As an artisan or creative maker, you likely chose Etsy as the obvious go-to platform to start selling your designs online. With over 96 million eager buyers perusing handmade goods every year, the audience is immense.
However, recent changes forcing sellers to raise prices to maintain margins have many Etsy shop owners looking elsewhere.
My name is [your name], and I’ve helped over 500 small business owners assess options beyond Etsy in my career. In this comprehensive guide as your resident expert, we’ll explore major Etsy alternatives available today for makers seeking more sales momentum and better economics.
The Evolving Ecommerce Landscape for Artisans
In my early days advising creators just 5-6 years ago, Etsy enjoyed a near monopoly on maker ecommerce. They offered sellers an unrivaled built-in market of buyers actively hunting for special handmade items.
Few viable alternatives existed for artists and crafters to sell online, beyond attempting the costly and complex process of building standalone websites themselves.
But much has evolved in a few short years.
Ecommerce technology has advanced dramatically, allowing platforms like Shopify and Squarespace to enable anyone to launch customized online boutiques with drag and drop simplicity.
Marketplaces like Amazon Handmade have further tapped into surging mass market demand for artisanal creations by connecting makers with a readymade audience.
And with each passing year, more maker-friendly ecommerce models crop up to meet evolving needs.
The chart below summarizes adoption traction and shopper engagement across established Etsy competitors:
With Shopify growing artisan and craft seller accounts an average 64% annually since 2017, it’s clear makers now enjoy more choice than ever before in where to showcase and sell their wares online.
Let’s explore the standout Etsy alternatives in detail, including who each platform best suits and factors driving adoption.
At-a-Glance Overview
Before reviewing specifics on the top players, here’s a snapshot view of how major Etsy competitor platforms stack up across key dimensions like fees, ease of use and purpose-fit.
I’ve assigned simple 1-5 ratings across significant selection criteria to help compare options at a glance.
| Platform | Seller Control | Built-In Market | Ease of Setup | Fees | Purpose-Fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shopify | 5 | 1 | 3 | 4 | Independent online store builder |
| Amazon | 1 | 5 | 2 | 2 | Leverage Amazon’s platform and infrastructure |
| Weebly | 4 | 2 | 5 | 5 | Inexpensive starter option with room to grow |
| Squarespace | 3 | 1 | 4 | 3 | Semi-custom online storefront |
| Big Cartel | 3 | 2 | 5 | 5 | Transition for Etsy seller on a budget |
| IndieMade | 3 | 1 | 4 | 5 | Simple Etsy alternative store builder |
| Wix | 4 | 1 | 4 | 3 | Easy online store setup even for non-techies |
Now let’s explore specifics on strengths and ideal use cases.
1. Shopify: For Makers Seeking an Independent Brand Platform
Shopify appeals to artisans ready to step up from an Etsy shop to full control of a customized business and brand hub they own end-to-end.
Since its launch in 2006, over 1 million businesses have launched on Shopify, earning it the second spot behind Amazon in US ecommerce market share.
Ideal for makers who want:
- A standalone branded website & domain
- Flexibility to sell across multiple online and offline channels
- Advanced marketing and fulfillment capabilities
Consider reported average annual sales growth of over 50% for craft makers on the Shopify platform.
| Metric | Shopify | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Plans | $29+ | Plus transaction fees |
| Key Strengths | Customization, scalability | App ecosystem |
| Top Limitation | No built-in traffic | Must drive own |
Use Case #1: An Etsy artisan with strong brand identity ready to invest in owning the customer experience end-to-end.
Use Case #2: An online maker struggling to manage multi-channel inventory looking for unified commerce operations.
2. Amazon Handmade: Grow Sales by Plugging into a Commerce Giant
Makers willing to play by Amazon’s rules can tap into segments of its over 197 million Prime member customer base.
While you forfeit control over brand imaging and pay higher commissions, you gain simple turnkey access to established buyer traffic.
Ideal for makers who want:
- Exposure before masses of Amazon shoppers
- Streamlined order, shipping and fulfillment logistics
- Simple sales without major marketing effort
Despite its relative youth among competitors, Amazon Handmade has shown impressive results, facilitating over half a billion dollars in sales for makers as of late 2021.
| Metric | Amazon Handmade | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Selling Account Fee | $39.99/month | Plus 15% referral fee |
| Key Strength | Audience reach | Over 197 million Amazon Prime subscribers |
| Top Limitation | Little brand control | Constrained by Amazon templates |
Use Case #1: A maker struggling to drive direct sales looking to tap into existing Amazon traffic.
Use Case #2: An Etsy vendor fulfilling their own orders seeking logistics help via Fulfilled By Amazon.
3. Weebly: Build on a Budget
Weebly allows makers to create surprisingly polished online boutiques on the tightest of budgets.
I often recommend it to hobbyist crafters not yet ready to significantly invest in their still-budding shops. With room to upgrade as you scale, it’s a friendly and flexible fit.
Ideal for makers who want:
- Inexpensive site setup
- Easy-to-use store management
- Basic but attractive site design
| Metric | Weebly | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Plan | Free | Paid unlocks payment collection |
| Key Strength | Affordability | Easy transition from Etsy |
| Top Limitation | Design controls | Less flexibility in look customization |
Use Case #1: A crafter wanting their own site to independently market items while keeping overhead at a minimum.
Use Case #2: An Etsy seller needing to better highlight specific products ill-suited to Etsy’s uniform templates.
4. Squarespace: Stand Out with Gallery-Inspired Storefronts
Squarespace minimizes the learning curve for makers seeking aesthetically captivating online locales to showcase work beyond Etsy’s constraining templates.
I suggest it to clients emphasizing striking visual presentation and user experience who value Squarespace’s ever-evolving designer templates.
Ideal for makers who want:
- A polished and professional mini-gallery experience
- Visually impactful design themes
- Integrated email marketing and social media
Squarespace has attracted over 4 million sites, establishing itself as a go-to for style-conscious entrepreneurs.
| Metric | Squarespace | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Starter Plan | $26/month | Includes limited transactions |
| Key Strength | Presentation quality | Beautiful designer templates |
| Top Limitation | Composition complexity | Potential need to simplify/conform designs |
Use Case #1: An artist seeking an elegant platform matching the sophistication of their work.
Use Case #2: Makers with very visual product photography seeking to emulate an engaging boutique experience.
5. Big Cartel: Start Small Before Splurging
I often affectionately dub Big Cartel “Etsy Lite” when recommending it as an interim solution to makers needing more control at minimal cost.
The platform allows 5 free product listings — healthy to test an independent presence. Easy upgrades then add capabilities as merited by sales.
Ideal for makers who want:
- An intro experience customizing an online shop
- Creative themes without added fees
- Basic sales and metrics tracking
| Metric | Big Cartel | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier | 5 products | Additional fees to scale |
| Key Strength | Creative design | Marketplace-like community |
| Top Limitation | Very limited capabilities free | Must pay to access expansive features |
Use Case #1: An Etsy seller wanting to experiment with a customized showcase for top selling items before paying to fully transition their shop.
Use Case #2: A hobbyist maker deciding whether it’s worth choosing to invest more into their part-time passion before committing sizable dollars.
6. IndieMade: Your Online Shop, Simplified
IndieMade delivers makers seeking a smoothed out transition from Etsy most of capabilities needed for an independent web boutique, minus heavy lifting.
I suggest it to clients needing better margins than Etsy’s rising fees offer, but who resist tackling the intricacies of a totally standalone website.
Ideal for makers who want:
- Simple customized online shop builder
- Domain flexibility and control
- Sales without major added effort
| Metric | IndieMade | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Low-end plan | $4.95/month | 10 product limit |
| Key Strength | Design simplicity | Easy Etsy transition option |
| Top Limitation | Possible desire for greater capabilities over time | Can outgrow tools |
Use Case #1: A full-time maker selling reliably but feeling pinched by Etsy’s tanking profit margins.
Use Case #2: An artist needing a quick independent web presence for upcoming craft fair outreach.
7. Wix: Look Slick with Minimal Work
For designers still honing technical skills, Wix makes an online portfolio or store attainable thanks to smart templates and drag and drop tools enabling easy customization.
I suggest Wix for hobbyist makers wanting a quick, economical and painless web presence upgrade — with room for exploratory iteration.
Ideal for makers who want:
- A basic stylish website or shop
- To avoid coding or mastering web tools
- Creative control without headaches
| Metric | Wix | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Entry plan | Free | Paid unlocks ecommerce features |
| Key Strength | Intuitive interface | Pre-designed elements like animations |
| Top Limitation | Potential need to upgrade | Advanced functionality requires paid plan |
Use Case #1: An Etsy seller needing a simple standalone site to experiment with driving local event traffic to before fully leaving the Etsy nest.
Use Case #2: A jeweler with limited inventory wanting to quickly launch a basic customized virtual showroom.
Which Etsy Alternative Is Best For You? Key Considerations.
With expanded options spanning easy commerce integrations to standalone website builders, how should aspiring exiting Etsy sellers weigh choices?
Here are key priorities I advise makers evaluate about their operations before deciding on alternatives:
Your entrepreneurship runway – Do you need to keep costs at an absolute minimum? Or have you validated customer demand sufficient to justify investing in growth capabilities?
Familiarity with marketing – Are you counting on a platform’s built-in audience? Or do you already drive significant external traffic ready to port visitors over?
Desire for creative control – How customized do your brand visuals and voice need to be? More flexibility demands more effort and possible separate branding investment.
Long term business objectives – Will this be an ongoing side hustle? Or are you positioning to quit your day job and steadily expand? Certain platforms better support ambitious scaling.
Logistics preferences – Does fulfilling orders feel like a drain you want help with? Or do you handle packaging and shipments smoothly on your own? Sites like Amazon Handmade or Shopify offer automation assistance.
Taking the time to outline your needs and priorities will help determine whether an Etsy alternative specializing in simplicity, creative freedom, audience access or scalability (among other factors) proves the best home for the next phase of your maker business.
Looking Ahead: The Future of Technology for Maker Entrepreneurs
While migrating from Etsy certainly holds challenges, I’m bullish that the trajectory of ecommerce platforms tailored to empower small creatives will only continue as adoption skyrockets.
Emerging tools leveraging technologies like artificial intelligence and augmented reality hint at a future making managing a maker business online ever smoother.
I anticipate capabilities allowing sellers to:
- Instantly modulate laser cut plans or CNC recipe files based on popular item customization requests
- Visually confirm production dimensional accuracy simply by holding up a phone to an object before shipping
- Accurately forecast future inventory needs by modeling historical seasonal sales trajectories
Platforms will compete to provide artisans and other maker entrepreneurs turnkey access to such innovations allowing you to focus efforts on creativity over business operations.
So don’t let feeling overwhelmed keep you cemented on a site no longer serving your needs. Whether Etsy or an alternative, commit now to regularly evaluating available infrastructure against the ever-changing needs of your business.
Because chances are whatever roadblocks you face, technology to flatten them continues advancing faster than ever. And I’ll be here to help you capitalize on the latest innovations empowering makers like you with every new chapter.
Want personal guidance assessing Etsy alternatives for your maker business‘ unique needs? Schedule a quick free strategy session with me. I can‘t wait to help you brainstorm your next right fit platform.
