Shopify and Etsy are two of the most popular platforms for creating an online store. Each of them has its own features and advantages. In this article, let’s look at the main advantages and disadvantages of these two giants of the e-commerce world and help you decide which platform is better, Shopify or Etsy.
Choosing the right platform for online commerce in today’s retail environment is critical to the success of your business. Below, let’s take a look at pricing to use, features and built-in functionality, and figure out which is better for eCommerce, Etsy or Shopify.
Shopify is loved for its simple and intuitive interface. The CMS has many ready-made templates built in to customize the look and feel of the store, so you can create a unique and professional design without the need to know HTML and CSS.
The registration and customization process is very simple, so sellers can quickly add products and receive their first orders. Also available is integration with third-party applications that facilitate the management of the resource and automate many processes.
For Etsy, it doesn’t take long to register an account and upload your first items. However, here you can not create a custom design, and will have to be satisfied with a standard design, which somewhat limits the possibilities for the seller.
At the same time, the platform is perfect for small businesses and independent sellers who are engaged in handicrafts and other types of creativity.
ECommerce Features
Etsy focuses on promoting handmade and vintage items. The basic eCommerce features are worked out here, giving you the bare minimum you need to trade online:
- A simple process for adding products;
- Mobile application for managing orders and communicating with customers;
- Integration with payment services and delivery services;
- Reviews and ratings to increase trust in the company.
At the same time, the possibilities of integration with third-party services are very limited. There are also certain restrictions on the product categories that can be added to the site.
But Shopify is a full-fledged CMS for e-commerce, which provides all the necessary tools for an online store in any subject. You can find here:
- A wide selection of design templates and design themes;
- Mobile application for managing the work of the store;
- Its own online payment system, as well as extensive opportunities to customize delivery conditions;
- Built-in marketing tools;
- Analytics and reporting to track orders and visitor behavior;
- Large selection of third-party applications to expand functionality;
- Ability to create an unlimited number of products and their variations (color, sizes, etc.).
Extensions and plugins
Here Shopify has a significant advantage – in the plugin store there are more than 6000 applications for every taste (both free and paid). They are divided into 12 categories, making it much easier to find the right tools.
Shopify App Store
The range of extensions is extremely wide. They help you integrate with dropshipping platforms and social networks, create countdown timers for introducing promotions and sales, connect loyalty programs, manage email newsletters, and more.
In fact, you can find solutions for any task related to the functioning of your online store. In addition, you can even connect your Etsy store to Shopify, combining them into a single system.
In turn, Etsy does not have its own app store. However, there are third-party marketplaces and independent developers who release add-ons for stores on Etsy. At the same time, their choice is not as large, and the integrations are somewhat more complicated.
Technical Support
Both platforms have extensive help documentation including articles, guides and tutorials. The Etsy site also has a detailed, searchable seller knowledge base covering all aspects of interacting with the site.
However, you probably won’t be able to talk to a real expert and tell them about your problem (this option is only available in a limited number of cases). Basically, sellers have to rely on the help center, community forum and help from other users.
But for sellers on Shopify, there is unlimited 24/7 tech support via multiple channels: online chat, email, and phone. You can get in touch with a live consultant at any time of the day or night and quickly get help with your question.
What products can I sell?
On Shopify, you can sell any goods that do not violate the laws of the country in which the online store operates and the rules of the platform itself. The platform is suitable for trading in any niche and any goods. Among the most popular topics – clothing, electronics, cosmetics, food.
But Etsy is a highly specialized marketplace, focused on certain categories of goods. Here you can sell only:
- Handmade products. This can be jewelry, decor items, furniture, dishes, toys, etc.
- Vintage items that are 20 years old or older. In this case, “distort” information about the age is unlikely to be possible – the administrators closely monitor this.
- Goods for needlework. This includes materials, tools and accessories – fabrics, beads, paints, blanks and so on.
All categories have their own rules and restrictions. As an example, sellers of handmade goods must create their own goods and not resell someone else’s. You can’t pass off as your handmade goods that someone else has made.
Thus, if you sell electronics, clothing from famous brands, or pet products, it is better to choose Shopify. But the administration of Etsy strictly monitors compliance with the theme when adding a new store. But it has a large loyal audience in its niche.