Etsy raised its fees and the algorithm keeps shifting. Sellers are looking around — and for good reason. You don't own your customers, you can't fully control your shop's look, and every sale costs you a cut.
Here's what's actually worth considering in 2026, whether you want to add a second channel or move entirely.
Why sellers are leaving (or at least looking)
On a $40 sale, you're handing over ~$2.60 in transaction fees plus the listing fee plus payment processing. And your buyers remember "Etsy," not your shop name — making repeat customers hard to build.
1. Shopify — best for owning your store
If you're serious about building your brand, Shopify is the top pick. Fast to set up, deep app store, sells across web, in-person, and social. You can migrate from Etsy with an integration app.
Pricing: 3-day free trial, then 3 months at $1/mo for new users. After that, from $29/mo annually.
Try Shopify →2. WooCommerce — best for full control
WooCommerce is a free WordPress plugin — you own everything. More setup than a drag-and-drop builder, but once it's running, your store looks like nobody else's.
Pricing: Plugin is free. Add domain + hosting — about ~$15/mo.
Try WooCommerce →3. BigCommerce — best for growing stores
Already selling and need more horsepower? BigCommerce handles bigger inventory, better reporting, and multi-channel selling on Amazon and eBay natively.
Pricing: from $29/mo (Standard Plan). 15-day free trial.
Try BigCommerce →4. Squarespace — best if design is your priority
Squarespace has the most beautiful templates of any platform here. Built-in SEO, solid analytics, and it integrates with Etsy so you can run both at once while you transition.
Pricing: from $12/mo. Skip transaction fees on higher plans.
Try Squarespace →5. Wix — best for the simplest setup
If tech makes you nervous, Wix is your starting point. Drag-and-drop, no coding, decent eCommerce features for most sellers just getting started.
Pricing: Free plan available (limited). Full eCommerce from $29/mo (Core plan).
Try Wix →6. eBay — best for instant audience access
eBay has 134M+ active buyers already browsing. You're not starting from zero with traffic — but it's more general marketplace, less handmade community. Auction and fixed-price listings both work.
Pricing: Free up to 250 listings/mo, then $0.35 each + % per sale.
Try eBay →7. Amazon Handmade — best for makers who want scale
Amazon Handmade is Amazon's marketplace for artisans. Huge trust, huge traffic, and you can plug into Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) to take logistics off your plate.
Pricing: 15% per sale (or $0.30 min). Monthly Pro fee waived for approved Handmade sellers.
Try Amazon Handmade →Pros & cons at a glance
Own store (Shopify, Woo, etc.)
- You own your customer list
- Full control over branding
- No per-sale fees from the platform
- Customers remember YOUR name
- Build long-term repeat business
Own store trade-offs
- You bring your own traffic
- Monthly cost even with no sales
- More setup and learning curve
- Marketing is your responsibility
- No built-in community
Marketplace (eBay, Amazon)
- Buyers already there
- No marketing needed to start
- Trust built into the platform
- Fast to list and sell
Marketplace trade-offs
- High fees cut into margins
- You don't own the customer
- Limited branding control
- Platform rules can change anytime
Which one should you pick?
One question decides it: do you want to build your brand or plug into existing traffic?
- Just starting, want traffic fast → eBay or Amazon Handmade
- Ready to own your store → Shopify (easiest) or WooCommerce (most control)
- Design-first, non-technical → Squarespace or Wix
- Already scaling → BigCommerce
Start with one. Get good at it. Then grow.
Frequently asked questions
Is it worth leaving Etsy?
Depends what's bugging you. Fees eating margins or customers forgetting your shop name? Those are real signals. Many sellers run Etsy alongside a second channel while they figure it out — you don't have to choose all at once.
Which alternative has the lowest fees?
eBay is free up to 250 listings/mo. WooCommerce takes no cut of sales (you pay ~$15/mo hosting). Shopify skips transaction fees if you use Shopify Payments.
Can I sell handmade goods on Shopify or WooCommerce?
Yes — both work fine. The trade-off is you don't get built-in search traffic the way you do on Etsy. You bring the audience. That's the deal.
Do I need tech skills for Shopify or WooCommerce?
Shopify — not really. Most sellers get a basic store running in a day. WooCommerce runs on WordPress, so expect a bit more setup time — still manageable, just slower.
