pick?
| You are… | My pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A maker with steady Etsy sales | Add Amazon Handmade | More traffic, no monthly fee after month one |
| A vintage or collectibles seller | Add eBay | Buyers search there, free listings |
| Clearing secondhand items | Mercari or Depop | Simple, low or no seller fees |
| A maker who can produce in volume | Add Faire | Wholesale orders from shops |
| A UK crafter | Try Folksy alongside Etsy | Low fees, local audience |
| A brand with a following | Shopify | Own the customer relationship |
| Selling a handful of art prints | Big Cartel | Free tier fits a small catalog |
How to run two channels without chaos
- Use one SKU system everywhere, so stock and bookkeeping line up; our guide to what SKU means on Etsy shows a simple scheme.
- Sync inventory before you sell the same one-off item twice. Crosslisting tools exist for exactly this.
- Price per channel. A 15% platform needs a different price from a 10% one. Most people forget this.
- Keep Etsy SEO working while you test elsewhere; our guide on what Etsy SEO is covers the basics.
Don’t move everything at once. In practice I’d test one alternative for two or three months, compare profit per order, then decide. My rule: keep whatever earns more per hour of your time.
If you want help, our Etsy store management team, eBay consultancy and Shopify store development services cover each channel.
FAQ
What is the best alternative to Etsy for sellers?
It depends on the product. Amazon Handmade suits makers who want more traffic, eBay suits vintage and collectibles, Mercari and Depop suit secondhand fashion, and Shopify suits brands with their own audience.
Is Amazon Handmade cheaper than Etsy?
Not per sale: Handmade charges a 15% referral fee, against roughly 10.8% on a typical Etsy sale without Offsite Ads. It waives the monthly selling fee after the first month, and its audience is much larger.
Which Etsy alternative has the lowest fees?
For US secondhand sellers, Depop charges no selling fee and Mercari charges a flat 10% with no processing fee. Faire Direct orders carry 0% commission, but that is wholesale.
Can I sell on Etsy and another platform at the same time?
Yes. Many sellers do. Keep inventory synced so a one-off item does not sell twice.
Is Shopify better than Etsy?
Different, not better. Shopify gives you your own store and customer data but no built-in shoppers. Etsy brings buyers but takes fees and controls the marketplace.
Is there an Etsy alternative in the UK?
Folksy is a UK marketplace for handmade goods, with a 6% + VAT commission and 15p + VAT listings on its Basic plan.
Last updated: October 4, 2026. Fees change often; check each platform’s fee page before you price. Sources: Amazon Handmade; eBay, selling fees; Mercari, selling fees; Depop, US selling fee removal; Faire, North America pricing update; Folksy, selling; Shopify, pricing; Big Cartel, pricing.
