AdaptiveShop vs Etsy
Own your store or rent space on a marketplace? Here's an honest comparison.
The Short Version
Etsy is a marketplace. Millions of buyers browse it looking for unique products. You get discovered, but Etsy owns the customer relationship and takes a cut of every sale.
AdaptiveShop is your own store. You drive traffic yourself, but you own everything—customer data, branding, and keep more per sale.
The Marketplace Tradeoff
Etsy's strength is built-in traffic. People go to Etsy to shop, and your products can get discovered organically. That's valuable, especially when you're starting out.
The tradeoff: you're renting space on someone else's platform. You pay per listing, per sale, and for advertising. Customer emails belong to Etsy. Your shop looks like an Etsy shop, not your brand.
The Own-Your-Store Approach
AdaptiveShop is different—it's your branded storefront:
- You own all customer data—emails, purchase history, everything
- Flat monthly fees ($7.99–$24.99) instead of per-sale commissions
- Your brand, your domain, your store design
- AI-generated product descriptions from your photos
- Smart links that adapt to each visitor
The tradeoff: you bring your own traffic. No built-in marketplace discovery.
Why Not Both?
Many sellers use both approaches strategically:
- Marketplaces for discovery and new customers
- Your own store for repeat customers and direct sales
- Build your email list from marketplace buyers, then market directly
Over time, your own store becomes more valuable as you build customer relationships that don't depend on a marketplace's algorithm or fees.
AdaptiveShop Pricing
- Basic ($7.99/mo) — 10 products, AI descriptions, in-person sales, analytics
- Growth ($14.99/mo) — 50 products, smart links, custom domain, promo codes
- Pro ($24.99/mo) — 150 products, print-on-demand, Google Shopping, cart recovery
No listing fees. No per-sale commissions. Just Stripe processing fees (~2.9%) on transactions.
Check Etsy's website for their current fees. Prices on all platforms may change.
The Bottom Line
Etsy is great for discovery. AdaptiveShop is great for ownership.
If you want built-in traffic and don't mind the fees and platform control, marketplaces work. If you want to own your customers, build your brand, and keep more per sale—that's what your own store is for.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between a store and a marketplace?
A marketplace like Etsy brings traffic but takes a cut of sales and owns the customer relationship. Your own store means you drive traffic yourself, but you own everything—customer data, branding, and keep more of each sale.
Can I use both?
Yes, many sellers do. Use marketplaces for discovery and new customers, then direct repeat buyers to your own store where you keep more of each sale and own the customer data.
Do I need to drive my own traffic with AdaptiveShop?
Yes. Unlike a marketplace, AdaptiveShop doesn't provide built-in traffic. You bring customers through social media, email, or other marketing. The tradeoff is you own those relationships and pay flat fees instead of commissions.
Which is better for new sellers?
Marketplaces can help new sellers get discovered. Your own store is better for building a brand long-term. Many sellers start on marketplaces and add their own store as they grow.