For a lot of ecommerce newcomers, choosing the right market is a difficult determination. It’s no marvel—there are numerous facets to weigh out.
On this article, we’ll evaluate Etsy vs. Amazon, masking essential matters like charges, audiences, retailer customization choices, out there assist, and extra.
Let’s get into it!
Etsy vs. Amazon at a look
Each marketplaces provide sellers an enormous, trusted platform to promote {custom} merchandise and develop their ecommerce enterprise. However what are the important thing variations between the 2?
Briefly, Etsy vs. Amazon presents a alternative between a distinct segment, community-focused market, and an enormous, efficiency-driven market. Buyers come to every market with completely different intentions, so sellers should market the merchandise accordingly. Plus, the payment construction varies considerably throughout the 2 marketplaces.
Print-on-demand sellers should weigh these variations towards their enterprise targets, model id, and target market to decide on probably the most appropriate platform.
Now, let’s get right into a extra detailed comparability.
Etsy: What’s it, and who’s it greatest for?
Etsy is thought for handmade and classic items and artisanal merchandise that may’t be purchased elsewhere. Etsy consumers worth originality and craftsmanship. This market is good for small companies and artists.
Supply: Printful
When promoting on Etsy, you’re catering to a particular demographic, so you have to create designs and merchandise which might be out of the extraordinary to get loyal prospects.
Promoting on Etsy fits print-on-demand dropshipping companies specializing in distinctive, uncommon, or niche-specific designs.


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Amazon: What’s it, and who’s it greatest for?
Final yr, Amazon was the most well-liked on-line market worldwide. The huge on-line market is famend for its scale and accessibility and connects Amazon sellers with a worldwide viewers.
Supply: Statista
Promoting on Amazon allows you to profit from the platform’s huge attain and potential for high-volume gross sales, making it splendid for these seeking to rapidly scale up and broaden their buyer base.

Etsy vs. Amazon: An in-depth comparability
Now, let’s dive into the small print of the variations, so which market is one of the best on your on-line retailer. Under, you’ll be able to see a side-by-side comparability of each marketplaces.
Supply: Printful
Vendor charges
Understanding the promoting charges of Etsy and Amazon dropshipping is essential for setting the fitting product costs, making certain profitability, and successfully managing budgets. It guides strategic choices like platform choice, alignment with enterprise fashions, and aggressive pricing.
Etsy charges
Etsy is thought for its comparatively easy payment construction. Right here’s what it consists of:
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Itemizing charges: For every product you submit, Etsy fees a flat charge of $0.20
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Transaction charges: Set at 6.5% of the full order quantity, which incorporates each the price of the gadgets and the delivery prices
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Fee processing charges: A set charge + a % of the full transaction worth, depending on the country (within the US, this payment is 3% plus $0.25)
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Elective charges for promoting instruments: You should buy Offsite Ads or promote your merchandise on Etsy by ad campaigns
Advantages: Etsy’s charges are decrease than Amazon’s, making it extra accessible for small companies, startups, and artists.
Cons: The cumulative charges can add up, particularly for those who use further providers like promoting.
Amazon charges
Amazon’s payment construction is extra advanced, involving:
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A month-to-month subscription payment: When you’re promoting greater than 40 gadgets per 30 days, you may get knowledgeable Amazon vendor account subscription for $39.99/month
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A per-item payment for particular person sellers: When you’re promoting lower than 40 gadgets per 30 days, you’re charged $0.99 per merchandise
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A referral fee: All sellers pay a proportion of every sale, various by class
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Further charges for Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA)
Advantages: Amazon’s huge buyer base can probably result in increased gross sales volumes, offsetting the prices.
Cons: The payment construction might be costlier, particularly for small companies, and the competitors is far stiffer.
Viewers dimension
Each marketplaces rank among the many high 5 most visited on-line retail web sites worldwide, however Amazon’s attain is significantly increased. Which means two issues: extra guests and increased competitors.
Supply: Statista
Etsy is well known for its area of interest market, primarily attracting prospects fascinated about extremely distinctive designs and handmade gadgets. Whereas its viewers is smaller than Amazon’s, it’s extremely focused and dependable. Prospects on Etsy typically hunt down bespoke gadgets and worth the tales behind them.
Amazon boasts an enormous, world buyer base. Amazon consumers worth selection, comfort, and aggressive pricing. The various viewers ranges from on a regular basis merchandise consumers to folks searching for distinctive finds.
Etsy’s viewers is perhaps extra appropriate in case your merchandise cater to a extra discerning market that values uniqueness. However for those who goal to succeed in a bigger, extra diverse buyer base and may deal with increased competitors, Amazon prospects provide larger publicity and potential gross sales quantity.
For a small print-on-demand enterprise proprietor, the selection is determined by the character of your merchandise and enterprise targets. Think about the place your merchandise will stand out extra and align with the shopper’s preferences and buying habits.
Hottest product classes
The important thing distinction between Etsy and Amazon lies within the forms of merchandise their potential prospects search.
On Etsy, consumers primarily search for handmade items, unique artwork, customized gadgets, and craft provides.
Supply: CedCommerce
In distinction, Amazon’s buyer base searches for vastly completely different gadgets, starting from clothes and residential items to electronics and home equipment.
Supply: SellerAssistant
Precious learn: How to Find Products to Sell on Amazon: Complete Step-by-Step Guide
Each marketplaces are well-suited for the best-selling print-on-demand products, however it is best to consider which platform higher matches your model earlier than you begin promoting.
Precious learn: 11 High Profit Margin Dropshipping Products
Achievement strategies
On Etsy, you usually deal with achievement your self or use print-on-demand achievement providers. This setup presents customized management over delivery and buyer interactions, very important for sustaining your model’s private contact.
On Amazon market, you’ve gotten the identical choices as on Etsy (fulfilling your self or by a third-party provider like Printful), plus you should utilize Achievement by Amazon (FBA). With FBA, you ship your merchandise to Amazon’s achievement facilities, and Amazon will pack and ship your merchandise and deal with customer support and returns for you.
The FBA costs depend upon what variety and what number of merchandise you’ll delegate to Amazon. Listed here are the FBA charges:
FBA achievement prices
FBA storage prices
Returns processing
Elimination, disposal, and liquidation orders
Fees for aged stock
For small enterprise homeowners, the selection is determined by the enterprise’s scale and the way hands-on the proprietor desires to be.
Retailer customization and branding choices
Etsy and Amazon provide distinct choices for retailer customization and branding. There are 3 predominant variations between the marketplaces:
Private contact: Etsy permits for a extra private contact in your retailer’s design, fostering a better reference to prospects, however Amazon focuses on streamlined, environment friendly product presentation.
Model storytelling: Etsy presents higher customization choices for storytelling and creating a novel model id to construct buyer loyalty, whereas Amazon’s method is extra sensible and appropriate for easy product showcasing.
Viewers expectations: Etsy’s viewers expects and appreciates inventive presentation and branding, however Amazon consumers are usually extra centered on product specifics, pricing, and critiques.
Etsy customization
Etsy stands out for its give attention to individuality and personalization. Sellers can:
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Customise their Etsy retailer format and banner
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Craft a novel retailer biography to inform their story
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Characteristic their gadgets in a approach that highlights their model’s aesthetic
This customization stage helps construct a model id that resonates with Etsy’s viewers, who typically search a private reference to sellers.
Amazon customization
Amazon, whereas a bigger platform, presents much less flexibility in personalization. Market sellers can:
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Create a fundamental storefront
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Make the most of restricted customization choices for his or her retailer’s feel and look
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Focus extra on product listings somewhat than the general model story
Amazon’s mannequin is extra product-centric, emphasizing the gadgets over the vendor’s model story. The platform is designed for effectivity and quantity, prioritizing performance over ecommerce enterprise individuality.

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Product restrictions
Every market has completely different pointers and limitations. Let’s break down the variations.
Etsy product restrictions
Etsy has particular pointers that emphasize the individuality and handcrafted nature of merchandise. For print-on-demand sellers, this implies:
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Merchandise or designs should be unique
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Reselling mass-produced items just isn’t allowed until they’re classic gadgets
This platform is good for sellers specializing in unique designs and custom-made gadgets.
Precious learn: How to Sell Printful Products on Etsy
Amazon product restrictions
Amazon, with its broader scope, has a special set of restrictions:
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It permits a wider vary of merchandise, together with mass-produced gadgets
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There are particular classes that require Amazon’s approval earlier than itemizing
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Compliance with Amazon’s policies regarding product safety and authenticity is essential
The Amazon market is extra accommodating for a various vary of merchandise, however it’s essential to navigate its rules fastidiously if you promote merchandise.
Precious learn: How to Sell on Amazon with Printful’s Integration
Fee processing
Whereas each Etsy and Amazon present complete fee processing with a number of fee strategies and built-in bank card charges, Etsy stands out for its seller-friendly payment construction and versatile payouts. Amazon, then again, presents a extra sturdy system designed for increased volumes however with much less flexibility in payout schedules.
Charges: Etsy’s fee processing payment is a mixture of a flat payment and a proportion, whereas Amazon incorporates these prices in its vendor charges, together with bank card charges.
Payout schedule: Etsy permits extra flexibility in selecting your payout schedule, whereas Amazon has a set payout system.
Ease of use: Etsy’s fee system is mostly easier and extra easy, splendid for smaller companies, and Amazon’s system, whereas extra advanced, presents further assist for dealing with buyer disputes.
Etsy
Etsy Payments simplifies vendor fee and billing info with a payment construction that mixes a flat cost of $0.2 and a proportion of the sale. It presents extra flexibility in payout schedules, permitting sellers to handle their funds extra successfully.
Etsy’s system is user-friendly and suited to smaller sellers dealing with varied bank card charges.
Amazon
Amazon Funds contains fee processing charges in its general vendor charges, which might be increased however cowl a broader vary of providers.
It implements a set payout schedule, usually depositing gross sales into your checking account inside 14 days.
Whereas dealing with a spread of fee strategies, it’s designed for bigger volumes and presents sturdy assist in managing fee and billing info.
Assist
The assist techniques on Etsy and Amazon differ, impacting how ecommerce enterprise homeowners navigate challenges and queries.
Etsy assist
Etsy presents a extra customized assist expertise. Sellers can entry a complete Etsy Help Center, group boards, and direct electronic mail assist. Etsy’s community-driven method fosters a way of connection, with vendor boards typically offering worthwhile peer recommendation and insights.
Amazon assist
Amazon gives a extra structured assist system, with intensive sources like Seller Central, detailed guides, and customer support by electronic mail and telephone. Its assist is geared in the direction of dealing with a excessive quantity of sellers, specializing in effectivity and standardized options.
Prepared to decide on your market?
Choosing {the marketplace} on your print-on-demand enterprise is determined by many essential components coated on this article. Use this info that will help you resolve which platform matches your small business wants and targets one of the best.
Tell us within the feedback under when you have any questions or solutions. Pleased promoting!