{"id":19208,"date":"2026-10-04T15:25:14","date_gmt":"2026-10-04T15:25:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/zonhack.com\/etsy-alternatives-for-sellers\/"},"modified":"2026-10-04T15:26:33","modified_gmt":"2026-10-04T15:26:33","slug":"etsy-alternatives-for-sellers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/zonhack.com\/zh\/etsy-alternatives-for-sellers\/","title":{"rendered":"Etsy Alternatives for Sellers: 8 Platforms Compared by Fees"},"content":{"rendered":"

The best Etsy alternatives for sellers<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Etsy’s fees, as the baseline<\/h2>\n

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<\/a> walks through every line.<\/p>\n

The alternatives compared<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Platform<\/th>\nBest for<\/th>\nMain seller fees (US unless noted)<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Amazon Handmade<\/td>\nMakers who want Amazon’s traffic<\/td>\n15% referral fee (minimum $0.30); monthly Professional fee waived after the first month<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
eBay<\/td>\nVintage, collectibles, supplies<\/td>\n13.6% final value fee in most categories, plus $0.30 or $0.40 per order; 250 free listings a month<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mercari<\/td>\nSecondhand and casual sellers<\/td>\n10% selling fee; no payment processing fee since January 2025<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Depop<\/td>\nFashion and vintage clothing<\/td>\nNo US selling fee since July 2024; payment processing applies<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Faire<\/td>\nSelling wholesale to independent shops<\/td>\n15% commission plus a one-time $10 fee per new retailer; 0% on Faire Direct orders<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Folksy (UK)<\/td>\nUK craft sellers<\/td>\n15p + VAT per listing and 6% + VAT commission on the Basic plan<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Shopify<\/td>\nYour own branded store<\/td>\nFrom $25 a month (Basic, billed monthly), plus card processing<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Big Cartel<\/td>\nSmall artist shops<\/td>\nFree for up to 5 products; paid plans from $15 a month<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

A $35 sale, side by side<\/h2>\n

Illustrative, assuming free shipping, a single item, and no ads:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Platform<\/th>\nFees on a $35 sale<\/th>\nShare of the sale<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Etsy (no Offsite Ad)<\/td>\n$0.20 + $2.28 + $1.30 = $3.78<\/td>\nAbout 10.8%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Etsy (sale from an Offsite Ad)<\/td>\n$3.78 + $5.25 = $9.03<\/td>\nAbout 25.8%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Amazon Handmade<\/td>\n$5.25<\/td>\n15%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
eBay<\/td>\n$4.76 + $0.40 = $5.16<\/td>\nAbout 14.7%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mercari<\/td>\n$3.50<\/td>\n10%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

A closer look at each<\/h2>\n

Amazon Handmade.<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n

eBay.<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n

Mercari.<\/strong> A flat 10% and no processing fee make it simple. Honestly, it suits clearing secondhand stock more than building a brand.<\/p>\n

Depop.<\/strong> Strong with younger fashion buyers. US sellers pay no selling fee, though payment processing still applies; check Depop’s current rate before pricing.<\/p>\n

Faire.<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n

Folksy.<\/strong> A UK marketplace for handmade goods with low fees. Useful for UK makers; the audience is smaller than Etsy’s.<\/p>\n

Shopify and Big Cartel.<\/strong> 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<\/a> covers that choice.<\/p>\n

Which one should you pick?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
You are…<\/th>\nMy pick<\/th>\nWhy<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
A maker with steady Etsy sales<\/td>\nAdd Amazon Handmade<\/td>\nMore traffic, no monthly fee after month one<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
A vintage or collectibles seller<\/td>\nAdd eBay<\/td>\nBuyers search there, free listings<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Clearing secondhand items<\/td>\nMercari or Depop<\/td>\nSimple, low or no seller fees<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
A maker who can produce in volume<\/td>\nAdd Faire<\/td>\nWholesale orders from shops<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
A UK crafter<\/td>\nTry Folksy alongside Etsy<\/td>\nLow fees, local audience<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
A brand with a following<\/td>\nShopify<\/td>\nOwn the customer relationship<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Selling a handful of art prints<\/td>\nBig Cartel<\/td>\nFree tier fits a small catalog<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

How to run two channels without chaos<\/h2>\n