Etsy is a fantastic platform for selling handmade items. There are several Etsy competitors as well. Like any other company, Etsy has its own set of rules.
Etsy may not meet your demands as effectively as it once did, and you’ll need to look somewhere else. When this occurs, there are several alternatives for Etsy competitors available!
In this blog post, we will go over some of Etsy’s competitors and what they have to offer you and your business.
Etsy sellers are facing more competition than ever before for their handmade items, with over 60 million items listed on Etsy as of December 2021. Despite being the largest online marketplace for crafters, Etsy’s high listing fees and saturated market have prompted many merchants to seek alternatives.
Thankfully, there are dozens of websites like Etsy where business owners can sell handmade items.
Now, let’s look at the top nine sites like Etsy, where small companies may thrive. But first, let’s have a closer look at how Etsy performs.
Table of Contents
What is Etsy?
Etsy is a Brooklyn, New York-based company that was founded in 2005. It’s a major worldwide ecommerce platform where you can sell handmade items, vintage finds, and almost anything else. It has established itself as a household name, and it isn’t slowing down anytime soon.
How Does Etsy Work?
If you’ve never used Etsy before, you’ll need to create an account by selecting the “Sell on Etsy” option. The instructions will take you through the initial steps, after which you can:
- Set up store preferences.
- Pick a store name.
- List items in your store.
- Pick payment and billing preferences.
- Launch your store following identity verification.
Pros and Cons of Etsy
Many sellers are searching for Etsy alternatives to complement or replace their existing stores as a result of recent adjustments.
One such adjustment, for example, is removing shop branding from listing pages. It’s critical to consider the benefits and drawbacks of Etsy before making a decision.
Here’s what you need to know:
Pros
- Etsy has over 39.4 million active buyers as of December 2021, which is a large pool to sell to.
- Credit card processing is simple and quick, thanks to built-in analytics and invoicing software.
- Setting up and maintaining your Etsy store is a breeze thanks to its ease of use.
Cons
- The Etsy account requirements have been relaxed, making it easier for untrained sellers to join the site. The “other items from this seller” bar at the top of a listing page have increased in recent updates, making it more difficult to find great listings. This change reduces visibility.
- Etsy charges a $0.20 listing and transaction charge per item, which quickly depletes profits.
- As of December 2021, there are over 8 million active sellers on Etsy, indicating that most markets are largely saturated.
Watch Out for These Etsy Competitors Now
With more Etsy sellers competing for the attention of customers every year, obtaining your items in front of the appropriate consumers without a suitable tool is becoming increasingly difficult.
While eCommerce is growing and handmade items are resonating with a larger audience of customers, Etsy isn’t the only place to buy. Keep an eye on these Etsy rivals in 2022 to protect your company.
It’s true that forward-thinking Etsy sellers have diversified their sales outlets. Why sell out of the trunk of your car when you can also offer it at the neighborhood craft fair? But can any of the fast-growing Etsy rivals compete with it now?
Etsy Competitors VS. Etsy
In this post, we’ll look at a few of the more popular marketplaces that are beginning to compete with Etsy. They don’t have as many customers as Etsy, to be sure. However, they do have their own distinct group of buyers who purchase on their marketplaces.
Take a calculated risk if you’re unsure about selling on another marketplace. Examine the pricing fees for your chosen marketplace, as well as the comments and sales figures of competing vendors, and most importantly, do you want to sell on a different marketplace?
Etsy is, without a doubt, the finest online marketplace for selling one-of-a-kind, handmade items. It’s a marketplace built specifically for handcrafted vendors. While Etsy has gone through several adjustments throughout its history, it has been in business selling handmade goods since 2005.
Seriously, have a look at this vintage gem during one of the first events hosted at Etsy Labs in New York.
Etsy has always had an element of uniqueness that encourages crafters to break the mold and try new things, even since its inception in 2007. Today, they continue to prioritize makers who specialize in one-of-a-kind art and handcrafted goods.
Take a look at the most recent winners of Etsy’s Design Awards for further evidence of Etsy’s preferences.
Etsy competitors lack a close community of sellers
Furthermore, Etsy’s community of makers is a close-knit group of sellers. Etsy sellers from all around the world contribute to a positive culture with a can-do attitude through all online forums, YouTube channels, and other blogs.
Even if you’re selling on Etsy, the larger community comes together, in the end, to assist your business flourish both long and short term. There aren’t many other internet communities that do this!
So, who else is out there to compete with Etsy?
Look-alikes and copycats will spring up when something is excellent. Even if none of the Etsy competitors on this list are genuine rivals to the Etsy marketplace, they are all attempting to stake their own claim in the handmade sector.
Whether you want to look for these markets for yourself or just keep them on your radar, these are the Etsy rivals you should be wary of now.
Here they are in no particular order:
Etsy Competitors: Handmade Marketplaces
#1: ArtFire
In addition to being a global leader in online art, ArtFire is also the world’s largest open-source creativity platform. Individual artists, small businesses, and makers from all corners of the globe have uploaded one-of-a-kind items to ArtFire. It’s easy to tell that’s what it is after just a glance at their marketplace
ArtFire was hyped in the Etsy seller community a few years ago about potentially becoming a replacement for Etsy, but it appears to have made little progress.
They’ve been operating for about as long as Etsy, but it’s still relatively unknown in the seller community and, more significantly, to purchasers. Still, it’s undoubtedly a competitor in the handmade marketplace scene.
Furthermore, ArtFire has become the home of a few angry Etsy sellers who claim they’ve been “wronged by Etsy.” Home to handcrafted products, vintage items, and craft supplies, the selling rules are surprisingly similar to those on Etsy.
The cost per month is tiered, starting at $9.99 per month and including a $0.23 listing charge, as well as a 14.75% Sales Service fee.
#2: Shopify – Etsy Competitors
Selling on Shopify is an easy choice for any vendor considering a switch from Etsy to a self-hosted website. Shopify, the most well-known ecommerce platform in the world, is regarded as the gold standard for corporate brands and small company owners alike.
Shopify has an ecommerce platform that includes a website builder with hundreds of templates, all of which may be personalized with your business’s unique logos, pictures, videos, and text.
The Pros: Shopify is the most powerful ecommerce software on our list, offering limitless customization and strong analytics while remaining simple enough for most novices to use.
The Cons: Shopify isn’t a selling platform; rather, it’s an ecommerce platform. This implies that you’re on your own when it comes to luring consumers to your items.
The Cost: New users can start with Shopify Lite at just $9/month. While Shopify Lite “only” enables you to sell on Facebook or on a website you already own, it is compatible with all of the apps that are necessary for this method. As an alternative to Etsy, however, Shopify Lite does not allow you to build your own online store but just allows you to sell on Facebook or on a website. The Shopify Basic plan, which includes a free domain name and one month of basic service, costs $29 per month. There is also a 2.9% and $0.30 fee for online payment processing on this plan.
The Shopify platform also includes a comprehensive marketing suite, including advertising, payments, and shipping. Customizable headlines, titles, and meta tags will help your search result ranking improve enough to make that jump from the second page to the first page of your ideal consumer’s Google search.
Even so, because there is no independent buyer’s market, transitioning from Etsy to Shopify is a significant change that will significantly alter your business plan and marketing strategy.
#3: Aftcra
Aftcra is a marketplace dedicated to showcasing American-made artisans with a name that may be tough to say. The firm was founded in 2013 and focuses on providing a boutique-like website made up of artisans who is the greatest at what they do.
Aftcra’s aim is to get American-made items more exposure in their online marketplaces. In fact, their “philosophy” is that you can ONLY sell American-made goods on their marketplace. While this restricts the number of competitors from other vendors, buyers may come from all over the world.
Unfortunately, Aftcra is a boutique that specializes in handcrafted goods rather than a marketplace for vintage items.
There are no listing fees, and listings can be viewed for up to 6 months after they’ve been made. You’ll incur a 7% transaction fee if the item is sold.
With pricing being rather inexpensive in comparison to Etsy, it’s no surprise they made the cut.
#3: Amazon Handmade
You already knew that this list wouldn’t be finished without Amazon Handmade, didn’t you? Amazon, one of the world’s most powerful businesses (in terms of revenue) has also entered the handmade sector.
Without a doubt, Amazon Handmade competes directly with Etsy. The goal was to provide a niche and marketplace for handcrafted items by using the Amazon name.
Have the efforts you’ve made in that direction yielded positive results? It’s debatable. Amazon Handmade doesn’t get the same amount of traffic or sales (for handcrafted items) as Etsy does.
It’s also difficult to get approval to sell on Amazon Handmade because you must demonstrate that your items are distinct and, in some cases, show where (and how) they’re made.
However, you can’t dispute that Amazon Handmade is a serious opponent of Etsy. However, in most situations, you’ll discover that Amazon Handmade vendors also have an Etsy store, prompting the question of which one specializes in handmade better?
So, while the barrier to entry into Amazon Handmade is high, once you’ve been accepted, you’ll have access to merchants that truly want something one-of-a-kind and handcrafted – which is precisely what you offer.
Keep your eye on Amazon Handmade to see what they have in store now.
Etsy Competitors: Vintage Marketplaces
#4: Ruby Lane
If you’re looking for a vintage shop on Etsy, Ruby Lane is one of the best options.
Ruby Lane is home to:
- Antiques & collectables
- Jewelry
- Vintage & Art
- Dolls
Ruby Lane is home to an incredible number of vintage items and antique goods. In fact, the entire site has a vintage feel to it. However, the things you’ll find on their online marketplace are not “glorified trash” that passes as vintage on other websites.
It’s all genuinely antique and of the highest quality, which comes at a significant price.
Etsy does not do vintage as well as Ruby Lane. In a wonderful example of targeted marketing, Etsy is a marketplace for almost everything, whereas Ruby Lane specializes in selling antique and antique-only goods.
Ruby Lane makes it very simple to obtain the information required to make a purchase by providing succinct photographs and detailed descriptions for each listing.
The disadvantage is that Ruby Lane fees are not the most straightforward to understand.
There are no listing costs or setup fees, but there is a $25 monthly maintenance charge (even though your first month is free). However, if you add over 15 items in your first month, you’ll get your $25 maintenance fee back. There’s a 9.9 percent service charge based on the Purchase Total, which is limited to $250.
#5: eBay
One of the most well-known names in eCommerce doesn’t need much introduction. It’s been operational since 1995 and is probably the most popular platform for resellers throughout the world.
eBay, on the other hand, has weathered some stiff competition from Amazon and Facebook Marketplace in recent years, yet it remains a well-known brand among internet shoppers and vendors.
In the vintage sector, eBay is one of Etsy’s top rivals. Yes, you can buy handmade products on eBay, but the marketplace wasn’t built for them, and the quality of items is far inferior.
However, on eBay, you can discover just about anything in the category of vintage. Remember, it’s not difficult to start an eBay business, so you’ll be more likely to sort through random rubbish for a dollar or two. Still, if you look critically enough, you’ll undoubtedly discover some antique gems on eBay.
The benefit of eBay? It’s pricey. Depending on the sort of item you offer, final value fees range from 3 to 15 percent of the total sales price.
More Marketplaces Competing with Etsy
#6: Zibbet
Zibbet is a difficult term to describe. It was founded in 2009 and has grown considerably since then.
Zibbet is a marketplace that, like all the others mentioned in this post, connects with other sales channels. It’s one-of-a-kind, though, since it interoperates with several sales platforms.
Zibbet does not charge any fees to use the site. The only cost you incur is $5 per month for each sales channel.
Zibbet allows you to upload your items from other marketplaces in a matter of minutes, and it also allows you to download items from Zibbet. It’s similar to one of those social media scheduling programs but for vendors on numerous platforms. And it may be useful for simplifying many sales channels.
Why would you sell on Zibbet, though? If they had more users on their platform, it might be more appealing. For the time being, a simple method to utilize many sales platforms doesn’t appear to be too awful.
Zibbet announced that it had been bought in July 2021; however, the creator has kept his identity quiet. A number of indicators suggest that the purchase was made by Michaels (now known as A.C. Moore Marketplace).
If Zibbet doesn’t flame out of its marketplace initiative entirely, it will be interesting to see what happens in 2022.
#7: Bonanza
Bonanzas claim is you’ll find everything but the ordinary.
That’s an intriguing assertion because the market is filled with a lot of run-of-the-mill items. But don’t think that everything is ordinary in this marketplace. There is, after all, some exceptional stuff as well.
You can stock up on boxes of Jolly Ranchers, Candy Corn, and Tootsie Pops before Halloween. However, you may also purchase a handcrafted Darth Vader costume for your pug. That alone isn’t all that distinct from what you can find at Walmart or Dollar Tree.
Despite this, categories extend to apparel, jewelry, cosmetics, and the standard sorts that come with a major e-commerce site. What’s particularly intriguing about Bonanza is that it juxtaposes tiny homemade items with big wholesale suppliers and exporters.
So, how can this be beneficial to your small business?
Imagine a market where sellers aren’t fighting for a piece of the limelight. Yes, on Bonanza there is everything (including the kitchen sink), but there are only a few stores selling kitchen sinks and handmade Vader pug costumes. This indicates that, in most cases, you’ll face little competition from other vendors regardless of what you’re selling
#8: Big Cartel
Big Cartel is a distinct ecommerce platform with no Etsy-style marketplace connected. Big Cartel, on the other hand, is primarily an ecommerce platform with a limited target audience. Unlike Shopify, it isn’t designed for larger audiences.
The Pros: Big Cartel is an ecommerce platform with a user-friendly design that allows you to build your online store without having to worry about setting up WordPress or another type of website. Big Cartel also has customization, marketing, and other promotional resources that Etsy does not have.
The Cons: Sellers who already have an informative website may be disappointed by the need to start over on the Big Cartel platform.
The Cost: Starting at $9.99/month for 25 listings with no commission on sales, you may build your business and sell anything to anybody all over the world. However, you’ll have to use Stripe or PayPal to take online payments, and either provider’s fees will apply.
Making the decision to completely abandon an Etsy-style, the ready-to-purchase audience should not be taken lightly. This being said, if you want to go it alone and establish a devoted, independent client base, Big Cartel is one of the simplest and most affordable alternatives for Etsy sellers.
The year 2021 will be the start of a new era in which more and more social media platforms explore social commerce. This implies that, in the future, you won’t need to watch only these marketplaces. For instance, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, and TikTok all want to improve their social shopping game in 2022.
What is social commerce, exactly? It’s when a customer’s shopping experience takes place on a social networking site, such as when you browse Facebook and see someone wearing shoes you like, then purchase them with only a few swipes and taps.
Clicking links from social media, or returning to a store’s product page with an immediate purchase choice, are examples of social commerce.
In other words, social media may become one big Etsy competitor in the future.
Wrapping up our list of Etsy competitors
There you have it! There is a handful of Etsy competitors to keep your eye on in 2022.
Every year, it appears like a new little-time Etsy competitor emerges online, yet Etsy retains its position as the top marketplace. While Etsy has flaws, it is still the go-to marketplace for handmade vendors alike, and for good reasons.
It’s a well-known fact that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. And when it comes to Etsy’s marketplace, it’s a household name that buyers are familiar with and anticipates purchasing high-quality, one-of-a-kind items from creative and passionate creators.
Still, it never hurts to keep an eye on the competition.
If you appreciated this post or have suggestions for other Etsy competitors that should be included, please leave a remark below! Do you sell on more than one marketplace or just on Etsy?
We’d love to know!
