Etsy vs Shopify Fees — Which Platform Keeps More of Your Money?
Same sale. Two platforms. Very different take-home. Enter your numbers and see the real comparison.
When Does Shopify Beat Etsy? The Volume Tipping Point
Shopify's monthly fee is a fixed cost. Below a certain sales volume, Etsy wins. Above it, Shopify wins. Here's the math.
| Monthly Sales ($35 item) | Etsy Monthly Profit | Shopify Basic Monthly Profit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 sales ($350) | $312 | $265 | Etsy wins (+$47) |
| 20 sales ($700) | $624 | $569 | Etsy wins (+$55) |
| 50 sales ($1,750) | $1,561 | $1,543 | Etsy wins (+$18) |
| 75 sales ($2,625) | $2,341 | $2,354 | Shopify wins (+$13) |
| 100 sales ($3,500) | $3,121 | $3,165 | Shopify wins (+$44) |
| 200 sales ($7,000) | $6,241 | $6,369 | Shopify wins (+$128) |
It's Not Just Fees — What Etsy and Shopify Actually Offer
The fee comparison is only part of the story. Here's what else matters when choosing between platforms.
Etsy: Built-In Traffic
Etsy's marketplace brings buyers to you — 90+ million active buyers search Etsy regularly. New sellers with no marketing budget can make sales on day one. Shopify requires you to drive every visitor yourself through ads, SEO, or social media.
Shopify: Lower Per-Sale Fees
Once you're past the break-even volume (~60-70 sales/month at $35), Shopify's per-sale fees are lower than Etsy's. At higher volumes, this compounds into significant savings — and you own the customer relationship.
Etsy: Offsite Ads Risk
Sellers making over $10K/year on Etsy are automatically enrolled in offsite ads at 12% on qualifying sales. This fee has no cap and can significantly reduce margins on high-ticket or high-volume sellers without warning.
Shopify: More Control
Shopify gives you full control over your customer data, email list, and brand experience. Etsy owns the customer relationship — you can't email your Etsy buyers directly, and Etsy can suspend your shop at any time.
Etsy vs Shopify — Common Questions
Is Etsy cheaper than Shopify?
It depends on your sales volume. For low-volume sellers (under 50-70 sales/month), Etsy is typically cheaper because there's no monthly platform fee. Shopify's Basic plan costs $39/month regardless of sales. At higher volumes, Shopify's lower per-transaction fees make it the cheaper option.
Can I sell on both Etsy and Shopify at the same time?
Yes — and many successful sellers do. Etsy drives discovery traffic and new customers. Shopify handles repeat customers and direct sales with lower fees. You can sync inventory between both platforms using tools like Printify, Printful, or manual management for smaller shops.
Does Shopify charge a listing fee like Etsy?
No. Shopify has no listing fee — you can list unlimited products at no extra cost. Etsy charges $0.20 per listing every 4 months. For shops with hundreds of listings, this difference becomes significant.
What are the Shopify payment processing fees?
Shopify Payments (their built-in processor) charges 2.9% + $0.30 on Basic, 2.6% + $0.30 on Shopify plan, and 2.4% + $0.30 on Advanced. If you use a third-party payment processor instead of Shopify Payments, Shopify adds an extra 2% fee on Basic.
When should I move from Etsy to Shopify?
Consider moving when: (1) you're generating enough traffic through your own marketing to not need Etsy's marketplace, (2) Etsy's fees are cutting significantly into your margins at scale, or (3) you want full control over your brand and customer data. Most sellers keep both and gradually shift the balance toward Shopify as they grow.