If you sell print-on-demand products, chances are Etsy was one of the first platforms you tried. It has built-in traffic, buyers already trust it, and it’s relatively easy to get started.
But for many POD sellers, that honeymoon phase doesn’t last long.
Between rising fees, increasing competition, paid ads you didn’t opt into, and limited control over how your brand shows up, more sellers are starting to ask the same question:
“Where else can I sell my designs?”
If you want a quick reminder of the different ways designers turn products into revenue, check out how to make money online with design as you explore your next platform.
To compare alternatives fairly, you need the Etsy baseline, because nearly every seller is benchmarking against it:
- $0.20 listing fee per product
- 6.5% transaction fee on the order amount
Those fees add up fast when you’re selling POD products with tight margins. That’s exactly why platforms that are free to list, have lower commissions, or offer more control over branding get attention so quickly from Etsy sellers.
And here’s the important distinction: When POD sellers search for Etsy alternatives, they’re not usually trying to abandon print-on-demand. They’re looking for better places to sell the same designs — with more flexibility, fewer surprises, and a clearer path to scaling.
In this guide, we break down 15 Etsy alternatives POD sellers are actually considering, comparing fees, features, and what each platform is best suited for — so you can decide where it makes sense to diversify next.
What POD sellers should look for in an Etsy alternative
| Feature | Etsy | Other marketplaces | Own-store platforms | POD marketplaces |
| Built-in traffic | High | Medium to high | None (you bring traffic) | Medium |
| Monthly fees | Low | Varies | Medium | None |
| Transaction fees | Medium | Medium to high | Low (processor only) | High (margin-based) |
| Brand control | Low | Low | High | Very low |
| POD compatibility | Yes | Usually manual | Via integrations | Built-in |
| Risk of account issues | Medium | Medium | Low | Medium |
| Ability to scale a brand | Limited | Limited | High | Low |
| Best for | Discovery + early sales | Extra channels | Long-term brand growth | Design testing |
Not all Etsy alternatives solve the same problem. Some give you built-in buyers, while others give you more control but expect you to bring your own traffic. Before switching (or adding another channel), here’s what POD sellers should actually evaluate.
1. Marketplace vs own store
Marketplaces come with existing traffic and trust, but less control. Your products sit next to competitors, pricing pressure is real, and branding options are limited.
Own-store platforms give you full control over your brand, pricing, and customer data — but you’re responsible for driving traffic.
For many POD sellers, the best move is using both.
2. Fee structure
Look beyond the headline number. Pay attention to:
- Listing fees per product
- Transaction fees per sale
- Monthly subscriptions or upgrade tiers
Lower fees matter more for POD sellers because margins are tighter than handmade or custom goods.
3. POD compatibility
Not every platform is POD-ready out of the box. Check whether you’ll be:
- Uploading finished products manually
- Connecting a POD provider through integrations
- Handling fulfillment separately
The smoother the workflow, the easier it is to scale without burning time.
4. Listing presentation flexibility
Outside of Etsy, your listing visuals do more of the selling. Platforms vary in:
- Image limits and formats
- Mockup flexibility
- Branding and layout control
High-quality thumbnails, mockups, and consistent branding become a real competitive advantage.
5. Audience fit
Each platform attracts a different kind of buyer:
- Handmade-focused marketplaces
- General ecommerce shoppers
- Creator or brand-driven audiences
Selling the same POD design on the wrong platform can hurt performance just as much as bad pricing.
Before you pick a platform, it helps to know what you’re building — here are 10 easy design business ideas you can start from home for quick inspiration.
The 15 best Etsy alternatives for print-on-demand sellers
Before diving in, one quick reminder: the right choice depends on how much control you want, how you handle fulfillment, and if you’re looking for built-in traffic or a long-term brand.
Etsy alternative rank 15: Bonanza

- What it is: A smaller marketplace where you list products in your “booth.”
- Why POD sellers consider it: It can be an extra place to get a few more sales without building a whole new store.
- Fees & pricing (simple): Bonanza says non-members pay a $0.25 transaction fee plus a final value fee (example uses 11% on the first $4,000 and 1.5% above that), and advertising choices can change what you pay.
- Pros for POD: Easy “extra channel.”
- Trade-offs: Less buyer traffic than Etsy, and POD fulfillment is usually manual (you still run the printing/shipping workflow).
Etsy alternative rank 14: Storenvy
- What it is: A simple storefront + a marketplace feed.
- Why POD sellers consider it: You can have a shop page and also get some marketplace discovery.
- Fees & pricing (simple): Storenvy says no monthly or listing fees, and a 15% marketplace commission. If you opt into Managed Marketing, it can be 25%, replacing the 15%.
- Pros for POD: Low setup stress.
- Trade-offs: That commission can hurt POD margins, and POD is typically manual or integration-based (not built in).
Etsy alternative rank 13: Spreadshop (Spreadshirt)
- What it is: A POD shop system where Spreadshop prints and ships.
- Why POD sellers consider it: You can upload designs and let the platform handle fulfillment.
- Fees & pricing (simple): Spreadshop explains that a base price covers the product + printing, then you add your margin. Your earnings are your margin (plus any performance bonus they mention).
- Pros for POD: No inventory, very “set it and run it.”
- Trade-offs: Less brand control than your own store, and you’re growing inside their system.
Etsy alternative rank 12: Threadless Artist Shops
- What it is: A free artist storefront where Threadless produces and ships your products.
- Why POD sellers consider it: It feels more like “my shop” while still being hands-off.
- Fees & pricing (simple): Threadless says each product has a Base Cost (product cost + a 5% processing fee based on your retail price). Your earnings are Retail Price − Base Cost.
- Pros for POD: Simple pricing math and easy fulfillment.
- Trade-offs: Still not the same control as running Shopify/WooCommerce.
Etsy alternative rank 11: Zazzle

- What it is: A marketplace where your designs go on products, and you earn royalties.
- Why POD sellers consider it: Big catalog + strong personalization vibes (great for gifts).
- Fees & pricing (simple): Zazzle notes that if you set your royalty rate above 10%, an Excess Royalty Fee of 5% (of gross royalty) applies.
- Pros for POD: No fulfillment work and lots of product options.
- Trade-offs: Low brand control, and earnings can feel confusing at first.
Etsy alternative rank 10: Redbubble
- What it is: A POD marketplace (upload designs, Redbubble prints + ships).
- Why POD sellers consider it: It’s one of the fastest ways to test designs without tech setup.
- Fees & pricing (simple): Redbubble lists account tiers and a platform fee taken from monthly earnings: Standard 50%, Premium 20%, Pro 0%. It also notes that an excess markup fee can apply when product markup is above 20%.
- Pros for POD: Zero inventory, quick launch.
- Trade-offs: Your brand is limited inside the marketplace, and the platform fee can be a big cut.
Etsy alternative rank 9: eBay
- What it is: A huge general marketplace with strong search traffic.
- Why POD sellers consider it: You can sell in almost any niche, not just “handmade.”
- Fees & pricing (simple): eBay says it’s free to list for most casual sellers, but after 250 items/month there’s a $0.35 insertion fee per listing. If an item sells, the final value fee ranges 2.5% to 15.3% (by category) plus a per-order fee ($0.30 for orders $10 or less, $0.40 for orders over $10).
- Pros for POD: Big audience and strong keyword-based selling.
- Trade-offs: Competition is intense, and POD is usually manual or integration-based.
Etsy alternative rank 8: Amazon Handmade
- What it is: Amazon’s handmade category with an application process.
- Why POD sellers consider it: Because it’s Amazon-level traffic if you qualify.
- Fees & pricing (simple): Amazon’s Handmade program page says joining and listing is free, and when you make a sale, Amazon deducts a 15% referral fee.
- Pros for POD: Massive buyer trust and demand potential.
- Trade-offs: Approval + rules matter a lot, and it’s not a “POD-first” setup for most sellers.
Etsy alternative rank 7: Ecwid

- What it is: A store you can add to an existing website (or run on its own).
- Why POD sellers consider it: You can build a store without starting over on a new site.
- Fees & pricing (simple): Ecwid lists paid plans and also notes no setup fees and no transaction fees from Ecwid itself (you still pay your payment processor).
- Pros for POD: Good if you already have traffic (blog, portfolio, social).
- Trade-offs: POD automation depends on what tools you connect, and some sellers outgrow it.
Etsy alternative rank 6: Square Online
- What it is: Square’s online store tools are great if you also sell in person.
- Why POD sellers consider it: It’s easy, and Square handles payments cleanly.
- Fees & pricing (simple): Square shows $0/mo per location for Square Free, $49/mo per location for Square Plus, and $149/mo per location for Square Premium. It also lists online card processing like 3.3% + 30¢ (Free) and 2.9% + 30¢ (Plus/Premium).
- Pros for POD: Simple setup and solid payments.
- Trade-offs: Customization is more “simple-first,” and POD is typically manual or integration-based.
Etsy alternative rank 5: Big Cartel
- What it is: A lightweight store builder made for indie sellers.
- Why POD sellers consider it: It’s easy to start, and it doesn’t feel “corporate.”
- Fees & pricing (simple): Big Cartel lists Gold ($0), Platinum ($15/mo), and Diamond ($30/mo) plans, and it highlights “easy-install apps for print-on-demand.”
- Pros for POD: Great for a small catalog and a clean shop.
- Trade-offs: Fewer advanced growth tools than Shopify (apps, automation, deep reporting).
Etsy alternative rank 4: Squarespace
- What it is: A website builder known for its beautiful design.
- Why POD sellers consider it: If your brand’s look matters a lot, Squarespace makes it easy to look premium.
- Fees & pricing (simple): Squarespace explains that transaction fees depend on your plan, and payment processing rates also vary by plan and country.
- Pros for POD: Great-looking product pages and brand storytelling.
- Trade-offs: Less ecommerce “power” than Shopify for heavy scaling, and POD workflows depend on integrations.
Etsy alternative rank 3: Wix

- What it is: A drag-and-drop website builder with e-commerce plans.
- Why POD sellers consider it: Fast store setup without needing WordPress or code.
- Fees & pricing (simple): Wix’s plans vary by region and billing, but their plans page is the source of truth for current ecommerce plan pricing and what’s included.
- Pros for POD: Easy to design your site and launch quickly.
- Trade-offs: Some sellers hit limits as they scale (apps, advanced workflows), and POD depends on integrations.
Etsy alternative rank 2: WooCommerce
- What it is: An e-commerce plugin for WordPress.
- Why POD sellers consider it: You own the whole thing—site, store, content, SEO.
- Fees & pricing (simple): WooCommerce says the core platform is free and open source, and you keep ownership of your store’s content and data. (You still pay for hosting, domain, extensions, and payment processing.)
- Pros for POD: Best control + great for content-driven growth (blogs that rank).
- Trade-offs: More setup and maintenance than all-in-one platforms.
Etsy alternative rank 1: Shopify
- What it is: The most common “build your own store” platform for ecommerce brands.
- Why POD sellers consider it: It’s the easiest path to a store that can grow big, fast.
- Fees & pricing (simple): Shopify’s pricing page lists third-party transaction fees if you use a third-party payment provider (example shown: 2% on Basic, 1% on Grow, 0.6% on Advanced).
- Pros for POD: Strong ecosystem for POD integrations, apps, and marketing tools.
- Trade-offs: Monthly plan + app costs can add up, and you have to drive traffic.
15 Etsy alternatives at a glance
The table below compares 15 Etsy alternatives across fees, POD compatibility, and brand control. Instead of trying to rank every platform as “good” or “bad,” it helps to read the table based on how you plan to sell.
| # | Platform | Best for POD sellers who… | Monthly cost | Transaction fees | POD compatibility | Brand control |
| 1 | Shopify | Want the most common “Etsy tandem” setup: branded store + apps + scaling | From $29/mo (Basic, billed yearly) | Online card rate 2.9% + 30¢ (Basic) + 3rd‑party payment provider fee 2% (Basic) | Via integration | High |
| 2 | WooCommerce | Want maximum control and flexibility (WordPress-first), and don’t mind setup | Free core plugin (hosting costs separate) | Payment processor fees (varies) | Via integration | High |
| 3 | Wix | Want an easier all‑in‑one builder vs WordPress, with lots of templates | From $29.77/mo (Core shown, yearly subscription pricing) | Wix Payments charges service fees per transaction (varies by region/payment method) | Via integration | High |
| 4 | Squarespace | Care a lot about clean storefront design + brand feel | Generally paid plans (starts around the mid‑teens/mo, depending on billing) | Squarespace commerce transaction fee: 2% (Basic), 0% (Core/Plus/Advanced) | Via integration | High |
| 5 | Big Cartel | Have a small catalog and want a lightweight indie storefront | $0 (Gold), $15/mo (Platinum), $30/mo (Diamond) | “We never take a cut” (processor fees still apply) | Via integration | Medium–high |
| 6 | Square Online | Already use Square in‑person and want an online add‑on | $0 (Free), $49/mo (Plus), $149/mo (Premium) — paid annually | Online payments: 3.3% + 30¢ (Free), 2.9% + 30¢ (Plus/Premium) | Manual | High |
| 7 | Ecwid | Want to embed a store into an existing site and keep platform fees low | From $5/mo (Starter) | 0% transaction fees charged by Ecwid (processor fees separate) | Via integration | High |
| 8 | Amazon Handmade | Want Amazon demand + can meet Handmade requirements (not pure POD-first) | Monthly Professional selling fee waived (Handmade) | 15% referral fee + $1.00 minimum referral fee per net shipped unit | Manual | Low |
| 9 | eBay | Want an additional marketplace channel for testing and clearing inventory | Free to list for most casual sellers; after 250 listings/mo, $0.35 insertion fee | Final value fee 2.5%–15.3% + per order fee ($0.30 ≤ $10; $0.40 > $10) | Manual | Medium |
| 10 | Redbubble | Want totally hands‑off POD fulfillment inside a marketplace | $0 | Platform fee: Standard 50%, Premium 20%, Pro 0% of monthly earnings | Yes | Low |
| 11 | Zazzle | Want built‑in customization products + marketplace discovery | $0 | Royalty model; Excess Royalty Fee: 5% of Gross Royalty when royalty rate set above 10% | Yes | Low |
| 12 | Threadless | Want a POD shop + marketplace option without running your own tech stack | $0 | Base cost includes product cost + 5% processing fee (you earn retail minus base cost) | Yes | Medium |
| 13 | Spreadshirt | Want a “set your margin” POD shop model (less ops, more design) | $0 | Margin model: earnings = your margin (+ bonuses) added on top of base price | Yes | Medium |
| 14 | Storenvy | Want a storefront + optional marketplace exposure (but accept a higher cut) | $0 (no monthly or listing fees stated) | 15% marketplace commission (incl. shipping); Managed Marketing option can be higher | Manual | Medium |
| 15 | Bonanza | Want another marketplace to syndicate listings, not a primary POD engine | $0 | $0.25 + 11% of Final Offer Value (base example); +1.5% over $4,000; ads can raise % | Manual | Medium |
Key takeaway: Etsy alternatives for print-on-demand sellers
You don’t need to panic-switch platforms to grow a successful print-on-demand business. Most sellers do better by adding one Etsy alternative at a time, learning how their products perform, and building something they control alongside marketplace sales.
If you’re still figuring out what to sell (or which designs actually make money), this guide on how to make money online with design is a helpful place to start.
With that said, the platform may change, but your designs, visuals, and brand are what actually carry value from one channel to the next.
- Platforms with high brand control (like Shopify, WooCommerce, Wix, and Squarespace) work best when you want to build something long-term and reusable beyond one marketplace.
- Marketplaces lower in the ranking (like Bonanza or Storenvy) are usually better as secondary channels rather than full Etsy replacements.
- POD marketplaces (like Redbubble, Zazzle, or Threadless) trade brand control for convenience, which can be useful for testing designs but is limiting for growth.
- Higher-ranked platforms are not always “easier” — they simply offer more flexibility and control once your POD business starts to scale.
The goal isn’t to chase every new platform. It’s to build a POD business that can move and grow wherever your customers are.

