Etsy and Shopify charge very differently. Etsy is pay-per-sale with no monthly fee on the basic plan. Shopify charges a monthly subscription plus per-order fees. This guide compares the two so you can see which is cheaper for your situation.
Listing Fees
Etsy charges $0.20 per listing, renewed every 4 months or on each sale. Shopify does not charge per listing; instead you pay a monthly plan fee (entry plan around $25-$39 per month depending on billing). If you list many items that sell slowly, Etsy's per-listing cost adds up. If you list few items that sell fast, Etsy's listing fees are negligible.
Source: Etsy Fees & Payments Policy.
Transaction Fees
Etsy takes a 6.5% transaction fee on the sale total including shipping and gift wrap. Shopify charges a transaction fee only if you do not use Shopify Payments (roughly 2% on the main plan); with Shopify Payments, there is no separate transaction fee.
For a $50 order with $5 shipping, Etsy charges about $3.58 in transaction fees. On Shopify with Shopify Payments, that specific fee is $0.
Payment Processing
Both platforms charge payment processing:
- Etsy US: 3% + $0.25 per order
- Shopify Payments US: roughly 2.9% + $0.30 per order (varies by plan)
On a $55 Etsy order: about $1.90. On a $55 Shopify order: about $1.90. These are close, so the decision usually comes down to transaction fees, monthly fees, and traffic.
Monthly Costs
Etsy: $0 on the standard plan. Shopify: roughly $25-$39 per month on entry plans. If you sell 20 orders a month at $50 each, Etsy's total fees are roughly 20 x (0.20 + 3.58 + 1.90) = about $114, with no fixed monthly cost. Shopify's equivalent: about 20 x (1.90) + $25 monthly = about $113. The crossover point depends on volume and average order value.
Real Example at Different Volumes
- 5 orders/month of $50 with $5 shipping: Etsy about 5 x $5.68 = $28. Shopify: about 5 x $1.90 + $25 = $34.50. Etsy cheaper.
- 100 orders/month of $50 with $5 shipping: Etsy about 100 x $5.68 = $568. Shopify: about 100 x $1.90 + $25 = $215. Shopify cheaper.
So the more you sell, the more Shopify's fixed model wins; the less you sell, the more Etsy's pay-per-sale model wins.
Hidden Shopify Costs to Count
Transaction fees only apply if you avoid Shopify Payments. Apps, themes, and payment gateways can add more. Etsy also has seller protection and marketing tools included, while Shopify sells many of those as apps. A fair comparison includes app spend on the Shopify side and Etsy's per-listing costs on the other.
Traffic Is the Real Difference
Etsy brings marketplace traffic; Shopify does not. If you need to send your own traffic to Shopify through ads, that ad spend belongs in the comparison. Many sellers pay the Etsy fee stack precisely because Etsy sends the buyer.
Which Marketplaces and Rates to Compare
Both platforms charge per order in the local currency. Etsy processing is 3% + $0.25 in the US, 4% + 0.20 GBP in the UK, 4% + 0.30 EUR in the EU, 3% + CAD 0.25 in Canada, 3% + AUD 0.25 in Australia, and 5% + INR 25 in India. Shopify's card rates vary by plan and country, so check the Shopify pricing page for your region before deciding. Source: Etsy Fees & Payments Policy.
Practical Rule of Thumb
Under about 30-40 orders a month at $50 with free shipping absorbed in price, Etsy's pay-per-sale usually wins. Above that, Shopify's monthly plan plus lower per-order cost usually wins. Run the exact numbers for your volume in the Etsy Fee Calculator and the equivalent in your Shopify plan before you switch.
Quick Recap
Etsy: $0 monthly, per listing $0.20, 6.5% transaction, processing 3-5% plus fixed, best for low volume and marketplace traffic. Shopify: monthly plan, no per-listing fee, processing roughly 2.9% + $0.30 with Shopify Payments, best for higher volume and owned traffic. The crossover is usually around a few dozen $50 orders a month. Compute both with your real numbers before you switch.
When Each Makes Sense
Choose Etsy if you are starting out, sell handmade or vintage, rely on Etsy's built-in traffic, and do not want a monthly bill. Choose Shopify if you have your own traffic, sell at higher volume, want full control of your brand, and can justify the monthly fee.
Try the Numbers
Use the Etsy Fee Calculator to cost out your exact scenario: https://fynza.store/etsy/calculator. Compare that against Shopify's plan pricing for the same volume. The total fee per order is what matters, not the headline rate.
Next step: Run your own numbers in the Etsy Fee Calculator, or compare rates by market: US | UK | EU | Canada | Australia | India.