Etsy vs Substack
A side-by-side look at Etsy and Substack. On our scoring, Substack comes out ahead — but the right pick depends on your priorities.
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| Scores | ||
| SellingScene score | 3.8/5 | 4.0/5 |
| User rating | 4.1 | 4.2 |
| Reviews | 5,120 | 1,320 |
| Pricing | ||
| Starting price | Free | Free |
| Pricing model | pay per listing + selling fees | no monthly fee, revenue share |
| Transaction fees | 6.5% transaction fee + $0.20 per listing | 10% of subscription revenue (plus processing) |
| Hosting & setup | ||
| Hosting type | Marketplace | Fully hosted (SaaS) |
| Free trial | No subscription required | Free to start |
| Staff accounts | Limited | Multiple authors |
| Product limit | Unlimited listings | N/A (subscriptions) |
| Payments & security | ||
| Payment gateways | Etsy Payments | Stripe |
| SSL included | Yes | Yes |
| PCI compliant | Yes | Yes |
| Gift cards | Yes | Yes |
| Catalog & content | ||
| Themes / templates | Shop customization | Publication styling |
| App marketplace | Etsy integrations | Limited integrations |
| Multi-currency | Yes | No |
| Multi-language | Yes | No |
| POS included | Yes | No |
| Abandoned cart recovery | No | No |
| Built-in blog | No | Yes |
| Tools & flexibility | ||
| Drag-and-drop editor | No | No |
| API access | Yes | No |
| Mobile app | Yes | Yes |
| Support channels | Email, help center, limited chat | Email & help center |
| Actions | Read review | Read review |
Why pick Etsy?
Etsy connects independent makers with a built-in audience that specifically wants handmade, vintage, and craft goods, so discovery comes almost for free. Rising fees, mandatory ad costs, and tightening policies have frustrated many long-time sellers.
Best for: Makers selling handmade, vintage, or craft items
Read the full Etsy reviewWhy pick Substack?
Substack makes launching a paid newsletter effortless, bundling publishing, email, payments, and a discovery network at no upfront cost. The flat 10% revenue cut is significant once you scale, and you build on their network, not your own.
Best for: Writers monetizing newsletters and subscriptions
Read the full Substack review