TikTok Shop vs Etsy — Fee & Profit Comparison
Compare profit per order between TikTok Shop and Etsy after all fees. Includes TikTok affiliate commission and Etsy listing fee in the calculation.
By Marginory teamContent reviewed
TikTok Shop product category
You set this — typical range 5–20%
| TikTok Shop | Etsy | |
|---|---|---|
| Referral / Transaction fee | 6% | 6.5% |
| Separate processing rate | Not modeled | 3% + $0.25 |
| Affiliate / Listing fee | 10% (affiliate) | $0.20 per sale |
| Total fees per order | $4.80 | $3.30 |
| Net profit per order | $10.69 | $12.19 |
| Profit margin | 35.7% | 40.7% |
| Monthly profit (50 orders) | $534.58 | $609.55 |
Which platform is more profitable?
Key differences beyond fees
TikTok Shop
- Discovery via For You Page — no ads needed to start
- Affiliate/creator ecosystem drives volume
- Video content required for best results
- Rates change frequently — verify in Seller Center
- Newer platform — policy risk
Etsy
- Built-in search with 90M+ active buyers
- Established brand trust for handmade/vintage
- Listing fee ($0.20) per sale + renewal
- SEO-driven discovery — photos matter most
- More stable fee structure
Fee comparison formula
Assumptions
- TikTok Shop: General merchandise (6% assumption) category, US seller
- No separate TikTok payment-processing rate is modeled; confirm the fee detail in Seller Center
- Etsy: US seller using Etsy Payments. Listing fee $0.20 per sale.
- Neither platform charges a monthly subscription fee
- TikTok Shop rates change frequently — always verify at TikTok Seller Center
Source: seller.tiktok.com/university/ · Last verified: 2026-10-11
Worked example: one $35 product on Etsy and TikTok Shop
Free shipping, $12 product, $6 postage. Each platform has a paid route to buyers: Offsite Ads on Etsy, creator affiliates on TikTok.
| Etsy | TikTok Shop | |
|---|---|---|
| Organic sale profit | $13.23 | $14.90 |
| Profit via ad / affiliate | $7.98 (Offsite Ads) | $9.65 (15% creator) |
TikTok's lower referral fee makes organic sales more profitable, but much TikTok volume comes through creators — compare the bottom row with your expected mix.
Cost inputs are illustrative; fees are calculated with the same rates as the calculator above.
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.