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Are you ready to take your business to the next level by selling online with Etsy, but you’ve hit a roadblock? Maybe you’ve discovered that Etsy payments aren’t available in your country, and you’re feeling frustrated and discouraged. Don’t worry, you’re not alone. This is a common issue that many entrepreneurs face when trying to establish an online presence with Etsy. But fear not, as there are plenty of great Etsy alternatives out there that can help you bring your dream of running an online store to life. In this post, we’ll explore some of the best options available to you and provide you with all the information you need to make an informed decision. So let’s dive in and discover the world of Etsy alternatives!
Check out this post from my blog My Home Biz Now
Why Consider Etsy Alternatives?
A quick search on creating an online shop will show that Etsy payments is a requirement to receiving payments from customers ( as of 2021). According to Etsy : ‘Etsy Payments is the primary way to get paid on Etsy and simplifies payments for both you and your buyers. Give shoppers more reasons to buy from you. Etsy Payments gives your buyers a range of different payment options and lets them pay in their local currency. Also, this requirement also ensures that Etsy can mediate between you and your customer if any payment complaints occur. Currently, Etsy payments is available in over 40 countries.
Currently, living in a country where Etsy payments aren’t supported? No worries, use one of the 10 Etsy alternatives. These 10 awesome Etsy alternatives support both physical and digital products, along with their pros and cons. Let’s explore these alternatives together and find the perfect fit for your online store.
10 Etsy Alternatives
Woo Commerce
WooCommerce is an open-source flexible software solution built for WordPress-based websites. It's commonly used to create online e-commerce shops. You can turn your WordPress website into a fully functioning online store, complete with all the necessary e-commerce features.
WooCommerce as an alternative to Etsy comes with some advantages and disadvantages. The platform allows the following :
- store customization
- various payment methods
- integration with popular marketplaces
These 3 points helps your store reach a broader audience. However, there are some cons to be aware of:
- cost of setting up your store
- steep learning curve
- lack of customer service support
- challenging platform navigation for new users
These 4 factors can make using the plugin a challenging Etsy alternative. But most hosting providers , like Bluehost, offer 24/7 ticket and customer support with hosting plans. In summary, although there are some drawbacks, WooCommerce is an excellent option for small business owners looking to build a successful store with the right amount of effort and time investment.
Payhip is an e-commerce platform that enables you to sell your work directly to your fans and followers. Payhip provides all the tools you need to set up your unique storefront where you can showcase your products - from eBooks, software, clothing, art, music, etc.
Payhip is an Esty alternative that provides a service similar to Woo Commerce. It allows users to set up their own store and sell their products. Here are a few pros to using Payhip as an Etsy alternative:
- Low setup cost and no extra fees to get started
- Free to use
- Customization of your store page
- various payment options available – PayPal, Stripe and more
- analytics, providing the traffic source and countries of your websites visitors
However, there are also some cons to using Payhip:
- Payhip website isn’t as well known, so it may not get as much traffic.
However, you can overcome this con with creative writing. Your Payhip store has a built-in blog which you can fill with SEO keyword rich articles that can drive organic traffic.
As an Etsy alternative Payhip offers an inexpensive way to start an online store.
Big Cartel is an e-commerce platform that provides a great Etsy alternative. It offers a wide range of services and features, including customizable templates, online store management, inventory, product reviews, customer loyalty programs, and more. Although it may be a great option for some, there are both pros and cons to using Big Cartel as an Etsy alternative.
Firstly, the pros :
- Cheaper than other platforms such as WooCommerce and Shopify, making it a great option for small businesses and entrepreneurs looking to save money.
- Customizable themes, images and more , for you to create a unique experience for your customers
- An user-friendly interface that is simple to navigate
Second, The Big Cartel cons :
- Limited Features, no advanced features like product reviews, customer loyalty programs.
- Big Cartel’s free plan restricts you to one product photo per product and all the paid plans only let you have up to 5 per item.
Big Cartel can be a great Etsy alternative as it is cheaper and easier to use than other platforms. It offers some customization options, but, it has features limitations and may not be a option for everyone.
Shopify is an all-in-one commerce platform that makes it easy to launch your dream business and start selling to your customers globally. You can sell both products (digital and physical) and services (virtual and in-person). Your products can include memberships, consultations, font, installations, event tickets, and digital gift cards.
The first major pros of Shopify :
- Ease of use, designed so that you can quickly set up an online store with no technical experience.
- Excellent 24/7 customer support, so you can quickly settle issues you may have.
- A wide range of themes and design options, allowing you to create a custom store.
- Multiple payment gateways, offers advanced features like built-in analytics and SEO. A great option for larger stores.
Shopify has a few cons :
- More expensive than Etsy, monthly fees and transaction costs.
- Complicated to set up, you need some coding knowledge and HTML to make your store look the way you want.
- A lack of a marketplace to showcase your products.
- Lack of a community like Etsy, which you can network with other sellers.
Final thought, Shopify offers a great solution for creating an online store. It is the better choice for larger stores, as it has more advanced features and excellent customer support. To consider Shopify as a Etsy alternative, so it’s important to consider your specific needs.
Magento
Magento is an ecommerce website platform owned by Adobe that specializes in ecommerce websites. When you use Magento , you have access to hundreds of innovative features. As a result, more than 12% of all eCommerce sites are powered by Magento.
The Esty Alternative Magento pros and cons needs to be considered
- Magento offers scalability and flexibility to you as a seller. You can use Magento to build a small store or a large online marketplace.
- Unique storefronts created with the customizable store building features.
- Cost-effective, unlike Etsy, Magento does not require a commission fee. This is an advantage especially if your store generates a high volume of sales.
- A wide range of features and services i.e payment gateways, shipping tools, inventory and customer data management.
Now, for the cons of Magento:
- It can be a bit overwhelming if you are a first-time store owner or don’t have experience with web development.
- For stores with low levels of traffic or sales, Magento may not be the most cost-effective solution.
Magento is a great option offering scalability, flexibility, and cost savings, while still providing a wide range of customizable features. However, those who don’t have experience with web development should look for other options.
Bonanza.com is a rapidly growing online marketplace, headquartered in Seattle Washington. On Bonanza marketplace you can sell products in every category. Also, with the help of Bonanza, you can easily set up your online booths and list items.
Bonanza.com offers customers another option to the popular Etsy platform. Because, like Etsy Bonanza.com offers a large selection of handmade, vintage, and one-of-a-kind items.
The pros of this platform are :
- A fast, easy and secure shopping experience for buyers
- Numerous payment options like Paypal, credit cards or even Bitcoin
- Multiple listing options for sellers
- Marketing tools to drive traffic to your online store
- Analytics to help you as a seller increase your sales
However, the cons are also worth noting :
- Buyers have a smaller website selections to choose from
- It is not as well known as its competitors, so it may be harder to find the items you’re shopping for.
- The fee structure is higher for sellers than other Etsy alternatives. This means you need to make more sales to cover your listing costs.
In conclusion, Bonanza.com is a great Etsy alternative for shoppers looking for an easy, fast, and secure shopping experience. The website offers great options for sellers and buyers alike, but the small selection and high fees may be a hindrance for some users.
Sellfy is an all-in-one e-commerce service designed for you to sell digital and/or physical products. Because of the easy set up process, you can sell digital subscriptions, or Print-on-demand merchandise online , for instance.
As an alternative to Etsy, Sellfy pros are as follows :
- Relatively ease of online shop set up
- A variety of payment options to offer your customers
- Various promotional tools to market your products to potential customers
- Top notch customer support, helping you to solve your customers queries quickly
On the other hand, there are some drawbacks to using Sellfy as an Etsy alternative :
- A fee to use the platform, which can result in high costs if your products don’t generate sufficient sales.
- Lack of built-in features like those offered by Etsy, so as a seller you need to invest in 3rd party software for additional features
- Smaller customer base as compared to Etsy, so you may find it challenging to reach a larger audience.
Sellfy can be considered as an Etsy alternative because of comparative options. It offers a variety of features, an easy setup process, and options for customizing payment methods. The pros of Sellfy ultimately outweigh the cons, making Sellfy a great choice for sellers looking for an Etsy alternative.
iCraftGifts.com is a marketplace for handmade gifts. iCraftGifts.com offers you as an independent artist or crafter the opportunity to sell new handmade products of the highest quality. iCraftGifts.com allows you to sell handmade jewelry, hand-knitted products, and home décor accessories.
iCraftGifts.com is an Etsy alternative that offers a WooCommerce-based eCommerce platform to artists and crafters.
First, here are the pros of iCraftGifts.com :
- An easy to use platform to for you to create, design and manage your online store
- Integrated shopping cart feature
- Store analytics
- Order tracking
- Shop customization
Equally important , is to weigh the cons of iCraftGifts.com :
- Cost, iCraftGifts.com is more expensive than other platforms
- A lack of features such as detailed product descriptions and images
- Not as popular like Etsy, so it maybe difficult for your crafts to reach the same level of visibility
Lastly, iCraftGifts.com is a great Etsy alternative for artists and crafters looking for a customizable and easy-of-use platform. iCraftGifts.com features provides a powerful platform for you to manage and grow an online store. However, its cost and lack of features may make it unsuitable for some crafters.
Storenvy first launched as an online store builder and later, transformed into an e-commerce platform and social marketplace. As a result, Storenvy now has over 90,000 creators on its platform. You can sell handmade goods, apparel, jewelry, art, and home decor. Since its founding, Storenvy has facilitated over $50 million in sales.
Storenvy is an online marketplace that has been gaining momentum as an Etsy alternative. It is a platform for small businesses to sell handmade goods, vintage items, and other merchandise.
Here are the pros of using Storenvy :
- Wide range of product categories, allowing you to showcase your products to a larger audience
- The ability for you to create a customizable storefront
- Competitive pricing and lower fees
However, Storenvy cons as an alternative to Etsy are:
- Storenvy customer base smaller than Etsy
- small businesses have difficulty generating traffic for sales
- no direct messaging feature, sellers will find it difficult to connect with customers
- 25% commission fee for sales from opt-in service Storenvy Managed Marketing (drives traffic from Google, Facebook, etc)
Finally, Storenvy is a viable Etsy alternative for if you are looking for a competitive, customizable platform to showcase your products. Its wide range of product categories and opt-in Managed Marketing makes it a ecommerce platform to consider.
Facebook Marketplace
Facebook Marketplace is a classified ads section within the Facebook platform. It was initially launched in 2007 but later relaunched as an improved version in October 2016. As a result, Facebook Marketplace gained more interest among its users. Anyone with an active Facebook account can list or buy items with no hidden fees. It is free to use and has a local and nationwide reach.
Facebook Marketplace is an e-commerce platform that provides a great alternative to Etsy for individuals to buy and sell goods. It provides a user-friendly, easy-to-use system that will allow you to shop easily for items from around the world.
The main advantages of Facebook Marketplace :
- Facebook Marketplace is much cheaper than Etsy. For example, while Etsy charges a 3.5% transaction fee, Facebook Marketplace only charges a nominal fee of 5%.
- The platform is integrated into the already familiar Facebook interface,
Here are a few cons of Facebook Marketplace :
- Users may find Facebook Marketplace limited
- Facebook does not have a rating system for sellers, so buyers may find it difficult to determine the quality of goods from sellers
Finally, Facebook Marketplace is a great Etsy alternative for a low-cost e-commerce platform. It provides an easy-to-use system for to buy and sell items conveniently and with minimal fees.
Concluding Thoughts
No matter what ecommerce solution you choose, it is important to do research and find the one that best fits your business’s needs. Etsy is a great option, however there are several other alternatives available.
Have you tried any of the Esty alternatives in this post? Are there any other alternatives you think are better for your business needs or country?
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