Etsy vs Shopify Fee Comparison
Instantly estimate monthly selling fees, transaction costs, and net profit differences between both ecommerce platforms.
Estimate Your Platform Costs
Enter your expected monthly sales volume and average item price. The calculator instantly compares total platform fees to help you choose the most profitable option.
Ecommerce Fee Estimator
Derive precise monthly cost projections to evaluate the true cost of selling on Etsy versus Shopify.
Understanding the Metrics
Key concepts for accurate ecommerce platform cost analysis
Etsy’s Variable Model
Etsy charges per listing ($0.20), a 6.5% transaction fee on the total order value, and payment processing fees. This is highly scalable for beginners but becomes expensive at high volumes.
Shopify’s Fixed Model
Shopify charges a flat monthly subscription plus a standard payment processing rate (e.g., 2.9% + $0.30). There are no per-listing fees, making it vastly more economical as sales volume grows.
The Break-Even Point
The volume at which Shopify becomes cheaper than Etsy typically ranges between 15 to 30 sales per month, depending heavily on your average order value.
Offsite Ads Impact
Etsy’s optional Offsite Ads program charges an additional 12%–15% fee on sales generated from their external advertising. This can significantly impact margins on low-priced items.
Typical Platform Fee Overview
Generalised breakdown of standard selling fees for Etsy and Shopify (Basic plan) in the US/UK markets.
| Fee Type | Etsy (Standard) | Shopify (Basic) | Winner by Volume |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Subscription | £0 / $0 | £29 / $39 | Etsy (Low volume) |
| Listing Fee | £0.16 / $0.20 per item | £0 / $0 | Shopify |
| Transaction Fee | 6.5% of total order | 0% (with Shopify Payments) | Shopify |
| Payment Processing | 3% + £0.20 / $0.25 | 2.9% + £0.25 / $0.30 | Comparable |
| External Ads Fee | 12% – 15% (Optional) | Variable (You control ads) | Shopify (More control) |
Ecommerce Fee Calculator FAQ
Answers to the most frequently asked questions about selling fees on Etsy and Shopify.
For very small sellers (e.g., under 10–15 sales per month), Etsy is often cheaper because it has no mandatory monthly subscription fee. You only pay per listing and a percentage of each sale. Shopify requires a fixed monthly subscription, which is more cost-effective once your sales volume increases.
Etsy’s primary fees include a $0.20 listing fee per item, a 6.5% transaction fee on the total sale price (including shipping), and a payment processing fee of 3% + $0.25 per transaction. Optional fees include Offsite Ads (12%–15%) and Etsy Plus ($10/month).
Shopify’s main costs are the monthly subscription plan (Basic is ~$39/month), plus payment processing fees of 2.9% + $0.30 per online transaction if using Shopify Payments. If you use a third-party payment gateway, an additional 2% transaction fee applies.
The break-even point typically occurs around $400–$600 in monthly revenue (or roughly 15–25 average-priced items). Beyond this volume, Shopify’s flat monthly fee becomes more economical than Etsy’s compounding per-transaction percentages.