Etsy is a marketplace platform ideal for handmade and vintage sellers who want instant access to 88 million monthly buyers with minimal upfront costs, while Shopify is a standalone e-commerce platform designed for entrepreneurs building independent branded stores with full customization and higher profit margins.
Etsy vs Shopify — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Choose Etsy if you're selling handmade, vintage, or craft items and want immediate access to millions of buyers with zero upfront investment and minimal marketing burden. Choose Shopify if you're building a branded e-commerce business, plan to scale beyond $50,000 annually, want full control over customer experience, or sell products outside Etsy's niche categories.
Online marketplace platform for handmade, vintage, craft, and unique goods with built-in buyer audience of 88 million monthly visitors.
Leading standalone SaaS e-commerce platform powering 4.6M+ online stores globally.
Structured comparison data for Etsy vs Shopify with 167 attributes.
Base Monthly Subscription (Starter Plan)
Monthly Active Buyers (Marketplace Access)
Typical Seller Monthly Revenue Threshold
Profit Margin Retention (Example: $100 sale)
Etsy vs Shopify — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Etsy vs Shopify.
How much money can I make on Etsy vs Shopify?
On Etsy with $1,000 in sales, you'll pay ~$115-130 in fees (11.5-13%), netting $870-885. On Shopify with a $99/month plan, the same $1,000 generates $970+ in revenue after 3% payment processing. However, Etsy's 88 million buyers make reaching $1,000 much faster. Shopify becomes more profitable beyond $50,000 annual revenue due to lower per-transaction costs. For sellers planning $100K+ revenue, Shopify's profit advantage reaches $10,000-15,000 annually.
Can I move my Etsy shop to Shopify later?
Yes, but with caveats. You'll need to migrate product data manually (or use migration tools costing $200-500), rebuild your customer base (Etsy customers rarely follow to external sites), and restructure your SEO. Etsy shops rank within Etsy's search; Shopify requires external marketing. Estimate 2-4 months to recover sales volume. This is why Shopify is better long-term if you plan to scale significantly.
Which platform is better for beginners with zero marketing skills?
Etsy is overwhelmingly better for beginners. 73% of Etsy sellers report zero prior e-commerce experience, compared to 12% for Shopify. Etsy's 88 million buyers eliminate the need for marketing, pricing strategy, or customer acquisition—your challenge is just making products and uploading listings. Shopify requires you to understand Facebook/Google ads, SEO, email marketing, and customer psychology. Budget $500-2,000 monthly for marketing on Shopify or plan for 6-12 months to see meaningful sales.
What happens to my Etsy shop if I violate policies?
Etsy suspends 1.2% of active sellers annually for policy violations (policy breaches, IP violations, or repeated customer complaints). Once suspended, recovery is difficult; reinstatement requires appeal and typically takes 30+ days. Shopify's enforcement is less aggressive but exists. For risk-averse sellers, Etsy's clear policies are reassuring; for high-volume sellers, Shopify's independence eliminates platform risk.
Which platform has better customer support?
Shopify offers 24/7 email/phone/chat support (response time <2 hours) included in all plans. Etsy provides email support with 24-48 hour response times on paid plans, but live chat is limited. Shopify's support is superior for technical issues. However, Etsy's community forums (50,000+ active sellers) provide peer support unavailable on Shopify. For hands-on guidance, Shopify wins; for seller community, Etsy wins.