Fee Comparison: TikTok Shop vs Etsy
TikTok Shop Fees
Etsy Fees
Example: $50 Sale Breakdown
| Item | TikTok Shop | Etsy |
|---|---|---|
| Sale Price | $50.00 | $50.00 |
| Platform Fees | -$4.75 | -$5.00 |
| Affiliate/Ads (if used) | -$10.00 (20%) | -$6.00 (12%) |
| Net Revenue | $35.25 | $39.00 |
*Assumes affiliate commission on TikTok and Etsy Ads usage on Etsy
Which Products Sell Better Where?
Best for TikTok Shop:
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✓
Trending/Viral Products
Items that go viral on TikTok (skincare, gadgets, accessories)
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✓
Mass-Market Items
Beauty, fashion, home decor that appeals to Gen Z
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✓
Impulse Purchases
$15-50 items that people buy on a whim
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✓
Resellable Products
Dropshipped or wholesale items with quick turnaround
Best for Etsy:
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✓
Handmade & Crafted
Jewelry, art, home decor you make yourself
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✓
Vintage & Antiques
Items 20+ years old with unique character
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✓
Customizable Items
Personalized gifts, wedding items, name products
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✓
Unique Designs
Artistic or one-of-a-kind items not found elsewhere
Audience & Traffic: Who's Shopping Where?
| Metric | TikTok Shop | Etsy |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Age Group | 18-35 (65%) | 25-45 (60%) |
| Gender Split | 60% Female, 40% Male | 80% Female, 20% Male |
| Shopping Intent | Discovery / Entertainment | Intentional Search |
| Avg. Order Value | $20-40 | $35-70 |
| Monthly Buyers (US) | ~30M+ | ~90M+ |
Pros & Cons Breakdown
TikTok Shop
✅ Pros
- • Viral potential - One video can sell thousands of units
- • Free organic reach - Algorithm shows products to interested buyers
- • Lower fees - ~9% vs Etsy's 9.5%+
- • Affiliate network - Creators promote your products for you
- • Younger audience - High engagement, impulse buyers
❌ Cons
- • Strict shipping - Must ship in 3 business days
- • Approval required - Not instant setup
- • Video content needed - Hard to succeed without videos
- • Competition from creators - They can resell your products
- • Less established - Platform still evolving
Etsy
✅ Pros
- • Established marketplace - 90M+ buyers actively searching
- • Perfect for handmade - Built for artisans and makers
- • Higher order values - Customers willing to pay for quality
- • Instant setup - Start selling same day
- • Search-based - Customer intent is high
❌ Cons
- • Oversaturated - Hard to stand out in popular categories
- • Higher total fees - Especially with Etsy Ads
- • No viral mechanism - Slow organic growth
- • Requires handmade/vintage - Can't just resell
- • Ads almost required - Organic reach is limited
Which Platform Should YOU Choose?
Choose TikTok Shop If:
- ✅ You sell trending, mass-market products
- ✅ You can create or commission product videos
- ✅ You want viral growth potential
- ✅ You're comfortable with dropshipping or fast fulfillment
- ✅ Your target audience is Gen Z / young millennials
Choose Etsy If:
- ✅ You make handmade or vintage items
- ✅ Your products are unique, custom, or personalized
- ✅ You prefer search-based, intentional shoppers
- ✅ You want to build a brand around craftsmanship
- ✅ You're targeting millennials / Gen X buyers
💡 Pro Tip: Use Both!
Many sellers use TikTok Shop for mass-market products and Etsy for handmade/custom items. They complement each other well:
- • Sell trending jewelry on TikTok, custom engravings on Etsy
- • Sell wholesale candles on TikTok, handmade candles on Etsy
- • Use TikTok for volume, Etsy for premium/custom orders
Ready to Start on TikTok Shop?
Calculate your exact profit margins before you launch.
Use TikTok Shop Calculator