Where to Sell Besides Etsy:15+ Best Platforms
Diversify beyond Etsy to protect your income and expand your reach. Compare fees, traffic, and features of 15+ selling platforms—from Shopify's full control to Amazon Handmade's 100M Prime members. Find the right mix for your handmade, digital, or creative products.
đź’ˇQuick Answer: Best Etsy Alternatives
The best alternatives to Etsy depend on your products and goals. For full control and branding, use Shopify (0% sales commission, $29-299/mo). For existing traffic, try Amazon Handmade (15% referral fee, 100M+ Prime members). For creative goods, explore Society6 (artist-friendly, zero upfront costs). For vintage items, consider Ruby Lane ($25-54/mo, premium buyers). Multi-channel sellers succeed by combining 2-3 platforms: a marketplace for discovery + owned website for brand building.
Why Sell on Multiple Platforms (Beyond Etsy)
Diversification protects your income and expands your reach
⚠️ Etsy's Challenges
- Fee increases: 6.5% transaction fee + 3% payment processing + $0.25 listing fee
- Algorithm changes: Traffic can disappear overnight with policy updates
- Competition saturation: Over 7 million active sellers competing
- Limited branding: Building Etsy's brand, not yours
- Account suspension risk: Policy violations can shut down income
âś… Multi-Platform Benefits
- Revenue security: Don't lose 100% of income if one platform has issues
- Audience diversity: Reach customers who don't shop on Etsy
- Price testing: Different platforms allow different pricing strategies
- Brand building: Own platforms build YOUR asset
- Negotiating power: Less dependent on any single platform's terms
Platform Comparison at a Glance
Compare fees, traffic, and features across 10 popular platforms
| Platform | Best For | Fees | Built-In Traffic | Setup Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shopify | Full control, branding | $29-299/mo, 0% sales fee | Low (you drive traffic) | Medium |
| Amazon Handmade | Existing traffic, Prime members | 15% referral fee | Very High | Medium |
| Faire | Wholesale, retail buyers | 15% + 25% first order | High (B2B) | Low |
| Society6 | Print-on-demand art | 10% artist markup | Medium | Very Low |
| Big Cartel | Emerging artists, small inventory | Free-$19.99/mo | Low | Low |
| Gumroad | Digital products, courses | $10/mo + 0% fee OR Free + 10% fee | Low | Very Low |
| Storenvy | Social selling, small shops | Free + 10% marketplace fee | Medium | Low |
| Folksy | UK handmade sellers | 15p listing + 6% sale fee | Low (UK-focused) | Low |
| Ruby Lane | Vintage, antiques, collectibles | $25-54/mo | Medium (premium buyers) | Medium |
| Zibbet | Multi-channel management | $5-20/mo | Low | Medium |
1. Shopify: Best for Building Your Own Brand
Full control, zero sales commission, own customer relationships
Shopify: Best for Building Your Own Brand
Examples: Own brand, custom domain, email marketing, 1000+ apps, zero sales commission
Pro Tip: Use Etsy for discovery, then direct repeat customers to your Shopify store with discount codes.
Pro Tip: Start on Shopify while selling on Etsy. Use Etsy for discovery, then direct repeat customers to your Shopify store with discount codes ("Get 10% off your next order at [yourbrand].com").
2. Amazon Handmade: Best for Instant Traffic & Prime Members
100M Prime members actively searching for unique products
Amazon Handmade: Instant Traffic & Prime Members
Examples: Built-in traffic, 100M+ Prime members, Prime eligibility, global reach, trust factor
Pro Tip: Include branded packaging inserts directing customers to your Shopify store or email list.
Pro Tip: Use Amazon Handmade for discovery, then include branded packaging inserts directing customers to your Shopify store or email list for exclusive offers.
3. Faire: Best for Wholesale & Retail Buyers
B2B marketplace connecting makers with boutiques and retailers
Faire: Best for Wholesale & Retail Buyers
Examples: Wholesale to boutiques, gift shops, retailers. Net 60 terms, Faire pays upfront
Pro Tip: Use Faire to fill production capacity when Etsy/Shopify sales are slow.
4. Society6: Best for Artists & Print-on-Demand
Zero upfront costs, zero inventory risk
Society6: Best for Artists & Print-on-Demand
Examples: 80+ products: wall art, furniture, apparel, home goods. Zero upfront costs
Pro Tip: Test designs with zero risk. If successful, use Printful + Shopify for better margins.
5. Big Cartel: Best for Emerging Artists on a Budget
Free plan available, simple setup
Big Cartel: Best for Emerging Artists on a Budget
Examples: Free plan (5 products), simple interface, custom domain, easy setup
Pro Tip: Start on free plan while building audience, then migrate to Shopify when ready to scale.
6. Gumroad: Best for Digital Products & Creators
0% transaction fees on paid plan
Gumroad: Best for Digital Products & Creators
Examples: Ebooks, courses, templates, presets, patterns, printables. Digital only
Pro Tip: Offer free lead magnet to build email list, then upsell premium products.
The 3-Platform Rule
Don't spread too thin—focus on 3 platforms max
1. One marketplace (Etsy, Amazon Handmade) for discovery and traffic
2. One owned platform (Shopify, Big Cartel) for branding and repeat customers
3. One social commerce (Instagram Shop, TikTok Shop) for impulse buyers
| Experience Level | 1. Marketplace (Discovery) | 2. Owned Platform (Brand) | 3. Social Commerce (Impulse) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner | Etsy (marketplace traffic) | Big Cartel (free branded store) | Instagram Shopping |
| Intermediate | Amazon Handmade (high-intent buyers) | Shopify (owned brand) | Pinterest Shopping |
| Advanced | Faire (wholesale orders) | Shopify (DTC brand) | TikTok Shop (viral potential) |
Your First 30 Days: Multi-Platform Launch Plan
Set up and launch on 2-3 platforms in one month
Week 1-2: Research & Setup
Choose 2-3 platforms and create accounts.
- • Choose platforms based on your products and goals (marketplace + owned + social)
- • Sign up for accounts (applications for Amazon Handmade, Ruby Lane may take 1-7 days)
- • Set up basic branding (logo, color palette, about text)
- • Research top sellers on each platform to understand pricing and presentation
Week 2-3: Create & List Products
Build your product catalog for each platform.
- • Start with 10-20 core product listings (expand later)
- • Write SEO-optimized titles and descriptions customized for each platform
- • Take high-quality photos (5-10 per product, natural light, multiple angles)
- • Set pricing that accounts for platform fees (calculate true profit margins)
Week 3-4: Optimize & Test
Prepare for launch and test everything.
- • Enable payment processing (Stripe, PayPal, Shopify Payments)
- • Set up shipping profiles (domestic + international, realistic turnaround times)
- • Test checkout process as a customer on each platform
- • Install analytics (Google Analytics, platform-native tools)
Week 4+: Launch & Promote
Go live and drive initial traffic.
- • Announce new shops to email list and social media followers
- • Create shop announcement posts (Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest)
- • Run a launch promotion (10-20% off first week)
- • Monitor sales, traffic, conversion rates and adjust based on performance
How to Choose the Right Platform for YOUR Business
Ask yourself these 5 questions
📦 1. What are you selling?
- Handmade physical goods → Etsy, Amazon Handmade, Shopify
- Digital products → Gumroad, Creative Market, Etsy
- Print-on-demand art → Society6, Redbubble, Spoonflower
- Vintage/antiques → Ruby Lane, Folksy, Etsy
- Wholesale → Faire, Uncommon Goods
đź‘Ą 2. Do you have an existing audience?
- Yes (Instagram, email list, blog) → Start with Shopify or Big Cartel
- No → Start with Etsy or Amazon Handmade to leverage their traffic
- Best strategy: Do both—marketplace for discovery, owned site for branding
đź’° 3. What's your budget?
- $0/month → Big Cartel Free, Storenvy, Gumroad Free
- $5-30/month → Big Cartel, Zibbet, Shopify Basic
- Per-sale fees okay → Etsy, Amazon Handmade, Society6
⏰ 4. How much time can you invest?
- 1-2 hours/week → Society6 (passive), Gumroad (automated)
- 5-10 hours/week → Etsy (active listing optimization)
- 15+ hours/week → Shopify + multi-channel (active marketing)
🎯 5. What are your goals?
- Side income → Etsy + Society6 (low maintenance)
- Full-time business → Shopify + Faire + Amazon (diversified)
- Build a brand → Shopify (owned platform, full control)
Selling Platform Statistics
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Learn from sellers who've navigated multi-platform selling
Common Mistakes to Avoid
❌Don't Do This
- •Spread too thin across 7+ platforms — None get proper attention
- •Price the same everywhere — You lose money on high-fee platforms
- •Build entirely on Etsy/Amazon — You don't own your customers
- •Ignore inventory sync — Overselling disappoints customers
- •Copy-paste listings without optimization — Each platform needs customization
- •Wait for perfection before launching — Start small, improve based on feedback
- •Give up after 30 days — Multi-channel takes 3-6 months to gain traction
âś…Do This Instead
- •Start with 2-3 platforms max — Master them before expanding
- •Calculate true profit after fees — Adjust pricing or choose lower-fee platforms
- •Funnel marketplace buyers to owned platforms — Use packaging inserts and email capture
- •Use inventory sync tools — Zibbet or Sellbrite to prevent overselling
- •Customize for each platform — Optimize titles, descriptions, keywords per audience
- •Combine marketplace + owned + social — The 3-platform rule maximizes reach
- •Track performance metrics — Double down on what works, cut what doesn't
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about selling beyond Etsy.
This guide is for informational purposes only. Platform fees, features, and policies may change. Always verify current terms on each platform's official website before making decisions.
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