The e-commerce industry is booming rapidly nowadays. Many different online stores can help you create your own website to start an e-commerce platform. Two popular stores that are considered by many entrepreneurs are Shopify and Etsy. Both of these platforms are known for their unique features and their ability to understand business needs.
The main question when it comes to Shopify vs. Etsy is which one to choose from. In this article, we have mentioned a detailed guide to help you pick the right online store for your business. So, let’s jump right into the article and look at this guide.
What is Shopify?
Shopify is a leading e-commerce platform that allows businesses to create, manage, and sell their products. This platform offers many amazing features that can help you grow your business.
Features
- They offer customization for your website and give you full freedom with the design.
- You can easily manage your products, inventory, and pricing.
- They offer an extensive marketplace and a lot of tools to enhance the customer experience.
Pros
- The platform is very easy to use.
- The customer service is great, so you can get help anytime you want.
Cons
- The monthly fees can be quite expensive.
- You need to pay transaction fees if you use third-party payment methods.
What is Etsy?
Etsy is a popular marketplace that is similar to Amazon or eBay. About 9 million vendors and shippers are active on this platform, selling products on their storefronts. Here, you will find a variety of different things, such as handmade, vintage, and craft items.
Features
- You can sell unique handmade and crafted pieces.
- They have an internal advertising platform to increase your visibility.
- SEO tags and tools are also available.
Pros
- Starting your business on Etsy is relatively inexpensive.
- Promotional tools are also available.
Cons
- The competition is quite high.
- Limited customization options
Shopify vs Etsy Fees Comparison
When deciding between Shopify vs Etsy fee, it is very important to understand their fee structure. Shopify and Etsy fees are quite different. The fee structure of these e-commerce platforms can impact your profits and even the scale of your business. Therefore, below, we have mentioned everything you need to know about Shopify vs Etsy fees.
Shopify
This is a popular brand that offers many different features to sellers. The fee structure here is a little complex, but you do get a lot of flexibility. They have monthly subscription packages. You can find three different subscription plans—the basic plan is $29/month, the Shopify plan is $79/month, and the advanced plan is $299/ month. All of these have different features that you can avail of.
They also have transaction fees, which can change according to the plan that you choose. They can vary from 5% to 2.4%, depending on the plan that you choose. If you are offering your customer a credit card for payment, then Shopify also has credit card fees. These fees are also based on the plan that you choose. If you are utilizing extra themes and additional apps, then there will be an additional cost related to them.
Etsy
Etsy is also a platform where many people open their storefronts. This is an affordable option, and the fee structure is relatively simple. It is important to know that they also take a percentage of each sale. They also have a listing fee, and you have to pay about $0.20 for each product that you post.
There are transaction fees as well, which are about 5% of the total sale price. This also includes the shipping cost. If you are creating a storefront on Etsy, then you need to pay the payment processing fees and the advertising fees as well. Therefore, make sure you keep this in mind before opting for Etsy.
Shopify vs Etsy: Marketing Consideration
When picking from Shopify vs. Etsy, you have to make sure you consider the marketing tools as well. Marketing plays a very important role in ensuring that your products reach the right audience. Both of these platforms have unique tools for marketing your products, so let’s have a look at them.
Shopify
Shopify offers sellers full control over the design and branding of their websites. You can customize everything, such as the layout and even the logo. This means that you will have full flexibility to build your own unique brand. There are also many marketing tools, such as email marketing, where you email different campaigns to your customers.
They also allow sellers to create discounts for their customers. They have robot SEO tools that will enable you to optimize your descriptions. Shopify also allows you to integrate with other social media platforms so that you can share and promote your products. There is also a paid advertising feature that can enhance your reach.
Etsy
Etsy is known for offering built-in traffic to sellers so that they can attract the right customers. You can even take advantage of the Etsy ads feature, which will improve the visibility of your products. They also have the SEO optimization feature, which can enhance your product description and tags. However, this feature is limited compared to Shopify.
Here, you will also find social media integration. This means that you can share your products on different social media pages, such as Instagram, Facebook, and others. This will allow you to attract more customers and boost your sales. They also offer promotions and discounts that you can send to your customers, which can encourage your customers to purchase products.
Which Platform Should You Choose?
Shopify vs. Etsy- which one should you choose? If you have the same question, don’t worry. We have some points that will help you pick the right platform for yourself.
Control
If you want more control over your website and want to manage everything yourself, then Shopify should be your pick. Here, you can design your website, choose the layout, and customize everything. On the other hand, Etsy doesn’t offer you this much control over the website and storefront.
Costing
If you are looking for an affordable option, Etsy should be on your list. Etsy has a simple fee structure and no hidden fees. Shopify is considered an expensive option. However, if you have some investment, you can surely set up your storefront on Shopify.
For Unique Products
Etsy specializes in people who want to sell handmade, vintage, or unique products. The audience on Etsy is looking for craft-related items, and if you have such products, then Etsy is the platform for you. Shopify, on the other hand, offers every kind of product. There is no specific niche, and you can target a lot of different types of audiences.
Streamline Shopify and Etsy Fulfillment with NextSmartShip
Running an e-commerce business can be quite challenging, especially when it comes to fulfillment. This is where NextSmartShip comes into action. They are the perfect solution to streamline the entire process. They can help with handling the inventory, receiving the order, packaging the orders, and even shipping them to the customers.
NextSmartShip can allow you to integrate it with your Shopify or Etsy store so that all the orders can be processed smoothly and everything is done efficiently. This means that now you don’t have to handle the logistics of your business; instead, work on expanding your business and other parts of your company. It is also a cost-effective solution that is great for small businesses. Therefore, make sure to check out NextSmartShip for their services and how they can benefit your business.
Conclusion
Choosing between Shopify and. Etsy can be quite challenging. These two platforms offer different services and have unique tools that can help your business. However, choosing between the two depends on the type of business that you have. If you are someone who is making handmade products and crafts-based items, then Etsy is the place for you. Shopify is for entrepreneurs who want full freedom for their brand and want growth potential. We hope this article helped you understand which platform is ideal for you. Also, check out NextSmartShip, as they can help with your business growth.
