Etsy and Wix are two of the most popular ecommerce platforms, and each caters to a distinctly different business need. While Etsy functions as a ready made online marketplace for creatives to sell handmade and vintage products, Wix provides a customizable website builder that’s ideal for businesses seeking full control over their online store.
Let’s look at the key differences, pros and cons, and actionable tips to help you decide which platform is best suited for your business and branding goals!
Etsy is perhaps the best known ecommerce platform for selling a wide range of goods, including handmade products, digital downloads, and vintage items. Launched in 2005 in Brooklyn, NY, Etsy has grown into a thriving marketplace with nearly 100 million active buyers seeking unique products.
2025 Updates: Etsy has introduced new seller tools to improve inventory management, plus newly streamlined options for advertising, making it even easier for sellers to grow their Etsy store.
Wix is an ecommerce platform with a versatile website builder that allows users to create fully customized Wix online stores. Wix offers a drag and drop editor featuring a variety of templates, offering flexibility for businesses of all types and sizes. Wix is a little bit younger than Etsy; it was founded in 2006 in Tel Aviv, Israel.
2025 Updates: Wix recently enhanced its ecommerce features, including new AI tools for site design and more.
Etsy is perfect for creative sellers and niche products looking for a quick start in a broader marketplace, while Wix provides the flexibility needed to build a specific online store from scratch for basically any type of business or brand.
Types of Sellers
Fee Structure
Pricing
Customization
Marketing Tools
Target Customers
Choosing between Etsy and Wix is an individual decision that very much depends on your business and branding needs. Both platforms offer valuable exposure and tools, so your choice should be based on your unique goals.
Whether you start with Etsy in a ready to go storefront, or choose Wix for more customization control, the right ecommerce platform will help you succeed! Let’s do one more comparison of these two platforms to help you narrow down your choice:
Verdict: Etsy is better for quick setup, smooth product listings, and minimal effort, while Wix better suits users looking for a high amount of control and customization.
Verdict: In spite of Etsy’s transaction fees, Etsy’s pay as you go model works really well for new sellers, and is still within acceptable ranges as you scale up your sales. Wix may offer better long term cost efficiency for established businesses, but keep in mind that you’ll be paying Wix’s subscription fees every month.
Verdict: This one’s easy, as it simply depends on what kind of business you’re running. Choose Etsy if you cater to a more creative or niche market; choose Wix if you’re pursuing a more traditional business model.
Verdict: Wix is the clear winner for businesses prioritizing branding, so it’s the better option if you want full control over your brand’s ecommerce website.
Verdict: For businesses hoping to grow and planning to scale, Wix’s customizable tools provide more room for growth than the limitations of Etsy shops allow; but if you’re content with just an Etsy shop, Etsy is easier to set up and run.
Etsy and Wix basically end up on the opposite ends of the spectrum of ecommerce platforms. Wix is better for businesses seeking a lot of customization, while Etsy is best for unique and niche creators looking to launch their shop quickly and easily.
But for creators seeking a hybrid solution, Fourthwall easily bridges the gap between Etsy and Wix!
Fourthwall offers comprehensive tools for creating custom physical products, selling digital products, bringing in your own handmade or vintage items, and offering subscriptions/memberships, all through Fourthwall’s easy to use website builder and Creator Dashboard. Fourthwall additionally lets you customize your Fourthwall website and store to your liking, to perfectly line up with your unique brand.
With built-in marketing features, seamless payment options, and advanced selling capabilities, Fourthwall empowers creators to monetize their content and their goods so you can really grow!
Whether you're selling customized physical products, handmade items, digital downloads, or building a subscription-based business, Fourthwall can streamline your ecommerce goals and give you the best of Etsy and Wix’s online features, plus all the unique hype of Fourthwall itself. Get started on Fourthwall today!
There are no monthly fees, no upfront costs, and no contracts to use Fourthwall. You set your prices and choose your own margins. Here is how our pricing and splits work when you sell:
Additionally, all US-based credit card transactions have an added 2.9% + $0.30 payment processing fee (same as Shopify). Fees vary for PayPal and other providers. Learn more.
Product costs are listed directly in our product catalog.
If a t-shirt is listed in our catalog at a $10 cost, we will automatically deduct that amount from your profits whenever you make a sale. You can sell products for any price you want.
For example, if you sell the shirt for $22, you'll make $12 in profit on each unit sold. If you sell it for $50, then you'll make $40 in profit on each unit sold.
Yes! Fourthwall works with manufacturing & fulfillment partners around the globe in the US, UK, EU, Canada, Mexico, Australia, and Japan.
Shipping rates are dynamically determined by the size of package and destination. We work with most major carriers and pass through the true cost of shipping. That means that you can offer low-cost, fast shipping to your fans. Most items have a delivery window of 5-8 days.
Be sure to browse our product catalog to find products that are fulfilled out of your target regions to provide the fastest & cheapest shipping for your community.
Fourthwall operates as the "Merchant of Record", which means that we're responsible for handling all sales taxes. This includes nexus registration, collecting sales tax, and remitting this to US states & other countries.
That way you can focus on designing products and promoting your shop, not taxes.
Yes. You can connect a custom domain or subdomain on Fourthwall. Learn More.
If you need help finding an artist or designer, check out our design community.
This is a vetted network of exceptional designers that can help you make great quality designs for your audience. We also recommend tools like Canva or Kittl.
Yes. For any product from our product catalog, we'll handle all customer support for you.
From answering general order questions to making address changes, our team is there to ensure that your buyers are treated with the same level of care that you would personally give them. We have a 12-hour or less average reply time, including nights and weekends.
For any items that you source on your own and ship from home, however, you'll need to do customer support.
Yes! Over 200,000 sellers use Fourthwall to power their storefronts. This includes creators, podcasters, artists, musicians, startups, non-profits, and more.
Get inspired and browse all examples sites.
Fourthwall supports many free integrations, including:
There are no requirements to join Fourthwall! Sign up now.