Which is cheapest for a small UK product seller: Etsy, KDP or Shopify?
It depends on the product. KDP has no listing fee and pays a 60% royalty minus print cost on books priced at £7.99 or more. Etsy charges $0.20 per listing plus 6.5% transaction and processing fees. Shopify payment fees start at 2% plus 25p, on top of a plan.
Figures checked on 9 October 2026 from each platform’s own pages. Fees change, so check before you list. Etsy fees attract 20% VAT if you have no VAT ID.
| Platform | Listing | Commission / transaction | Payment processing | Monthly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Etsy | $0.20 per listing, renewed every 4 months or after each sale | 6.5% of item + delivery; regulatory operating fee 0.48% | 4% + £0.20 | £0 |
| Amazon KDP (books) | £0 | Royalty 60% of list price if ≥ £7.99 (50% if ≤ £7.98), minus print cost | Included | £0 |
| Shopify (Basic) | £0 | — | Shopify Payments 2% + 25p | Plan fee |
| TikTok Shop UK | £0 | 9% incl. VAT on item + shipping | Included | £0 |
| Depop | £0 | £0 selling fee for UK sellers | 2.9% + £0.30 | £0 |
Worked example: a three-sticker pack at £14.99
Using a print-on-demand partner printing in the UK, the landed cost of a three-sticker pack worked out at about £10.45 including shipping and VAT. On Etsy, fees on £14.99 came to about £2.40, leaving roughly £2.14 (14%). On your own Shopify store on the Basic plan, payment fees were about £0.55, leaving about £3.99 (27%). A single sticker at £4.99 lost about £2.11 on Etsy once shipping was counted.
Worked example: a reading journal on KDP
A 6×9 inch, 110-page black-ink paperback has a fixed print cost of £1.93 on Amazon.co.uk. At £7.99: 60% × £7.99 − £1.93 = about £2.86 per sale, with no listing fee.
Rules worth knowing
- Etsy allows print on demand for your own designs, but you must disclose the production partner, and AI use must be disclosed.
- KDP requires you to declare AI-generated text, images and covers.
- Vinted and Amazon Handmade do not suit print-on-demand items.
Need a margin sheet built for your products? See automated reports or help for Etsy and KDP sellers.