Etsy vs Shopify Fees UK
Compare Etsy UK marketplace fees with Shopify UK payment fees for the same product scenario.
Worked example winnerShopify
Shopify usually has the lighter per-order fee stack in this scenario, but Etsy may still justify its fees if marketplace discovery brings buyers you would otherwise pay ads to reach.
Example scenario£35.00 sale / £11.00 product cost
Shipping cost £4.00 and ad spend £2.80 are included in both rows.
ChannelScenarioFeesProfitMargin
Etsy UKStandard domestic order£4.19£13.0137.2%
ShopifyBasic plan online standard card£0.95£16.2546.4%
Best Fit
- Etsy: marketplace discovery, handmade search intent and simpler early demand testing.
- Shopify: stronger direct-store control, lower platform fee pressure and repeat-customer economics.
Watch Outs
- Shopify ad spend can erase the fee advantage if every order depends on paid acquisition.
- Etsy listing, payment and regulatory fees stack together, especially on lower-priced products.
Use the calculators
Run your own product numbers next.
FAQs
Is Shopify always cheaper than Etsy for UK sellers?
Not always. Shopify can have lower per-order platform fees, but sellers may need to pay more for traffic, apps and customer acquisition.
Should I compare Etsy and Shopify using the same sale price?
Yes. Start with the same product inputs so the comparison shows the channel effect rather than a changed scenario.