Amazon is a massive general-purpose marketplace with 300+ million products, competitive pricing, and 2-day shipping via Prime, while Etsy specializes in handmade and vintage items with 90+ million unique listings focused on artisanal goods and niche products. Amazon dominates in speed and selection; Etsy dominates in unique, crafted items.
Amazon vs Etsy — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Global e-commerce giant offering fast shipping, fixed pricing, and Prime membership benefits across millions of products.
Specialized marketplace for 90+ million handmade, vintage, and artisanal products.
Product Focus. Total Active Listings. Average Shipping Time (Standard). Seller Verification Process. Platform Fees (Seller Commission). Return Policy. Customer Trust Rating
Choose Amazon if you prioritize fast shipping, competitive pricing on mainstream products, extensive selection, and buyer protection through consistent policies. Choose Etsy if you seek unique, handmade, or vintage items, want to support independent artisans directly, and are willing to accept longer shipping times for quality craftsmanship.
Amazon: 240+ Prime members + broader reach | Etsy: N/A
Amazon: 40% US e-commerce market share | Etsy: N/A
Amazon: $2.36 trillion (July 2026) | Etsy: N/A
Amazon: 15-25% (FBA included) | Etsy: N/A
Amazon: 220 million Prime members | Etsy: N/A
Amazon: 500+ Amazon Go/Fresh stores | Etsy: N/A
Amazon: Same-day to 1 day (Prime) | Etsy: N/A
Amazon: 240 million Prime members | Etsy: N/A
Amazon: Competitive on items under $50 | Etsy: N/A
Amazon: Multi-category general retailer | Etsy: N/A
Amazon: Basic category and keyword filters | Etsy: N/A
Amazon: Limited home furniture brands | Etsy: N/A
Amazon: 40% global e-commerce market share | Etsy: N/A
Amazon: $638B (e-commerce only) | Etsy: N/A
Amazon: All categories (diversified) | Etsy: Handmade, vintage, crafts only
Amazon: 5-20% on Subscribe & Save | Etsy: N/A
Amazon: 190+ countries and territories | Etsy: N/A
Amazon: Industry average ~40-45% | Etsy: N/A
Standard Non-Perishable Pet Delivery Time
Amazon: ~50,000-100,000 (estimated pet section) | Etsy: N/A
Amazon: 500+ million SKUs across all categories | Etsy: N/A
2025 Pet Supplies Market Position (GMV Rank)
Amazon: Not #1 in pet supplies | Etsy: N/A
Amazon: 30 days (standard Amazon) | Etsy: N/A
Amazon: Limited pet-specific subscriptions | Etsy: N/A
Specialty Pet Food Availability (Exotic/Medical Diets)
Amazon: Limited; depends on seller listings | Etsy: N/A
Amazon: $0 (pay per sale) | Etsy: Free (listing fees apply)
Amazon: 300+ active customers | Etsy: N/A
Amazon: 3-7 days (instant access) | Etsy: N/A
Amazon: 0% customer data; Amazon owns relationship | Etsy: N/A
Amazon: Varies by category and account tier | Etsy: N/A
Amazon: Strict vetting, A9 quality standards | Etsy: N/A
Amazon: $139/year (Prime) | Etsy: $20/year (Etsy Plus optional)
Amazon: 4.4/5 average seller rating | Etsy: 4.6/5 average seller rating
Amazon: 2.5 billion downloads | Etsy: 280 million downloads
Amazon: <2% handmade items | Etsy: 85%+ handmade/vintage
Amazon: 2 days (Prime) / 5-7 days (standard) | Etsy: N/A
Amazon: 150+ million customers | Etsy: N/A
Amazon: Proprietary (freemium model) | Etsy: N/A
Amazon: Not offered; external pharmacy required | Etsy: N/A
Amazon: 30-60 days (Prime) | Etsy: 14-30 days (varies)
Average Product Price Index (baseline=100)
Amazon: $139 (Prime basic tier) | Etsy: N/A
Amazon: 1-2 days (Prime members in metro areas) | Etsy: N/A
Average Price Difference on Beauty Products
Amazon: 10-25% discount below MSRP | Etsy: N/A
Amazon: Same-day or 1-day with Prime | Etsy: N/A
Amazon: Varies; typically 1-5% with Prime | Etsy: N/A
Amazon: $0 with Prime / $25 without | Etsy: N/A
Amazon: 180 days (A-to-Z Guarantee) | Etsy: N/A
Amazon: US-regulated, transparent data policies | Etsy: N/A
Prime Eligible Items with Two-Day Shipping
Free Shipping Threshold (Standard Members)
Amazon: $35 (with Prime; $100 without) | Etsy: N/A
Amazon: 500+ furniture brands available | Etsy: N/A
Average Beauty Product Price Comparison (Foundation)
Customer Review Average Rating (Beauty Products)
Amazon: 350+ million | Etsy: 90+ million
Amazon: 1-2 days (Prime) | Etsy: 3-7 days
Amazon: $139/year | Etsy: No membership required
Amazon: Up to 45% (varies by category) | Etsy: 9.5% total (6.5% + 3% payment)
Amazon: 30 days standard | Etsy: 14-30 days (seller-dependent)
Amazon: 91% trust Amazon (2024) | Etsy: 87% trust Etsy for handmade (2024)
Amazon: 65% third-party sellers (mostly resellers/aggregators) | Etsy: 98% small independent businesses
Amazon: 3,500 cities (Prime 2-hour) | Etsy: N/A
Amazon: ~600 (Whole Foods only) | Etsy: N/A
Amazon: 100+ metro areas (Prime) | Etsy: N/A
Amazon: ~50,000 pet products | Etsy: N/A
Amazon: 5-20% Subscribe & Save | Etsy: N/A
Amazon: 89% (J.D. Power 2024) | Etsy: N/A
Amazon: 12% (includes pet products) | Etsy: N/A
Amazon: 50,000+ pet listings | Etsy: N/A
Amazon: 1-2 days (Prime members) | Etsy: N/A
Amazon: 100-150% higher (standard retail markup) | Etsy: N/A
Amazon: 94% disputes resolved in buyer favor | Etsy: N/A
Amazon: 4.2/5 (verified reviews with photo proof) | Etsy: 4.6/5 stars for handmade category
Amazon: ~8-12% average return rate | Etsy: N/A
Amazon: 139/year or 14.99/month | Etsy: N/A
Amazon: Low (seller suspension policy enforced) | Etsy: N/A
Amazon: 0 stores (digital-only) | Etsy: N/A
Amazon: 40+ primary categories | Etsy: N/A
Amazon: N/A | Etsy: Artisans and creative entrepreneurs
Amazon: N/A | Etsy: Niche specialist leader
Base Monthly Subscription (Starter Plan)
Amazon: N/A | Etsy: Optimal below $1,350
Amazon: N/A | Etsy: Limited marketplace integrations
Monthly Active Buyers (Marketplace Access)
Amazon: N/A | Etsy: Handmade, vintage, craft
Amazon vs Etsy — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for Amazon vs Etsy. Contains 227 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
Amazon vs Etsy — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Amazon vs Etsy.
Amazon typically offers lower per-unit prices on mainstream products (15-25% cheaper) due to its scale and bulk discounts. However, Etsy's lower seller fees (9.5% vs 45%) mean handmade artisans can price competitively without markups. For unique or customized items, Etsy often has better value since you're buying directly from makers. For standard products (electronics, home goods), Amazon wins on price.
Which platform has better buyer protection?
Amazon provides stronger buyer protection via its A-to-Z Guarantee with full refunds on disputed orders, clear 30-day return windows, and immediate seller suspension for violations. Etsy's Purchase Protection covers up to $200 but relies more on seller compliance, which varies. Amazon is safer for high-value purchases; Etsy requires more due diligence on seller reputation.
Amazon has a Handmade section, but it's overshadowed by mass-produced items and often mixed with counterfeits. Etsy is purpose-built for handmade verification, with 90+ million curated listings. For authentic artisanal goods, Etsy is 85% more likely to deliver genuine handmade products versus Amazon's Handmade section.
Which platform is better for international shipping?
Amazon Prime covers fast shipping within the US and select countries but charges extra for international. Etsy sellers often quote shipping upfront (though slower, 2-4 weeks typical for international), and buyers can filter by seller location. Neither excels at international shipping; both have cost premiums of 40-60% above domestic rates.
Sell on Amazon if you have mass-produced inventory, bulk quantities, and want maximum reach (350+ million shoppers). Amazon requires more upfront investment (45% fees, inventory management, packaging). Sell on Etsy if you create handmade/vintage items with lower sell-through costs (9.5% fees). Etsy's audience specifically seeks unique, artisanal products; Amazon shoppers seek deals and convenience.
Product Focus: Amazon has General retail (electronics, clothing, home goods, etc.), while Etsy has Handmade, vintage, and craft supplies primarily.
Total Active Listings: Amazon has 350+ million products, while Etsy has 90+ million listings.
Consider: Average Shipping Time (Standard)
Average Shipping Time (Standard): Amazon has 1-2 days with Prime (membership required), while Etsy has 3-7 business days typical.
Seller Verification Process: Amazon has Moderate; allows third-party resellers, while Etsy has Strict; sellers must verify shop ownership and legitimacy.
Consider: Platform Fees (Seller Commission)
Platform Fees (Seller Commission): Amazon has Up to 45% depending on category, while Etsy has 6.5% transaction fee + 3% + $0.20 payment processing.
Return Policy: Amazon has 30 days standard; 90 days for Prime members on select items, while Etsy has Varies by seller; typically 14-30 days.
Customer Trust Rating: Amazon has 91% of shoppers trust Amazon (2024 survey), while Etsy has 87% of shoppers trust Etsy for authentic handmade goods (2024 survey).