Is Selling on Etsy Worth It? Cost, Advantages & Alternatives

Is selling on Etsy worth it today? If you’re an e-commerce business owner, you’re probably asking yourself this question. Etsy has been around since 2005. Despite growing competition, it remains one of the biggest marketplaces for handmade products. 

Etsy’s popularity is both its strength and weakness. Being trusted by millions of buyers results in more traffic that can be converted into sales. However, it also attracts more sellers, which creates stiff competition.

So, is selling on Etsy worth it in 2025, or is it time to consider alternatives? Read on to know the answer to this pressing question.

Etsy in 2025: Platform Trends, Growth, & Seller Landscape

Here is what the statistics say about Etsy in 2025:

• Active Sellers and Buyer Growth: Etsy’s 2025 report shows that it has 5.4 million sellers and 88.5 million buyers. This is a 0.3% drop compared to 2024. Still, these are impressive numbers despite increasing competition.
• Millions of users: About 400M people visit Etsy every month.  That kind of traffic shows Etsy is very popular—but it also means there’s a lot of competition.

Image via Semrush

• Best-Selling Categories: Selling on Etsy is great for home décor stores, but tech accessories are also climbing fast. Buyers want cool designs that show their personality, and print-on-demand is gaining serious traction here.

Also Read:

• Shopify vs. Etsy: Which Platform Is Right for Your Business?
• How to Sell Podbase Print-on-Demand Products on Etsy

Etsy Pros in 2025: Why it Still Works for Many Sellers

Here are the benefits of selling on Etsy.

Access to a Massive Audience

Selling on Etsy provides access to millions of shoppers, so you don’t need to spend too much on marketing. This is great if you sell print-on-demand digital products. 

Fast & Affordable Store Setup

Etsy charges a one-time setup fee of $15 and a $0.20 listing fee for each product. This is cheaper than alternatives like Society6, which has subscription fees starting from $4.99/month.

Built-In Traffic and SEO

There’s SEO built right into Etsy, which boosts your shop’s visibility. Listings are automatically optimized for easy search and selling on Etsy. The right titles and tags can also help your Etsy shop appear in related Google searches.

Etsy Seller Tools & Learning Resources

You get built-in tools like the seller handbook or shop stats to run your shop without guesswork. The dashboard lets you track sales, visits, and traffic sources.

Also Read:

• Best-Selling Items on Etsy [Top Picks + Trends]
• Top Etsy Shop Ideas To Kickstart Your Creative Business

Etsy Cons in 2025: Fees, Competition, & Platform Risks

It may still be the top choice for creators, but selling on Etsy also comes with the following cons. 

High Competition and Saturation

The marketplace is flooded with sellers offering the same types of products. There’s a higher chance of your designs getting buried in a sea of lookalikes.

Rising Fees and Changing Policies

It may have low setup fees, but overall charges add up. Extra charges of selling on Etsy, like transaction, ad, and shipping costs, can eat into profits. This forces many sellers to price their products higher.

Limited Branding Control

Etsy doesn’t offer much room for flexibility to customize store branding. You’re mostly stuck with the familiar orange layouts. 

Risk of Suspension or Copycats

Etsy sometimes shuts down stores without any warning. Also, appeals are slow and don’t always work. Copyright infringement is rampant, and reporting doesn’t guarantee action. 

Is Etsy Worth It for Small Businesses & New Sellers?

Before you jump into selling on Etsy, it’s smart to weigh the return on your investment. 

• Time Investment vs. Payoff: It can take time before your first sale on Etsy. It depends on product quality and your store’s visibility. If you’re consistent and patient, selling on Etsy eventually pays off.
• Niche Saturation: There are over 5.4 million sellers on Etsy. The chances of multiple shops selling the same products as you are high. You’ll need great photos, smart titles, and a unique brand voice to stand out. 
• Etsy’s Rules vs Owning Your Brand: Etsy owns the platform, so they make the rules. You can’t control fees, search results, or even what gets taken down. That’s why building another site on the side is smart.

Best Etsy Niches 2025: What Still Sells and What’s Trending

Etsy trends keep shifting, but some creative niches are still selling on Etsy. Here are the best-selling items in 2025:

• Jewelry: Custom name necklaces and birthstone rings are still trending. People love small, personal touches. You can offer variety without needing a huge inventory.
• Stickers: These are low-cost, fun to make, and easy to ship. They’re perfect for planners, laptops, and water bottles. Bold fonts and relatable quotes always get attention.
• Wall Art and Prints: Digital downloads keep this niche low-risk and fast. Think minimal, modern, or calming digital artwork. Printable art is big for dorms, home offices, and nurseries.
• Personalized Notebooks: Notebooks with names, initials, or short quotes on covers are great for selling on Etsy. These work great as gifts or for school. Simple styles with clean fonts sell best.
• Tote Bags: They’re practical and make a statement. Shoppers look for funny slogans, artsy designs, or eco-friendly vibes. Print-on-demand makes them easy to scale.
• Drinkware Designs: This includes mugs, tumblers, or iced coffee cups with quotes or cute art. They make great gift items, and buyers love matching these to hobbies or moods.
• Custom Clothing: Selling on Etsy is great for clothing. Funny tees and cozy hoodies are still selling fast. Keep sizing clear and prints clean. Good mockups help your listings stand out.
• Stationery: Notecards, planners, and to-do lists are back. Pair simple layouts with soft colors or bold themes. Instant downloads do well here.

Also Read:

• Sell on Etsy in Easy Steps: A Seller's Guide
• The Best Digital Product Ideas To Sell Online

How to Sell on Etsy Successfully in 2025 (SEO, Tools, & Tips)

To successfully sell on Etsy, consider the following tips and tools:

• Etsy SEO Strategy Basics: Your title and tags help Etsy understand what you're selling. When describing items, use clear, simple words that buyers search for.
• Keyword Research and Listings: This helps you figure out exactly what buyers are searching for. You can then match your listings to those terms to increase sales.
• Etsy Tools: Use tools like eRank for keyword research and driving traffic to your shop. Another option is Alura for shop operations, finances, marketing, and automation.
• Use Social Media: Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest help drive traffic that Etsy alone won’t give you. Consider adopting user-generated content or displaying social proof when selling on Etsy. 

Etsy Alternatives in 2025: When to Switch and Where to Go

If Etsy selling doesn’t meet your needs, here are alternatives you can try.

Print-on-Demand with Podbase

Podbase is one of the best print-on-demand platforms for the following reasons:

• Best for Creators and Tech Products: Podbase produces high-quality tech products on behalf of its creators. With a 98% customer satisfaction rate, you can rest easy knowing your orders are in good hands.
• Seamless Etsy, Shopify, WooCommerce Integrations: Podbase provides seamless integrations with major marketplaces like Shopify. This way, you don’t have to set up different shops on each platform.

Shopify or WooCommerce

Etsy’s lack of customization makes it a bad fit for small businesses looking for branding control. For that, consider switching to either Shopify or WooCommerce. These two platforms allow you to customize shop layouts with brand colors and designs.

Other marketplaces

Other Etsy alternatives worth your time include: 

• Amazon Handmade: This seller platform lets you tap into Amazon’s huge traffic and trusted checkout system. It’s good for sellers who want more visibility and don’t mind stricter rules.
• Redbubble: This is built for artists and print-on-demand sellers. They handle printing, shipping, and customer service. Just upload your designs, and they do the rest.
• Society6: Similar to Redbubble, Society6 is more focused on art and design lovers. It’s a good choice for selling high-quality tech gear like phone cases with bold or niche artwork.

Also Read:

• Best Print-on-Demand Sites for Artists (Compared)
• Is Dropshipping Actually Profitable?