If you're thinking about starting a print-on-demand (POD) business, choosing the right platform is key. Shopify and Etsy are two of the most popular options, but they work in very different ways.
In this article, we'll break down the key differences, advantages, and challenges of each platform. You'll also learn how to use tools like PrintKK to design products, integrate with both platforms, and start selling without keeping inventory. By the end, you'll have a clear idea of which option fits your business goals best.
Understanding Shopify Print on Demand
What Is Shopify?
Shopify is an e-commerce platform that lets anyone create their own online store. You can sell products, manage orders, and customize your storefront without needing advanced tech skills.
It's designed for entrepreneurs, small businesses, and creators who want full control over their online shop.
What Is Shopify Print on Demand?
Shopify Print on Demand (POD) allows you to sell custom-printed products without keeping inventory. You can connect your store to printing and fulfillment services through apps, so production and shipping are handled automatically.
Shopify POD is perfect if you want full control over branding, a personalized shopping experience, and the ability to scale your business with products like apparel, home decor, and more.
Pros and Cons of Shopify Print on Demand
When evaluating Shopify Print on Demand for your business, it's crucial to weigh its pros and cons. Shopify excels in offering extensive customization and scalability, which are significant assets for anyone looking to grow their brand and tailor their online store. However, it's also important to consider the costs associated with these benefits. Here's a brief overview:
Pros | Cons |
Customization: Offers extensive options to tailor the look and feel of your store, enhancing brand identity. | Initial Setup: Setting up a Shopify store can be time-consuming, especially for those unfamiliar with e-commerce platforms. |
Scalability: Efficiently accommodates business growth without compromising performance, ideal for expanding product lines and customer base. | Costs: Involves monthly subscription fees and transaction costs, which can add up, especially for small-scale businesses. |
Wide Product Range: Provides access to a diverse array of products for printing, catering to varied customer preferences. | Learning Curve: New users may find the platform's features and integrations challenging to master initially. |
Integration: Seamless integration with various print providers and fulfillment services streamlines the order processing. | Independence: While offering freedom, it also places the onus on you to drive traffic and sales, necessitating marketing and SEO efforts. |
Understanding Etsy Print on Demand
What Is Etsy?
Etsy is an online marketplace known for handmade, vintage, and creative products. It connects independent artists, designers, and small business owners with buyers looking for unique and original items.
Etsy provides a ready-made audience and a supportive community for sellers.
What Is Etsy Print on Demand?
Etsy Print on Demand (POD) lets you sell custom-printed products without keeping inventory. Your items can be listed alongside handmade and vintage products, giving you access to Etsy's loyal customer base.
It's ideal for creators who want to showcase original designs, reach a niche audience, and benefit from a user-friendly, community-focused platform.
Pros and Cons of Etsy Print on Demand
For those considering a foray into the world of online retail with custom products, Etsy offers a unique platform. It stands out for its accessibility to a large, diverse customer base and its appeal to niche markets, particularly for custom and artistic products. However, this comes with the challenges of a saturated market and a fee structure that includes listing and transaction fees.
Pros | Cons |
Vast Audience: Etsy's global reach provides sellers immediate access to millions of potential customers. | Market Saturation: The platform is highly competitive, with many sellers offering similar products. |
Niche Market Appeal: Ideal for unique and artistic items, catering to customers seeking custom-made products. | Fee Structure: Involves listing fees and a percentage of sales, which can impact overall profitability. |
User-Friendly: The platform is known for its ease of use, making it simple for new sellers to set up shops and list products. | Limited Customization: Less flexibility in branding and customer experience compared to having an independent online store. |
Community Support: Etsy provides a robust community and support resources for sellers, including forums and educational materials. | Visibility Challenges: Sellers often rely on Etsy's search algorithm for visibility, requiring good SEO practices to stand out. |
Key Differences Between Shopify and Etsy Print on Demand
Print on Demand Branding
Shopify offers full store customization, allowing you to create a unique brand identity and strengthen customer loyalty.
It is ideal for businesses looking to stand out in a competitive market, providing full control over design, marketing, and customer experience to build an independent and memorable brand.
Etsy has limited customization options, but its reputation for creative, handcrafted products helps sellers quickly reach a niche audience. Its community and artistic marketplace provide a ready-made brand association, making it easier to align your shop with Etsy's established creative identity.
POD Suppliers
Shopify provides a flexible platform to manage a wide range of products and brand experiences. Seamless integration with multiple POD services automates inventory, order processing, and product updates, making it ideal for scalable and efficient operations.
Etsy gives sellers access to a dedicated, niche audience interested in handcrafted or artistic products. Operational control is more limited, and manual management is required, but it allows sellers to reach a unique customer base effectively.
Audience
Shopify allows you to build your brand from scratch, meaning you have the freedom to target a specific demographic that aligns with your products. The platform is perfect for sellers looking to build an independent brand.
Etsy has a large number of customers looking for unique custom products and handmade items. This makes Etsy a great option for those who want immediate access to a niche market without extensive marketing efforts.
Work Flow
The workflow on Shopify is highly customizable, making it suitable for businesses that want to tailor their operations to fit specific needs. You can integrate various apps and tools to streamline tasks such as order management, inventory tracking, and customer communication.
Etsy offers a more straightforward workflow. The platform is easy to use and enables sellers to quickly open their stores with minimal operation and setup. This simple operation is beneficial for beginners.
Integration with Print on Demand Services
Shopify's platform is designed to integrate seamlessly with various print-on-demand providers such as Printify and PrintKK. Product lists and order status are constantly updated and simplify your workflow.
Etsy also supports integration with print on demand services, but the process requires more human intervention and is more cumbersome. You may need to manually adjust the product list and inventory quantity, which can take your time.
Fees and Prices
Shopify charges a monthly subscription fee, with additional costs for premium themes and apps. This can add up, especially for small businesses. However, the investment can be justified by the extensive features and customization options available.
Etsy operates on a different model, charging listing fees, transaction fees, and payment processing fees. While these costs can accumulate, especially for high-volume sellers, the initial setup cost is lower, making it accessible for those just starting out.
Shopify vs Etsy: Which Is Better for Your POD Business?
Deciding whether Shopify or Etsy is better for your Print on Demand (POD) business depends on various factors including your business model, target audience, and long-term goals.
Shopify offers unparalleled customization and control, making it ideal for businesses focused on building a unique brand and scaling over time. Its ability to integrate with various POD services provides flexibility in product offerings and operational management.
Etsy, with its established market of customers interested in unique and handmade items, is a great platform for businesses targeting a niche audience. It's especially beneficial for individual artists, designers, and small-scale entrepreneurs who value community engagement and a lower barrier to entry.
However, Etsy's marketplace structure means less control over branding and a reliance on its built-in customer base.
Your choice between Shopify and Etsy should align with your business needs, whether it's the desire for a personalized online store or tapping into a community that appreciates creativity and uniqueness.
Reddit's Reviews: Shopify vs Etsy for New Pod Sellers?
Still unable to choose between Shopify and Etsy? Take a look at the experiences and insights of reddit users.
Sea-Concentrate-642
I am planning on starting a POD business using Shopify or Etsy but I am not able to choose between them. I know that Etsy has a higher transaction fees but some people say its worth it when you start selling high volumes.
My question with Shopify is that Etsy has its audience coming in, how do you pull in traffic to your Shopify website? Is it through you own social media? Do they have ads? In general, do you guys when suggest this is a profitable business?
kenny2812
Yes with Shopify you have to drive all of your own traffic with socials and Ads. With Etsy you do get the benefit of getting organic traffic directly from people browsing similar listings. A lot of people use both, I would suggest doing both if you have the time and resources to do so. It's best not to have all your eggs in one basket, so if one source of sales goes bust for whatever reason you're not completely done for.
UmbandistaGay
If you want to have a side hustle (which could become a very solid side hustle), Etsy is an option. But keep in mind that the people who buy from you are not your customers. They are Etsy's. You cannot market to those people to get them back to your store (unless there is a different way to do that that I am not aware of).
Shopify is your own website, which means you are building your own business (not a marketplace's). You have full control over bringing visitors to your website, which is hard, but not impossible. Your clients are your clients, and you can communicate with them whenever you want (as long as you collect emails from your visitors).
Boost Your POD Sales with PrintKK on Shopify and Etsy
When it comes to Print on Demand for Etsy and Shopify, using PrintKK makes everything super easy.
You can design your products online using the PrintKK AI Image tool, place orders in just a few clicks, and let PrintKK handle printing and shipping.
Our platform integrates smoothly with both Etsy and Shopify, so you don't need to worry about complicated setups.
Our products are perfect whether you're selling or buying for yourself. You'll enjoy low prices with high quality, giving you more room for profit. You can choose from a wide range of items like:
- Home decor
- Fashion clothing
- Pet products
Whether it's for personal use, gifts, or running your own store, PrintKK makes it simple to create and sell products that customers love. With AI-powered design, easy integration, and better profits, it's a smart choice for your POD business.
Expert Tips
Choosing between Shopify and Etsy for your print-on-demand business depends on your goals and priorities. Shopify is ideal if you want full control over your store, branding, and scalability, making it perfect for building a unique, long-term business.
Etsy is better for reaching a ready-made audience quickly, especially if your products are handmade, creative, or artistic.
Many sellers find success using both platforms together—leveraging Etsy's customer base while growing a branded Shopify store. Tools like PrintKK make it easy to design products, integrate with both platforms, and manage orders efficiently.
The best choice is the one that fits your workflow, target audience, and business growth plans.
FAQs
Is it better to have an Etsy shop or Shopify?
Choosing between Etsy and Shopify depends on your goals. Etsy is great for reaching buyers of handmade or creative products, while Shopify gives you full control over branding and store design.
Is it cheaper to sell on Etsy or Shopify?
Etsy has lower startup costs with listing and transaction fees, making it easier for small sellers. Shopify requires a monthly subscription, but can be more cost-effective long-term if your store grows.
How much does Etsy or Shopify take for print on demand?
Etsy charges listing fees plus a percentage of each sale, including shipping. Shopify has monthly plans and transaction fees unless using Shopify Payments. The exact cost depends on your plan and sales volume.
Is Shopify print on demand profitable?
Shopify POD can be profitable, especially if you focus on building a brand. Success depends on choosing products that sell, marketing effectively, and keeping costs under control.
Should you have both Etsy and Shopify for print on demand business?
Having both platforms can help reach different audiences. Etsy offers instant access to niche buyers, while Shopify allows more control over branding and scaling your store. It requires more effort, though.
Shopify or Etsy, which has more sales?
Etsy usually brings quicker sales thanks to its built-in audience. Shopify sales depend on your marketing and traffic efforts, but it can generate higher long-term revenue with proper promotion.
Can I sell handmade items on Shopify?
Yes, Shopify allows you to sell handmade products. You can create a custom storefront and showcase your items while managing orders, payments, and inventory directly on your own platform.
Is Shopify or Etsy better for selling art?
Etsy is ideal for reaching art buyers quickly because it's known for creative products. Shopify works if you want a unique online gallery with your own branding and more control over sales.
What other platforms can I sell on besides Shopify and Etsy?
You can also sell on platforms like eBay, Redbubble, Amazon Handmade, and Teespring. Each platform offers different audiences and tools, so choose based on your products and goals.
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