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Software · head to head

WooCommerce vs Etsy

WooCommerce logo

WooCommerce

Software

The flexible, open-source ecommerce platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Etsy logo

Etsy

Software

Global marketplace for handmade, vintage, and unique items

From
$0.2/per-listing
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only WooCommerce has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: WooCommerce the plugin is free but you must supply and pay for WordPress hosting, which WooCommerce itself puts at $25 to $350 per month for most stores; Etsy etsy charges a $0.20 USD listing fee per item, a 6.5% transaction fee on sale price plus shipping, a 3% plus $0.25 USD payment processing fee, and a 2.5% currency conversion fee when shop and payment currencies differ
  • They diverge on capability: WooCommerce covers Product management, Etsy covers Shop setup.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which WooCommerce and Etsy actually diverge.

Attributes where WooCommerce and Etsy differ
AttributeWooCommerceEtsy
Starting priceFree$0.2/per-listing
Pricing modelfreemiumtransaction
Free tierYesNo
Founded20112005

Identical on both: platforms (Web), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in WooCommerce

  • Product management
  • Shopping cart
  • Payment integration
  • Shipping management
  • Tax calculations
  • Customer accounts
  • Inventory tracking

Only in Etsy

  • Shop setup
  • Product listings
  • Payment processing
  • Shop customization
  • Shipping labels
  • Reviews & ratings
  • Shipping protection

Both cover

  • Order management

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

WooCommerce

  • Running an online store inside an existing WordPress sitenot Etsy
  • Selling physical, digital or subscription products with full control of the codenot Etsy
  • Building a customised commerce workflow through plugins and hooksnot Etsy

Etsy

No use cases recorded yet. See the Etsy review.

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

WooCommerce

  • The plugin is free but you must supply and pay for WordPress hosting, which WooCommerce itself puts at $25 to $350 per month for most stores
  • Functionality such as subscriptions and bookings comes from paid extensions priced at $29 to $299 per year each, renewed annually
  • Card payments through WooPayments cost roughly 2.50 to 2.90 percent plus 30 cents per transaction
  • Total cost depends on how many extensions a store needs rather than a single published plan price

Etsy

  • Etsy charges a $0.20 USD listing fee per item, a 6.5% transaction fee on sale price plus shipping, a 3% plus $0.25 USD payment processing fee, and a 2.5% currency conversion fee when shop and payment currencies differ

Pricing, plan by plan

WooCommerce

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Core ecommerce features
    • Unlimited products
    • Community support
  • Premium$299/year
    • All Free features
    • Premium support
    • Performance optimization

Etsy

$0.2/per-listing
  • Standard Shop$0.2/per-listing-plus-commission
    • Listing fees
    • Transaction fees
    • Payment processing

Which should you pick?

Choose WooCommerce if

  • You need product management.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want shopping cart.
WooCommerce review

Choose Etsy if

  • You need shop setup.
  • You also want product listings.
Etsy review

Questions people ask

Is WooCommerce or Etsy better?
Neither clearly leads. WooCommerce starts at Free and Etsy at $0.2/per-listing, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, WooCommerce or Etsy?
WooCommerce has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for WooCommerce and $0.2/per-listing for Etsy.
Does WooCommerce or Etsy run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use WooCommerce for free?
Yes. WooCommerce has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Etsy starts at $0.2/per-listing.
What is WooCommerce best used for?
WooCommerce is most often used for running an online store inside an existing wordpress site, selling physical, digital or subscription products with full control of the code, building a customised commerce workflow through plugins and hooks. Of those, running an online store inside an existing wordpress site and selling physical, digital or subscription products with full control of the code are not what Etsy is typically brought in for.
What can WooCommerce do that Etsy cannot?
WooCommerce covers Product management, Shopping cart, Payment integration, Shipping management. Etsy covers Shop setup, Product listings, Payment processing, Shop customization. Both handle Order management.
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