With the competition from more Etsy sellers increasing every year, it’s becoming harder and harder to get your products in front of the right buyers, without the right tool of course. And while eCommerce is steadily on the rise and handmade products are striking a chord with a growing demographic of buyers, Etsy isn’t the only place to shop. Protect your business by keeping a close eye on these Etsy competitors in 2023.
It’s true, forward-thinking Etsy sellers have been known to diversify their sales channels. Why sell out of the trunk of your car when you can also sell at the local craft fair? But can any of the rising Etsy competitors out there really compete with Etsy in 2023 and beyond?
Etsy Competitors VS. Etsy
In this article, we’ll take a look at a handful of marketplaces that are getting more popular and becoming genuine Etsy competitors. They don’t have as many customers as Etsy, sure. But they do have their own little niche of buyers who shop on their marketplaces.
If you’re in two minds about selling on another marketplace, take a calculated risk. Look at pricing fees for your preferred marketplace, the reviews, and frequency of sales for other sellers, and most of all – do you want to sell on a different marketplace?
Etsy is undoubtedly, the best online marketplace for selling one-of-a-kind, handmade goods. It’s a marketplace designed from the ground up, just for handmade sellers. And while Etsy has gone through some changes over the years, it’s been in the business of handmade for as long as it’s been around, circa 2005.
Seriously, check out this blast from the past during one of the first events hosted at Etsy Labs in New York.
Etsy has always had this quirky charm that encourages makers to innovate in their craft, even since 2007. And today, they continue to put makers that specialize in individual art and handmade pieces at the top of their priority list. Just take a look at the recent winners of Etsy’s Design Awards to get an idea of the types of products Etsy likes to promote.
Etsy competitors lack a close community of sellers
On top of that, the community of makers on Etsy is a tight-knit group of sellers. Through all the online forums, YouTube channels, and various blogs, Etsy sellers all across the world help to foster a positive culture with a can-do spirit. No matter where you’re selling on Etsy, the greater community ultimately works together to help your business prosper both in the long term and the short term. There aren’t many other online communities that do that!
So, who else is out there to compete with Etsy?
When something is good, look-alikes and copycats will appear out of the woodwork. And even if none of the Etsy competitors on this list are true rivals of the Etsy marketplace, they are attempting to stake their own claim in the handmade world.
Whether you plan to check out these marketplaces for yourself, or you just want to keep them on your radar, these are the Etsy competitors you should watch out for in 2023.
Here they are in no particular order:
Etsy Competitors: Handmade Marketplaces
ArtFire
Editor’s Note: As of December 2021, ArtFire closed its doors to shoppers and sellers alike. Citing “changes in regulations and the increasing complexity of operating an online marketplace,” the founders of ArtFire have since moved on to new projects.
ArtFire is home to one-of-a-kind creations by independent artists, small businesses, and makers worldwide. A quick look at their marketplace, and it’s easy to see that’s precisely what it is.
ArtFire was hyped in the Etsy seller community a few years back about potentially being a replacement for Etsy, but it seems they’ve made little traction on that front. They’ve been around for about as long as Etsy, but it’s still pretty widely unknown in the seller community, but more importantly, it’s unknown to buyers. Still, it’s undoubtedly an Etsy competitor hoping to occupy space online in the world of handmade marketplaces.
On top of that, a handful of disgruntled Etsy sellers that for one reason or another believe they’ve been “wronged by Etsy” have found a home in ArtFire. Home to handmade goods, vintage goods, and craft supplies, the selling rules are surprisingly very similar to Etsy.
Pricing is tiered, starting at $9.99 per month, with a $0.23 listing fee and 14.75% Sales Service fee.
Keep your eye on Artfire.
Aftcra
Aftcra, a name that can be a bit tricky to pronounce, is a marketplace that’s committed to showcasing American-made artisans. Launched in 2013, the company focuses on creating a boutique-feeling website made up of artisans who are the best in what they do.
Aftcra aims at giving American-made products the limelight in their online marketplace. In fact, their “aftlosophy” is that you can ONLY sell American-made goods on their marketplace. While this limits the amount of competition from other sellers, buyers can come from all over the world.
Unfortunately, if you’re selling vintage items, Aftcra isn’t a marketplace for you, as they focus on handmade products only.
There are no fees for listing, and listings live online for up to 6 months unless they’re sold. Once sold, you’ll pay a 7% transaction fee.
With fees pretty low compared to Etsy, it’s no wonder they made this list.
Keep your eye on Aftcra.
Amazon Handmade
You already knew this list wouldn’t be complete without Amazon Handmade. Amazon, one of the biggest companies in the world (behind Walmart) has in fact ventured into the handmade business. Without a doubt, Amazon Handmade competes directly with Etsy. The idea was to use the Amazon name to help create a space (and a market) for handmade goods.
Has that idea worked? Well, it’s arguable. Amazon Handmade doesn’t get the same traffic and sales (for handmade goods) that Etsy does. And, it’s notoriously hard to get approval to sell on Amazon Handmade, as you have to prove that your products are unique and even show where (and how) your products are made.
But, you can’t deny that Amazon Handmade is a worthy competitor to Etsy. In most cases though, you’ll find that Amazon Handmade sellers also have their own Etsy shop, which begs the question, which one does handmade better?
Related: Here’s 3 signs that your Etsy shop will ALSO work on Amazon Handmade
So, while the barrier for entry to Amazon Handmade is high, once you are approved, you’re privy to sellers that genuinely want something unique and handmade – which is precisely what you do.
Keep your eye on Amazon Handmade to see what they have in store for 2023.
Etsy Competitors: Vintage Marketplaces
Ruby Lane
If the vintage world is where you make your money, then Ruby Lane is one of Etsy’s top competitors.
Ruby Lane is home to:
- Antiques & collectables
- Vintage & Art
- Dolls
- Jewelry
There’s an insane amount of vintage products and antique goods on Ruby Lane. In fact, the entire website feels kinda antique-y. But the stuff you’ll find on their online marketplace isn’t the “glorified trash” that passes as vintage on some other websites. It’s all truly vintage and of the highest quality, which sometimes comes with a hefty price tag.
While Etsy dabbles in vintage, it doesn’t do it at the same level as Ruby Lane. In a fine example of niche marketing, Etsy is a marketplace with virtually everything, whereas Ruby Lane excels in selling vintage and vintage-only.
Listings on Ruby Lane all have clear photos and concise descriptions, making it really simple to get the information needed to make a purchase.
The downside? Ruby Lane fees aren’t the most straightforward.
There are no listing fees and no setup fee, but a monthly maintenance fee of $25 (even though your first month is free). However, if you add over 15 products in your first month, you’ll get your $25 maintenance fee back. There’s a service fee of 9.9% based on the Purchase Total, capped at $250.
Keep your eye on Ruby Lane.
eBay
One of the biggest names in eCommerce doesn’t really need an introduction. It’s an online marketplace that’s been around since 1995 and is probably widely considered the go-to platform for resellers everywhere.
And while eBay has seen some stiff competition from Amazon and Facebook Marketplace over the last decade, it continues to remain a household name for online buyers and sellers alike.
Where eBay stands as one of Etsy’s top competitors is in the vintage space. It’s true, you can purchase handmade items from eBay, but the marketplace really wasn’t designed for handmade and the quality of products is extremely lacking compared to Etsy.
However, when it comes to vintage, you can find just about anything on eBay. Keep in mind, it doesn’t take much to become an eBay seller, so you’ll be more apt to sift through random junk that people are trying to offload for a buck or two. Still, you can bet you’ll find some vintage gems on eBay if you look hard enough.
The downside to eBay? It’s expensive. Final value fees vary from 3% to 15% of the final sales price depending on the type of product you sell (with some other intricacies in place).
Keep your eye on eBay.
More Marketplaces Competing with Etsy
Zibbet
Zibbet is a bit of a tricky one to explain. It’s been around since 2009 and has evolved a lot since then.
First off, Zibbet is a marketplace like Etsy and all the other mentions in this article. But it’s unique in that it syncs with other sales channels, meaning other marketplaces or websites you sell your products.
And the only fee you pay to use Zibbet is $5 per month, per sales channel.
Basically, you can upload your products from other marketplaces to Zibbet with just a few clicks, and vice-versa. It’s kinda like one of those social media scheduling tools, but for sellers on multiple marketplaces. And for the purpose of simplifying multiple sales channels, it could come in handy.
But why sell on Zibbet? Well, if they had more shoppers using their platform, it might be more worthwhile. For now though, a simple way to use multiple sales channels doesn’t sound too bad.
The founder of Zibbet announced that it was acquired in July 2021, but he’s been pretty hush-hush on who bought the place. Some signs point to the A.C. Moore Marketplace behind the acquisition (now owned by Michaels).
Time will tell what’s in store for Zibbet in 2022, if it doesn’t fizzle out of their marketplace venture completely.
Keep a close eye on Zibbet.
Bonanza
Bonanza’s claim is you’ll “find everything but the ordinary.”
And that’s an interesting claim because there’s a lot of ordinary on this marketplace. But don’t get us wrong, there is some extraordinary, too.
For example, in the lead-up to Halloween, you can buy boxes of Jolly Ranchers, Candy Corn and Tootsie Pops in bulk. But you can also buy a handmade Darth Vader costume for your pug. Now, that in and of itself doesn’t sound too different than what you can find at Walmart or Dollar Tree.
Still, categories extend to fashion, jewelry, cosmetics, and the typical categories you’d expect from a large online marketplace. What’s most interesting about Bonanza is that it puts your small, handmade products next to large wholesale importers and exports.
So, how can this be beneficial to your small business?
Think Amazon, without the flood of sellers fighting for an inch of exposure. Yes, there’s everything (including the kitchen sink) for sale on Bonanza, but there are only a few stores selling kitchen sinks – and handmade Vader pug costumes. This means that almost regardless of what you’re selling, you’ll find little competition from other sellers.
Keep an eye on Bonanza.
Poshmark
According to Poshmark, they’re the leading social marketplace for new and secondhand style for women, men, kids, pets, home, and more. With their online marketplace, you can buy and sell clothing, home decor, beauty products, and the like.
At first glance, you may not think of Poshmark as the ideal marketplace to sell your handmade clothing items. That’s because most of the items for sale are gently-used, vintage, and secondhand. However, Poshmark is totally cool if you sell handmade fashion, accessories, and “permitted home goods.”
One of the interesting aspects of Poshmark is that it has its own social aspect to it. Poshmark users can like and follow other sellers, and even attend Posh Parties, virtual buying and selling events.
Poshmark prides itself on a simple fee structure. For all sales under $15, there is a flat fee of $2.95. For sales that are $15 or more, Poshmark takes 20% of the total sale.
Keep your eye on Poshmark.
Social media competing with Etsy
In 2022, more and more social media channels ventured into social commerce. So, the dedicated marketplaces on the list above are no longer the only places to sell products online. In fact, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, and TikTok have all beefed up their social commerce game.
Within each of these apps, there’s ways to setup your own business profile and begin selling products to your followers. It’s a nice way to capitalize on an already existing social media following.
What is social commerce?
It’s when a consumer’s shopping experience occurs directly on a social media platform, i.e. you swipe through Facebook, see someone wearing a pair of shoes you like, and with a quick swipe and a tap, you just bought those same shoes yourself.
We talked in more depth about social commerce in a recent edition of The Squeeze, a weekly newsletter we send to our subscribers. Subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date with the world of eCommerce!
But social commerce can also include clicking links from social media, linking back to a retailer’s product page with an immediate purchase option.
In other words, social media may just very well be one big Etsy competitor in the future.
Keep your eye on social commerce when you subscribe to The Squeeze.
Wrapping up our list of Etsy competitors
There you have it! There’s a handful of Etsy competitors to keep your eye on in 2023.
While every year it seems a new small-time Etsy competitor shows up online, Etsy continues to reign supreme. And while Etsy doesn’t operate without its flaws, it remains the go-to marketplace for handmade sellers alike, and for good reasons.
The whole is greater than the sum of its parts. And when it comes to the Etsy marketplace, it’s a household name that buyers know and expect to purchase premium, one-of-a-kind goods from creative and passionate makers.
Still, it never hurts to keep an eye on the competition.
If you enjoyed this article or know of an Etsy competitor that you think should be included in this list, let us know in the comments down below! Do you sell on multiple marketplaces, or do you just stick to selling on Etsy?
We’d love to know!
6 replies on “Watch Out for These Etsy Competitors in 2023”
Goimagine.com. A new marketplace offering handmade goods from US sellers and all profits are donated to US based charities for children. I think the combination of small business/handmade and supporting local charities is a genius platform and something to keep an eye on. They have been steadily growing for a year now and have seen quite a bit of media coverage.
Love that all profits are donated to charities – great addition. Thanks for sharing!
ArtFire was closed December of 2021
Thanks for the heads up!
If it’s okay, we’d love to throw our small hat into the ring! We’re a UK marketplace for crafters, artists and makers – https://crafters.market/
We’ll have to check it out. Thanks!