Quick answer
The closest sites like Etsy are Amazon Handmade and eBay, because they bring their own shoppers, but on a $30 sale they keep $4.50 and $4.48 against Etsy's $3.30. If you can bring buyers yourself, an own store on Shopify, Big Cartel, Square Online or Squarespace cuts the fees on that sale to $1.17 to $1.77; Big Cartel and Square Online have free plans, while Shopify and Squarespace charge a monthly plan. Choose by who brings the buyers first, then by fees.
Nation, an AI store builder, publishes this page. It is pre-launch, with a waitlist on withnation.ai, so it is not in the list or the fee example. See where Nation fits.
How we compared
Every platform here was checked against the same four questions. The first one decides more than the fees do.
- Who brings the buyers Marketplaces show your product to their own shoppers. With an own store, every buyer comes from you: social posts, ads, word of mouth.
- Fees on each sale Percentage and fixed fees on one order, read from each platform's own fee page for a US seller.
- Fixed monthly cost What you pay in a month with no sales, at the plan a small maker would start on.
- Rules and limits Applications, product caps and fees you cannot switch off, which change the real cost.
Etsy alternatives and competitors at a glance
Each platform is shown at the plan a small maker would start on. The source and check date for every number are listed under each platform and at the end of the page.
What each platform keeps from a $30 sale
Fees are easier to compare on one real order than as percentages. The example is one $30 candle, paid by card, with free shipping and no sales tax. On Etsy that sale pays a listing fee of $0.20 per listing, a 6.5% transaction fee and 3% + $0.25 for payment processing.
- Shopify $1.17 plus $39 a month Card 2.9% + 30¢ $1.17
- Big Cartel $1.17 free for 5 products, or $15 a month Big Cartel 0% $0, Stripe 2.9% + $0.30 $1.17
- Square Online $1.29 free plan Card 3.3% + 30¢ $1.29
- Squarespace $1.77 plus $25 a month Transaction 2% $0.60, Card 2.9% + $0.30 $1.17
- Etsy baseline $3.30 no monthly plan Listing $0.20, Transaction 6.5% $1.95, Processing 3% + $0.25 $1.15
- eBay $4.48 no monthly plan Final value 13.6% $4.08, Per order $0.40
- Amazon Handmade $4.50 plan $39.99 a month, then waived once approved Referral 15% $4.50
Assumes a $30 item, free shipping, no tax, a standard US card paid online, no ads and no currency conversion. Etsy's Offsite Ads fee (15% of an order that came from an Etsy ad) is left out because it applies only to those orders. eBay uses its most-categories rate and assumes the listing is within its 250 free listings a month; jewelry pays 15%.
A monthly plan costs money even in a month with no sales. The table shows how many $30 sales a month an own store needs before its plan plus its fees cost less than Etsy's fees on the same sales. Square Online's free plan has no monthly fee, so it needs no break-even.
The count assumes every sale would have happened anyway. Etsy brings shoppers and an own store does not, so the real question is whether you can bring that many buyers yourself.
Each platform in detail
Every platform gets the same five lines: price, fees per sale, what it is strong at, who it is best for and its main limit.
The baseline. Etsy has no subscription fee on Etsy Standard and shows your listings to its own shoppers, which is what every other option here is measured against.
- Price
- No monthly fee on Etsy Standard. Etsy Plus is an optional $10 a month.
- Fees per sale
- A 6.5% transaction fee and 3% + $0.25 processing on the order total. Each listing costs $0.20 per listing, and a listing expires after 4 months.
- Strong at
- Buyers who search for handmade, vintage and craft supplies.
- Best for
- Makers starting out with no audience of their own.
- Limit
- Offsite Ads take 15% of orders that come from Etsy's ads, up to $100 per order; shops under $10,000 in sales over the past 365 days can opt out. Once a shop reaches $10,000, the rate is 12%, mandatory for the lifetime of the shop.
A handmade-only section of Amazon. It needs an application before you can sell, and in return your work sits in front of Amazon's shoppers.
- Price
- Professional plan $39.99 a month, waived after the first month once approved for Handmade.
- Fees per sale
- A referral fee of 15% or $0.30, whichever is greater. Amazon lists a free storefront; referral fees only when you sell.
- Strong at
- Reach: buyers already shopping on Amazon.
- Best for
- Makers whose products ship well and who can pass an application.
- Limit
- On a $30 order outside jewelry it costs the most per sale here ($4.50 against eBay's $4.48), and you cannot sell until the application is approved.
A marketplace with its own buyers. Without a paid eBay Store you get 250 free listings a month.
- Price
- No monthly fee without an eBay Store. A Starter Store is $7.95 a month.
- Fees per sale
- A final value fee of 13.6% in most categories and $0.40 per order over $10 ($0.30 at $10 or less). There is no separate processing fee.
- Strong at
- One-off pieces and items buyers search for by name.
- Best for
- Makers who list up to 250 new items a month and want marketplace buyers without a plan fee.
- Limit
- Jewelry pays 15%, and the fee is charged on the order total, including shipping and sales tax.
An own-store builder. You get a full online store and bring every buyer yourself.
- Price
- Basic plan $39 a month, or $29 a month billed yearly.
- Fees per sale
- Card processing of 2.9% + 30¢ on Basic with Shopify Payments. Another payment provider adds 2%.
- Strong at
- Room to grow: apps, themes, and selling on social channels from one store.
- Best for
- Makers with an audience who sell enough each month to cover the plan.
- Limit
- The plan fee is due in months with no sales, and nobody finds the store unless you send them.
A website builder that also sells. It suits makers who want a portfolio-style site with a shop inside it.
- Price
- Basic plan $25 a month, or $19 a month billed annually. There is no free plan; every site starts with a free trial.
- Fees per sale
- A 2% transaction fee on Basic plus card processing of 2.9% + $0.30.
- Strong at
- Design: templates that show off photos of the work.
- Best for
- Artists and makers who want one site for portfolio, story and shop.
- Limit
- The cheapest plan adds a 2% fee on every online sale.
A small, simple store builder made for artists and makers, with no listing fees and a 0% transaction fee.
- Price
- A free Gold plan for 5 products. Platinum is $15 a month for up to 50 products.
- Fees per sale
- Big Cartel takes 0%. You pay the payment processor, for example 2.9% + $0.30 (Stripe).
- Strong at
- Low fixed cost for a small catalog.
- Best for
- Makers with a few products and their own audience.
- Limit
- Product caps by plan: 5 products on the free plan and up to 50 products on Platinum.
Square's online store builder, which shares one account with Square's card readers for in-person sales.
- Price
- There is no monthly fee on Square Free. Square Plus is $49 a month per location.
- Fees per sale
- Online card processing of 3.3% + 30¢ on Square Free, or 2.9% + 30¢ on Square Plus. In person it is 2.6% + 15¢ on Square Free.
- Strong at
- Selling online and at markets or fairs from one account.
- Best for
- Makers who already sell in person and want a free online store next to it.
- Limit
- The free plan's online card rate of 3.3% + 30¢ is higher than Shopify's 2.9% + 30¢, and buyers only come from you.
Which one fits you
You have no audience yet and need shoppers to find you.
Etsy, eBay or Amazon Handmade
Only marketplaces bring buyers. You pay for that reach in higher fees: $3.30 to $4.50 on a $30 sale.
You sell handmade work that ships well and can pass an application.
Amazon Handmade
Amazon's shoppers and a plan fee of $39.99 a month that is waived after the first month once approved for Handmade.
You sell at markets or fairs and want a free online store too.
Square Online
no monthly fee on Square Free and one account for both: 3.3% + 30¢ online and 2.6% + 15¢ on Square Free in person.
You have a following on Instagram or TikTok and sell 19 or more $30 orders a month.
Shopify or Squarespace
Your buyers already come from you, and at that volume the plan plus the lower fees cost less than Etsy's fees (see the break-even table).
You have five products or fewer and want your own shop for free.
Big Cartel Gold
A free Gold plan for 5 products and 0% taken by Big Cartel.
You want to keep Etsy and add your own store.
Both
Keep Etsy for its shoppers and send your own audience to an own store. On Shopify Basic, marketplace order sync is free for up to 50 orders a month, then 1% up to $99 a month.
Where Nation fits
Nation
Category: an AI store builder
Nation says one description of what you make builds the store, then agents handle orders, customers and delivery and run ads, content and social posts, with you approving the work. Because pricing is not announced yet, it is not compared on fees here.
Limits today
- Status: pre-launch, with a waitlist on withnation.ai.
- Pricing and fees: not announced yet.
- Shopper marketplace: no shopper marketplace has been announced.
- Track record: no independent reviews or public stores yet.
Nation publishes this page. Nation is not ranked here and will not be added to the list or the fee example until signup is public and pricing is published.
Describe what you makeDisclosure and method
Nation, an AI store builder, publishes this page. Nation is not ranked here and will not be added to the comparison until signup is public and pricing is published.
The list covers Etsy and six alternatives that a US maker can use to sell physical products: three marketplaces and four own-store builders. No platform paid to be included, and none of the links are affiliate links.
Every fee was read on the platform's own pricing or fee page on 2 Oct 2026, then re-read in a separate check. Each platform's section names its source, and the full list is below.
Questions about sites like Etsy
What is the best site like Etsy?
The best site like Etsy depends on who brings the buyers. If you need shoppers to find you, Amazon Handmade and eBay are the closest to Etsy, but on a $30 item they keep more of each sale. If you bring buyers yourself, an own store on Shopify, Big Cartel, Square Online or Squarespace keeps less per sale.
Which Etsy alternative has the lowest fees?
Own-store builders have the lowest per-sale fees among Etsy alternatives. On a $30 card sale, Shopify Basic and Big Cartel come to $1.17, Square Online to $1.29 and Squarespace Basic to $1.77, against $3.30 on Etsy. Big Cartel and Square Online have free plans; Shopify and Squarespace charge monthly. Marketplaces cost more: $4.48 on eBay and $4.50 on Amazon Handmade.
Is Amazon Handmade cheaper than Etsy?
Amazon Handmade is not cheaper than Etsy on a $30 sale. Its referral fee of 15% or $0.30, whichever is greater comes to $4.50, while Etsy's listing, transaction and processing fees come to $3.30. Amazon Handmade lists a free storefront; referral fees only when you sell, needs an application before you can sell and charges $39.99 a month for the first month, then waived once approved.
Do Etsy alternatives charge listing fees?
Etsy charges $0.20 per listing, and a listing expires after 4 months. eBay gives 250 free listings a month, then $0.35 per listing. Amazon Handmade lists a free storefront; referral fees only when you sell. Big Cartel has no listing fees but caps products by plan: 5 products on the free plan and up to 50 products on Platinum.
Can I sell on Etsy and my own store at the same time?
You can sell on Etsy and on your own store at the same time: an Etsy shop for marketplace shoppers and an own store for repeat buyers and social media traffic. The cost is two sets of listings and stock counts to keep in sync. On Shopify Basic, marketplace order sync is free for up to 50 orders a month, then 1% up to $99 a month.
Is Nation an Etsy alternative?
Nation is not an Etsy alternative you can compare today. It is an AI store builder, pre-launch, with a waitlist on withnation.ai, and its pricing is not announced yet. Because no shopper marketplace has been announced, it would sit with the own-store builders rather than the marketplaces. Nation will be added to this comparison once signup is public and pricing is published.