When it comes to selling handcrafted and unique products, Etsy is hands down the go-to platform for most people.
But despite its growing popularity, digital entrepreneurs have started seeking an alternative.
The main reason for that is Etsy’s high listing and transaction fee which can put a huge dent in your profits.
Thankfully, for those looking for other options, Etsy isn’t the only platform to sell handmade items.
You can find plenty of sites like Etsy that are designed to target a similar audience.
In this guide, we’ll shed light on some of the most popular Etsy alternatives that might be a better choice for your business.
Let’s jump right into it!
1. Amazon Handmade
Amazon Handmade is a community where artisans can sell their handcrafted creations.
These accounts are distinct from regular seller accounts, but your items will still be available on the regular Amazon website.
That enables you to access a massive audience that even far surpasses Etsy.
Selling on Amazon Handmade is like setting up your stall on the busiest street in a city.
You’ll potentially get thousands of visitors each day so the chances of getting sales are fairly high.
The biggest benefit of Amazon Handmade is that you can also use the FBA program.
On the downside, the marketplace is more expensive than Etsy as the platform charges a 15% commission per transaction.
Key Features
- You can ship products through Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA).
- The initial $39.99 fee is waived if your account is approved.
- No listing expiration and you gain access to insightful analytics.
Best For
Artisans who are trying to reach a wider audience and boost their sales.
2. Ruby Lane
If you exclusively want to sell vintage items then Ruby Lane is a better choice than Etsy.
Ruby Lane has been around since 1998 and has a positive track record for both quality buyers and sellers.
One of the main reasons Ruby Lane has endured the tests of time is due to its sheer commitment to quality.
They even have a secret shopper program in which participants evaluate the product quality, shipping times, and packaging by purchasing from random shops on the site.
In case their experience isn’t on par with the marketplace standards, Ruby Lane reaches out to the merchants with feedback and recommendations.
Lastly, Ruby Lane doesn’t charge a listing fee to its sellers but requires a maintenance fee depending on the number of listed items along with 6.7% transaction charges.
Key Features
- The largest marketplace to sell vintage items, jewelry, and art.
- Merchants do not have to pay a listing fee.
- Ruby Lane allows sellers to use third-party marketing tools.
Best For
Sellers who are sitting on a stockpile of authentic vintage and antique goods.
3. IndieCart
IndieCart is a marketplace for independent merchants selling handcrafted items.
It’s one of the few sites on this list that do not charge a listing or transaction fee.
However, you still need to pay a $7.50 monthly subscription charge to set up and maintain your store.
IndieCart unfortunately doesn’t allow sellers to list vintage items.
There are multiple ways to sell products on the platform including auction, first come first serve and reserve with a deposit.
Over 16,000 buyers are registered on IndieCart, which if not too good, isn’t bad either.
All in all, it’s worth experimenting by selling on IndieCart for at least a month as there’s not much to lose.
Key Features
- Multiple ways to sell products including regular sales and auctions.
- Sellers do not have to pay a listing or transaction fee.
- You can blacklist shoppers you don’t want to work with.
Best For
Independent merchants looking for a low-budget marketplace to sell handicrafts.
4. Aftcra
Aftcra is an excellent Etsy substitute for those living in the U.S.
Unlike Etsy, you don’t need to pay a listing fee but only American buyers and artisans can use the marketplace.
Aftcra is quite transparent about the products you’re allowed to sell on the site. In a nutshell, all the products you list should be handcrafted by you or your small team in the U.S.
Reselling isn’t allowed on Aftcra and you cannot also list vintage products.
Aftcra also prohibits other fulfillment methods like dropshipping because their guidelines clearly state that you should make the products yourself, exclusively in the U.S.
The listings on Aftcra expire after six months and unlike Etsy, can be renewed for free.
Aftcra also has a time-saving import tool by letting you quickly import Etsy listings to your Aftcra store.
Key Features
- Tool to quickly import Etsy listings to your Aftcra store.
- You do not need to pay a listing fee.
- No registration fee is associated with opening an Aftcra shop.
Best For
Facilitating the sale and purchase of handmade products in the U.S.
5. Spoonflower
Spoonflower is a bit different from other Etsy alternatives on this list because it connects makers and consumers with home décor artists.
Fabric, dining, bedding, wallpaper, living, and décor are the most common categories on the site.
The platform is visited by more than 850,000 shoppers every month with over 25,000 designers enlisted on the site.
Basically, the sellers only have to upload their designs which will then be printed on the products.
Spoonflower sets the retail price for these products and the designers get a 10-15% commission on each sale.
While this may not sound like a lot, it’s a great way to make a passive income, especially if your design blows up among the audience.
Key Features
- Great platform for designers to make a passive income.
- Decent customer base for a niche site.
- Eco-friendly and sustainable printing technology.
Best For
Artists trying to make a passive income by selling home décor designs.
6. Big Cartel
Like other options on this list, Big Cartel isn’t a conventional Etsy alternative mainly because it’s more of an eCommerce website builder than a marketplace.
However, the platform provides various templates for merchants to customize their branding and encourages handmade craft sellers to create a site.
If you want to start an independent business then Big Cartel is undeniably one of the best options on this list.
The site offers a free plan with limited functionalities but it’s enough to give you a gist of the platform and whether it’s suitable for you.
Since Big Cartel isn’t an eCommerce marketplace, the biggest benefit of creating a store on it is you own the customer data.
Key Features
- Various templates to help you customize your store and match your branding goals.
- A free plan that allows you to get a feel for how the platform works.
- You can retain customer data as shoppers directly buy from your store.
Best For
Artists and crafters who are trying to build their own website.
7. Storenvy
You can use Storenvy not only as a marketplace but also for building a custom online store.
Storenvy focuses on being a “social network for shopping” where you upload product pictures to increase your following and gain exposure.
The site also has a “watching” feature that notifies shoppers of new products added to the store.
There’s also a voting system that shoppers can use to increase the exposure of trending products on the site.
The more votes your product gets, the higher it will be listed on the site.
It’s easy to launch a store on the platform and you do not have to pay a maintenance or listing fee. You will only be charged a 15% commission on each sale.
But note that the Free Plan offers limited features, so you might have to buy a subscription, starting from $14.99/month.
Key Features
- Voting feature that allows merchants to get more exposure for their products.
- The social network type mechanism of the site makes it a unique alternative to Etsy.
- Watching feature for shoppers to instantly notify them about your new products.
Best For
Sellers who prefer a customizable online store and want to interact more with their audience.
8. Folksy
Folksy is an eCommerce marketplace to sell handmade products.
Despite being a British site, the platform gets traffic from all across the world but the prices will only be displayed in pounds.
Reselling isn’t allowed on Folksy and merchants are only allowed to sell handmade products.
What we love the most about Folksy is that, unlike Etsy, it does not charge sellers a shipping commission.
You will be charged 15 pence per listing, but you can add your first three listings for free. Folksy also charges a fixed 6% commission on each sale + VAT.
The platform has a paid subscription costing £5/month which allows you to add unlimited listings with no additional charges.
If you have an Etsy store then you can save time by easily importing your products to Folksy using its import tool.
Key Features
- Tool to save time and effort by quickly importing your Etsy listings to Folksy.
- The first three listings are free and you can add more for as little as 15 pence.
- One of the biggest platforms in the UK to sell handicrafts.
Best For
UK-based handcrafting hobbyists who want to sell their creations by paying a nominal fee.
9. iCraft Gifts
iCraft is a Canadian marketplace that allows you to sell custom arts, crafts, and fashion accessories.
Similar to Etsy, the mission of iCraft is to help artisans and handmade sellers.
The platform doesn’t charge a commission on sales, however, you do need to purchase a subscription that costs $10 per month. Additionally, there’s also a one-time registration fee of $25.
While the upfront costs of iCraft are comparatively high, they don’t charge a listing fee and unlike Etsy, your listings don’t expire either.
A feature that we find interesting on iCraft is that you can also accept commissioned work or custom orders.
The platform highly emphasizes quality so all your listings are reviewed by the company before approval and you may also receive constructive feedback.
Key Features
- Listings are free and do not expire.
- One of the largest Canada-based platforms to sell handmade products.
- You can take custom orders and commissions.
Best For
Creative hobbyists who want to sell handmade gifts, especially in Canada.
10. Artful Home
Artful Home is another platform that helps hobbyists showcase and sell their artistic creations.
The onboarding process of Artful Home is significantly more difficult than Etsy and other sites on this list.
You first need to get approved by a panel before you can start selling on the site.
The process can take up to 6-8 weeks and you also need to pay an application fee.
If the Art Advisory Team rejects your application then you can submit a new one by upgrading your portfolio.
We know, it sounds like too much work but what makes it worth it is that the company helps its merchants with marketing.
This allows you to focus on creating new designs while Artful Home tries getting sales on your behalf.
Key Features
- Artful Home helps its merchants with marketing through email marketing across North America.
- The low competition enables approved sellers to make more profit.
- You can focus on creating more designs while the platform helps you get sales.
Best For
Artists who want to focus on their work without having to worry about marketing.
11. Madeit
If you exclusively want to target the Australian market then Madeit is a great platform. The marketplace gets around 80,000 visitors per month and has over 120,000 registered users.
We know, these numbers aren’t even anywhere close to Etsy but don’t forget that this platform is only for Australia-based sellers.
Since Madeit is an Etsy alternative, the platform requires all the products to be handmade and you can’t import items from other countries.
Madeit doesn’t charge a listing fee or commissions, but you do have to purchase its quarterly or yearly premium plan to get started.
Key Features
- The platform doesn’t charge a listing fee or commissions.
- Low competition because Madeit only accepts Australian sellers.
- Reasonable pricing structure and decent monthly traffic.
Best For
Entrepreneurs who want to exclusively target the Australian market.
12. eBay
eBay is a well-renowned eCommerce marketplace and while the site isn’t exclusively designed for handcrafted products, it can still be a great alternative to Etsy.
That’s because eBay has an auction-based system and you can sell almost anything on the platform as long as you aren’t violating its listing policies.
However, one of the main reasons we decided to add eBay to this list is because of its huge user base.
The site gets over 109 million visitors each month and it isn’t uncommon for merchants to sell handcrafted items on the platform.
While you can only add a limited number of listings per month, the good news is that eBay is free to get started!
Key Features
- Visited by more than 100 million visitors each month.
- No listing fee and also free to get started.
- Fewer product restrictions than on Etsy.
Best For
Makers trying to reach a wider audience and want the freedom to sell different products.
13. Uncommon Goods
Uncommon Goods is a certified B Corp and its product approval process is a lot more complicated than Etsy.
However, if you think that your handcrafted items are unusual and stunningly beautiful then this is the perfect platform for you.
What we love about the site is its focus on environmentally friendly products.
Artists trying to sell on the site are encouraged to use sustainable and recyclable materials.
You cannot sell products made of feathers, fur, or leather on Uncommon Goods.
Becoming a seller on this site isn’t easy and you first need to get the green light from its panel.
The strict selection criteria of Uncommon Goods are ultimately worth it due to the lack of competition on the platform.
Plus, they will also help you with marketing and customer retention.
Key Features
- You can charge more for your products as it’s an exclusive site.
- Uncommon Goods helps its merchants with marketing and customer retention.
- The platform is perfect for environmentally conscious sellers.
Best For
Environmentally conscious and creative makers of handcrafted goods.
14. IndieMade
If you’re looking for a site like Etsy to sell clothing, jewelry, and other handmade products then you cannot go wrong with IndieMade.
But keep in mind that IndieMade isn’t an eCommerce marketplace but rather a website builder geared towards makers of handcrafted goods.
The site can be integrated with your Etsy store and you can easily import all the products to your shop.
The pricing structure of IndieMade is also reasonable as the cheapest plan costs only $4.95.
If you’re planning to build a separate brand then launching a store for handcrafts would be a step in the right direction.
Key Features
- Easily integrates with Etsy stores to import products.
- Website builder geared towards makers of handmade products.
- Reasonable pricing structure and a great platform to build a brand.
Best For
People who want to build a brand based on their handcrafted products.
15. Felt
We’ve already talked about Etsy alternatives for the UK, Australia, and Canada-based sellers – so why leave New Zealand behind?
Felt is an eCommerce marketplace designed for New Zealanders who want to sell handcrafted jewelry and fabric.
While people from all over the world can purchase from the site, most of Felt’s customers seem to be from New Zealand.
Key Features
- Largest website in New Zealand for handmade products.
- Low competition because Felt only allows merchants from New Zealand.
- Multiple payment methods to allow purchases from other countries.
Best For
New Zealanders interested in selling handmade goods.
16. goimagine
Last on this list is goimagine, a marketplace similar to Etsy, yet sets itself apart due to its charitable causes.
Goimagine donates 100% of its transaction fee to homeless children foundations.
The site is known for its strong commitment to only handmade goods.
In addition, the products should be made by the seller or a small group at max.
Goimagine has plenty of built-in tools in its dashboard for sellers to view store insights and analytics.
Other features of the site include order tracking, inventory management, and more.
You can also import products from your Etsy store to your goimagine shop by emailing the CSV file to the support team.
The platform has three pricing plans with the cheapest starting from $2.50/month.
Overall, we highly recommend checking out goimagine, especially for your one-of-a-kind and unique products.
Key Features
- View detailed statistics and insights from the seller dashboard.
- Possible to import listings from your Etsy store by emailing the CSV file to the support team.
- 3 affordable pricing plans with the cheapest being only $2.50/month.
Best For
Merchants who want to sell handmade products while contributing to a charitable cause.
How to Choose the Best Etsy Alternative?
Choosing an Etsy alternative mainly depends on your goals and requirements. You first need to figure out why you are looking for an Etsy alternative, to begin with.
Is it because of the high shipping commission of the platform, product restrictions, and low scalability or are there other reasons?
Once you can answer that, compare the features of different Etsy alternatives to see which one is most suitable for your business plans.
FAQs about Sites Like Etsy
What Is the Best Etsy Alternative?
Each Etsy alternative comes with its own unique features and pricing structure. And a single platform cannot be labeled as the “best” because the choice ultimately depends on your business goals and budget.
However, if we talk in terms of traffic alone, then Amazon Handmade is undeniably one of the best Etsy alternatives.
What’s the Best Website Building Etsy Alternative?
Big Cartel is one of the best website-building Etsy alternatives because the platform is geared toward independent artists and provides templates to help sellers with branding.
Final Thoughts
Even if your Etsy store is performing well, you don’t have to limit yourself to one platform.
Listing your products on other sites can help you reach a wider audience and maximize your profit.
Besides, it’s always a great idea to have multiple income streams because, who knows, one of the Etsy alternatives on this list might even be more profitable for you.
But before you begin, make sure to carefully go through the rules and requirements of each site so it’s easier for you to set up an account.
And if selling handmade products sounds like too big of a hassle, then you can instead try dropshipping.
For that, you only need a reliable supplier and this is where NicheDropshipping comes in.
We can source your desired products at competitive prices. The only thing you need to do is give us a call and communicate your requirements!
