By SID Corp · · Fee rates checked 06 Nov 2026.
Which charges less, Etsy or Amazon?
On a $24.99 shirt with $4.99 shipping, Etsy takes $3.30 and Amazon $5.10. Amazon's clothing fee falls to 10% and 5% at lower prices, so Amazon is cheaper for low-priced clothing but more expensive once price plus shipping passes $20, where its fee jumps to 17%.
| Marketplace | Fees on a $24.99 + $4.99 order | Share of what the buyer pays |
|---|---|---|
| Etsy | $3.30 | 11.0% |
| Amazon | $5.10 | 17.0% |
| TikTok Shop | $1.80 | 6.0% |
| Shopify | $1.17 | 3.9% |
Both charge on the item price plus the shipping the buyer pays. Etsy adds a listing fee and payment processing; Amazon's referral fee includes payment processing.
How do the fees change with the price?
At $15 plus shipping, Etsy takes $2.35 and Amazon $2.00; at $35, Etsy takes $4.25 and Amazon $6.80. Amazon's clothing tier is set by price plus shipping: 5% up to $15, 10% up to $20, 17% above.
| Price + shipping | Buyer pays | Tier | Referral fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| $10.00 + $4.99 | $14.99 | 5% | $0.75 |
| $15.00 + $4.99 | $19.99 | 10% | $2.00 |
| $15.99 + $4.99 | $20.98 | 17% | $3.57 |
| $24.99 + $4.99 | $29.98 | 17% | $5.10 |
Read the tiers in detail in Amazon referral fees for clothing.
What about mugs and other products that are not clothing?
Amazon charges 15% outside clothing, more than Etsy's total: on a $20 mug with $4.99 shipping Amazon takes $3.75 and Etsy $2.82.
Are there monthly or listing fees?
Etsy has no monthly plan: it charges $0.20 per listing and again for each item sold. Amazon's Professional plan costs $39.99 a month; the Individual plan has no monthly fee but adds $0.99 per item sold.
Below about 40 sales a month the Individual plan costs less; above that, Professional does.
What price keeps a 30% margin on each?
With a $9.49 cost per shirt and $4.99 shipping, the lowest price for a 30% margin is $11.99 on Etsy and $9.99 on Amazon.
| Marketplace | Price for 30% margin | Fees at that price |
|---|---|---|
| Etsy | $11.99 | $2.06 |
| Amazon | $9.99 | $0.75 |
| TikTok Shop | $9.99 | $0.90 |
| Shopify | $9.99 | $0.73 |
With a $9.49 cost per item and $4.99 shipping. Public US fee rates; Shopify excludes the monthly plan, Amazon uses clothing referral tiers.
Work out your own product in the profit calculator.
Which should a print-on-demand seller start on?
Most start on Etsy: opening a shop is quick, buyers there look for personalized and niche designs, and the fees are simple. Amazon has more buyers and lower clothing fees at low prices, but stricter listing and image rules.
Many sellers end up on both. Read selling print on demand on Amazon before you open an Amazon account, and check what your keyword sells for on each marketplace in the price check.
Sources: Etsy · Amazon · TikTok Shop · Shopify