Compare / ShirtMap vs Etsy
ShirtMap vs Etsy
A straight comparison for small apparel businesses. Where each option genuinely wins, we say so.
Pricing and fees on this page are as of July 13, 2026 and may change.
ShirtMap
ShirtMap is a discovery platform built around a map, focused specifically on shirts and independent apparel. Listings are free to start, and there are no per-listing fees.
Etsy
Etsy is a large, established marketplace for handmade and vintage goods with a big built-in audience, charged through listing fees, transaction fees, and payment processing on every sale.
Side by side
| Feature | ShirtMap | Etsy | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | A shirt-focused discovery platform built around a map. | A broad global marketplace for handmade, vintage, and craft goods. | Depends |
| Listing fee | None. Your first listing is free; Premium covers up to 10. | $0.20 per listing, and listings expire after 4 months or when they sell. | ShirtMap |
| Transaction fee | 5% platform fee on sales made through ShirtMap. | 6.5% transaction fee on the item plus shipping. | ShirtMap |
| Payment processing | Standard Stripe processing. | About 3% + $0.25 per order via Etsy Payments (US). | Depends |
| Effective fee per sale | Roughly the 5% platform fee plus card processing. | Most sellers land around 11–15% before optional ads. | ShirtMap |
| Mandatory Offsite Ads fee | None. | 12–15% on sales from Etsy's offsite ads; mandatory once you pass $10k/yr. | ShirtMap |
| Shipping | Discounted, prepaid shipping labels built in; the buyer pays shipping at checkout. | Etsy provides discounted labels too, but you manage your own shipping profiles and rates. | Depends |
| Local & map discovery | Core feature. Shoppers browse a map to find shirts near them. | Search-based and global. Local discovery is not the point. | ShirtMap |
| Focus | Shirts and independent apparel only. | Everything from jewelry to home decor. Apparel competes with all of it. | ShirtMap |
| Size of built-in audience | Growing. Smaller than Etsy today. | Very large, well-established global shopper base. | Etsy |
| SEO for your listings | Each listing and shop page is search-optimized with structured data. | Listings can rank, but you compete against millions of other Etsy pages. | ShirtMap |
ShirtMap is best for
Apparel makers who want lower fees, local and map-based discovery, and a platform focused on shirts rather than everything from candles to jewelry.
Etsy is best for
Sellers who want access to Etsy's enormous existing shopper base and are comfortable competing inside a crowded, fee-heavy marketplace.
The bottom line
Etsy's advantage is reach: it already has millions of shoppers, and for some sellers that alone is worth the fees. But those fees add up fast, most sellers pay an effective 11–15% per sale before ads, and apparel competes against every other category for attention. ShirtMap keeps fees lower with a flat 5% platform fee and no per-listing charges, stays focused on shirts, and adds local, map-based discovery Etsy does not offer. It is a smaller audience today, but a cheaper, more focused home for a shirt brand.
🎉 Limited-time launch offer
The monthly Premium subscription is waived right now, so Premium has no monthly cost. Get your shop page, more listings, and a premium map pin without the monthly fee while the offer lasts.
Common questions
Are ShirtMap's fees lower than Etsy's?+
Generally yes. As of July 13, 2026, Etsy charges a $0.20 listing fee, a 6.5% transaction fee, and about 3% + $0.25 processing, which puts most sellers around 11–15% per sale before ads. ShirtMap charges no listing fee and a 5% platform fee plus standard card processing on sales made through the platform.
Does ShirtMap have as many shoppers as Etsy?+
Not today. Etsy has a very large, established global audience. ShirtMap is smaller and growing, but it is focused specifically on shirts and adds local, map-based discovery, so your listing competes for attention against other apparel rather than the entire craft marketplace.
Can I use both ShirtMap and Etsy?+
Yes. Many sellers list in more than one place. You can keep your Etsy shop and add ShirtMap as a lower-fee, apparel-focused discovery channel with local reach.
Does ShirtMap charge the mandatory Offsite Ads fee that Etsy does?+
No. Etsy's Offsite Ads fee (12–15%) becomes mandatory once your shop passes $10,000 in annual sales. ShirtMap has no equivalent forced advertising fee.
ShirtMap is a small business, like you
We are independently run, not a corporation. We would rather grow alongside makers with cool apparel than lock them into expensive plans. Listing your first shirt is free.
Put your shirts on the map