Shopify vs Etsy: Choosing the Best Platform for Print on Demand

Are you interested in starting a print-on-demand business but unsure which platform will help you succeed? Shopify and Etsy offer unique advantages for sellers. Shopify provides a customizable platform with endless tools and integrations, while Etsy gives you instant access to a large marketplace of eager buyers.

So, let’s dive into our in-depth comparison of Shopify vs Etsy in their features, benefits, and drawbacks to discover which platform is best for your print-on-demand business. 

Shopify vs Etsy for Print on Demand: At A Glance

When comparing Shopify and Etsy for your print-on-demand (POD) business, it’s essential to focus on control, audience, and costs. Here's a quick breakdown.

Shopify

Shopify lets you build a fully customizable online store. You control your branding, design, and customer experience. On the other hand, attracting customers is your responsibility, as Shopify doesn’t provide an existing audience. Shopify works on a subscription model, starting at $39/month, plus additional costs for apps or premium themes.

Etsy

Etsy is a marketplace with a built-in audience looking for unique items. However, you compete with many other sellers. Unlike Shopify, Etsy limits customization. Instead of a subscription fee, Etsy charges $0.20 per product listing and takes a 5% transaction fee, plus payment processing fees.

Key Differences

• Shopify offers full control over your store; Etsy provides limited customization but a ready audience.
• On Shopify, you manage all marketing; on Etsy, customers are already browsing.
• Shopify has a fixed monthly fee, while Etsy charges per listing and takes a percentage of sales.

Choose Shopify for brand control and scalability or Etsy for a quick start and built-in traffic. Both have unique advantages depending on your POD goals.

Shopify vs Etsy for Print on Demand: Quick Comparison

Before exploring the detailed key features of each platform, let’s have a quick look at what sectors we will dig deeply into. 

Feature	Shopify	Etsy	Winner
Pricing	- Monthly subscription starts at $39. - Additional costs for apps and themes.	- No subscription fee. - Charges $0.20 per listing and 6.5% transaction fee.	Depends on sales volume
Ease of Use	- Requires time to build and customize your store. - User-friendly interface for setup.	- Quick setup process with limited customization options. - Ideal for beginners.	Etsy
Design Flexibility	- Full control over store design and branding. - Access to various templates and apps.	- Standardized layout with minimal design flexibility. - No external customization tools.	Shopify
Selling Features	- Unlimited product listings with advanced inventory tools. - Multiple sales channels.	- Focused on handmade and unique items. - Basic inventory and sales tools.	Shopify
Marketing Tools	- Built-in SEO tools and integrations for ads, email, and social media. - Requires marketing effort.	- Relies on Etsy’s marketplace traffic. - Limited external marketing tools.	Shopify
Scalability	- Highly scalable for growing businesses. - Multiple apps and plans for expansion.	- Best for small to medium operations. - Limited scaling options due to platform constraints.	Shopify
Security	- Provides SSL certificates and PCI compliance. - Control over security settings.	- Built-in secure transactions. - Marketplace manages security.	Tie
Support	- 24/7 customer support via chat, email, and phone. - Extensive documentation available.	- Email support and forums only. - Limited direct support options.	Shopify

Note: The "Winner" column highlights which platform excels in each feature, but your choice depends on your business needs.

Etsy vs Shopify For Print On Demand: Pros & Cons

Shopify

Pros

• Full Control: Offers complete store customization, allowing you to create a unique brand for your print-on-demand business.
• Scalability: Flexible platform designed to grow with your business, ideal for expanding product lines or scaling marketing efforts.
• No Direct Competition: Your store is standalone, so you’re not competing directly with other sellers on the same platform.

Cons

• Traffic Generation Required: Unlike Etsy, you need to drive traffic through marketing efforts like SEO, ads, and social media.
• Upfront Costs: Requires a monthly subscription fee and additional expenses for apps and payment gateways.
• Learning Curve: Setting up and managing a Shopify store can take more time and effort than Etsy.

Etsy 

Pros

• Built-In Audience: Etsy attracts millions of shoppers looking for unique and creative products, offering instant visibility for your print-on-demand items.
• Low Barrier to Entry: Easy to set up and start selling, making it ideal for beginners in the print-on-demand industry.
• Trust Factor: Etsy’s reputation as a marketplace for handmade and unique goods builds buyer trust quickly.

Cons

• High Fees: Charges include listing fees, transaction fees, and additional fees for promotions, cutting into profits.
• Limited Branding: Stores are standardized, offering minimal options to establish a distinct brand identity.
• Competition: Sellers face stiff competition from similar products, making it harder to stand out in the print-on-demand niche.

Shopify vs Etsy Key POD Features: Detailed Comparison

When deciding between Shopify and Etsy for your print-on-demand (POD) business, it’s essential to compare their features in detail. Both platforms cater to online sellers but approach business models differently. Here’s how they stack up based on key POD requirements.

Pricing

Shopify 

Subscription Fees

Shopify offers three main pricing plans:

• Basic Plan: $39 per month
• Shopify Plan: $105 per month
• Advanced Plan: $399 per month

Transaction Fees: Free with Shopify Payments. If you choose a third-party payment provider, an additional fee of 2%, 1%, or 0.6% will incur based on your selection plan.

Credit Card Processing Fees: Depending on the selected subscription plan, start at 2.4% + 30¢ USD for online transactions; 2.4% USD for in-person transactions.

Please note that subscription fees vary by country, and the prices listed are for US-based sellers. Click here to check Shopify pricing in your country.

In general, Shopify operates on a subscription model, starting at $39 per month for its basic plan. While this fee covers hosting, security, and basic tools, additional expenses can arise. For instance, premium themes, necessary apps for advanced functions, and transaction fees when using non-Shopify payment gateways can increase the total cost. 

However, this fixed pricing can be more predictable for businesses with steady sales, especially if you're scaling your POD operations.

Etsy 

On the other hand, Etsy does not have a monthly fee. Instead, it charges $0.20 per product listing, which expires every four months, and collects a 6.5% transaction fee on each sale, including shipping costs. 

Additionally, sellers pay processing fees, typically around 3% + $0.25 per transaction, which can add up quickly for high-volume sellers. 

The Verdict

Etsy is ideal for beginners or businesses testing the waters with POD, as its low upfront costs allow for easy entry. However, Shopify is the better option for businesses focused on long-term growth, as its fixed subscription becomes more economical with higher sales volumes.

Product Creation and Customization

Shopify

Shopify offers a robust set of features when it comes to product creation and customization:

• Unlimited Product Listings: Add and showcase as many products as you want, from t-shirts to mugs.
• Print-on-Demand Integrations: Seamlessly connect with services like Printful and Printify to create custom products.
• Customizable Design: Use themes and a drag-and-drop interface to design your store with full control over branding.
• Custom Domain: Establish a professional, personalized presence with a branded domain name.
• Essential Pages: Easily create "About Us," FAQ, and blog pages to provide information and engage customers.
• Streamlined Checkout: Offer a smooth checkout process with multiple payment options and a single-page experience.

Etsy

While Etsy is a popular platform for selling handmade and vintage products, its product creation and customization options are comparatively limited.

• Storefront customization: Etsy does not allow full storefront customization to fit your branding. While you can add a banner and a logo to represent your shop, the overall design options are limited. 
• Product listings: On Etsy, you are restricted to listing a maximum of 999 products. This limitation can be a drawback for print-on-demand businesses as they often have a large product catalog and plan to expand their offerings in the future.
• Domain: Etsy requires you to use their domain for your shop. Your web address will include “etsy.com” in the URL, which may not look as professional or unique as having your custom domain.

The Verdict

Shopify is the winner. Shopify provides more comprehensive tools and options for POD entrepreneurs looking to create and customize their product listings and storefronts effectively.

Payment Options and Processing

Shopify

Shopify offers a comprehensive range of payment options and processing capabilities, making it a versatile platform for online sellers. Shopify has its own payment gateway – Shopify Payments integrated into the platform.

Additionally, the platform supports over 100 third-party payment gateways, including PayPal, Facebook Pay, Amazon Pay, and Apple Pay, and multiple payment methods such as credit/debit cards, bank transfers, gift cards, loyalty points, etc.

These widely recognized and trusted payment methods offer convenience and security, providing a seamless experience for both merchants and customers, which can help increase conversion rates.

Etsy

Etsy ensures a seamless transaction process through its in-house payment system, Etsy Payments, which offers sellers the ability to accept diverse payment methods based on the country in which they’re located

Besides conventional credit and debit card payments, Etsy caters to modern shopping preferences by accepting payments through Etsy Gift Cards, Etsy Credit, and Etsy Coupons. This provides an additional layer of convenience for customers operating within the Etsy platform. 

Moreover, to ensure broad accessibility, Etsy Payments integrates with popular platforms like PayPal, Apple Pay, and Google Pay, affording customers further flexibility at the checkout stage.

The Verdict

Both Shopify and Etsy present robust payment processing capabilities to cater to a diverse range of customer preferences. Nevertheless, one notable advantage of Shopify and Shopify Payments is the free transaction fees, which makes Shopify a more financially appealing choice for print-on-demand sellers, particularly those looking to optimize their profit margins.

Shipping and Fulfillment

Shopify

• Customizable Shipping Rates: You have the flexibility to set your shipping rates. This allows you to tailor the shipping costs to your pricing strategy.
• Trusted Shipping and Fulfillment Supplier Integration: Shopify works with many trusted suppliers to fulfill orders and handle shipping. These suppliers are vetted and integrated with the Shopify platform, ensuring reliable and efficient order fulfillment.
• Shipping discounts: Shopify offers shipping discounts of up to 88% depending on your selected plans with carriers like DHL Express, UPS, and USPS. It also supports drop shipping and international shipping.

Etsy

• Manufacturing Partner Integration: Etsy allows sellers to connect with their POD manufacturing partners, such as Printful or Printify, when listing a product. 
• Shipping Fees: Etsy charges a 6.5% fee on the total cost that customers pay for shipping. 
• Seller-Controlled Shipping Rates: On Etsy, sellers have the autonomy to determine their shipping rates. This enables sellers to establish shipping costs that align with their business model and pricing structure.

The Verdict

Shopify holds a clear edge over Etsy as it doesn’t take a cut on shipping fees and even provides shipping discounts. This aspect is particularly advantageous for print-on-demand businesses.

Additionally, Shopify offers built-in shipping tools and integrations with major shipping carriers, making it easier to manage shipping processes. In comparison, Etsy primarily relies on sellers to handle order fulfillment and shipping independently.

Selling Features

Shopify 

Shopify excels in selling features, providing advanced tools that support unlimited product listings, inventory management, and integration with multiple sales channels, including social media and marketplaces like Amazon. 

For a POD business, this means you can easily sync your Shopify store with platforms like Printful or Printify, automate order fulfillment, and scale your operations without worrying about technical limitations.

Etsy 

While strong in its niche of handmade and unique items, Etsy is more limited in selling features. The platform is designed for individual sellers with smaller inventories, and it needs Shopify's robust inventory management tools. 

Etsy also restricts the types of products you can sell, which can be a drawback if you expand your POD offerings beyond traditional categories like custom mugs or T-shirts.

The Verdict

Shopify is the clear winner for selling features, especially for POD businesses with larger catalogs or plans to diversify their product offerings.

Marketing Tools

Shopify 

Marketing is where Shopify’s strengths shine for POD sellers. The platform provides built-in SEO tools, integrations with email marketing apps, and the ability to create targeted ads on Google, Facebook, and Instagram. 

Shopify also allows you to create discount codes, abandoned cart campaigns, and upsell features, making increasing your average order value easier. However, this level of marketing requires proactive effort, as Shopify doesn’t bring in customers for you.

Etsy 

On the other hand, Etsy relies heavily on its marketplace traffic. Customers visit Etsy searching for unique or handmade items, so sellers benefit from Etsy’s built-in audience without needing advanced marketing skills. 

While Etsy does offer promoted listings and some basic marketing tools, its options are limited compared to Shopify’s extensive toolkit. For POD sellers, Etsy’s marketplace traffic can be helpful, but it may not be enough to build a sustainable business.

The Verdict

Shopify wins for marketing, offering comprehensive tools for POD businesses willing to invest in growing their brand and customer base.

Customer supports

Shopify

Shopify takes customer support seriously, offering various channels to assist their users promptly and effectively:

• 24/7 Availability
• Email Support
• Phone Support
• Live Chat
• Documentaries
• FAQ pages
• Community forum

Etsy

Etsy users can find solutions for their problems via

• Email
• Phone (need to fill in phone support register form)
• Documentaries
• FAQ pages
• Community forum

The Verdict

Shopify excels over Etsy in customer support, offering around-the-clock service with live chat. On the other hand, Etsy lacks a live chat option and requires sellers to fill out a form for support, which could lead to potential delays.

For Print-on-demand: Who should use Shopify and Etsy?

Choosing between Shopify and Etsy depends on the type of print-on-demand business you want to run. Here’s a simple guide to help you decide which platform is best for your needs:

Shopify is great for:

• Businesses that want to build a unique, branded online store.
• Owners who plan to grow their print-on-demand store into a larger business.
• Sellers who want more control over their website design, layout, and features.
• Businesses that aim to market and sell their products through multiple channels (e.g., social media, email).
• Those who are ready to manage their website and handle payments independently.

Etsy is perfect for:

• Sellers who want to start small with a ready-made marketplace.
• Businesses focused on selling handcrafted or unique print-on-demand products.
• Those who want access to a large customer base without worrying about building a website.
• Sellers who prefer simplicity and don’t mind Etsy taking care of payment processing and customer interactions.

Bottom Line

For print-on-demand businesses, Shopify appears to hold a more favorable position over Etsy. But fairly speaking, Shopify and Etsy choose a different approach to ecommerce. Therefore, Etsy remains a viable and attractive platform for artists and designers looking to display and sell their products.

FAQs

Is Shopify or Etsy better to sell on?

It depends on your business goals. Shopify is better if you want full control over your store, branding, and scalability. Etsy is great if you’re looking for a simple setup and access to an existing marketplace of buyers. Shopify works best for long-term growth, while Etsy suits beginners or small-scale sellers.

Is Shopify a good place to sell Print on Demand?

Yes, Shopify is an excellent platform for print-on-demand. It integrates seamlessly with POD apps like Printful and Printify, automating order fulfillment. Shopify also gives you complete control over branding, product display, and marketing tools, making it ideal for building a unique and scalable POD business.

Which is better, Printify or Shopify?

Printify and Shopify serve different purposes. Printify is a print-on-demand service that handles production and shipping, while Shopify is an e-commerce platform for running your store. For a successful POD business, you can use Printify with Shopify to manage fulfillment and sell products through your customized store.

Is Etsy good for Print on Demand?

Yes, Etsy can be a good option for POD, especially for beginners. It provides an existing audience of buyers looking for unique and custom products. However, Etsy has limited branding and customization options, making it better for small-scale POD sellers rather than those looking to build a long-term, scalable business.