Etsy vs Shopify Calculator — Which Costs You Less?
Compare real costs: Etsy's fee stack vs Shopify's plan + processing at your price and volume — see the break-even point.
Last reviewed 2026-10-18. Rates change — verify against the official sources linked below before relying on these figures.
What this is based on
- Etsy: $0.20 listing + 6.5% transaction + 3% + $0.25 processing (US), per order. Offsite Ads not included.
- Shopify: Basic plan $39/mo + Shopify Payments 2.9% + $0.30. Apps, theme and marketing costs not included.
- The comparison ignores the biggest difference: Etsy brings buyers, Shopify requires your own traffic.
The fee math — and why it isn't the real question
On pure costs the comparison is mechanical: Etsy charges ~9.5% + $0.45 per order (listing + transaction + processing) with no monthly fee. Shopify charges $39/month plus ~3% + $0.30 per order. Etsy's higher percentage breaks even against Shopify's flat fee at roughly 60–90 orders/month depending on order value — below that, Etsy is mathematically cheaper.
But the honest framing: you're not comparing two fee structures, you're buying two different products. Etsy's fee includes a marketplace of 90M+ buyers already searching for what you make. Shopify's $39 buys a shop with zero built-in traffic — every visitor costs you ads, SEO or social effort.
When each one actually wins
Etsy wins when: you're testing products, you have under ~80 orders/month, or your items fit Etsy's search-driven niches (crafts, vintage, personalized, digital). Shopify wins when: you have an audience, repeat customers buy direct, you're past break-even volume, or you need brand control Etsy's template can't give.
The pattern most successful sellers land on: Etsy for discovery and validation → Shopify running in parallel → repeat customers get nudged to the owned site where the ~10% Etsy cut becomes margin again. It's not either/or; it's sequence.
The hidden costs the calculator can't show
Etsy's hidden costs: Offsite Ads taking 12–15% on attributed sales, review volatility affecting search ranking, and policy risk — one suspension and the revenue stops cold. Shopify's hidden costs: apps ($30–200/month for a real store), the email marketing stack, and the customer acquisition cost that replaces Etsy's free traffic. Price both realities, not both rate cards.
Frequently asked questions
- Is it cheaper to sell on Etsy or Shopify?
- Etsy is cheaper below roughly 60–90 orders/month (no fixed fee). Above that, Shopify's flat $39 + lower per-order fees usually wins — but Shopify requires you to bring your own traffic.
- What are Etsy's total fees per sale?
- About 9.5% + $0.45 per order: $0.20 listing, 6.5% transaction, 3% + $0.25 processing — before optional Offsite Ads (12–15%).
- Can I sell on both Etsy and Shopify?
- Yes — most established sellers do. Etsy handles discovery, Shopify handles repeat customers and brand. Tools like Square/ecomdash sync inventory across both.
- When should I move from Etsy to Shopify?
- When you have repeat customers who'd buy direct, consistent volume past ~80 orders/month, and at least one traffic channel (email list, social, SEO) to replace Etsy's marketplace.
Related guides
Related calculators
Calculate your real Etsy profit per order after listing fees, the 6.5% transaction fee, payment processing and optional Offsite Ads.
Calculate your real monthly Shopify profit after the plan fee, payment processing, apps and cost of goods.
Calculate your break-even point in units and revenue from fixed costs, price and variable cost per unit — plus contribution margin.