Etsy vs Zazzle 🤔… that is the question!

Here's a question I get asked a lot.

Etsy or Zazzle - which is better for starting out?

The honest answer is… it depends 😅.

I’ll go through the differences to help you decide what might suit you best.

 

And if you’re just creating for fun at the moment (or simply curious how it all works), I hope this gives you a helpful little insight too.

 

I completely understand how daunting it can feel knowing where to start and where to focus your energy.

 

One thing’s for sure…neither Etsy nor Zazzle are a “get rich quick” option. They both take time to build, to learn, and to gain traction. Of course, they’re not the only platforms out there, but they’re the two I’ve had the most experience with (and the most success on), therefore the ones I feel I can really talk about.

 

The two are very different.

ZAZZLE

 

Zazzle is a print-on-demand platform, which means your designs are printed onto products only when a customer orders, so you don’t need to hold any stock or handle production yourself. Zazzle takes care of all of that for you.

 

How it works:

 

• No upfront costs to open a store
• No listing fees
• You upload your design, choose your products, and set your commission
• Zazzle handles production, shipping, and customer service

 

Zazzle also has its own fantastic design tool, so everything is created and edited directly on the platform, including personalisation.

 

Many people go to Zazzle specifically for personalised items - things like invitations, gifts, and products they can customise with names, dates, or photos. So that’s definitely something to keep in mind when designing for Zazzle.

 

You’re not dealing with orders, printing, or delivery, which is lovely.

 

Zazzle offers a huge range of products (hundreds!), which is amazing… although it can feel a bit overwhelming at first - but it does mean you can experiment and try your designs on different products, test ideas, and see what works, without it costing you anything.

 

Zazzle provides default product images, so you can technically list very quickly. But adding your own mockups really helps your designs stand out. I now use Mockably (affiliate link) for most of mine, but Canva is a great place to start. 

 

One thing to be aware of - Zazzle takes a percentage of your commission (up to 50%), so that’s something to factor in when setting your rates. Personally, I keep mine consistent across my store, although you can vary it for each product if you prefer.

 

👉 Click for details to open a Zazzle store

 

ETSY

On Etsy, you create and list your products yourself, and when something sells, you deliver the digital file (or arrange fulfilment if it’s a physical item).

 

How it works:

 

• You pay a small fee to open your shop
• There are listing fees (renewed every 4 months and when an item sells)
• You pay a percentage when items sell
• You manage your shop, pricing, and promotions

 

You have a lot more control.

 

You decide:
• your pricing
• when to run sales
• how your products are presented

 

If you’re selling digital items (like invitations or templates), you’ll need to use an external editor such as Corjl, Canva, or Templett. I personally use Corjl.  I just find it quicker and easier, but it’s very much a personal preference.

 

Of course, with Etsy, you can sell physical items too, then be responsible for all shipping, returns etc. I only sell digital products, so that's what I'm focusing on here.

 

Listing on Etsy is more time-consuming. You create your own listing images (up to 20 per product), upload your files, and set everything up for delivery. But it does get quicker over time, especially once you create basic templates you can reuse.

 

👉 Click for details to open an Etsy shop

 

The main difference is:

 

Zazzle = you apply your designs to their products

Etsy = you create and sell your own products (digital or physical)

 

Which means that on Etsy, you can sell things like:
• clipart
• digital papers
• templates
• fonts
• planners and creative resources

 

So it’s a great platform if you’re creating for other designers.

You can also bundle individual products together into one listing and offer them at a discounted price.

On Zazzle, you can’t sell digital files such as clipart or planners of several pages. Your designs need to be applied to physical products (although a few items can be downloaded digitally, like invitations).

 

Zazzle is amazing for easily turning a single design into lots of different products so you can build a cohesive collection quite quickly.

 

A design (with a few tweaks) could become:

• an invitation

• a welcome sign
• a napkin
• a t-shirt
• a paper plate

…and so much more like in this collection:

✨ So… which is better?

 

I don’t really see it as one or the other anymore. What I’ve found is… they actually work beautifully together, and as someone who now sells both clipart and finished designs, I really value having both options.

 

If you’re just starting out, it’s probably best to focus on one platform first, then expand once you feel more confident. Zazzle does give you the opportunity to do this with no upfront costs so is a great way to find your feet, experiment with different niches and try out ideas on their products - with nothing to lose.

 

But of course, there’s no “right” choice. It depends on what you want to sell, your goals, and how you like to work. 

 

Hopefully this gives you a helpful glimpse into how they compare from my own experience. 

 

And of course, whether you’re creating for fun or building a business, the most important thing is to simply enjoy it!