Etsy Alternatives: Best Places to Sell Your Handmade Items

There’s nothing quite as satisfying as creating something yourself. Many people who produce handmade items do so initially as a hobby but soon find selling their crafts to be a viable business option that will allow them to work from home. 

But choosing where to sell your handmade items can be a bit of a challenge. After all, there are so many options; how does one choose? And everyone’s heard of Etsy by now, but in 2021, are there any alternatives?

From sewing and crocheting to painting and jewelry making, there are so many creative products out there today; there’s never been a better time to sell your wares online.

I hope to help you with this dilemma of where to sell your handmade items. Some of these places you’ve likely heard of, and some might be new to you. Either way, I hope this will help make your decision about where to sell your products a bit easier.

1. Etsy

Etsy is the largest online marketplace for selling handmade items and crafts and has helped many artists and makers turn their hobbies into full-fledged businesses. If you’re just getting started, you’ll undeniably want to begin your journey here. Here’s what you need to know about Etsy’s fees. Etsy charges a $0.20 listing fee per item every four months. This includes products with multiple quantities, and you are charged this amount whether or not the item sells. The rest of their fees are only taken once you make a sale. Etsy charges a 5% commission on the total cost of sales (purchase+shipping) and a 3-5% payment processing fee (the amount varies depending on your location).

Etsy’s fees are often listed as one of its biggest cons, and each update to its fee structure leads to a new wave of sellers looking for alternatives. Compared to the many sites similar to Etsy, though, it is still one of the easiest and least risky routes to take. According to Similar Web, Etsy is the #4 most trafficked e-commerce marketplace website with roughly 400 Million views per month, behind only Amazon, eBay, and Walmart. That makes it a great place to make a name for yourself and make those first few sales.

Etsy Alternatives: Other Places to Sell Your Handmade Items

If your sales have grown considerably on Etsy over the years, you may be looking to expand your reach, establish a backup platform, or take your business into your own hands. Whatever your reasons, there are lots of alternatives to Etsy these days, some more promising than others. Below, we’ll discuss some pros and cons, as well as basic stats and fees associated with each platform!

2. Amazon Handmade

Amazon launched Handmade, its marketplace program for handcrafted goods, in 2015 and is quickly becoming one of the best places to sell your products online outside of Etsy. As a Handmade seller, your items will show up alongside other products on Amazon, falling under the “handmade” category.

Starting your Handmade store is free, and Amazon only takes a commission once you make a sale – 15%. When you open your store, your products will be available to buyers in your country only. To reach Amazon’s global customer base, you’ll need to have your listings translated for each country’s individual Amazon website.

3. Storenvy

Storenvy prides itself on working with Indie and emerging brands and has grown in recent years, bringing in 2-3 Million views per month. You can use the site to create a custom e-commerce store or list your handmade items on their marketplace. If you want to join the Storenvy Marketplace, it will cost you 15% of your sales, but there are no listing or monthly fees. This is a good alternative to Etsy for beginners because you don’t have to spend a ton of money upfront.

4. CustomMade Maker Marketplace

CustomMade, known for its handmade jewelry, also has an online marketplace for custom, handcrafted goods. Sellers on this platform can offer ready-made products or bid on custom design requests. This website is geared toward luxury craftsmanship, and most of CustomMade’s customers are looking for custom goods. By far, the most popular product to sell is handmade jewelry. However, they offer a broad range of product categories, and CustomMade sellers report decent sales in categories like woodworking, leatherworking, and engraving.

The website boasts 450-500K monthly visits, so it’s worth checking out! You must apply to become a CustomMade maker and submit examples of your work. It is free to sign up, and CustomMade only takes its fees when you make a sale – a 10% commission, plus a 2.7% + $0.30 transaction fee.

5. Goimagine

Launched in 2020, Goimagine is a new website like Etsy for selling handmade items. As such a new platform, it doesn’t currently have a lot of traffic; however, it’s been making headlines in a lot of big places (like Martha Stewart, Apartment Therapy, and BRIT+CO, to name a few) due to its mission-based business model. All profits from Goimagine are paid directly to its makers and artists, and the rest are donated to charity.

To sell on Goimagine, you must live in the US, and your products must be handmade. No mass-produced, vintage, or resell items are allowed. Goimagine’s Starter Plan costs $2.50 per month, plus a 5% transaction fee. Despite being a new platform, sellers report having made enough sales thus far to cover their plan costs.

6. Just Artisan

Just Artisan is a brand new online handmade marketplace that launched in 2020. It was established as a vendor-centric alternative to Etsy, committed to low fees and strictly handmade or designed items. Despite being very new, the platform is off to a great start – the site is well designed and has great functionality.

As of yet, it does not have many customers or vendors; however, during its launch phase, it is offering free monthly membership plans, so you can try it out risk-free. Just Artisan takes a 7.5% commission only when you make a sale.

7. Renegade Craft

Renegade Craft, best known for its in-person markets, also offers an online store where you can shop and sell all year. Renegade Craft is choosy about its vendors and curates items that have an indie craft look and feel. You have to apply to vend on their shop, and if selected, pay a hefty 40% commission on all sales. That said, Renegade Craft will handle 100% of your marketing and customer service – all you have to do is ship!

8. Zibbet

With Zibbet, you can create your own store or join their global marketplace. Their marketplace has more than 50,000 shop owners and nets about 200K views per month. One of the key features of Zibbet is the ability to consolidate all of your sales channels in one place. You can cross-list your items on Zibbet, Etsy, Instagram, Facebook, and more, and your listings and inventory will be automatically be synced across each platform. Zibbet costs $5 per month per sales channel you add, but there are no listing or transaction fees outside those from any linked platforms.

9. Aftcra

Aftcra is an online marketplace similar to Etsy, except exclusively for handmade goods produced in the US. To sell on Aftcra, your items must be made in the US and must not be mass-produced, vintage, or resold without modification.

While this website doesn’t have a ton of traffic or vendors currently, it’s completely free to set up your store and list your items, so you can try it out risk-free! Aftcra only takes a 7% fee when your products sell.

10. Handmade Artists’ Shop

Handmade Artists’ Shop started as a forum for crafters and artists. Because of that, you’ll find a tight-knit community here, despite being a relatively small site. Artists and sellers moderate the site, as well as support each other in their businesses.

To sell on Handmade Artists’ Shop, your products must be handmade—no reselling, vintage, or mass-produced items allowed. The site charges a $5 per month membership, and after that, no other fees or commissions. You will, however, still be subject to PayPal’s transaction fees.

11. Cargoh

Cargoh is a handmade website similar to Etsy. While you can list various types of goods there, the site’s focus leans more toward fine arts and features a lot of metalworking. To sell on the platform, you must apply and be approved.

While the site does not have a lot of traffic, it’s free to sign up, so you can try it out risk-free! Cargoh doesn’t charge listing fees; they simply take a 10% commission when you make a sale.

12. IndieCart

IndieCart, formerly Hyena Cart, launched in 2004 as an online marketplace for handmade cloth diapers. Cloth diapers are still one of the more popular items to sell on the site, but they also carry plenty of other categories. IndieCart does not have much traffic, but it does have a fairly loyal following of buyers and sellers. It costs $7.50 per month to set up your store, and IndieCart does not take any other fees or commissions.

13. iCraft

iCraft is another smaller website like Etsy with a small but loyal following. Sellers who stick with the site say they see roughly half the quantity of sales on iCraft as they do on Etsy but make a proportionately larger profit from those sales. iCraft is a strictly handmade site – no mass-produced or reselling allowed. Their pricing starts at $10 per month and a one-time, $25 registration fee. After that, iCraft takes no additional commissions or fees.

Etsy Alternatives for International Sellers

14. Not on the High Street (UK)

Not on the High Street is one of the largest alternatives to Etsy, boasting 5-7 Million visitors per month. It is only available to artists and makers based in the UK and Ireland at this time, though it is open to buyers worldwide. Not on the High Street features a highly curated selection of products and is rather choosey about who it selects to sell on its platform.

If your application to sell on Not on the High Street is approved, you will need to pay a one-time joining fee and a 25% commission on all sales. The joining fee, which is negotiated on an individual basis, is quite steep – reported to be around £200. However, most sellers report earning more than enough in sales to make up for it.

Not on the High Street plans to open its platform up to sellers in more countries, but the process will likely be slow. You can check out their seller application and sign up to be notified when it’s available in your country here.

15. Folksy (UK)

Folksy is another UK alternative to Etsy. To sell on Folksy, you must be based in the UK, and your goods must be handcrafted – no vintage or resell items allowed. Folksy has gathered a decent audience in recent years, having around 250K visitors per month. Folksy sellers have even been featured in big-name publications like The Guardian and Elle Decoration.

Their basic plan starts at £0.15 + VAT per listing, or you can choose a paid membership that costs £5 per month and allows unlimited listings. You can test it out for free with your first three listings.

16. Numonday (UK)

Numonday is a UK-based handmade goods marketplace that launched in 2016. It features everything from hand-sewn garments and crafts to fine art. While slow to start, this site has seen some growth recently and is now netting around 100K visits per month. Many sellers report challenges navigating and uploading their listings to the site, but most say they have made at least a few sales there.

It costs £10 per month to join Numonday, but the company does not deduct any fees or commissions outside of standard payment processing fees. They offer a free 14-day trial, so you can try it out risk-free.

17. The Nooks (Canada)

The Nooks is a site like Etsy that features a curated collection of handmade items. It also happens to have several retail stores across the country. With four profitable storefronts and more on the way, The Nooks is an excellent alternative to Etsy if you live in Canada. To sell on the Nooks, you must apply and pay a $29 per month membership. However, they take no fees or commissions from your sales!

18. Madeit (Australia)

Madeit is an Australia-based website similar to Etsy that launched in 2009. Since it’s been operating, it’s undergone a few improvements and facelifts and is now gaining popularity, reaching 75K visitors per month. To sell on Madeit, you must live and handmake your products in Australia. The site’s pricing starts at $5 per month, and they take no commission or fees from your sales outside of PayPal’s payment processing fees.

19. NOVICA (Global)

NOVICA is a global, fair-trade artisan marketplace that aims to cut out the middlemen and give artists and makers a place to sell their wares for living wages. And it’s been a popular idea! NOVICA currently sees about 700K monthly visitors.

At this time, NOVICA accepts sellers from Mexico, Central and South America, West Africa, India, and Southeast Asia. To sell on NOVICA, you must apply by emailing details and pictures of your products to: [email protected]

Other Places to Sell Your Handmade Items Online

When sellers decide to branch out from Etsy, many look for alternate, strictly handmade marketplaces, but why limit yourself? There are so so so many more lucrative options out there, and a primary benefit of branching out is that you’re able to reach a completely different audience.

20. eBay

With eBay being the #2 ranked e-commerce website on the internet, it’s worth trying out as a platform for your handmade items! In fact, many Etsy sellers list their products on both platforms, and depending on the product category, most actually report earning more sales on eBay. It’s free to create your account and list your first 250 items for sale. eBay takes its fees once your products sell – 12.55% + a $0.30 transaction fee.

21. Cratejoy

If you make consumable products, starting a subscription box business is an excellent way to increase your revenue. The trending subscription box company, Cratejoy, has loads of product lines—some handmade, some not. In addition to its millions of monthly views and 40,000+ subscriber base, Cratejoy offers tons of support to build your subscription box business successfully. Cratejoy’s basic membership is free, and they only take a commission when you make a sale – 11.25% + a $0.10 transaction fee.

22. Mercari

Mercari, the uber-popular resell app, is an excellent place to sell your handmade items. Many artists and makers report good sales using the app; however, they say buyers on Mercari are frequently looking for a bargain. You’ll have the best luck with your profit margins if you price your items with room to haggle. Mercari is free to use, and they take a 10% commission and 2.9% + $0.30 transaction fee once you complete a sale.

23. Bonanza

Bonanza is an online resell marketplace, similar to eBay, that sees roughly 4 million visitors per month. In addition to selling products in its marketplace, you can use the platform to create a store and upload your listings from eBay, Amazon, Shopify, and Etsy, making it super easy to use. Many sellers report success selling vintage, collectibles, and art there, but not as much with crafts and other handmade products. You can create your listings for free, and Bonanza takes a 3.5% commission when you make a sale.

24. eCrater

eCrater is another online resell marketplace similar to eBay. The biggest categories of products to sell there are technology and collectibles, but it also features a fair amount of handmade goods. The site brings in about 2 Million views per month, and it’s free to create your account, so it’s worth checking out!

25. Facebook

Facebook is a highly flexible platform for selling handmade goods. Facebook Business Pages now have the option to list products for sale, and you can also choose to sell locally or ship items on Facebook Marketplace. Additionally, Facebook Groups have become huge drivers of peer-to-peer sales. You can find and sell in groups that are active in your niche, product category, or for your target audience.

26. Instagram

Instagram has become one of the biggest platforms for allowing artists and makers to earn a living doing what they love! To sell on Instagram, all you need are the right hashtags to get your handmade products in front of potential customers. While there’s no direct shop feature on Instagram (yet!), many sellers use unique hashtags to designate available items or list them in their stories. You then take orders via DM and just need a way to accept payments.

27. TikTok

If you handcraft products that are well-suited to video format, TikTok is the new place to be. Buyers love being able to look in on an artist’s or maker’s process, and as a major bonus, your craftsmanship could easily go viral. You can also use your page to list items for sale, using customs hashtags similar to Instagram.

Sell Your Handmade Goods Wholesale

If you think you can’t sell your handmade items wholesale, think again! The demand for artisan and handcrafted goods to supply hotels, gift stores, e-commerce shops, and more has skyrocketed. Many of the exclusive artisan wholesale marketplaces out-perform the more commercial ones. If you’ve honed your craft, developed your brand and packaging, and are prepared to ramp up production, you should absolutely consider making your products available wholesale.

28. Uncommon Goods

Uncommon Goods is a wildly popular website for creative gifts, boasting 3 Million visitors per month. Not every product on their website is handmade, but all of them are creative and unique. Because of the website’s niche audience and market, they are pretty selective in choosing sellers to work with.

Rather than setting up as an individual vendor on Uncommon Goods, you will either sell your products wholesale or provide fulfillment for them. They do not have any listed fees but work with artists and makers on a contract basis instead.

29. Faire

Launched in 2017, Faire is a site like Etsy for independent artisans and makers – except wholesale! And the idea has been well-received too, seeing 2.5-3.5 Million visits per month. Sellers say Faire is a highly lucrative platform – a majority making their first large sale in less than a week. Stationary is one of the more popular items to sell, but they offer a wide array of products. What’s not allowed are products not produced or designed by you, fine art, and resell goods.

To sell on Faire, you must apply and be approved. Faire takes a hefty commission – 25% on your first sale with a new customer through their marketplace and then 15% for repeat customers. However, they do not take a commission on sales you make to your own customers that you bring to the site. Despite the fees, Faire has overwhelmingly positive seller reviews.

30. The Grommet

The Grommet is an online marketplace for up-and-coming household products and creative gifts. You’ll find handmade items alongside quirky, inventor gadgets here. The Grommet’s claim to fame is discovering the Soda Stream, for instance. Needless to say, it’s a well-trafficked site, bringing in roughly 1.5 Million views per month. To sell on Grommet, you must apply and submit your product for review. They have a fairly selective application process, approving only 3% of their applicants.

31. Abound

Launched in 2017, Abound is a curated wholesale marketplace devoted to indie brands and retailers in the US and UK. In that time, it’s grown considerably, bringing in over 500K visits per month. Abound is looking for a certain aesthetic and is pretty choosy in their application process—they only approve about 30% of their seller applicants. That said, it’s free to apply and join. Abound only takes a commission when you make a sale – around 8%.

32. Range.Me

Range.Me is a wholesale marketplace that brings in 300K monthly visitors and works with big brands like Walmart and Whole Foods. Rather than functioning as a typical e-commerce platform, the site works more like a high-tech dating website that matches buyers and sellers. Vendors detail a high level of success with the site, even going so far as to say that Range.Me’s $1,200 per year premium membership is more than worth it. However, you can join the website and set up your seller profile for free!

33. EarthHero

Do you produce sustainable or eco-friendly goods? EarthHero may be the wholesale marketplace for you! At 300K monthly visitors, it’s a fairly popular venue and has been featured in places like Martha Stewart and the Sierra Club. To become a vendor on EarthHero, you must apply, and your products must be made of sustainably sourced materials.

34. Tundra

Tundra is a wholesale marketplace for both commercially produced and handmade products. Similar to Faire, it was established in 2017. It has slower to launch, bringing in around 200K visits per month. However, you can sell on Tundra completely free. Yes, you read that right! Tundra makes all its profits from additional services, like expedited shipping, insurance, and advertisements.

Sell on Your Own Website

If you’re looking for an alternative to Etsy, you’ve no doubt considered selling on your own website. Starting an online store comes with some extra work and risks, but if you’ve been selling handmade products online for a while or already do a lot of work to market yourself, it may be time to consider it! If you’re completely new to doing your own marketing and driving your own sales, there are plenty of affordable options you can try out relatively risk-free too.

35. Shopify

Shopify is an e-commerce platform that allows you to build a website and manage pretty much your entire business in one place. From customizing an online store to managing inventory and tracking sales, you can do it all with Shopify. You can try Shopify free for 14 days. After that, Shopify’s fees range from $29-$299 per month, depending on your business needs.

36. BigCommerce

BigCommerce is an e-commerce platform similar to Shopify. You can get started selling your handmade items right away with a free 15-day trial. Their fees start at $29.95 per month and go up depending on what you need for your business. One neat thing about Big Commerce is that you can also sell on eBay, Amazon, and Facebook through their platform.

37. Big Cartel

Big Cartel is an online store builder specifically designed for artists and makers. If you’re just getting started, Big Cartel makes setting up a website super easy to do. You can try it out and list your first five items for free. After that, their pricing starts at $9.99 per month. This makes it a great, low-cost option if you’re not quite ready for Shopify.

38. Square Online

Square, the company that brought you the cell phone credit card reader, also has a platform for creating your own website. If you’re already using Square for in-person sales, it makes syncing your inventory online super easy. Their intro pricing plan is free, and you only pay a 2.9% + $0.30 transaction fee.

39. Ecwid

Ecwid is another website builder specifically for e-commerce. A neat feature is that you can set up your Ecwid online store to sync your inventory from other platforms like Amazon, Instagram, Facebook, and more. It’s free to create your store and list your first 10 products. After that, it costs $15 per month and up.

40. IndieMade

IndieMade is a website-building platform for artists that makes setting up your online store a cinch. You simply select a template, add details to your listings, and you’re set! Your customization options here are pretty limited, but their basic pricing plan starts at $4.95 per month, making it an easy, affordable option for beginners.

Sell Your Crafts in Person

41. Craft Fairs

Craft fairs are an enjoyable way to sell your products. You get to meet people in person and show off your goods personally, which is advantageous if your product might benefit from a demonstration. People love to be hands-on and touch items before they buy (I know I do!).

Holidays are the most popular time to find craft fairs, but if you do a thorough search, you might be surprised to see that they are offered all year long. And depending on your type of product, there are many specialty fairs throughout the country, featuring everything from art and sculptures to clothing and sewn products. If you do your research, I’m sure you’ll find fairs in your area.

42. Trunk Shows

If you make clothing, jewelry, handbags, and the like, you might think about incorporating trunk shows into your selling routine. Sometimes called home parties, they were made famous by direct sales companies like Tupperware and Avon. But the trunk shows of today are so much more than just selling products. They allow people to come together, socialize and have a good time while browsing your products and testing them out. Some modern-day direct sales companies you may want to explore are Stella & Dot, cabi, and Traveling Vineyard.

43. Brick and Mortar Boutiques/Rented Space

Getting your handmade items into brick-and-mortar boutiques might be easier than you think. Look carefully at the shops you frequent, because they all get their goods from somewhere. Some boutiques will sell your items for free and take a commission once they sell, while others charge a monthly fee for the space you use.

44. Local Markets

Last but not least, the good old Saturday/Local Market is really lucrative for some folks. It’s a popular place for artists, jewelry makers, food vendors, and more to sell their wares. A cool thing about local markets is the support system. Many towns are very pro buying local and encourage citizens to shop locally whenever possible. I sold at our local Saturday Market one year and had many great memories from that time. It not only helped me spread my wings business-wise, but I made new friends, some of which I still have to this day.

How to Turn Your Handmade Hobby into a Business

Whether you’re just getting started in your handmade business or looking to take it to the next level, you’re undoubtedly here because you’d like to make at least a small profit for your work. Thanks to the booming online world and changing consumer attitudes, it’s never been easier to make a living doing what you love.

The best way to make a consistent and reliable profit from your small business is by diversifying your revenue streams. If you’re new to one method of sales or another, start with platforms that carry low upfront costs so that you can get acquainted with it risk-free. Once you’ve mastered driving your own sales and doing all of your own marketing, consider branching out!

I hope this list of places to sell your handmade goods will be a help to you. Have any other ideas to add? Please leave them in the comments below!

Originally published May 17, 2017. Content updated August 2021.