Selling 3D prints on Shopify works differently than a marketplace: there's no per-sale commission, just payment processing of about 2.9% plus $0.30, and a fixed monthly subscription. That means you keep a larger share of every sale than on Etsy — but Shopify doesn't bring you buyers, so you're responsible for all the traffic yourself.
What you actually keep
| What you sell | List price | Fees | You keep | Margin |
| A $6-to-make phone standShopify: payment processing $0.82 | $18.00 | -$0.82 | $11.18 | 62% |
| A $12-to-make desk lampShopify: payment processing $1.46 | $40.00 | -$1.46 | $26.54 | 66% |
No commission, but a monthly fee
Shopify doesn't take a cut of your sale price the way Etsy or Amazon do. You pay a monthly subscription regardless of sales volume, plus payment processing of roughly 2.9% and $0.30 per order. Per-order math ends up friendlier than Etsy's once you're selling consistently.
You own the traffic
Lower per-order fees don't mean lower costs overall — Shopify has no built-in browsing audience like a marketplace does. Every visitor to your store comes from your own marketing, social presence, or ads. That effort is the real cost you're trading for smaller transaction fees.
When Shopify beats a marketplace
At higher volume, or with buyers who return, avoiding a marketplace's 6.5%+ commission on every single sale adds up fast. A shop with steady repeat traffic often nets more per order on Shopify even after the monthly subscription — compare the same item on both platforms on our Etsy vs Shopify guide.
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
What fees does Shopify charge per sale?
Shopify charges payment processing of about 2.9% plus $0.30 per transaction, and nothing else per sale — no transaction or listing fee. You do pay a fixed monthly subscription for the store itself, regardless of how many orders come in.
Is Shopify cheaper than Etsy for 3D prints?
Per sale, usually yes — Shopify's processing-only fee is lower than Etsy's transaction plus processing plus listing stack. But Shopify adds a monthly subscription and no built-in audience, so the real comparison depends on how much traffic you can bring yourself.
Do I still need to market my Shopify store?
Yes — Shopify is a storefront, not an audience. Unlike a marketplace, it won't send you browsing shoppers on its own, so social media, ads, SEO, or an existing audience are what actually bring buyers to a Shopify store.