Etsy Vs Depop: Which Is Better To Sell On + Alternatives! (2024)
You’re here because you’re wondering to yourself, Etsy Vs Depop — is it better to sell on Etsy or Depop.
It really depends on the type of item you’re choosing to sell and your budget.
I’m in the midst of helping my sister set up her e-commerce shop, but I’ve been struggling to figure out which one to go with.
I helped her set up an Etsy planner shop but we are also testing other platforms too! You can check out our Esty shop here
I know Etsy is super popular and easily accessible worldwide. But I also came across Depop, and my curiosity got the better of me.
I’ve been down the rabbit hole, guys. So you don’t have too 🙂
Let me fill you in on all the details on whether Etsy or Depop is the better e-commerce platform for you.
If you’re new to both, Etsy is a marketplace for people to sell their handmade and handcrafted items.
You can also sell handmade items on Depop, though most people also use Depop for secondhand or vintage clothing items.
If you want to sell handmade clothing items and have a limited budget, Depop would be your best bet, as there are no Depop fees to list your item.
However, if you’re looking at appealing to audiences who lean towards handmade products that extend beyond clothing, then Etsy would be a better platform to sell on.
I go into the detailed comparisons for Etsy vs Depop in the rest of this article.
Affiliate Link Disclaimer
The links on this page may be affiliate links, from which I earn a small commission if you click on them, AT NO EXTRA COST to you. Hope you find the information here useful. Thanks!
Note: If you are super busy and you want to start making money selling on Etsy fast, you can check out this Etsy course. It will help to step up your Etsy game and start earning within 3 months!
Alternatively, you can also check out this free Etsy Ebook that will share a list of best-selling products by month and teach you how to capitalize on seasonal trends to make sales.
Quick Comparison on Etsy Vs Depop
Here’s a quick table comparing the different aspects of Etsy and Depop that would be relevant to you as a seller:
Etsy | Depop | |
Number Of Buyers | 60.3 million buyers | 30 million registered users |
Demographic | Largely millennials, aged 27 years old to 42 years old | Primarily Gen Z, aged 11 years old to 26 years old |
Location Availability | Most countries | Primarily the US, UK, Australia, New Zealand and Italy |
Types Of Items Allowed To Be Sold | Material goods and printables can be sold | Only physical items can be sold |
Number Of Photos Per Listing Allowed | 10 photos | 4 photos |
Are Videos Allowed On Listings? | Yes | Yes |
Fees For Listing | $0.20 per listing | Free; Zero cost |
Transaction Fee | 5% | 10% |
Additional Fees | 3% for all PayPal transactions | 3% for all PayPal transactions |
Shipping | Etsy shipping is available if you are a seller in the US, Canada, UK, and Australia | Depop shipping is only available for those in the mainland US |
Returns | Etsy has a robust returns policy that allows buyers to return the item if it is not as advertised, but it doesn’t guarantee the quality of the items sold | Depop does not have a returns policy, nor does it guarantee the quality of the items sold on its platform |
What Is Etsy?
Etsy is a marketplace that connects buyers who are selling unique handmade items to sellers.
It has been around since 2005, making the platform nearly two decades old.
Etsy has a wide variety of items, from handcrafted pieces to vintage clothing to customized printables, sold by its 60 million sellers.
Selling on Etsy is incredibly straightforward.
It takes minutes to create an account, shopfront, and list an item.
Listing an item is also low-cost, starting at $0.20 per listing.
What Is Depop?
Depop positions itself as a global fashion marketplace app where the next generation goes to discover and purchase unique items.
Depop is relatively new compared to Etsy, being founded only in 2011. It is also available in limited countries at the moment, with a strong presence in the US, UK, Australia, New Zealand, and Italy.
Not many people might be aware of Etsy’s Depop acquisition, but Etsy bought Depop in 2021.
Setting up a Depop seller account is also pretty straightforward — you just need to download the app and create an account.
Once you have your account, you’re all ready to start selling or buying on Depop.
Wondering what you can sell on Depop?
Depop’s sellers primarily sell fashion-related items. However, Depop also allows items like homeware, art, records, and cameras to be sold on its platform.
Is Etsy Or Depop Better For Selling?
Both Etsy and Depop are good for selling handmade products.
However, Depop doesn’t have listing fees, so it might be better for sellers who are just starting out and may not want to incur costs from the get-go.
If you’re looking to sell handmade products that fall outside the fashion category, however, Etsy would be a better option for you as it has a bigger marketplace and hosts more categories.
Technically, there isn’t anything stopping you from listing your items on both Etsy and Depop to see which platform does best for your product.
Another thing to bear in mind is that Depop is not as widely available as Etsy worldwide at the moment.
So if you’re looking to sell to a wider audience, Etsy would be a better choice until Depop expands further.
Is Etsy Like Depop?
Yes, Etsy is similar to Depop, and they work in a similar manner. They are created for sellers to list and sell items.
However, there are a few differentiating factors that make selling on Etsy vs Depop different.
These factors are:
- Availability — Etsy is more widely available in most countries, whereas Depop is mainly available in the US, UK, Australia, New Zealand, and Italy
- Fees — If we’re looking at Etsy vs Depop fees, Etsy has a $0.20 listing fee, whereas Depop doesn’t have any. But both have transaction fees. Etsy has a 5% fee, while Depop has a 10% fee if you sell through the platform.
- Demographic — Etsy’s audience is primarily millennials, though there are some Gen Zs and older audiences, while Depop is largely Gen Z-driven.
Another key difference is that Depop is seen more as a fashion-based marketplace, while Etsy is perceived as a platform for handcrafted goods and products across various categories.
Is Depop Still Popular?
Yes, Depop is still popular, with close to 30 million active users on the platform.
However, there has been some chatter on forums that Depop seems to have been losing its appeal in recent years.
Some sellers have said that they notice that it is tougher to sell items on Depop now compared to several years before.
That said, despite its waning popularity, there are still active users on there, so it is still worth selling on the platform if you want to give it a go.
Why Is Etsy So Great?
Etsy is so great because it’s one of the biggest marketplaces that offers unique, handmade products that you are unable to find on other sites like eBay and Amazon.
Etsy is a platform for artists and those with skills to make items, physically and digitally, and to sell them for good money.
Having been around for close to two decades, Etsy is also extremely well-established and has a strong seller and buyer community.
If you’re a new Etsy seller wondering how to get your first sale, you can easily post your question on the Etsy forums, and someone will definitely help you out.
If you’re a little shy and prefer figuring out your own way, you can also look into taking some online Etsy courses.
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11 Other Platforms To Sell On Other Than Etsy
If you’re looking for other platforms to sell on apart from Etsy, here are some Etsy alternatives to sell your handmade goods:
2. Artfire
3. Big Cartel
4. Bonanza
5. Folksy
6. Ruby Lane
7. Shopify
8. Squarespace
9. Storenvy
10. Wix
11. Redbubble
FAQs On Etsy Vs Depop
Can You Sell On Depop And Etsy?
Yes, you can sell on both Depop and Etsy. There are no policies or rules prohibiting you from listing your handmade items on both Depop and Etsy.
There are even some tools available, like Export Your Store, which allows you to import your product listings from your Etsy shop to Depop.
It even keeps your item inventory updated on both platforms, so you can be sure that you won’t accidentally double-sell the same item.
However, if the price of the listing is a consideration when looking at Depop vs Etsy fees, then you should definitely opt to sell on Depop as it doesn’t charge a listing fee.
Who Are Etsy’s Biggest Competitors?
Some of Etsy’s competitors when it comes to marketplaces for selling handmade items are:
However, take note that while all these are viable Etsy alternatives, some of these only serve the US audience.
If you’re based outside of the US, it might be best to stick with Etsy, which is available in most countries.
Did Etsy Buy Depop?
Yes, Etsy did buy Depop in July 2021.
In fact, Etsy shelled out more than $1.6 billion for the fashion marketplace platform.
Its reason for buying Depop was so that it could appeal to a younger generation of sellers and buyers.
Most people noted that the sale of Depop to Etsy was unusual as Etsy was known for handmade products while Depop was more known for secondhand or vintage fashion items.
That said, both items are still running separately, and there are no plans to merge both platforms yet.
Why Is Etsy Selling Depop?
Etsy is not selling Depop. On the contrary, it just purchased Depop in 2021, paying a grand total of $1.6 billion on the sale.
While both Etsy and Depop are quite different — Etsy’s focus is on handmade goods while Depop’s focus is on secondhand and vintage fashion — the deal likely came about because Etsy wants to gain market share in the e-commerce space.
Some may also say the reason Etsy has bought Depop is to tap into a younger Gen Z audience that Depop has currently captured.
This is not the first time Etsy has bought an e-commerce brand.
It also has other brands under its portfolio, including Reverb.
Is Depop A Chinese Company?
Depop is not a Chinese company. It is an e-commerce company based in London with a presence in the US, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Australia and Italy.
Depop was founded in 2011, which makes it a lot younger than Etsy, which has been around since 2005.
Depop has developed a solid reputation among Gen Zs for being a ‘cool’ platform to resell their secondhand and vintage fashion items, though the platform also allows the sale of handmade items.
Depop also functions like a social media site and marketplace app in one — users are able to like and comment on listings posts. Its interface is also similar to Instagram.
In reading this Etsy vs Depop comparison article, I hope you’ve gotten a better understanding of which platform will work best for you as a seller.
Most sellers agree that if you’re looking to sell unique handmade items then Etsy, which has been around for close to two decades, is the better platform compared to Depop.
Depop is still more commonly known as a marketplace for secondhand fashion items, so it might be more challenging to sell your handmade items on Etsy.
However, if you intend to sell vintage clothing or unique clothing items, you can always give Depop a go.
You can also consider listing on both platforms if you have time and use syncing tools to ensure your inventory on both platforms is aligned.
Regardless of whichever platform you choose, between Etsy vs Depop, you should always have your audience in mind.
If you think it’s easier to capture them on one platform than the other, then, by all means, sell on the platform.
Let me know how it goes for you!
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