10 Best Etsy Competitors and Alternatives to Sell Your Personalized Crafts
Etsy is one of the most popular online marketplaces in the United States and other parts of the world. What sets this platform apart is that most of its listed products are rare, vintage, or handmade. Compared to other e-commerce platforms where items are mass-produced and can be found anywhere online, Etsy gives its customers a feeling of exclusivity. Because of Etsy’s uniqueness, it has been able to grow its community to more than 96 million active buyers and over 9 million sellers worldwide.
However, with the increasing competition from other online marketplaces and dropshipping websites, some Etsy sellers are now having difficulties hitting their monthly goal revenues. If you’re looking for other Etsy competitors and alternatives to sell your crafts, Sup Dropshipping has made this comprehensive list.
Etsy Competitors You Have to Check Out
Frustrated with low sales on Etsy? Increase your revenue by making your e-commerce business available on other platforms! Here are the best Etsy competitors to sell your personalized crafts:
1. Amazon Handmade
Amazon created a program for the artisan community in 2015 called Amazon Handmade. Joining the program means your specially crafted products can appear in Amazon’s handmade section. But before you can post items on Amazon Handmade, you need to submit an application.
Why sell on Amazon Handmade?
- More eyeballs for your handmade products. Amazon Handmade is integrated into the Amazon site, allowing your products to be in front of 310 million active users worldwide. Moreover, your listings can appear on a regular Amazon search even if they’re posted in the Amazon Handmade section.
- Offers a professional plan option. Amazon Handmade provides a professional plan option for their artisan sellers. This means you’ll only pay a flat subscription fee of $39.99 monthly.
- No listing fee. Regular Amazon sellers pay a listing fee every time they post a new product. But if your application is approved for Amazon Handmade, you won’t be charged a listing fee. However, they will deduct a 15% referral fee when you make a sale.
2. eBay
Although eBay isn’t an e-commerce site dedicated to handmade goods, this platform is one of Etsy’s biggest competitors. eBay is a popular marketplace for collectible items, refurbished goods, and brand-new products. So, if you have handmade crafts you’ve been meaning to sell, you can post them in the brand-new product category.
Why sell on eBay?
- Large user base. eBay is the second largest online marketplace next to Amazon. Approximately, it has over 135 million users worldwide. With such a large user base, your crafts have the potential to be seen by a lot of people.
- Sell different types of items. In case you need to change your focus and sell other items aside from handmade goods, eBay is the perfect online marketplace! From used to brand-new items, you can sell anything on this platform.
- Wider global reach. Compared to Etsy, eBay has a wider global reach. Although Etsy also ships to the US and other countries, eBay appeals more to international customers with its bigger shipping support. So, if you’re targeting the international market, eBay is a better option.
3. Bonanza
Bonanza is another great Etsy competitor you might want to check. This marketplace was originally known as Bonanzle and has been in the e-commerce industry since 2008. Like Etsy, Bonanza is an online marketplace that focuses on selling unique and rare products.
Why sell on Bonanza?
- Easily import your product listings. Manually listing a product is a chore, and Bonanza knows this. That’s why if you start selling on their platform, they give you the option to easily sync and import your product listings from Amazon, eBay, Etsy, and Shopify.
- Less competitors. Etsy has 9 million active sellers, but on Bonanza, there are only around 50,000 sellers. With a smaller seller community, you can avoid the pressure of lowering your product’s price, allowing you to earn a higher profit margin.
- Reliable support. Since Bonanza has a smaller community, they are more committed to providing prompt customer and seller support. So, when an issue arises, you’re guaranteed to receive a timely reply from Bonanza’s support team.
4. Mercari
Mercari is more similar to eBay than Etsy. It’s an online marketplace that focuses on selling preloved items. But you’re also allowed to sell brand-new items here! Mercari was first launched in Japan in 2013, and the following year, it penetrated the US market. Although Mercari isn’t available in other countries, it’s one of the best Etsy alternatives for US sellers.
Why sell on Mercari?
- Reasonable selling fees. Every e-commerce platform takes a cut from a seller’s successful sale, but Mercari only takes 10% of that, allowing you to earn a higher profit margin.
- Millions of users. If you think Mercari isn’t worth your time, you’re wrong about that. Mercari isn’t a small platform. In fact, it has recorded more than 23 million users of its app.
- Comes with a saved search option. When a user has saved a product search, Mercari helps you notify them of their unpurchased product searches. With this feature, you can increase your sales on the platform.
5. Folksy
Folksy is known as the UK alternative to Etsy. It welcomes all designers, artists, and makers looking for a place to sell their handmade crafts. This platform has been around since 2008 and has successfully built a large community of creative sellers.
Why sell on Folksy?
- With Etsy import service. If you’re a UK seller on Etsy but don’t get much sales on the platform, you can try Folksy. Folksy makes it easier for everyone to sync their Etsy listings into their platform with their import service.
- Low commission fees. Folksy only charges low commission fees, around 6% for every sale you make. So, if you’re tired of Etsy’s high fees, consider selling on Folksy.
- Thousands of shoppers. Although Folksy focuses on the UK market, they’re able to attract over 250,000 shoppers per month. And this number doubles when the Christmas season arrives.
6. Poshmark
Poshmark is a well-known social marketplace in the US and Canada. It used to be available in Australia, the UK, and India. However, due to low popularity in these areas, Poshmark shut down its offices there and just focused on its core markets.
Why sell on Poshmark?
- Millions of active users. Although Poshmark is now only available in the US and Canada, its app and website still manage to attract over 8.1 million active users per month.
- Sell new and used items. Like other e-commerce platforms, Poshmark allows you to sell new and used items. If you have used or vintage goods, you can sell them on this platform.
- Perfect for fashion products. Poshmark’s main product focus is clothes. So, if you have handmade products relevant to fashion, such as dresses, jewelry, accessories, handbags, shoes, and makeup, you can list them on Poshmark. But aside from fashion, Poshmark also caters to other products like kiddie items, home, pets, and electronics.
7. goimagine
With a slogan of “The Marketplace that Cares,” goimagine is a unique online marketplace that donates 100% of its profits to charity. This platform is a relatively new player in the e-commerce field and was only launched in 2020. But with its charity mission, it has attracted a lot of sellers to join its community.
Why sell on goimagine?
- Free from mass-produced products. goimagine focuses on selling handmade crafts. If you’re a seller here, your only competitors are your co-crafters and not wholesale and retailer companies.
- Marketplace for a cause. If you’re looking to give back, goimagine is the perfect place to sell your handmade goods. You can earn while helping those in need, knowing that your contributions make a difference.
- Easy to learn dashboard. Unlike other online marketplaces, goimagine is built with a simple seller dashboard. Even if you’re a new seller on this platform, it will be easy for you to upload your product listings and manage transactions.
8. Lazada
Lazada is the pioneer of online shopping in Southeast Asia. It was launched in 2012 and is available in Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. And if you don’t know, the Lazada Group’s shares are mostly owned by Alibaba.
Why sell on Lazada?
- With millions of consumers. Lazada is a big e-commerce platform that serves millions of consumers. As of April 2024, Lazada garnered over 160 million monthly active users.
- No monthly registration or listing fees. Most international e-commerce platforms charge monthly registration and listing fees. But Lazada only takes a cut in commission fees, payment fees, and optional campaign fees.
- Larger earnings when you join campaigns. Lazada holds seller campaigns from time to time, especially on monthly events and holiday seasons. Its campaign events give the sellers great opportunities to increase their sales.
9. Shopee
If you’re from Southeast Asia, you can hop onto Shopee, the orange app, to sell your handmade goods. Shopee is a good alternative to Etsy, especially for Asian sellers. Shopee is a one-stop online marketplace that accepts well-established brands or independent sellers. This Singaporean e-commerce company has been around since 2015 and has become Lazada’s number one competitor in Southeast Asia.
Why sell on Shopee?
- Large user base. Although Shopee is 3 years younger than Lazada, it managed to surpass the latter in terms of monthly users. As of April 2024, Shopee gained more than 375 million users per month.
- No monthly registration or listing fees. Unlike Etsy and other platforms, Shopee doesn’t charge its sellers monthly registration and listing fees. They only charge commission fees, transaction fees, and optional service fees if you join their Seller Programs.
- With Seller Programs. Joining Shopee’s Seller Programs allows you to achieve prioritized seller support, better marketing tools, supported logistics, and more. With access to these programs, you can increase the visibility of your shop’s products and possibly earn a “Preferred” badge.
10. TikTok Shop
TikTok isn’t only a social media app. It’s also integrated with an online marketplace called TikTok Shop. The early version of the shop was launched in some Asian regions in November 2022, then it was introduced in the US in September 2023. Overall, this e-commerce feature is available in Asia (Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam), the US, and the UK.
Why sell on TikTok Shop?
- With billions of users. TikTok is now one of the most popular social media platforms in the world, boasting over a billion monthly users. Imagine the huge amount of potential customers and sales you can get by setting up a TikTok Shop.
- Appeals to a younger audience. Most TikTok users are Gen Zs and millennials. With a young demographic, your personalized crafts are guaranteed to be seen by your target customers since they spend more time on TikTok.
- Promote your products in a fun way. TikTok is known for its short-form videos. You can use this opportunity to promote your crafts in a more entertaining format. You can also do live streams on TikTok Shop, making your products more highly engaging.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the best alternative to Etsy?
The best alternative online marketplaces to Etsy are Amazon Handmade, eBay, Bonanza, Mercari, Folksy, Poshmark, goimagine, Lazada, Shopee, and TikTok Shop.
2. What are the pros of selling on Etsy alternative platforms?
There are several benefits of having your e-commerce business on different online marketplaces. You can increase the visibility of your products, reach new customers, save on commission fees, access a more user-friendly seller dashboard, and boost your earnings.
3. What happened to other Etsy competitors like ArtFire, Zibbet, and Aftcra?
If you’re curious about what happened to other Etsy competitors, here’s what you need to know:
- ArtFire – was shut down at the end of 2021
- Zibbet – was acquired by AC Moore in 2017 and rebranded as the AC Moore Marketplace, but also closed down the business later on
- Aftcra – has closed its doors in March 2024
Summary
Etsy is definitely the best e-commerce platform for the artisan seller community. But don’t limit your earnings and depend solely on this online marketplace. There are other Etsy competitors and alternatives out there for you to showcase your personalized crafts. If you need help getting started for your e-commerce business, collaborate with us! Sup Dropshipping is a dropshipping company based in China. And we’re proud to say that we’re an all-in-one fulfillment e-commerce center that helps simplify your sourcing and shipping process. Contact us today for more information.
About the Author
Jack Han
Jack is a SEO manager and blog writer at Sup Dropshipping. He holds an MA in Linguistics and Education. He has over 10 years experience in E-commerce, and 5 years of experience in SEO. Jack is an enthusiast to share his recent knowledge learnt from peer experts in the industry.
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