Etsy Alternatives: The 16 Best Sites For Selling Handmade Crafts

Handmade products have always been special. A card with a child's handprint on it. A fresh-baked batch of cookies. A crocheted blanket. It feels good to receive an item that a talented individual has made with their own two hands.

Whether craft items come from a friend or  a professional artisan, they are just more personal than mass-produced products. This is the main reason they've become so popular—from face masks and home décor to jewellery and DIY patterns, in recent years, selling handmade items has become a legitimate business.

For a long time, Etsy has been the go-to marketplace for folks looking to make money doing what they love. Not any more. There are now a bunch of viable alternatives that offer different features, benefits and ways to turn grow your brand.

In this guide, we'll look at the most notable Etsy alternatives and how the platform stacks up against the growing field of competition.

What is Etsy?

Etsy is a global online marketplace that's designed to give people a platform to make, sell and buy unique and creative goods. With many online stores devoted to new and shiny items, it focuses on vintage and handmade items.

(Image Source: Etsy)

Favoured by independent artists and creatives, the most popular products sold on Etsy include handmade jewelry, art, clothing, home décor, accessories, toys and assorted collectibles.

Is Etsy worth using?

Selling on Etsy is a viable option. There are a few main benefits: it's quick and easy to get started, it's fairly cost effective in comparison to other marketplaces (or creating a website) and you get the additional benefit of Etsy's large built-in audience.

However, there are drawbacks too:

• Lots of competition: Etsy has more than four million active sellers. While at first such a large audience can seem like a gift, for most it's a curse. It means there's a lot of competition, especially if you're starting a new business from scratch. Every category is saturated with similar products, which means you have to work extra hard to drive customers to your store.
• Knock-offs: Because there is such a saturated market, there are entire stores set up to mimic items that sell well. Artists will work hard to create something people love, only for copycats to come along, copy them and undersell them. And as Etsy doesn't allow you to really establish a brand, most customers won't even know it's happening.
• No customer retention: As a general rule people don't go to Etsy because they are fans of specific creators. They go there because they like the platform and they are looking for specific types of products they know they'll find there. There's very little opportunity to build a customer base dedicated to your specific business.
• Lack of branding: Building a distinct brand around your products is one of the best ways to grow your business. It's impossible with Etsy. Where Paperform will allow you to change colours, fonts, layout and add other branding elements, with Etsy all shops look the same.
• Marketing is more difficult: Using email marketing is critical. Capturing leads and building an email list is an extremely effective growth channel. It's also a feature that's missing from Etsy. While you can technically link to a signup form or newsletter registration form, adding this extra friction doesn't encourage folks to actually do so.

Ecommerce website alternatives to Etsy

There are certain limitations that come with online marketplaces. If you're after more control, flexibility and advanced features, creating an ecommerce website that you've got complete control over is a better option.

That might sound intimidating for some. But don't worry, the days where building a website was like hacking into the Matrix are (sort of) over. Now there are a range of website builders and dedicated ecommerce platforms that make it easy to start in as little as a few minutes.

If you're a creator looking to sell online, a custom-built online store is the way to go. That way you can customise your site for your unique needs, better understand your customers and have a "home" for your business on the internet.

1. Paperform

(Image Source: Paperform)

Pricing:

• Essentials: $20/month
• Pro: $40/month
• Agency: $135/month

Ideal for: Sellers and small business owners who want to build a beautiful site with simple ecommerce features that reflects their brand and integrates with their favourite apps.

Paperform is an easy to use, beautiful and powerful ecommerce solution that adapts to your needs. Whether you need to build a one-page website for your online store, an order form complete with automatic tax and receipt generation, or a brand-specific payment page, with our digital suite of tools, you can achieve it.

Our intuitive free-text editor lets you design your site by just typing on the page. Paperform empowers you to reflect your unique look without any code—adjust fonts, tweak the UI and add multimedia elements with just a few clicks. You could also start with one of our 650+ templates, and customise any element you like.

But, we get that looks alone don't cut it. That's why we also offer a full suite of business tools, and over 3,000 app integrations to help you automate processes, connect with marketing tools, and share data seamlessly between you favorite apps.

List your products, manage inventory and seamlessly guide customers from browsing stock through to payment and aftercare. Connect with leading payment providers like PayPal, Stripe and Braintree. Whichever solution you choose, we take no extra fees.

On the backend, Paperform provides analytics to keep track of how customers engage with your brand. Use our built-in survey and form tools to send customer satisfaction surveys and ensure you're meeting customer needs.

“I initially played around with some larger platforms like Shopify. However, I quickly found that while their platform is powerful, it was perhaps too big and overwhelming for a small local business. . . That’s when I came across Paperform. I found that the process was quick and painless, and connecting with PayPal was a breeze.” — Dennis Karle, Freelance Consultant.

Worried about setting up your online store? Don't be. Our customer support team is around 24/7 to help you get setup at no extra cost. Whether you're an existing Etsy user looking to migrate or want to turn your hobby into a business, we're here to help you grow.

2. Shopify

(Image Source: Shopify)

Pricing:

• Basic Shopify: $29/month
• Shopify: $79/month
• Advanced Shopify: $299/month

Ideal for: Shopify is aimed mainly at businesses looking to build complex ecommerce websites. It's suitable for crafters and makers who have the time to build a large-scale website experience, or who need a combination of POS and online payments.

Shopify is great for setting up a site that doesn't require too much technical know-how. It has comprehensive ecommerce functionality and can scale alongside you as your creative business grows, unlike many current alternatives.

It's more expensive than other solutions on this list, but that's because it's one of the most popular ecommerce solutions on the web. It offers a full suite of business tools, including POS, local delivery options and even loans through Shopify Capital.

Shopify comes with all the tools you need to manage your handmade craft business online and offline. There is a large community and plenty of themes and add-ons to help you get started. Just keep in mind that because it's such a large company, it can be difficult to get support when you're starting out (and it can be a bit confusing).

3. WooCommerce

(Image Source: WooCommerce)

Pricing:

• Free for base product
• Additional fees for add-on features

Ideal for: WooCommerce is suitable for crafters and makers who already have a WordPress presence, or a basic understanding of web development to tweak the platform to their needs.

WooCommerce is a popular WordPress plugin that transforms WordPress into a fully functioning ecommerce store. While there are now many alternatives, it remains one of the most popular solutions, mainly because its free and open-source.

The base product is technically "free," however the default features are quite limited. You'll have to pay for add-ons and extensions to get the full benefits. This isn't a deal breaker, but the costs of these extensions can swiftly add up.

WooCommerce does offer everything you need to sell and run your business online. You can process orders, track stats in real-time and customise your site to suite your style. A word of warning: it's not the most user-friendly option—a working knowledge of web development is strongly recommended.

4. Ecwid

(Image Source: Ecwid)

Pricing:

• Free to build and launch (up to 10 products)
• Venture: $12.50
• Business Essentials: $29.17
• Unlimited: $82.50

Ideal for: Etsy users who are considering selling their products elsewhere but unsure what sales channel to commit to. It is also a viable choice if you only plan on selling less than ten products.

Ecwid isn’t so much a website builder as it is an add-on to give your website or social media a shopping cart. For example, if you're a graphic designer with an Instagram portfolio you could use Ecwid's features to allow customers to purchase directly from your page (though it's unnecessary now Instagram has built-in ecommerce.)

The selling point of Ecwid is that it's easy and free to get started. This draws in new makers and entrepreneurs looking for a solution other than Etsy. There's no need for any web design skills or complex code and there are a range of relevant features like order management and basic inventory.

There is one major downside: Ecwid relies on helping you sell on other channels. To get the most out of it you'll have to be prepared to setup a multi-channel strategy and offer your products across several platforms like Facebook, Amazon, Google

5. Big Cartel

Pricing:

• Gold: Free
• Platinum: $9.99/month
• Diamond: $19.99/month

Ideal for: Smaller crafters and artists who want to build a simple ecommerce site to sell handmade goods or test whether there is an audience for their creations.

Big Cartel is a store builder that’s specifically designed for creators selling physical products. It’s best suited for small creatives, artists and crafty entrepreneurs. There is an active user base built around the art community and resources to help you get started.

Unfortunately there are a few limitations. You are restricted to how many products you can sell, and even how many images for each product you can include. This won't be an issue for smaller businesses, but if you're producing a lot of products it can get in the way.

As for branding, you're able to make basic customisations to your site. The themes are simple, but there are enough options to build an aesthetically pleasing site that reflects your business. The free tier is rather forgiving too, so it's a good option if you want to dip your toes in the water without committing.

6. IndieMade

(Image Source: IndieMade)

Pricing:

• Basic: $4.95/month
• Standard: $12.95/month
• Pro: $14.95/month
• Plus: $19.95/month

Ideal for: Creatives who don't care about branding and just want a simple site where they can blog alongside selling their products. It is also suitable if you want to sell test another platform while also selling on Etsy.

Much like Big Cartel, IndieMade is designed specifically for artists. You can build a website with a store, blog and gallery in a much easier way than if you tried to do so with WordPress. Plus, it's affordable and easy to update.

IndieMade comes with inventory management features and everything you need to sell online. It isn't hugely customisable, but the focus is on simplifying the creation process so makers can spend more time crafting cool products. There are basic SEO, analytics and marketing integrations that will cover most small entrepreneurs.

Compared to other solutions IndieMade is rather barebones. However one advantage it does have is that it integrates nicely with Etsy. You can sell on both platforms and your product inventory will update automatically.

7. Squarespace

(Image Source: Squarespace)

Pricing:

• Business: $23/month with 3% transaction fees
• Basic Commerce: $27/month
• Advanced Commerce: $49/month

Ideal for: Creatives who want a well-designed ecommerce site that they're willing to put the work into to get just right.

Squarespace is a big name in website builders for a reason. It’s aesthetically pleasing and powerful. It was one of the first companies to democratise the website creation process and is a good option for newbies, with a drag-and-drop editor that is easy to get a handle on.

It's important to note, that while Squarespace has recently made the move into the ecommerce space, thats not its main focus. As such, ecommerce functionality isn't included as part of the base offering, which is more focused on portfolios and blogs. Most advanced functionality is locked behind the higher pricing tier.

Conveniently, you can port all your Etsy products across to your Squarespace site, so if you're looking to migrate an existing store it is one of the simpler alternatives.

8. Wix

(Image Source: Wix)

Pricing:

• Business Basic: $27/month
• Business Unlimited: $32/month
• Business VIP: $59/month

Ideal for: Creatives who want a well-designed ecommerce site that they're willing to put the work into to get just right.

Much like Squarespace, Wix started as a generic website builder. It has since made a shift to ecommerce and has become one of the better solutions on the web. They have a decent drag-and-drop builder, customisable templates and comprehensive features across their three plans.

Wix has all the payment and order management functionality you would expect. The shipping options allow for cost calculations within the US, as well as offering options for local delivery and pickup. Unfortunately, you're mostly stuck with their templates rather than being able to create a solution of your own like you can with Paperform.

Online Marketplace Alternatives to Etsy

Alternatives to Etsy can be divided into two categories: online marketplaces and dedicated ecommerce sites. Which one you choose depends on your needs and the type of business you want to build.

Online marketplaces are simple to use, but have many of the same drawbacks that Etsy suffers from. These are third-party platforms that are easy to manage and take less commitment than a website, but come with certain limitations and restrictions.

"Online marketplaces are basically a digital version of the local market where you have to pay a fee to set up your table and sell your products. Except on the internet there's fees for listing, processing and advertising your goods."

The obvious examples are Amazon, eBay and Facebook Marketplace. For crafty types, it’s best to look at specialised marketplaces, so that’s what we’re going to do here.

9. Amazon Handmade

(Image Source: Amazon Handmade)

Pricing:

• Professional: $39.99 + variable transaction fee (usually 15–20%)

Ideal for: Sellers who want access to a lot of potential customers and are willing to pay for it.

Amazon Handmade is the the global ecommerce mega giant's response to the need for a more personal touch. When we think of Amazon, we think of mass-produced items with discounts and overnight shipping and all those other hyper-capitalistic things that makes Amazon what it is.

Handmade is the antithesis to this. It highlights smaller sellers and makers. Here you will find a market for items like jewelry, stationary, home décor, beauty products and all sorts of other handmade goodies.

It's more expensive to sell on Amazon Handmade than it is on Etsy. But you get a few more fulfillment and inventory management features on the backend, as well as the chance to put your products in front of more than 300 million customers. Be wary that, as we touched on earlier, this also means a lot of competition.

10. Zibbet

(Image Source: Zibbet)

Pricing:

• $5/month per channel (minimum two channels)

Ideal for: Crafters who want to sell across multiple platforms, including social media.

Zibbet is an interesting platform. It has a marketplace where people can find your goods, but its primary offering is a hub from which you can manage other sales channels. For example, if you wanted to sell across Etsy, eBay, Facebook and an Instagram account, you can do it through Zibbet.

There's one catch: you still have to manage and pay fees for each individual store. That can get a bit overwhelming to say the least. Though at least when you make a change to a product on your Zibbet store, that change is automatically process on other platforms.

Zibbet is a decent solution to consider if omnichannel marketing interests you. Just make sure to check it integrates with your platform of choice first. (As of September 2021, the Zibbet Marketplace is temporarily offline to acquisition transfer.)

11. Bonanza

(Image Source: Bonanza)

Pricing:

• Final Offer Value (FOV) under $500: 3.5% or selected advertising percentage
• FOV greater than $500: 3.5% or selected advertising percentage + 1.5% of amount over $500

Ideal for: Sellers who want to take home more profits, even at the expense of less exposure.

While Bonanza isn't aimed exclusively at crafters and independent sellers, it's an online marketplace that hosts a myriad of small businesses, making it a viable Etsy alternative.

Bonanza prides itself on being “seller-first”. Unlike most marketplaces, sellers have access to customer data and can engage in repeat marketing efforts. A unique feature is that buyers can haggle just like an in-person market. This is good for customers, but not exactly the most attractive idea for prospective sellers.

12. Storenvy

(Image Source: Storenvy)

Pricing:

• Free for starter plan
• Artisan Plan: $9.99/month
• Growth Plan: $24.99/month
• Professional Plan: $49.99/month

Ideal for: Sellers who want a more social ecommerce experience.

Storenvy is a “social marketplace”, meaning that you can interact with it in more ways than just buying and selling. With an account, you can Envy products (their version of Likes), add products to “collections” (kind of like Pinterest boards) and follow other creators and stores.

What's the point of Envies? Well products with lots of Envies end up on the popular page, giving your store greater exposure and improving your chance of getting sales. It's a strange mix of social media and ecommerce store that works rather well.

While Storenvy isn't going to compete with the big name social media websites, there is an active community engaging with products and creators. Many principles used to grow and engage social media followers can be applied on this platform too.

13. aftcra

(Image Source: aftcra)

Pricing:

• 7% transaction fee

Ideal for: American crafters who want to be part of a community and aren’t afraid of marketing.

While anyone can buy from aftcra, this platform only allows American-made goods to be sold. It’s very community-minded and very small. Their mission is to support local artists and artisans living across the United States and provide a marketplace that constantly evolved to suit buyers and sellers.

If you call the Land of the Free home then aftacra is a great alternative to Etsy. The marketplace is uncluttered, there are no listing fees, and their customer service experience is top notch. Just keep in mind it doesn't have the traffic and reach of the larger marketplaces on this list.

14. Folksy

(Image Source: Folksy)

Pricing:

• Basic: 15p + VAT for listing; 6% + VAT transaction fee
• Folksy Plus: £5/month; 6% + VAT transaction fee

Ideal for: Small creative businesses, craftspeople and markers based in the United Kingdom.

Like aftcra, Folksy is locked to a particular region. In this instance it's the United Kingdom, the home of Queen Elizabeth and Digestive biscuits. As it says on their homepage, "every purchase from Folksy supports a genuine craftsperson".

It's important to note that unlike other marketplaces, Folksy is purely dedicated to handmade products—no vintage items or reselling is allowed. This ensures they can remain dedicated to supporting local artists and makers.

Customers can shop by region (e.g. Scotland, South-West England) and products are highlighted on the homepage based on popularity, reaching best-seller status, or just being featured. The community is close-knit and there's a bunch of useful resources to help your business grow.

15. Redbubble

(Image Source: Redbubble)

Pricing:

• Variable depending on product

Ideal for: Graphic designers wanting the conveniences of mass-producing without worrying about the details.

Redbubble allows you to upload art, then its manufacturers print it on a variety of products. This means your designs can feature on shirts, phone cases, home décor, and a whole lot more, with minimal involvement from you.

Redbubble takes care of all the product assembly and shipping. Because of this, it charges a price that varies based on the product and delivery area. The artist then adds a margin on top of it, and those two costs combined make up the final price (which is fairly costly).

As with any online marketplace, if a customer doesn't like your pricing they can just move on to the next design. This is particularly fraught on Redbubble, where any and all designs have the potential to be repurposed on a similar product.

16. Depop

(Image Source: Depop)

Pricing:

• 10% transaction fee

Ideal for: Sellers looking to resell fashion items or sell clothes directly to a young audience.

Depop (a subsidiary of Etsy as of 2021) is a fashion marketplace app for secondhand, handcrafted and reworked items. While there are a diverse array of items sold on the platform, its goal is to transform fashion to make it "more inclusive, diverse and less wasteful".

With Depop you can list for free and start selling immediately. In terms of looks, the app is very similar to Instagram (which makes sense as the audience here is made up of teens and Gen Y). There are next to no customisation or branding options, unless you get creative with your product photos.

If you're looking to build and grow a business there are better options than Depop. However, if you're looking to start a side hustle and want to tap into a more youthful market, it's a good option.

At a glance: comparing alternatives to etsy

	Starting price/month*	Customisation	Marketing tools	Integrations	POS
Etsy	Free	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
Amazon Handmade	$39.99	Yes	No	Yes	No
Zibbet	$5	No	No	Yes	No
Bonanza	Free	No	Yes	Yes	No
Storenvy	Free	No	No	Yes	No
aftcra	Free	No	No	No	No
Folksy	Free	No	No	No	No
Redbubble	Free	No	No	No	No
Depop	Free	No	No	No	No
Paperform	$19	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Shopify	$29	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
WooCommerce	Free	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Ecwid	Free	Minimal	Yes	Yes	Yes
Big Cartel	Free	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
IndieMade	$4.95	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Squarespace	$18	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Wix	$20	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes

What is the best website to sell handmade crafts?

Etsy and its alternatives all offer viable ways to sell online. We may be biased, but we think Paperform provides the best ecommerce solution for indie makers and crafters by balancing a simple creation process with advanced ecommerce functionality.

Our all-in-one platform takes care of every part of your online business. Whether you are selling arts and crafts as a hobby or starting your dream fashion label, Paperform has you covered. Sell your products, build your audience and showcase your brand all in the one spot.

Still using Etsy and unsure if you should take the next step? Leave your products up on your Etsy shop and use our 14-day free trial to try Paperform's features. That way you can get an idea of what your new store could look like, without having to make a monetary commitment.

Build your dream store with Paperform and start selling today with our 14-day free trial—no credit card required.