Etsy vs Shopify 3D prints comes down to one trade-off: Etsy brings you built-in shoppers but takes 6.5% plus processing and listing fees (and sometimes 15% more for offsite ads); Shopify charges only payment processing but sends you no traffic of its own. The example below prices the same item on both so you can see exactly what each platform leaves you.
What you actually keep
| What you sell | List price | Fees | You keep | Margin |
| $18 phone stand on EtsyEtsy: transaction $1.17 · payment processing $0.79 · listing $0.20 | $18.00 | -$2.16 | $9.84 | 55% |
| $18 phone stand on ShopifyShopify: payment processing $0.82 | $18.00 | -$0.82 | $11.18 | 62% |
Etsy: traffic, higher fees
Etsy's marketplace brings ready-made shoppers actively searching for handmade goods, which is real value for a new shop. In exchange, a sale costs 6.5% transaction, roughly 3% plus $0.25 processing, and $0.20 listing — plus 15% more if Etsy's own ads sourced that sale.
Shopify: lower fees, your traffic
Shopify's cost per sale is just payment processing — about 2.9% plus $0.30 — with no transaction or listing fee at all. What you don't get is Etsy's search traffic: a Shopify store only sells to people you've brought there yourself, plus a monthly subscription either way.
Many sellers run both
Plenty of shops list on Etsy for discovery and push repeat or direct buyers to a Shopify store where fees are lower. Running both means pricing each channel for its own fee structure — the same item can carry a different list price on each platform.
See your real margin on your own prints
Drop in an STL, set your price, pick your marketplace — our free calculator shows exactly what you keep after fees. No signup, no upload.
Run your own numbers Run a shop? Start freeFrequently asked questions
Is Etsy or Shopify better for selling 3D prints?
Neither is universally better — it depends on whether you need Etsy's built-in shoppers or already have your own audience. Etsy costs more per sale but brings traffic; Shopify costs less per sale but requires you to bring the buyers yourself.
How much more do I keep on Shopify?
It varies by item and price, since Etsy layers transaction, processing, and listing fees while Shopify only charges processing. On a typical listing you'll keep noticeably more per sale on Shopify — check the same-item comparison above for real numbers.
Can I sell on both Etsy and Shopify?
Yes, and many sellers do — Etsy for search-driven discovery, Shopify for repeat customers and direct sales. Just remember each platform's fees are different, so a price that works on one may need adjusting to hit the same margin on the other.