Etsy vs Shopify 2026: Fees, Payouts & Which Is Better for Beginners
Etsy vs Shopify for beginners: Etsy has no monthly fee but takes 6.5% per sale; Shopify Basic is $39/month. See the sales volume where Shopify wins.
By Marginory teamContent reviewed
Verdict for beginners
Start on Etsy if you have no audience yet: no monthly plan, and buyers already search there. You pay more per sale ($3.78 on a $35 order vs $1.32 on Shopify).
Move to (or add) Shopify once you bring your own traffic and sell more than about $555 a month at a $35 average order; above that, Shopify Basic's $39 plan costs less than Etsy's per-sale fees.
Shopify plan
Same order revenue excluding tax on both channels. Include buyer-paid shipping in this amount.
Exclude the attributed Offsite Ads fee entered below.
Etsy attributed Offsite Ads fee
Choose the actual rate for the order; $100 USD cap included.
| Etsy | Shopify Basic | |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction / Referral fee | 6.5% | 0% |
| Payment processing fee | 3% + $0.25 | 2.90% + $0.30 |
| Listing fee | $0.20 per sale | — |
| Monthly plan and apps | $0 in this model | $39.00/mo |
| Acquisition per order | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Total fees per order | $3.78 | $1.32 |
| Net profit per order | $14.23 | $16.69 |
| Profit margin | 40.6% | 47.7% |
| Monthly profit (30 orders) | $426.75 | $461.55 |
Monthly cost comparison
Both channels use the same entered order volume. Marketplace discovery does not guarantee free traffic, and Shopify acquisition is not assumed equal to Etsy. Compare the fee-only result with your actual acquisition and app costs. Returns, buyer tax adjustments, fee taxes, FX and Etsy recurring overhead are excluded.
Fee comparison formula
Assumptions
- Etsy: US seller using Etsy Payments. Listing fee charged per sale.
- Shopify: Basic plan ($39/mo allocation); Shopify Payments
- Etsy Offsite Ads: 0% on attributed orders, capped at $100 USD
- Acquisition costs and Shopify overhead are user assumptions; this is not a demand forecast
Source: shopify.com/pricing · Last verified: 2026-10-11
Etsy vs Shopify fees side by side (US)
| Fee | Etsy | Shopify Basic |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly (fixed) | $0 | $39 ($29 billed yearly) |
| Listing | $0.20 per listing and per sale | $0 |
| Per sale | 6.5% transaction + 3% + $0.25 processing | 2.9% + $0.30 card processing |
| Fee on shipping charged | Yes, in the transaction fee | Only card processing on the order total |
| Advertising fee | Offsite Ads 12%–15% on attributed sales | None; you pay for your own ads |
| Other payment providers | Not available | +2% third-party fee |
At what monthly sales is Shopify cheaper?
On fees alone (Shopify Basic billed monthly, no Offsite Ads, no apps):
| Average order | Etsy fees / order | Shopify fees / order | Shopify cheaper above |
|---|---|---|---|
| $15.00 | $1.88 | $0.73 | $513/month |
| $25.00 | $2.83 | $1.03 | $542/month |
| $35.00 | $3.78 | $1.32 | $555/month |
| $50.00 | $5.20 | $1.75 | $565/month |
| $100.00 | $9.95 | $3.20 | $578/month |
This crossover ignores traffic. If reaching the same sales on Shopify needs paid ads, add that cost per order in the calculator above before deciding.
Which is better by type of seller?
- Digital downloads: Etsy first. Product cost is near zero, so per-sale fees matter less than discovery; buyers search Etsy for printables and templates.
- Print on demand: Etsy to validate designs, Shopify once a design sells and you can run ads to it. See Etsy vs Shopify for POD.
- Handmade physical products: Etsy, unless you already have an audience (Instagram, TikTok, email list) that can send buyers to your own store.
- Brand with repeat customers: Shopify. You own the customer list, and every repeat order avoids Etsy's transaction fee.
Compare the same sale first
Use the same selling price, product cost and paid postage. The defaults use basic US Etsy fees without attributed Offsite Ads and Shopify Payments on the monthly Basic plan. Add channel-specific acquisition, attributed Offsite Ads, Shopify apps and the actual gateway or billing option. Buyer tax adjustments, returns, FX and Etsy recurring overhead remain excluded. A fee crossover is only meaningful under the stated common assumptions.
Worked $35 order
US Etsy basic fees are $3.775: 6.5% transaction, 3% plus $0.25 processing and $0.20 listing. Shopify Basic processing at the reference 2.9% plus $0.30 is $1.315. Difference is $2.46 per order. A $39 monthly plan needs 16 orders to cover that fee difference, rounded upward, before Shopify apps or additional acquisition costs.
Lower fees do not establish higher total profit
If direct-store acquisition adds $3.00 per order, it exceeds the $2.46 fee saving in that example. You must compare actual marketing costs and repeat purchases. Etsy discovery is not a guarantee of traffic or sales; Shopify requires a plan for bringing customers to your store.
When no volume crossover exists
If order savings are zero or negative, more orders cannot recover the additional fixed plan through fee savings alone. The tool displays Not achievable when Shopify contribution after the entered acquisition costs does not exceed Etsy contribution.
Non-fee decisions
Check product eligibility, branding needs, checkout control, support workload and the ability to operate a store. Etsy can charge listing and setup-related amounts before a sale; saying sellers only pay when they sell is inaccurate. If running both channels, track their acquisition and operating costs separately.
Sources and assumptions
Etsy fee policy. Etsy Payments country and refund policy. Shopify pricing. Shopify payment fees. Rates and model scope are separate from the content review date. Confirm account rates and charges before pricing. Examples use stated hypothetical costs and do not predict demand. Calculation methodology.
Build your own store — own your audience
Review the plan, payment options and current offer for your country. Include acquisition and recurring costs in your store model.
Review the market, fee bases and exclusions shown with this tool. Published rates and illustrative cost inputs have different certainty. Compare your breakdown with an actual order statement. Sources and methodology.