Shopify vs Etsy fees: which keeps more?
Shopify usually wins on platform fees. Etsy usually wins on demand. The right answer depends on whether you are paying for software or paying for customers.
The fee comparison
Shopify figures assume the Basic plan, Shopify Payments, and 100 orders/month (so the $29 plan adds $0.29 per order). Etsy figures use the $0.20 listing fee, 6.5% transaction fee, and 3% + $0.25 US processing.
| Sale price | Etsy fees | Shopify fees | Shopify savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| $25 | $2.83 | $1.32 | $1.51 |
| $50 | $5.20 | $2.04 | $3.16 |
| $100 | $9.95 | $3.49 | $6.46 |
The gap widens with price because Etsy’s percentage stack is larger. At $100, Shopify keeps about $6.46 more per sale before traffic costs.
What the table hides
- Traffic. Etsy brings buyers; Shopify does not. If paid ads cost 20% of revenue, the fully loaded Shopify cost is higher than Etsy’s fee.
- Plan cost. Shopify’s $29/month is spread across orders; at 10 orders/month it is $2.90 per order, not $0.29.
- Apps. A typical Shopify store pays $50–$200/month in apps, which adds to the effective per-order cost.
- Customer ownership. Shopify gives you the email list and repeat-purchase relationship; Etsy limits both.
The break-even with traffic
Suppose Etsy charges 9.5% + $0.45 and Shopify charges 2.9% + $0.30 + $0.29 plan. On a $50 sale, Shopify saves $3.16. If your Shopify customer-acquisition cost is $5 per sale, Shopify is more expensive overall. If it is $0 because you have organic traffic, Shopify wins.
Which should you choose?
- Etsy: handmade, vintage, personalized, or gift products where the audience and search intent already exist.
- Shopify: repeat-purchase brands, products with an existing audience, or stores willing to invest in content/ads.
- Hybrid: use Etsy for discovery and Shopify for repeat customers and email; many sellers run both.
Frequently asked questions
Is Shopify cheaper than Etsy?
Per sale, usually yes. On a $50 sale at 100 orders/month, Shopify Basic costs about $2.04 in platform fees versus $5.20 on Etsy. But Shopify does not bring traffic, so the total cost depends on your acquisition cost.
Does Shopify charge a percentage of sales?
It charges payment processing (2.9% + 30¢ on Basic with Shopify Payments) plus a monthly plan. It does not charge a marketplace commission.
Can I use both Etsy and Shopify?
Yes. Many sellers use Etsy for discovery and Shopify for repeat purchases, email, and brand ownership. Run the fee math per channel instead of assuming one is always cheaper.
Tools worth a look
Optional tools that pair with this platform. Fee math does not depend on them.
Storefront, checkout, and payments in one platform.
The lowest per-sale fee only matters if you can drive traffic; Shopify is the storefront most sellers pair with a content or ads engine.
Explore Shopify →Bookkeeping and tax prep for sellers.
Marketplace fees are deductible; clean books make the deduction easy at year end.
Explore QuickBooks →Some links may be affiliate links; if you sign up through one, FeeNook may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. We only list tools relevant to the platform. Affiliate disclosure.
FeeNook is independent and not affiliated with eBay, Amazon, Etsy, or Shopify. Fee rules change; confirm the current rate in your seller dashboard. This article is general information, not financial or tax advice.