Merchant Tech vs. Etsy
Why makers move from Etsy
to Merchant Tech
Merchant Tech gives you more control over your brand and doesn’t charge listing fees. Sell your one-of-a-kind products to customers around the world without losing 6.5% of every sale.
Signs it’s time for a store of your own
Etsy is a great place to start, but it can hold you back. When you're ready to build your brand, grow repeat sales, or sell wholesale, Merchant Tech gives you the tools to do it all in one place.
Grow your own email audience, run promotions, offer subscriptions, and make it easier for people to buy from you again.
Shoppers may think about Etsy as the source of your product, not you. Give customers a place to shop that's designed around your products and story, not a marketplace template.
You can start selling your products in larger quantities to retailers, and do it all online. While everyday shoppers make purchases as normal, approved businesses get access to private pricing, payment terms, and invoices.
Sell directly to your customers without Etsy's listing fees or 6.5% transaction fee, so you can keep more of what you earn.
Merchant Tech vs. Etsy at a glance
Compare costs, features, and what you control on Merchant Tech and Etsy.
| What you’re weighing | Merchant Tech | Etsy |
|---|---|---|
| Where you sell | Your own branded website | Etsy’s marketplace |
| Monthly cost | $79/month, all features included | No required monthly subscription; setup fee may apply |
| Product listings | Unlimited, free to list | $0.20 per listing, renewed after 4 months or upon sale |
| Transaction fees | 0.1% application fee | 6.5% per transaction |
| Payment processing | From 2.9% + $0.30 | 3% + $0.25 |
| Advertising | Run your own marketing | Optional Etsy Ads; Offsite Ads fees may apply |
| Customer relationships | Build your own email list and market to customers | Subject to Etsy’s marketplace policies |
| Wholesale selling | Built-in wholesale features | No dedicated wholesale storefront |
| Subscriptions | Built-in subscription functionality | No comparable built-in subscriptions |
| Getting started | Free setup and migration support | Set up your own Etsy shop |
Pricing reflects published US rates and excludes applicable additional charges. Updated October 2026.
Customer story · Bottle to Flame
“If I want something that's really unique to me and to my brand...you guys can do it. This is truly like you said, white glove.”
Everything you need to run your own store
Selling on your own website means handling more than listings. Merchant Tech gives you the tools to build a business around your products.
Subscriptions
Sell products on a recurring schedule. Renewals and reminder emails send automatically, and subscribers can manage their own plans.
Sales tax
Sales tax automatically calculates at checkout. A tracker shows when you’re close to needing to register in a new state.
Bundles
Sell products together as a set. Bundle stock is calculated from the items inside, so you don’t accidentally oversell.
Wholesale
Sell to shops and boutiques, not just customers. Wholesale buyers get their own pricing and Net 30/60 invoices.
Email marketing
Send automated order emails from your own domain. Stay in touch with customers on a list that belongs to you.
Shipping
Show live UPS, USPS, FedEx, and DHL rates to customers at checkout. Print batch labels when it’s time to ship the day’s orders.
You’re getting repeat customers
Make it easier for them to come back, discover new products, and order directly.
You have your own audience
If you’re promoting products on Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest, or through email, you can send that traffic to a store you control.
Businesses want to buy from you
Offer wholesale pricing and ordering without managing everything manually.
You want your business to grow beyond Etsy
Establish your own storefront and create more ways to sell, without depending entirely on marketplace traffic.
SWITCHING
How it works
You can either switch from selling on Etsy to selling on Merchant Tech, or do both.
- 01
Bring your products over
Import your listings, photos, descriptions, and variants from Etsy yourself, or have our team move everything over for you.
- 02
Make your store your own
Design it yourself in the site builder, or have our team build a custom site around your brand at no charge.
- 03
Launch and start selling
Go live on your own domain, share it with your audience, and take orders directly. Your Etsy shop can stay open as long as you like.
FAQ on Merchant Tech vs Etsy
Etsy is an online marketplace where shoppers discover products from independent sellers. Merchant Tech gives you your own branded online store, more control over customer relationships, and tools to sell retail, wholesale, and subscriptions. Etsy helps you reach shoppers, while Merchant Tech helps you build and grow your business.
It depends on your goals. Etsy can connect you with shoppers already looking for products, while your own store gives you more control over branding, marketing, and customer relationships. Many growing sellers benefit from using both.
Merchant Tech lets you collect email addresses through pop-ups on your website and connect with customers through email marketing platforms like Klaviyo or Mailchimp. Marketing campaigns are sent through these platforms, while automated order emails, such as confirmations and shipping updates, are sent directly through Merchant Tech.
Yes, you can continue selling on Etsy while running your own store with Merchant Tech. Etsy can help you reach new shoppers, while your website gives customers another way to shop directly. Just be sure to follow Etsy's policies regarding off-platform transactions.
Etsy charges a $0.20 listing fee, a 6.5% transaction fee, and payment processing fees, with additional fees sometimes applying. Merchant Tech costs $79/month plus payment processing and a 0.1% application fee, with no listing fees. For sellers with consistent direct sales, this can mean keeping more revenue.
You can use your existing product descriptions, images, and other eligible information to set up your Merchant Tech store. Merchant Tech also offers onboarding and migration support to help make the transition easier.
Unlike Etsy, Merchant Tech doesn't have a built-in marketplace audience. Instead, you can attract customers through social media, search engines, email marketing, and other channels, giving you more control over how you grow your audience and encourage repeat purchases.
Merchant Tech lets you sell to retail shoppers and wholesale buyers from one platform. You can offer private wholesale pricing, exclusive products, payment terms, and invoicing while maintaining a regular shopping experience for individual customers.
Ready to build a brand that’s all yours?
The first step is a storefront you control.