18 Sites Like Etsy to Sell Handmade and Unique Items
Etsy has been the most dominant player in selling handmade goods, vintage items, and craft supplies over the last decade. However, sellers on this platform have been searching for sites like Etsy for a couple of reasons such as expanding their reach and boosting their product visibility and brand awareness.
Whatever the reason, it would be wise to take a closer look at Etsy alternatives in this challenging business arena. In this informative article, you will understand the strong and weak parts of the alternatives to Etsy as well as their features that allow them to stand out among others.
Top 18 Etsy Alternatives to Sell Handmade, Vintage and Unique Items
E-commerce sites like Etsy have been increasing at an unprecedented rate in recent years. It is partly because there is room for improvement in Etsy’s management and fee policy. Another important reason for this paradigm shift is the desire to broaden horizons by searching for other platforms to increase brand recognition.
The alternatives to Etsy listed here are the most well-known platforms for handcrafted items and vintage products. They are getting more and more popular year by year on account of the sheer motivation of sellers to become key players in different marketplaces. Without further ado, let's get the ball rolling:)
1. Amazon Handmade
Launched in 2015, this platform of Amazon allows only artisans to show their unique talent upon getting approval. With by far the largest audience in the eCommerce world, Amazon Handmade is the most challenging rival of Etsy.
This giant business player generally partners with micro-businesses so that it provides them with the opportunity to get bigger and monitor their potential. In this regard, it will be vital to touch upon the pros and cons of Amazon Handmade to better understand its distinct role of it.
Pros
- Being the biggest online selling and buying platform on the globe, it enables you to reach out to millions of potential shoppers at the touch of a button:)
- It has a strict application policy to approve the authenticity of artisans wishing to sell their crafts so that it can be a hotspot only for craft makers.
- Services such as shipping, logistics, and tracking the items are completely fulfilled by Amazon to run your store smoothly.
- It is free of charge to open an online Amazon store and list your items.
- If you happen to use Amazon ads, chances are you will get a high return on investment rate, helping to boost your sales.
Cons
- The 15% commission fee by Amazon seems to be the greatest challenge for sellers, making them tune the prices up so that they can make a profit.
- The algorithm is competitive and difficult to monitor all the processes.
- It requires a great deal of SEO work at first to get the business moving.
- Fewer categories compared to Etsy pose a challenge.
- Last but not least, lenient return policies without valid reasons are a great burden on sellers’ shoulders.
💡 Good to Know: Amazon Handmade vs. Etsy: How Similar or Different Are They?
Amazon Handmade Product Tool
If you decided to launch a store on Amazon Handmade but you are unsure of what to sell, do not worry because EtsyHunt will assist you.
Amazon US Handmade Products tool will definitely give the perfect edge over the competitors in this challenging arena. It allows you to compare time, specify estimated sales, provide total reviews and more. It is ideal to have full control over the items without missing any details. Give it a try:)
2. ArtFire
When founded a few years later to become one of the sites like Etsy, Artfire was aimed to turn into a hub for crafters and art lovers. It is a great platform for virtual shop owners trying to sell their distinct vintage and indie items.
Pros
- Promotion of all listed items is made automatically by sharing them with the most well-known search engines, enabling you to spend more time on your shop.
- Store and product pages on the platform are ad-free.
- There is a great sense of community among the members, allowing them to know the details of the shop owner and buyer.
- Shoppers are not required to create an account to make a purchase.
Cons
- It has much less traffic than Etsy.
- The platform has some bad comments on trusted sites, making potential shoppers skeptical.
- It has a monthly fee if you want to sell items on Artfire.
💡For more details please visit: Etsy vs ArtFire
3. IndieCart
With 16.000 registered sellers with handmade items, it is an alternative platform to Etsy. Sellers do not have to pay for listing or commissions received upon sale. However, a monthly payment of $7.50 is required.
Here are some important features that make IndieCart special:
- Selecting how you sell
- Choosing the currency to make sales
- Setting up your own categories and subcategories
- Listing for free
- Blacklisting some buyers
- Facebook integration completed:)
- Specifying a date for the items to be in stock
4. Storenvy
Another great alternative to Etsy with over 67.000 brands selling their goods is Storenvy. High-quality products are what sellers on the platform say they sell and, interestingly, the average sale price is higher than that of Etsy’s.
Offerings of sellers are promoted on a daily basis, making listings much more valuable.
Pros
- Listing fee not required
- Customizing your own storefront in the way you want
- Specifying a product with different sizes and even different prices
Cons
- Lower traffic when compared with Etsy
- Having limited functions
💡 A Must-read: Etsy vs Storenvy: Which One is Friendly to Handmade Products
5. RubyLane
It is one of the most favorable sites like Etsy in terms of vintage items and handcrafted goods. Those wanting to promote their brands that have old-school style are welcomed here to present their unique products.
RubyLane is famous for its highly targeted audience, quality ıtems, and vetted sellers. Because vintage has been their core business since 1998. That makes it attractive for vintage and handmade items Sellers.
The setup and listing are free on RubyLane
However the monthly maintenance fee ( $25) sellers on RubyLane have to submit is higher than any other platform, posing a significant challenge to sellers. Besides, if you add at least 15 items during the month, you will not pay a monthly fee.
Furthermore, there is a service fee of 9.9% based on the Purchase Order total (which does not include Sales Tax), capped at $250. Visit RubyLane pricing for further info.
6. Big Cartel
Potential sellers on both platforms are to find out the parameters enabling you to decide which one is preferable. Big Cartel vs Etsy comparison is what you will get to see the bigger picture.
Firstly, the year (2005) they were launched is the same. Big Cartel allows you to open your personal store whereas, on Etsy, huge traffic of sales is significantly utilized, making it a larger and broader hub to shop.
Plus, artisans are the main audience for both platforms. Yet, while handmade and retro items are preferred on Etsy, artists such as musicians are more prone to use Big Cartel for their customized needs and interests.
The number of audiences on Etsy is 40 times more than its rival, making it a hotspot for shopping.
Finally, in terms of pricing and fees, Big Cartel offers 3 different plans including Free Plan that is limited to 5 products. Moreover, Big Cartel does not require a listing fee.
On the other hand, Etsy has a much more complicated pricing and fee management system, which can sometimes be overwhelming for sellers. At this point, Etsy Fee Calculator is here to help them to manage the fees and costs involved.
💡Good to Know: How To Calculate Etsy Fees with Free Etsy Fee Calculator
7. Folksy
Known as the UK’s biggest online craft fair, Folksy enables genuine artists and buyers wishing to shop directly from artisans to get together. Unlike Etsy, this marketplace does not allow either reselling of an item or vintage sales.
As for the pricing policy of Folksy, there are 2 plans: Basic and Plus. Sellers are charged £0.15 + VAT per item quantity on the Basic plan and a listing fee is required after the first 3 listings.
Likewise, Folksy Plus costs £5 monthly. Those having an Etsy store can import all the data at the touch of a button using Folks Plus.
Another significant factor that should be taken into consideration is that Folksy does not hold on to sellers’ money. Thus, Sales go immediately into sellers’ PayPal or Stripe accounts.
8. Zibbet
Another great alternative to Etsy, Zibbet has expanded their partnership channels, meaning sellers sell their items through different channels including Etsy. No listing or transaction fees are required on this platform.
Data-driven indicators and other useful tools help sellers to keep track of sales and monitor the progress the store on Zibbet has made. In spite of lower traffic than Etsy does have, this marketplace will be a promising hub for online shoppers of handmade items.
9. Aftcra
This is one of the US sites like Etsy and plays a vital role in defining what a handmade item is or looks like. Aftcra has a large selection of categories and market search is at the heart of the management of the store.
There will be no listing fees when you list a number of items nor permission to resell items or sell vintage items. All products are listed for 6 months. Once your product sells there will be a 7% transaction fee. Besides, it is not allowed to list any products under the price of $10.
The platform has an Etsy Importer tool allowing sellers to import data as soon as possible. ⚠However, Aftcra is limited to artists living in America.⚠️
10. Redbubble
Redbubble is a unique marketplace for independent artists and it has a wide range of items from phone cases to home decor. Redbubble’s motto has always been uncommon designs on awesome stuff.
The platform has a base price system in which every time the product is sold, they charge the base price, and the rest is all left to sellers. In addition, there is no listing and setup fee. Visitors to Redbubble always have some items they can find especially based on the reviews.
11. Artful Home
It is an amazing marketplace specifically for those passionate about wall art, sculptures, jewelry, ornaments, etc. What makes it distinct from others is that sellers have to be approved by a jury composed of members of the community. It takes 12-14 weeks to be approved by the jury.
Bear in mind that Artful Home takes a 50% commission on any sales that they generate. Plus, you will get paid approximately 30 days after the ship date.
12. eBay
Needless to say that eBay is one of the biggest competitors of Etsy and sells almost everything. It has a larger audience than Etsy does. Furthermore, it is quite popular around the world.
Analyze Etsy vs eBay review in order to get the full perspective and discover the underlying factors that play an important role.
The consumer base is the first parameter to consider followed by shipping and costs. eBay seller fees and advertising costs are also significant in this regard. Finally, seller performance and tools provided to sellers are what help us to decide which platform is better.
13. Zazzle
Designers and DIY creatives are the artisans here on this platform looking to sell their items crafted with creativity and imagination. There is even an Ideas section for shoppers to provoke inspiring thoughts, which is perfectly fine.
Moreover, Zazzle enables you to earn money in 3 ways:
- Creator: Sell your artwork on items in the marketplace
- Maker: Manufacture physical goods and sell them
- Associate: Promote Zazzle through sharing links.
When it comes to seller fees, the standard Zazzle commission rate is 15% per sale, plus up to a 17% volume bonus.
14. UncommonGoods
The motivation behind this platform is clear by its name, right? The items displayed here are in a way environmentally friendly and fit the bill when it comes to designing recycled materials and using no part of animals.
Since there is a large volume of submissions for Uncommon Goods and they look for truly distinctive designs, it takes some time to get a response.
15. Bonanza
This marketplace’s Webstores section is perfectly integrated into Bonanza.com, meaning it is a great opportunity for prospective sellers to make use of the platform as much as they can. Plus, Bonanza offers a 14-day trial totally free of charge, which is a great option to experience.
When selling your products on Bonanza, you are charged to pay their base 3.5% fee rate. With Google Ads costs, you pay 9% of each sale in total.
16. Spoonflower
It mainly caters to fabric, wallpaper, and home decor. Both sellers and shoppers follow a three-step process to make the purchase. It has many advantages for sellers when the items are resold.
17. Icraftgifts
When the concept is gifted, it is high time to mention Icraftgifts, one of the best sites like Etsy. Personalized store management gives sellers an edge, allowing them to track sales as easy as possible.
18. Shopify
The world’s leading eCommerce platform, Shopify gives you what you want when it comes to crafted materials. The templates and functionality while setting up your own store will definitely give you an advantage over other competitors.
It is completely easy to use and follow, and the documents related to your store and sales are kept in an organized way.
Last Words
Etsy has dominated the world of online shopping specifically in selling handmade products, vintage items, and crafted materials. Along with the momentum it has gained over the years, sites like Etsy have increased by leaps and bounds.
Sellers have undertaken this dramatic change for the better by finding other marketplaces for their unique niche. Then it would always be a great idea to find out about them and make the most out of it.
