Print-on-demand is a new-entrepreneur-friendly business model that sidesteps traditional challenges, such as vetting suppliers, managing inventory, renting warehouse space, shipping products, etc. You can bring your brand to life in days or weeks instead of months. The tricky part is making smart decisions that maximize your profits per sale, and the platform you choose plays a big part in this. This guide helps you compare Etsy vs. Shopify for print-on-demand success.
What Are the Biggest Differences Between Etsy and Shopify for Print-on-Demand?
Etsy is a marketplace, similar to Walmart. When shoppers are in the mood to buy pajamas, they visit “www.etsy.com” and browse the section for pajamas. Your white-labeled products would show up on the page alongside many other sellers.
Shopify is a website creation and hosting platform. If you go with Shopify, you get your own site and custom URL. Imagine you create a brand called Jam Obsession (you’re welcome). When those pajama-seeking shoppers get to “www.jamobsession.com”, they only see your products — no competitors.
Is It Cheaper To Sell on Etsy or Shopify?
Adding up costs for POD stores on Etsy and Shopify isn’t easy because you’re not comparing apples to apples. For POD to be profitable, you need to know what to expect with expenses.
Overview of Costs on Etsy Vs. Shopify for Print-on-Demand
In general, Etsy is cheaper in terms of startup capital. You can list your products for free or just $10 a month. Where this comes back to bite you is the numerous fees that get tacked on over and above what you’re paying to the POD seller.
Shopify requires slightly more capital up-front. You have to sign up for a subscription to keep your store.
Etsy Fees
It’s easier to underestimate how many fees you have to plan for with Etsy. These include:
- Listing fees: This is a flat $0.20 fee for every item you list, whether it sells or not. Listings last up to four months.
- Transaction fees: Etsy charges 6.5% of the total sale price, which includes shipping costs from your POD supplier.
- Payment processing: If you’re like many Etsy sellers and use Etsy Payments, you also have to plan for processing fees. In the U.S., this is usually $0.25 and 3% of the total sale.
Say you list your top-selling pajamas on Etsy for $50, and the POD seller also charges $9 for shipping. Etsy would charge you $0.20 for selling each pair of pajamas, plus a $3.84 (6.5%) transaction fee and a $2.02 (3% + $0.25) payment processing fee, taking nearly 10% of your pre-tax revenue.
Shopify Print-on-Demand Costs
The Basic plan costs $19 a month for an annual subscription. This is honestly plenty for new sellers. Larger teams pay $49 or $299 per month. You don’t need to worry about this until your sales volume increases significantly or you decide to market your products globally.
You may also need to budget for a store theme. Free themes offer good functionality for new entrepreneurs, and you have many customization options. If you decide to choose something with more flair on the Shopify Theme Store, you’re looking at a one-time payment of about $300.
Last but not least are app integrations that make POD easier. These apps can enhance your size charts, connect you with curated POD sellers, or enable bundles and upsells on your site. Each app has a different cost, usually starting at free (with fees) or around $20 a month.
Is There More Competition on Etsy or Shopify for Print on Demand?
In terms of total sellers, Etsy and Shopify both line up pretty closely. There were approximately 9 million active sellers on Etsy in 2023. And the number of active websites using Shopify? Also just over 9 million.
This means that competition (at least when comparing Etsy vs. Shopify) is more about your niche than the platform you choose. Being successful with print-on-demand means finding high-quality products, giving them a unique twist, and building a brand that people tell their friends about.
What Are the Advantages of Shopify for Print-on-Demand Stores?
Shopify offers at least three big advantages compared to Etsy:
1. Website Customization
Etsy is easy to use, but it lacks the customization that Shopify offers. You can build a seller profile with all of your products, but you’re limited to basic templates.
Shopify offers flexibility in website design, even for free themes. You can choose images and fonts, add keywords and content, and even modify the layout of product pages.
2. Customer Support
Shopify has a better reputation for customer support, both during and after site setup. At StayTuned Digital, we also provide stellar support for POD apps like ZenDrop, helping you get the answers you need ASAP. Etsy only offers basic email support most of the time.
3. SEO and Digital Marketing
Having your own Shopify website can be a game changer for connecting with a loyal following and making repeat sales. Etsy doesn’t let you see or acquire customer emails, which shoots your remarketing campaigns down in flames.
Shopify gives you the tools to create search-optimized product descriptions and blog articles. You can also get customers to sign up for marketing emails, follower discounts, and special sales.
Which Is Better for Print-on-Demand: Etsy or Shopify?
It’s important to take your time when comparing the benefits of Etsy or Shopify for print-on-demand; however, at the end of the day, the decision usually comes down to one question. Do you want the freedom of your own website? Shopify gives you that, but Etsy doesn’t.
Creating an attention-grabbing brand is easier with Shopify because you can infuse your unique personality and vision on every page and every product. That said, some sellers prefer the “click-and-forget-it” nature of Etsy sites, especially if you’re looking at print-on-demand as a passive-income side gig that you don’t want to invest much time into.
Tipping the Scales in the Etsy Vs. Shopify for POD Debate
Deciding between Etsy and Shopify for print-on-demand depends a lot on your personality, e-commerce experience, startup budget, and goals. Need a hand? At StayTuned Digital, we make getting started with Shopify easy. We can help you customize your site and find the right app solutions to get your brand up and running smoothly.