Redbubble and Etsy are both popular online marketplaces intended for independent artists, designers, or craftspeople to sell their creations.
Each provides a platform to run an online store. However, some key differences in their features, cost structures, and reach can make one more appealing than the other, depending on individual needs.
In this comparison, we’ll look at which marketplace is better for selling products, including fees, signup processes, and payments.
Which App Is Better for Selling Art Redbubble or Etsy?
It’s clear that when it comes to selling art, both Redbubble and Etsy have something to offer. Redbubble is the market leader for print-on-demand products and has a large user base.
On the other hand, Etsy provides direct access to millions of buyers looking for unique items but requires more effort from the seller.
Ultimately, it depends on your goals, products, and target audience. To find the best choice, weigh up the pros and cons of each platform before deciding what works best for you.
When deciding which app to use to sell your art online, Redbubble and Etsy both offer distinct advantages.
What is Redbubble?
Launched in 2006, Redbubble is a “print on demand” marketplace that allows uploads of any visual design.
Customers can choose from an array of products such as T-shirts, stickers, mugs, and bedding – with artists receiving a cut of all sales. The platform boasts 800,000 users and an annual turnover of two million designs.
What is Etsy?
Established in 2005, Etsy provides bespoke hand-crafted items and vintage pieces. This marketplace grants ready access to 96.3 million buyers and 7.5 million sellers. With 120 million unique products on offer, it’s obvious why Etsy remains a popular e-commerce destination.
Related: 16 Best Things to Sell on Etsy to Make Money
Which app is better?
The choice boils down to what you have to sell and who you’re trying to target. Redbubble is the leader in print-on-demand products, while Etsy enables sellers to reach a huge audience seeking something special. Think about your goals and audience before deciding which platform suits you best.
Redbubble vs Etsy: A Head-to-Head Comparison
Creating an online store? Your choice between Redbubble and Etsy depends on how you want to showcase your work.
Signing Up
You’ll need to create an account to begin selling on either platform. With Redbubble, your name, email address, physical address, and payment details are all required. After entering this information, you can choose a store name and start uploading designs immediately.
The sign-up process with Etsy is slightly more involved; in addition to all the details mentioned above, you must create your first listing during the sign-up process.
Listing Items for Sale
Once it comes time to upload your work for sale, the distinctions between Redbubble and Etsy become apparent.
On Redbubble, users can only upload artwork in PNG or JPEG format and then simply decide what products they would like the design applied to. In addition, they can add titles and descriptions as well as tags to categorize their designs further.
In contrast, when listing items for sale on Etsy, users need to enter much more information, including titles and long descriptions, tags, product categories, pricing information, and shipping/return policies. This process takes significantly more time than that Redbubble.
In conclusion, when deciding which platform is best for you, consider how you want to present your work and how much time you are willing to commit to setting up your store.
Product Types and the Selling Process
It may all come down to the type of product you want to sell when selecting between the two e-commerce platforms. Redbubble is popular among creatives who are pushed for time because it offers a ‘hands-off’ approach.
You simply upload your artwork, and they print and ship the on-demand products to customers. The selection includes t-shirts, dresses, hoodies, caps, laptop/tablet sleeves, wall art prints, and much more.
Etsy lets you choose from handmade, vintage, or craft supply items at least 20 years old. Here you must source or make the products yourself, offering customers more quality control and a personal touch. Popular categories include craft supplies, handmade items, jewelry, and home decor.
So whichever platform you use, you can create and run your online shop and profit from retail prices. The choice is yours!
Transaction Fees: Redbubble vs Etsy
Transaction fees and profit margins can vary significantly between different online platforms. At Redbubble, sellers control the markup of their products, with most aiming for 15-20% above the base price. For example, selling a large framed art print to the U.S. could result in a profit of $25, although this could be too high to attract buyers.
Conversely, sellers on Etsy retain a much larger slice of the sale price. With every purchase, Etsy takes a 6.5% transaction fee, plus 3% for payment processing and a $0.25 flat rate.
Listing new products or restocking existing listings incurs an additional $0.20. Considering all fees, a sale of a U.S. item for $100, including shipping, should result in the artist receiving $90.05, or 90% of the buyer’s payment. Even selling products for as little as $10, sellers can expect to keep around 86%.
Payment
Financing your venture on either Redbubble or Etsy can be made easy through the various payment options available. Both platforms offer different solutions to fit your needs, but understanding these requires more research.
Redbubble’s payment system is quite simple: profits are paid out automatically every single month once an account reaches $20. A PayPal account or direct deposit are the two most common payment options, with Redbubble issuing funds in your currency. However, if you choose the latter, be aware that only Australian, U.S., and U.K. bank accounts are supported.
Meanwhile, Etsy has recently set up a novel service called Etsy Payments. As well as offering customers more ways to pay than the previous PayPal-only system, this service allows money to be sent to a seller’s account via direct deposit.
Sellers can choose daily, weekly, biweekly, or monthly transfers from Etsy Payments to their accounts, although they must meet the minimum threshold value for the transfer to take place in their local currency.
Conclusion
Both Redbubble and Etsy are great platforms for selling their creative products. Each platform offers unique advantages, including different levels of user support, online visibility, and fees.
Depending on the type of product being sold, one will likely be better suited than the other. Ultimately, choosing the best platform for selling products will come down to the seller’s specific needs. It may be beneficial to try both options and compare which yields the best results.
