# Self-sown vs Etsy (2026)

*Full disclosure: we build Self-sown, so yes, we're biased. We're going to tell you who each platform is actually right for — including when it isn't us.*

Etsy is where the world goes to buy handmade soap, candles, and fiber art — and that buyer traffic is real and valuable. It's also where sellers go to watch fees stack up: $0.20 to list, 6.5% of the order (including shipping) as a transaction fee, around 3% + $0.25 for payment processing, and 12-15% if Etsy's Offsite Ads claim credit for the sale — mandatory once you pass $10k/yr.

Self-sown charges none of that: free unlimited listings and no platform fees, with payments straight to you. What you give up is Etsy's built-in audience. Here's the honest version of both.

|  | Self-sown | Etsy |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly cost | Free (Herd $21/mo optional) | Free to start, then per-sale fees |
| Transaction fees | None from us, ever | $0.20/listing + 6.5% transaction + ~3% + $0.25 processing; Offsite Ads 12-15% |
| Payments | Bitcoin (Lightning/Cashu), cards via Stripe or Square, Venmo/Zelle/cash | Their processor, their rules |
| Who owns the store | You — listings live on Nostr relays you control | Theirs — suspensions are automated and appeals are slow |
| Best for | selling local food and artisan goods with zero platform fees | handmade sellers who want built-in buyer traffic |

## Where Etsy honestly wins

Discovery. Millions of buyers type "handmade candle" into Etsy's search box every day, and a brand-new shop can get sales from that traffic with zero marketing. No other platform on this list — including ours — hands you that audience.

It's also instant. Photos, a title, a price, and you're selling the same afternoon. If you make soap, candles, or fiber goods and have no audience at all, Etsy is the fastest first dollar in e-commerce.

## Where Self-sown wins

Everything after the first sale. On Etsy, a $25 candle with $6 shipping pays roughly $0.20 listing + $2.02 transaction + $1.18 processing — over $3.40, or 11% — before Offsite Ads. On Self-sown the platform cut is $0. You keep the difference, or you price lower and win the local sale.

You also keep the customer. Etsy owns the relationship — its emails, its marketplace, its rules. Self-sown listings live on open Nostr relays and your buyer list is yours, so the customer who found you once can buy from you forever without Etsy in the middle.

## The pattern that actually works

Most successful makers we know treat Etsy as advertising: let its search traffic find new customers, then move repeat buyers to a channel you own. Self-sown is that channel — free enough that running both costs you nothing.

## Our pick

No audience yet, selling handmade goods: open the Etsy shop. Pay the fees as your marketing budget.

You have repeat buyers, a market booth, or any local following: put them on Self-sown and stop paying 11%+ for customers who already know your name.

## Questions

**Does Self-sown have Etsy's buyer traffic?**

No — that's Etsy's genuine advantage and the reason to use it. Self-sown is where you keep the customers you already have, fee-free.

**What are Etsy's total fees on a typical sale?**

Roughly 10-11% all-in on a $30 order (listing + 6.5% transaction + processing), before the optional-but-mandatory-over-$10k Offsite Ads fee of 12-15%.

**Can I sell food on Self-sown?**

Yes — baked goods, preserves, eggs, produce, meat, dairy, subject to your local cottage-food and health regulations. Self-sown doesn't gatekeep categories; the law in your area still applies to you.

**Is it really free?**

Yes. Unlimited listings, no platform transaction fees. If you take cards, Stripe or Square charge their standard processing fees; Bitcoin payments have no processing fee at all. The optional Herd plan ($21/mo) adds storefront customization, custom domains, email flows, and shipping labels.

## Related

- [Best Etsy alternatives](https://self-sown.com/alternatives/etsy)
- [Best marketplace for soap & candle makers](https://self-sown.com/best/marketplace-for-handmade-soap-candles)
- [Best marketplace for wool & fiber producers](https://self-sown.com/best/marketplace-for-wool-fiber)

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*We checked prices and features for everything on this page in October 2026, against each vendor's own pricing page. This stuff changes constantly, so double-check before you commit.*

[Start selling](https://self-sown.com/onboarding/new-account)