Are you an Etsy seller looking for another marketplace to showcase your wares? Or are you tired of the seemingly ever-rising fees imposed by the popular platform? Regardless of your reasoning, you’ve come to the right place.
The internet is littered with platforms allowing anyone to sell just about anything. But too much choice can be overwhelming, making it challenging for Etsy sellers like you to diversify. So, we’ve done all the heavy lifting and compiled a list of ten Etsy alternatives which includes everything from the well-known Amazon Handmade to the lesser-known GoImagine.
Whether you’re selling handmade hats or antique clocks, there’s an online marketplace place for you.
5 Platforms to Sell Handmade Items
Let’s tackle our handmade sellers first.
While these are undoubtably the best platforms for selling handmade items, we’ve noted a few that are also viable for antique sellers to save you trawling through the swathes of sometimes-stringent rules.
“Handmade” may not be the first word that comes to mind when you hear “Amazon,” but the international mogul developed its artisan-only community for crafters and artists to sell worldwide. And since everybody knows the name, you’ll immediately target its 250 million customers.
Cost: No listing fees, 15% referral fee per sale, one-time $39.99 Professional Selling Plan fee (waived for approved applicants after the initial month)
Unlike other marketplaces, Amazon Handmade doesn’t mess around with its algorithm, meaning no substantial traffic/sales drops — a niggle you may have with Etsy.
Despite being a large platform, there’s also an application process. Yes, it can be slow-going, but it stops less-legitimate entities creating profiles.
| Pros | Cons |
| One of the world’s largest online marketplaces No payment processing fees Perfected online buying and selling Application process, ensuring businesses are truly making the products they wish to sell on the platform Mixes handmade items with regular catalog products for increased exposure | Lots of competition Fewer subcategories for handmade items Fewer chances of creating repeat customers Can be slow to gain acceptance |
Amazon: Good for antiques? No.
Shopify isn’t dedicated to crafts, but many makers sell through the easy-to-use eCommerce platform. You get a bunch of customization options, allowing you to wholly control the aesthetics.
In the same vein, you can access a bunch of extensions to make your storefront feel more welcoming, educating, interesting, or all the above!
However, you’ll have to drive traffic to your store — Shopify won’t do it for you. It’s almost like having your own website!
Cost: $29 to $299 per month
| Pros | Cons |
| Creative control over online store Easy to use Low commissions Plenty of customization options (including extensions) | Monthly fee ($29 to $299 per month) Doesn’t drive traffic to your store |
Shopify: Good for antiques? Yes.
Launching your own website is one of the most cost-effective ways to sell handmade items, provided you know what you’re doing. It grows pricey if you need to hire a web designer.
That said, it’s time-consuming to set up, and you’ll need to tap into your digital marketing skills to drive traffic. As such, sales can be incredibly slow at the beginning — although that means it’s a great second platform while you continue selling on Etsy.
Cost: Free to $1,000s
| Pros | Cons |
| Low overhead costs for selling items Unbridled brand control Unlimited customizability (including aesthetics, logos, banners, layouts, etc.) | Time-consuming to set up Ongoing need to promote your website to acquire traffic Slow or no sales until the site is properly established Payment processing might be pricey, depending on the service you choose |
Start Your Own Website: Good for antiques? Yes.
FOLKSY. This UK-specific site is a direct Etsy competitor — it even has an instant product transfer button to load your listed products with Etsy straight into your new Folksy store. With an active marketplace, it’s created quite a buzz in the space.
However, the fee structure is relatively confusing (take a look). Plus, listings expire, costing you money every time you re-list an item if you choose the Basic plan.
Cost: Basic account = £0.15 + VAT per item | Plus account = £7.50 per month or £75 per year
| Pros | Cons |
| Advertised regularly in well-respected publications Active marketplace Direct competitor to Etsy Imports products from your current Etsy store No commission on postage | Only available to UK sellers Listings expire (fees applicable each time you re-list) Convoluted selling fees |
Folksy: Good for antiques? No.
GoImagine is great for US-sellers with a socially conscious mindset. Living up to its tagline, “The Marketplace That Cares,” the company donates its profits to children’s charities, solidifying itself as a philanthropic endeavor.
Launched in 2020, it’s one of the newest in the game, yet it’s already picking up where Etsy has fallen short, including the handmade policy, juries system, and proactivity surrounding infringements.
Cost: From $2.50 per month + 5% transaction fee to $10 per month + 3.5% transaction fee
| Pros | Cons |
| Stricter policies on the items that qualify as handmade Proactive approach to copyright and trademark infringements. Donates their profits to children’s charities Uncluttered layout. | Fairly low traffic volumes GoImagine MOSAIC isn’t as beneficial as it claims to be. Remember they are a fairly new to the game, so it might be good to get in early. |
GoImagine: good for antiques? No.
5 Platforms To Sell Antiques and Vintage Items
It works both ways — some of the best platforms for antique/vintage sellers are also great for artisans, so we’ve marked them to save you the trouble.
Let’s give our vintage sellers a little love with some great picks of our favorite marketplaces.
eBay is a staple in the online antique-selling world, and it remains one of the best today. You can put your collection in front of thousands of individuals, increasing the chances of making sales.
While the fees can be high (15% of sale total up to $1,000), it’s a reputable brand boasting streamlined services for both sides of the transaction.
Cost: 3% to 15% of sale total
| Pros | Cons |
| Huge population of antique/vintage buyers Reputable brand Straightforward listing process Likely to sell. | Minimal business control High fees. |
eBay: Good for handmade? No.
It’s the most popular platform dedicated to antiques, and with an already-interested buyer pool, you’ll likely succeed. And those with a larger inventory get an added boom — your monthly fee will be waived if you add at least 15 items!
Just keep in mind that it’s a highly curated marketplace. Acceptance is quite challenging, but worth it if you make it through.
Cost: $25 per month (waived if you add 15 items during the month), 9.9% service fee (capped at $250)
| Pros | Cons |
| Most popular antiques-dedicated marketplaces Monthly fee refunded if you add at least 15 items to your store during the month Capped commission | Acceptance is hard to gain Consumer complaints can result in a permanent ban Poor seller support Must have at least 10 items to open your store |
Ruby Lane: Good for handmade? No.
Dedicated to selling less-than-ordinary products, Bonanza is a fantastic site for antique and vintage dealers. Although, you’ll find vintage clothing sells the best.
The fees are quite low, and the platform markets your items well. But if you feel like you need a bit of extra oomph, you can always enlist its extra advertising services.
Cost: $12 to $250 per month, 3.5% commission, $0.25 transaction fee for non-members
| Pros | Cons |
| Few competitors Markets products well Low fees | Isn’t as well-known as other platforms |
Bonanza: Good for handmade? Yes.
The fees are high with this one. However, Storenvy pushes your brand hard (not just your products), investing a lot of money into marketing efforts.
Cost: 15% commission
As for buyers, the platform boasts plenty of people wanting to splash some cash. If you can withstand the fees, it’s certainly worth a try.
| Pros | Cons |
| Custom storefront akin to Shopify Loads of potential buyers Fantastic marketing | Incredibly high fees |
Storenvy: Good for handmade? Yes.
If you’re selling to your local area, Facebook Marketplace is a dream. You won’t pay listing fees, and taking cash for your products negates worrying about transaction charges, too.
Cost: 2% transaction fee
The downside? Buyers on this platform love to haggle, which can get tedious if you aren’t the negotiating type.
| Pros | Cons |
| Fast sales No fees for local sales Easy to list items No strict product rules to stick to | Prone to hagglers People browsing Facebook aren’t typically there to buy things |
Facebook Marketplace: Good for handmade? Yes.
So, Which One Is Right for You?
Ultimately, the choice is yours! Scrutinize the marketplaces we’ve suggested figuring out which one works best for your business. Diversification is the key to success, and these platforms will help you do that.
