Shopify vs Etsy: Pricing
Etsy
One of the main factors when deciding which ecommerce platform to use between Shopify vs Etsy, pricing is a big one. There are a few potential variables to consider when calculating the cost of running an online store. Some services appear to have transparent monthly subscription fees and rates. Even so, there are frequently hidden costs to be aware of, such as transaction or listing fees, as well as apps and add-ons that provide additional functionality. Pricing on The ordinary Etsy plan does not levy a monthly subscription, It does, however, charge a $0.20 per product listing fee. This covers the cost of publishing your product advertisement, which will be visible until the item is sold. On every item you sell, Etsy charges a 5% transaction fee plus an additional 3% + $0.25 for payment processing.
These costs can eat into your profit margins on higher-priced purchases. Payment processing fees are normal in the e-commerce business, however Etsy's are slightly more than the industry average. Again, if you're selling on a smaller scale, Etsy's transaction fees shouldn't detract too much from your revenues, and a monthly subscription might easily cover the expense of maintaining your own online store. Finally, Etsy only charges you when you make a sale, so you don't have to worry about losing money if you're not sure if your goods will sell. Etsy Plus, which costs $10 per month, adds more features.
Shopify
On the other side of Shopify vs Etsy, Shopify has a greater initial investment but provides far more customisation and flexibility, making it great value in the long-term. This is really beneficial when it comes to expanding your business. There are three
pricing options available, as well as a 14-day free trial: Basic Shopify: Monthly payment of $29: This package includes an ecommerce website and a blog which merchants can add content to, as well as the ability to list an infinite number of products, two staff accounts, 24/7 support, and multichannel selling. Shopify: $79 a month: Upgrade to five staff accounts, gift cards, professional reports, lower credit card rates, and extras at the point of sale. Advanced Shopify: $299 a month: 15 staff accounts, an advanced report builder, third-party determined shipping prices, and lower credit card rates are all included in this subscription. Shopify's Plus plan is the most sophisticated package available and is mainly aimed at large enterprises with strong growth. Read more in our article on
What is Shopify Plus?
The monthly fee is substantially greater than Etsy's, but it's well worth it if you require the additional features. Shopify's ‘Basic' plans provide you with everything you need to run a small to medium size online store efficiently. Larger firms with a lot of employees will benefit from Shopify's more expensive packages, which offer more scalability.
Payments are worth noting when considering price. Shopify's transaction costs start at 2.4 percent plus $0.30 for online sales, and are slightly more expensive with the lower-priced plans. You'll pay extra costs on a per-sale basis because Etsy doesn't charge a monthly fee unless you pay for the Plus plan. Because these fees are so many, that third parties have created profit calculators for merchants.
Shopify vs Etsy: Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)
Etsy provides several tools and features to help with sellers on their platform to strengthen their SEO positioning on the internet. For example, Etsy provides an SEO dashboard that allows sellers to track their keyword performance and optimize their listings for search on the marketplace. Furthermore, Etsy also offers tips and resources to help sellers optimize their listings and make sure their products are showing up in the right places. Since Etsy is an already popular website with high domain authority, sellers can list on the platform and rank highly on search engines if they get their keyterms right.
Generally speaking, more specific or niche keywords in Etsy listings are likely to rank better on search engines such as Google and Bing. With more generic or broader keyterms, other sellers on the Etsy marketplace and other websites on the world wide web could likely be targetting the same or similar keywords, making it more difficult to compete with domains who's whole website revolve around targetting a certain keyword or phrase. With a bit of effort and the right tips, however, Etsy can be a good platform for SEO success.
On the other side of Shopify vs Etsy, Shopify boasts search engine optimisation at it's core. Since merchants can setup their own websites that are separate to the Etsy marketplace, merchants have full control of their website and its SEO capabilies. The platform automatically generates a sitemap for Google, makes it easy to update meta descriptions with search engine settings on each page, and allows tertiary content to support product pages and root websites with a blogging platform that integrated directly into Shopify. To complement this, Shopify also has third-party apps and tools that can leverage SEO analytics technology to maximize merchant's ranking in search engines. These include tools such as Google Search Console.
When it comes to SEO on Shopify vs Etsy, the winner varies depending on the size and nature of your business. If you're just starting out and are selling niche products, Etsy is likely better as sellers can leverage the already existing domain authroity of the Etsy marketplace, and users will be able to find niche products quicjkly with ease. For businesses that are more established and sell more competitive products, Shopify is the best platform as it gives sellers the tools and features they need to organically build their way up the search engine results and take out the competition for higher difficulty keyword terms.
What businesses are most suitable for Etsy?
Etsy is most suitable for businesses that sell handmade, vintage, and craft items. It's a great platform for artists, crafters, and makers who want to sell their unique goods. It's also a great option for antique dealers, vintage clothing sellers, and other sellers of vintage or one-off goods. Etsy is also a great platform for small businesses that specialize in handmade items, such as jewelry, pottery, clothing, craft supplies and furniture. However, Etsy is not the best option for businesses that sell mass-produced items that are sold in volumes, such as electronics or household goods.
What businesses are most suitable for Shopify?
Shopify is most suitable for businesses that sell a variety of products with volume, from physical items to digital goods. The platform is great for businesses that need an integrated ecommerce solution and require advanced customisation capabilities. It's also great for businesses that need to
scale quickly, as Shopify is highly scalable and can easily accommodate large inventories. Businesses that are looking for an all-in-one solution for their ecommerce needs, such as an integrated shopping cart and payment processing, will also find Shopify to be a great option. In addition, businesses that are looking to sell digital products, such as ebooks, software, and audio files, will find Shopify to be an ideal platform. To summarize, Etsy is better for smaller businesses that sell unique and one-off items, whereas Shopify is better for larger businesses that wish to sell with volume.
Summary: Shopify vs Etsy
Choosing the right ecommerce platform for your online store can seem overwhelming with the amount of variation in features, design and customisation available, with different plans and price tags for each. Shopify provides a wide range of features for those looking for a more custom ecommerce experience, while Etsy is more focused on selling unique items. The features and services of each platform will suit anyone’s budget and needs.
When it comes down to choosing Etsy vs Shopify, Shopify seems to be the overall winner for businesses small and large. The vast amount that you can do on the platform means that you can deliver the best ecommerce experience possible for your customer base and scale with ease. Etsy is perhaps a good starting point for merchants who make lower volume of sales and want an easy solution to setup and sell items quickly. If you are willing to invest more into your company and long-term strategy, however, it is clear that Shopify wins the Shopify vs Etsy competition as the technology and thenamount of capabilities of the platform are unparalleled to the rest of the market. If you're undecided on whether to choose Shopify vs Etsy, choose both! You can integrate Etsy as a channel to your Shopify store and get the best of both worlds. If you're looking to migrate to Shopify, setup a brand new store, or anything inbetween, be sure to get in touch today.
Shopify vs Etsy: Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What should merchants look for when choosing an ecommerce platform?
A: When choosing an ecommerce platform, make sure to consider customisation capabilities, payment processing options, content managemeny systems, customer service and support, security features, scalability, and additional features such as analytics and data tracking. It's always good toreview customer feedback and reviews of the platform and its features, and be sure to consider which features your online store can take specific advantage of. Other examples of ecommerce platform include
Woocommerce (WordPress),
Magento and Wix.
Q: What features does Shopify have that Etsy doesn't?
A: Shopify provides integrated analytics and reporting capabilities directly from the platform, as well as a point-of-sale system for physical stores. Shopify also has a wide range of preset themes to choose from and advanced customisation options that go way beyond what Etsy offers, so it can be easily tailored to any kind of store. If a merchant doesn't like any of the preset ones, they can use bespoke themes for full shop customization so that they can craft an ecommerce experience exactly how they want. Furthermore, Shopify also offers a product import and export feature, so that sellers can easily transfer their product data between different platforms, and automated abandoned cart recovery to help merchants recover lost sales.
Q: What features does Etsy have that Shopify doesn't?
A: Etsy provides a marketplace for small business owners to sell their products, whereas Shopify is used by owners looking to set up a standalone ecommerce website that is not part of a marketplace. Being part of a marketplace can have its own advantages and disadvantages, as competition can be a benefit to some merchants, and a drawback to others. Etsy also has built-in features for customer reviews, which can help a seller build a positive reputation. While Shopify can also integrate customer reviews, this has to be done through third-party apps. Additionally, Etsy offers a powerful search engine built in, which helps shoppers find the products they are looking for quickly and easily. Etsy offers a range of different promotional tools to help sellers market their products and boost sales from within the marketplace.
When it comes to Etsy Shopify, it is important to note that the platform specializes in selling handcrafted items, and as such, it is best suited for those looking to sell something unique. The contrast between types of business and country matters, as well as languages, branding and shop customisation. On Etsy, customers can also get credits and discounts, and has built in messaging features for customer inquiries.
Q: Can sellers use both Shopify and Etsy?
A: Yes, merchants can use both Shopify and Etsy to sell their products. Selling by multiple channels including Etsy and Shopify has many advantages such as the ability to reach a wider audience and maximize sales. Additionally, having a presence on both platforms will also help to create brand recognition and build customer trust. Some users may also prefer purchasing off one platform or the other, giving more flexibility and personal preference to the consumer.
Q: How do Shopify and Etsy compare to other ecommerce platforms?
A: In comparison to other ecommerce platforms, Shopify and Etsy have a range of features that make them stand out from the crowd. For instance, both platforms have great customer support, which makes it easy for sellers to get help and support they need quickly for whatever requests they may have. Additionally, both Shopify and Etsy have a plethora of promotional tools that can help sellers to market their products and boost sales, these are generally more effective than on other available ecommerce platforms. Finally, both Shopify and Etsy both have user-friendly interfaces and support a range of payment gateways, making checkout process easier for customers and therefore increasing the likelihood of conversion.
Q: What features do Shopify and Etsy have that are important to sellers?
A: Customisation is one of the most important feature for any ecommerce business. Shopify and Etsy provide a wide range of customisation choices for sellers so that they can market their brand how they want and let their image shine. Shopify offers a variety of themes to help merchants setup their store, while Etsy Pattern is available for Etsy sellers to help sellers build their customer base.
Flexibility with payments is also important for ecommerce sellers. Shopify offers native
payment gateways like Shopify Payments, while Etsy uses native debit and credit card options. Both ecommerce platforms allow users to use discount codes to help with marketing and conversions, and additional payment options such as PayPal and Square are available to complement the native payment options.
Q: What are the pros and cons of Shopify and Etsy?
A: Both Shopify and Etsy come with a range of pros and cons for ecommerce businesses. Shopify partners can facilitate lower shipping costs, a simple pattern setup and the ability to sell anything, while Etsy has support for business cards, and built in email marketing. Shopify offers simple steps to set up shipping fees, and customers can also use their own ads. Both platforms also offer a range of layout choices, as well as standard coupons and shipping rates. To position ecommerce brands so that they can be found by customers, Shopify generally takes more time as it is not part of a popular marketplace like Etsy, however, merchants are able to sell higher volumes and with lower fees. While Etsy is great for small businesses listing and selling unique items, sellers are limited to what they can sell, and fees are higher.
Shopify is better for those looking to create an independent ecommerce business, while Etsy is ideal for those looking to take advantage of its large network of marketplaces and numerous competitors. However, both platforms have features to suit different budgets, with Shopify offering different tiered pricing plans like Shopify Lite, Basic Shopify,
Shopify Advanced, and Shopify Plus, while Etsy stores offers sellers to setup stores for free, and has tools such as paid advertising within the marketplace to help items sell more quickly once ad fees have been paid. While Shopify can use third-party apps for advertising such as Microsoft Channel, these are not natively built in. This can add extra steps to sellers looking to setup and sell quickly, without having to search somewhere away from the platform to add additional features from the get go.
The learning curve for setting up an ecommerce business on either of the two platform is also not too steep. Shopify offers SEO tactics and tools, guides and resources to maximize KPIs, and a huge range of third-party integrations from the Shopify App store to help with all industries from subscription businesses to dropshipping apps. Etsy, on the other hand, has an editor for creating emails, help with taxes and a note feature to provide customers with more information.
Both Shopify and Etsy offer a handful of features to make setting up an ecommerce business easier. Shopify has customisable shop layouts and lots of customer experience options, while Etsy has many marketing materials and categories to help customers find the right product. Lastly, both platforms provide multiple payment options, from credit cards and PayPal to Apple Pay and Stripe.
Q: What market research and analytic tools are available on Shopify and Etsy?
A: Research is an important part of setting up an ecommerce business, and both Shopify and Etsy provide a range of resources to help. Shopify has a store name generator, a range of payment options and price plans, and a setup process that is easy to follow. Etsy also offers sales features, a verdict on restrictions, and a wide selection of user experiences. Additionally, both platforms offer alerts, marketing materials, and categories for majority of products.
Q: Do Shopify and Etsy offer email marketing capabilities?
A: The purpose of an email list is always to build relationships with customers and provide them with valuable content. Shopify and Etsy both provide the benefits of email list marketing, including the ability to send personalized messages, discounts, and updates. Shopify is also better for those looking to create a custom shopping experience through email marketing with its shipping discounts, while Etsy is better for those targeting customers in certain countries, as it supports multiple language options.
Q: Is Shopify or Etsy better for point of sale transactions?
A: Shopify has an all-in-one point-of-sale (POS) system designed to power retail businesses and is equipped with powerful hardware that lets you accept all major payment methods. It offers features such as inventory tracking, staff management, unified reporting, and a frictionless checkout experience.
On the other side of Shopify vs Etsy, Etsy doesn’t offer free POS software and is mostly retail-focused, so businesses in other industries may want to look for alternatives. Deciding factors of using POS include the cost of the software, the cost of using Shopify Payments, and the cost of using a third-party payment processor. Overall, if you are looking for a powerful POS system with a wide range of features to help you manage your retail business, Shopify is a great option and offers much more than Etsy.