Shopify vs Etsy (and where DC Market fits)
Two different tools for selling your work. Here is what each one actually does, what it costs, and how DC Market connects to both.
Etsy in one minute
Think of Etsy as a big online craft fair. You rent a stall. People who already want handmade things come to the fair and search for what they want.
You pay 20 cents to list a product, plus 6.5% of each sale and a small payment fee (about 3% and 25 cents). There is no monthly fee. You can start in an afternoon.
The trade-off: your shop looks like every other Etsy shop. You compete with thousands of other sellers in search results. And Etsy keeps the customer. If someone buys from you, Etsy controls the next email, not you.
Pick Etsy if you want cheap, easy discovery and you are okay being one of many.
Shopify in one minute
Shopify is renting a whole storefront. You build your own website with your own name, your own look, and your own checkout. Nobody else sells on your page.
It costs at least $29 a month, plus 2.9% and 30 cents on each sale. You also pay for your own web address if you want one (about $15 a year). So a basic setup is around $30 to $40 a month before you sell anything.
The trade-off: nobody walks through. Shopify gives you the building but no crowd. You have to bring people yourself through Instagram, word of mouth, events, and local sites like DC Market.
Pick Shopify if you want to build a real brand and keep the customer relationship.
Should I use both?
Many artists do. Here is how people usually split them:
- Etsy catches first-time buyers who found you through search.
- Shopify is your home base, where repeat buyers come back, join your email list, and buy more over time.
- Most artists pick one place to track their inventory (usually Shopify) and then list items on Etsy too.
If you are just starting, Etsy is the easier first step because there is no monthly fee. You can test whether your work sells before paying for anything. Add Shopify later when you have repeat customers.
Where DC Market fits
DC Market is not a store. We do not take payments. We do not charge you anything.
We are the local directory that Etsy and Shopify do not handle well. Someone searching for a ceramicist in Mount Pleasant, or a printmaker in Alexandria, will not find you on Etsy. Location is not a real filter there. They find you here.
Your DC Market profile pulls your Etsy and Shopify products into one page. It also shows your studio, your upcoming events, and your neighborhood. When a visitor clicks buy, we send them to Etsy or Shopify, whichever one you sell on.
Connect both if you sell on both. Connect either if you only sell on one. We handle the rest.
Quick compare
| What you need | Etsy | Shopify | DC Market |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost | $0 | $29+ | Free |
| Per-sale fee | 6.5% + payment fee | 2.9% + 30¢ | 0% |
| Brings you buyers | Yes (global) | No | Yes (DMV only) |
| Your own brand | No | Yes | Profile, not a store |
| You own the customer | No | Yes | n/a |
| Shows local events & studios | No | No | Yes |
The bottom line
This is not an either-or. Most serious makers use both Etsy and Shopify, and they list on DC Market so DMV buyers can find them.
- Brand new and want to test the water? Start with Etsy.
- Already have an audience and want a real brand? Shopify.
- Want local people in the DMV to find you? DC Market. (It is free.)
Ready to connect?
Once your artist profile is set up, link your accounts from the edit page.