Zazzle and Etsy seem similar on the surface – they’re both perfect platforms for creative sellers.
Whether you’re a passionate artist, a craft enthusiast, or an innovative designer, these platforms offer a space to showcase and sell your creations to a global audience.
But as you dig deeper into the world of personalized products and handmade wonders, you’ll discover that Zazzle and Etsy that they’re different in very distinct ways.
It’s like comparing a bustling exotic bazaar to a vibrant art gallery, both online platforms have their own charm and allure.
Let’s talk about all these differences and help you pick which one you want, so that you can unleash your creative spirit and make money online.
Zazzle Overview
Let’s discuss the underdog first, as Zazzle is much less known.
Zazzle is a dynamic eCommerce platform that lets you unleash your creativity and turn your designs into unique products. It’s main focus is print on demand products.
With a wide range of customizable products, from iPhone cases and apparel to home decor, Zazzle lets you bring your imagination to life.
Pros Of Having a Zazzle Store
- Customizability of products.
- Perfect for PoD businesses.
- Wide range of product categories.
- Global marketplace and audience.
- User-friendly.
- Works with relevant brands to provide professional manufacturing tools.
Cons of Zazzle
- Smaller user base, not as known.
- Limited profit margins for sellers.
- Limited control over quality and production.
Is Zazzle A Good Brand?
You might find yourself asking yourself the question considering that Zazzle isn’t as popular.
And yes, it’s a great brand. Not only with how it works – the brand is more than a decade old. The brand was founded in the same year at Etsy, in 2005.
It’s currently headquartered in Redwood City and is still an excellent platform for various designers and artists to showcase and sell their creations.
It’s kept its reputation for so long, so it’s certainly worth its salt.
Etsy Overview
Etsy is meant to connect talented artisans and vintage collectors with buyers worldwide.
The website puts authenticity above everything else, its motto is “keeping commerce human”. Etsy celebrates all things handmade and one-of-a-kind, offering a diverse selection of handcrafted goods and curated vintage collections.
Etsy is headquartered in Brooklyn, New York.
Whether you’re wanting to purchase special gifts such as father’s day gifts, greeting cards or odd decor, it’s your go-to destination.
Etsy is one of the best online marketplaces for discovering exceptional creations made with love.
Pros Of Having an Etsy Store
- Handcrafted items of various kinds with unique designs.
- Supportive creative community.
- Curated vintage collections.
- Direct interaction between sellers and buyers.
Cons Of Etsy
- Limited product categories compared to Zazzle.
- Intense competition among sellers.
- Varying quality control from different sellers.
Zazzle or Etsy: Quick Comparison Table
Here’s a quick look at some of the biggest differences between both.
| Factors | Zazzle | Etsy |
| Best For | Selling printables with high print quality. | Selling fully handmade items. |
| Competition | High. | Similarly high. |
| Product Variety | Restricted to printables only. | Any type of product as long as it follows Etsy’s guidelines. |
| Costs Of Use | Minimal. | Moderately higher. |
| Userbase | Decently large, mostly US-based. | Incredibly large, US-based audience as well. |
Zazzle Vs Etsy Shop
Now, we’ll talk about what the difference between Zazzle and Etsy is in more detail.
Product Focus
Winner: Etsy.
As a seller on Zazzle, you have the freedom to focus on customization and design without the hassle of sourcing base products.
Looking to sell a trendy custom designed T-shirt? Zazzle’s marketplace is perfect for designers creating eye-catching accessories and fashionable apparel.
In contrast, Etsy takes a different approach by offering a delightful mix of handmade goods, charming vintage collections, and a treasure trove of craft supplies.
It’s a haven for customers in search of one-of-a-kind gems, truly embodying the artisan spirit.
Another thing to note is that Etsy offers more categories and more products in general.
Zazzle products are primarily printables, which makes the things you can sell limited.
However, you can sell almost anything on Etsy as long as it’s handcrafted and interesting with good quality. That extra freedom makes it the winner in this factor.
Level of Seller Involvement
Winner: Etsy.
Etsy empowers sellers to create and manage their own shops, giving you full control and ownership of your products.
This freedom allows you to bring your designs to life and ensure the quality of every aspect. It’s what makes Etsy a vibrant online marketplace of artisanal wonders.
In contrast, Zazzle operates under a Print-on-Demand model, limiting your control over what you sell.
While you can freely choose designs and even partner with major and unique brands like Marvel, Sesame Street, Harry Potter and Disney, you won’t have the same level of control over the materials used.
You can’t personally guarantee the fabric of a shirt or the paper of a poster meets your standards.
On the bright side, Zazzle also takes care of customer service, shipping (the technical side, not the cost side) and even returns on your behalf.
User Base Type And Amount
Winner: Etsy
According to Similarweb, Etsy has a much larger user count, with over 450 million monthly visitors compared to Zazzle’s more modest 16 million.
But both platforms have great opportunities.
Etsy attracts craft enthusiasts, vintage collectors, and people looking for unique things and personalized items. This gives sellers a wider reach and more sales potential.
Zazzle shouldn’t be overlooked, though.
People visit it to get customizable products like invitations, T-shirts, mugs, business cards, stickers, and more. They serve as great yet cost-effective gifts on many occasions.
If your ideas match any of these, it can be a fun experience and a fantastic platform to showcase and sell all the great things you’ve created.
Seller Competition
Winner: Etsy
Both have equally heavy competition between sellers, despite their difference in user numbers.
With how easy Zazzle is, you have to contend with a lot of sellers. But that’s not all, the major brands we mentioned earlier – Marvel, Disney and so on are also selling their own products on the platform.
Combined with the lower user base, it’s easy to say you’ll have to put just as much effort to stand out as you would have to with a bigger platform like Etsy.
Etsy is just as competitive, however, there’s one thing that gives an edge – ads.
The platform has its own ad system, so with enough investment, you can stand out easily when promotions and search engine optimization doesn’t work.
Fees And Transactions
Winner: Zazzle
Now, let’s get the last important thing over with – all the extra costs.
On Etsy, you’ll pay an initial fee of 20 cents per listing. If your items don’t sell within four months, you’ll need to pay another 20 cents to renew them or they’ll disappear.
Etsy also charges a transaction fee of 6.5% on each sale, along with additional charges for shipping and gift wrapping. They even have fees for off site advertising and offer a $10 monthly subscription for designers.
In contrast, Zazzle keeps it simple. They don’t charge any listing fees, allowing you to showcase your items without upfront costs. Your listings on Zazzle won’t expire for at least two years, giving you more time to attract buyers.
To top all that off, Zazzle handles taxes for sellers as well. Their “Name Your Royalty” program allows you to determine your desired earnings on each sale, giving you control over your profits.
In short, if you’re looking for a platform with fewer fees, longer listing durations, and more earning potential, Zazzle is the better choice.
Who Should Use Zazzle
If you’re well acquainted with Etsy, you might be dubious and asking yourself, “Is Zazzle worth it?”
It is, in many ways. What makes Zazzle special is how easy it is to customize and create a wide range of printables. If that’s the kind of product you make, you can go for it with your eyes closed.
The platform is primarily for passive income, but it gives you a chance to tap into a niche market that appreciates personalized designs.
Who Should Use Etsy
This one doesn’t need that much convincing – Etsy is the Amazon for creative sellers and buyers who appreciate art.
If you’re working with something other than printables, Etsy is definitely the place to go. It has a good buyer pool, as well as simple but powerful tools to help you stand out even when the competition is at its peak.
FAQ
Does Zazzle work with Etsy?
Yes, Zazzle can be used with Etsy. While there is no direct API for Zazzle/Etsy integration, you can manually input Zazzle as your production partner on Etsy.
This allows you to create and customize designs on Zazzle, place print orders, and have them delivered to your customers through Etsy.
Alternatively, you can also explore other print-on-demand options such as Printful or Printify.
How much does Zazzle pay you?
It pays you using the royalty percentage you set. As a creator, you can set your own royalty percentage for each product you sell, up to 99%. The only exceptions for that are Zazzle Heart Products and Value Phone cases, for which the Maximum Royalty Rate is only a small percentage, at 5%.
Is Etsy or Zazzle the best place to sell prints?
Depends on if you need more customers or an easier time selling. Etsy gives you more potential customers to work with, Zazzle makes making prints easier. You can always combine both as mentioned above.
Why is Zazzle shipping so expensive?
Zazzle works hard to make sure their sellers are delivered – they need the extra costs to cover insurance so everything goes smoothly.
Why is Etsy shipping so cheap?
They can keep shipping cheap because they have successfully negotiated for shipping costs with post offices for their sellers, with the help of their reputation.
Zazzle vs Etsy: Which is the best place to sell art such as paintings?
It depends on you. Both platforms are great – Etsy has its big buyer pool while Zazzle lets you sell your art in different ways, such as putting it on a T-shirt.
Can I sell Jewelry on Zazzle?
No, it’s strictly for printables.
Final Thoughts
What should you go for, then?
If you’re already an Etsy seller or selling non-printable products, sticking with Etsy might be the best option.
There are few other platforms that can give it a run for its money when it comes to making profits with creative work.
Only big platforms such as Instagram (with its focus on visuals and large user base) and Shopify (with its top-tier eCom tools) can go toe-to-toe with it.
However, you can still take a leap of faith with Zazzle, especially if you’re new to selling online.
With enough perseverance and time, you could even turn it into a lucrative online business, rather than a passive source of income. It’s free, after all!
We hope that helps you make the right pick – good luck with making the product your imaginations into real world dough!
