Society6 vs Etsy: Which Is Better?

If you're trying to sell art prints, posters, or merch online, there’s a high chance you’ve run into these two: Society6 and Etsy.

Quick answer?

If you want full control, build a brand, and scale over time, Etsy wins hands down.
But if you just want to upload art and not worry about a thing, Society6 is less effort but lower reward.

Let me walk you through it — from someone who’s been selling on both for over a decade.

Society6 vs Etsy: Full Feature Comparison Table

Feature	Society6	Etsy (with POD integration)
Platform Type	Print-on-demand marketplace	Customisable ecommerce marketplace
Setup Time	Super fast (15–30 mins)	Moderate (2–5 hours with integrations)
Ease of Use	Very easy, no tech skills needed	Steeper learning curve, more tools
Custom Storefront	❌ No – generic product pages	✅ Yes – full store branding
Product Range	~80+ products (home decor, wall art, furniture)	Unlimited via Printful, Printify, Gelato, etc.
Design Control	Very limited – upload only	Full control over product mockups, descriptions, listings
Branding	❌ None – no email list, no logo, no customisation	✅ Full control over branding and marketing
Customer Ownership	❌ None – you never see the buyer	✅ Yes – you get buyer data, can retarget
Profit Margins	Low (e.g. $3–5 on a $25 print)	Higher (e.g. $10–15 on a $25 print)
Fees	No upfront or listing fees	$0.20 listing + 6.5% transaction + 3% payment fees
Traffic Source	Built-in marketplace traffic	Built-in traffic + SEO + Etsy Ads
Marketing Tools	❌ None – no email, coupons, analytics	✅ Coupons, email, abandoned cart, SEO, ads
SEO Options	None	Full control over titles, tags, categories
Customer Support	Handled by Society6	You or your POD partner handles support
Fulfilment	Handled entirely by Society6	Handled by POD partner (e.g. Printful)
Payment Handling	Society6 pays you royalties	Etsy takes payments via Stripe or Etsy Payments
Payout Time	Monthly (Net-30)	Weekly or faster (via Etsy Payments)
International Shipping	Yes (Society6 fulfils globally)	Yes (depends on POD partner)
Mobile App	No seller app	Etsy Seller App available
Analytics & Insights	❌ None	✅ Built-in analytics, external tracking supported
Support Quality	Minimal – hard to reach	Responsive through Etsy + POD platform
Ideal For	Artists who want passive income	Sellers building a brand and long-term store

What Are They? Let’s Set the Stage

When you're first getting into print-on-demand, the platform you choose shapes everything — how much control you have, how you brand yourself, and what kind of customers you attract.

Society6 is a print-on-demand marketplace built specifically for artists.

You upload your artwork, choose the products you want it printed on — like prints, mugs, pillows, or even furniture — and Society6 takes care of the rest.

No need to manage inventory, customer support, or fulfilment. It’s plug-and-play, which makes it incredibly beginner-friendly. But you’re operating within their ecosystem — your store isn’t really yours.

Etsy, on the other hand, wasn’t designed for POD — it’s a massive global marketplace for handmade, vintage, and custom goods.

But with the rise of integrations like Printful, Printify, Gelato, and Gooten, Etsy has become a powerful POD platform.

You get the benefit of Etsy’s built-in traffic while running a storefront that’s fully branded and tailored to your vision.

Here’s how the two compare at a glance:

Feature	Society6	Etsy
Built-in POD	Yes	No (requires integration)
Custom Storefront	No	Yes
Branding	Limited	Full control
POD Product Range	80+ SKUs	Unlimited (via integrations)

If you're looking to keep things simple, Society6 is the clear winner for getting started fast. No tech setup. No fulfilment. No headaches.

But if you're serious about creating a brand, setting your own prices, and building long-term equity in your business, Etsy gives you far more flexibility and control.

It takes more upfront effort, but you’re building something that’s actually yours.

Verdict:
Society6 is the easiest to start. But Etsy’s flexibility gives you way more power in the long run.

Setup: Getting Started Without Losing Your Mind

When you're just starting out, setup time matters. Some platforms let you get selling within the hour, others feel like setting up a full ecommerce business — because you are.

Society6 setup? Took me 15 minutes, max. It’s built for speed and simplicity.

Here’s how it works:

• Upload your art files (they’ll walk you through sizing)
• Choose which products to apply your designs to — posters, canvases, throw pillows, bath mats, etc.
• Add a title, tags, and categories

There’s no storefront to design. No shipping settings to mess with. No need to connect a domain or payment processor.

Everything’s handled for you. You’re basically renting space on Society6’s marketplace.

Etsy setup? It’s a real project — not hard, but definitely more involved.

You’ll need to:

• Create a seller account and set up your payment and billing details
• Design your storefront — banner image, logo, shop description
• Pick your print-on-demand partner (I use Printful and Printify the most)
• Connect the integration app
• Sync your products, set your prices, choose your mockups
• Configure shipping settings, taxes, return policies

That’s a lot of steps compared to Society6. But this is also where you start owning your brand.

Step	Society6	Etsy with POD
Account Creation	Simple	Requires business details
Store Design	Not applicable	Full custom branding
Product Setup	Built-in interface	Sync via Printful/Printify
Time to Launch	15–30 minutes	2–5 hours (or more)

Verdict:
Society6 wins on ease. It's great if you want to get up and running without any hassle.
But if you’re in it for the long haul and want control over your branding, Etsy is worth the extra effort.

Design, Branding & Store Control

If you care about building a real brand — something customers remember and come back to — this section matters more than anything.

This is where Society6 falls flat. You’re basically listing your art in a massive catalogue.

No storefront. No brand identity. You can’t control how your products are presented beyond the title, tags, and a short description.

Here’s what you don’t get with Society6:

• No logo or custom header
• No control over layout or page design
• No ability to build an email list
• No connection to your social media
• You’re just another artist in a sea of listings

You’re dependent on Society6’s algorithm and promotions. And if your product doesn’t get featured or picked up by search? You vanish.

With Etsy? It’s a whole different game.

• Upload your logo, create a custom banner, and write your shop bio
• Control your product titles, descriptions, and tags for SEO
• Choose your product photography and set up custom mockups
• Build an email list using integrations like Klaviyo or Mailchimp
• Drive traffic through your Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok, and link your shop

It feels like your shop, because it actually is. You’re not just selling prints — you’re building a business.

Here’s a side-by-side breakdown:

Feature	Society6	Etsy
Logo & Branding	No	Yes
Custom Store Design	No	Full design control
Email List Integration	Not available	Supported via integrations
Social Media Connections	No	Yes – connect and drive traffic
Customer Relationship	Anonymous	You can build direct relationships

Verdict:
Etsy dominates here. If you're building a real business, this stuff isn’t optional — it’s essential.

Fees & Profit Margins: Who’s Taking the Bigger Cut?

This is where things start to separate pretty clearly — and where your actual income gets decided.

Here’s the kicker: margins. You could sell the same $25 print on both platforms, but what you keep can vary wildly.

Society6 works on a royalty-based model. That means they set the retail price for most products, and you get a small cut — usually fixed.

The only exception is art prints, where you can adjust your markup.

Here’s how it breaks down:

• Art prints: You choose your markup (e.g. add $5–$10 on top of the base)
• Other products: Fixed royalty (often $1–$4, sometimes even less)
• You can’t see the full breakdown of production costs — it’s baked into their pricing

So while it’s passive and low-maintenance, the payout per sale is very limited.

Etsy, on the other hand, puts you in control. You set your prices based on your POD partner’s base cost (like Printful or Printify), and Etsy takes its cut through fees.

Here’s what you’ll pay on Etsy:

• Listing fee: $0.20 per item
• Transaction fee: 6.5% of the sale price
• Payment processing fee: Around 3% + $0.25 (depends on your location)
• Optional Etsy Ads: If you want to boost visibility

So if you sell a $25 print on Etsy through Printful (base cost around $11), you’re walking away with roughly $10–$13 profit per sale — more than double what you’d earn on Society6.

Platform	Cost to Customer	You Earn	Fees & Costs
Society6	$25	~$3–$5	Hidden production cost, fixed royalties
Etsy + Printful	$25	~$10–$13	$0.20 listing + 6.5% transaction + ~3% payment fee

This matters a lot if you’re doing volume. That $7–$10 difference per sale adds up fast.

Verdict:
Etsy gives you better profit margins — if you’re willing to do a bit more work upfront.

You control pricing, you see your costs, and you actually keep most of what you earn.

Society6? Easier, but less money in your pocket.

Traffic & Discovery: Who Brings the Buyers?

This is the part most new sellers overlook — but it’s everything.

Society6 brings built-in traffic. People go there looking for art and home goods.

They might type in something like “cool abstract posters,” and if your design matches the keywords, you could show up in search.

But here’s the catch:

• You’re one of thousands of artists
• Listings are controlled by their algorithm
• If you’re not featured or trending, your visibility tanks

Society6’s traffic is passive — it comes to you, but only if the algorithm likes your stuff that week.

Etsy? Same idea, much bigger playground.

• Over 90 million active buyers
• Strong organic search engine presence
• High-intent shoppers looking for unique, creative products

But Etsy gives you tools that Society6 doesn’t. On Etsy, you can:

• Run Etsy Ads to boost visibility in search
• Optimise your listings with targeted keywords for SEO (titles, tags, descriptions)
• Build repeat traffic by growing your brand and fan base
• Connect your store to social platforms and drive external traffic

You’re not just waiting for Etsy to feature you — you’re building momentum yourself.

Feature	Society6	Etsy
Built-in Marketplace Traffic	Yes	Yes
SEO Control	No	Full control (titles, tags, URLs)
Paid Ads	No	Yes – Etsy Ads
External Marketing	Limited to none	Full access (social, email, blogs)
Long-Term Visibility	Algorithm-dependent	Brand-driven + SEO-scalable

Verdict:
Etsy wins on scalable traffic.

Society6 can give you a little passive exposure, but Etsy hands you the tools to grow visibility over time — if you’re willing to market smart and play the long game.

Product Variety & Print Quality

When it comes to what you can actually sell, both platforms offer a lot — but in very different ways.

Society6 has a built-in catalogue of over 80+ unique products. And they’re not just the usual T-shirts and mugs. You’ll find:

• Rugs
• Shower curtains
• Furniture like credenzas and side tables
• Wall tapestries
• Throw pillows, coasters, and comforters

It’s quirky, artsy, and product development is handled entirely by them. You just upload your designs and apply them to the available templates.

The catch? You’re limited to what they offer — no way to go outside their range or use a third-party fulfiller.

Etsy with POD integrations? Pretty much endless.

What you can sell depends on your print-on-demand provider. For example:

• Printful: Clothing, posters, hats, bags, wall art, embroidery, stickers
• Printify: Phone cases, mugs, canvas prints, pet products, puzzles
• Gelato: Posters, calendars, books, and more (with global fulfilment)
• Gooten: Home decor, travel bags, and niche items

That flexibility means you can test product types fast, respond to trends, and even switch suppliers if needed.

Print Quality?
Both platforms can be hit or miss, depending on the item and production partner.

• Society6 uses its own network of third-party manufacturers. Some users report great quality, others mention poor colour accuracy or inconsistent packaging.
• Etsy POD quality depends entirely on your provider. In my experience:
  • Printful is excellent — consistent colours, reliable fulfilment
  • Printify can vary by supplier (they use a large network)
  • Best approach? Order samples before you commit

Here’s how the two stack up:

Feature	Society6	Etsy with POD
Product Variety	80+ built-in SKUs	Unlimited (varies by provider)
Unique Product Types	Rugs, furniture, tapestries	Apparel, accessories, decor, gifts
Custom Supplier Options	No – Society6 only	Yes – choose among Printful, etc.
Print Quality Control	Mixed – you have no control	Higher – depends on chosen provider
Sample Orders	Not available	Available through most POD partners

Verdict:
Etsy wins on flexibility. You can sell almost anything, test fast, and change suppliers as needed.

But Society6 wins on unique SKUs — it’s the only place I know where you can sell a credenza with your artwork on it.

Marketing Tools

This is where the difference between the two platforms becomes night and day — especially if you're thinking long-term.

Society6 gives you… nothing.

And I mean that literally. There’s no built-in marketing dashboard. No tools for capturing leads. No way to re-engage past buyers.

You list your designs and hope the platform features you or that someone stumbles across your work.

What’s missing:

• No email collection or campaigns
• No analytics dashboard
• No discount codes or promotions
• No control over retargeting or ad spend

If you want traffic or repeat business, you’ll have to send it there yourself — but you can’t track or retarget those visitors. It’s a closed ecosystem.

Etsy? Total opposite.

While it’s not a full-blown marketing suite, Etsy gives you just enough to build and scale real growth.

Here’s what you get out of the box:

• Discount codes for promotions, seasonal sales, or rewarding return buyers
• Email campaign tools (via integrations like Mailchimp or Etsy’s built-in messages)
• Abandoned cart recovery — Etsy emails potential buyers who left items behind
• SEO customisation — you control listing titles, tags, categories, and meta descriptions
• Etsy Ads to promote your listings across Etsy’s search and platform

And if you're looking to level up, you can plug into serious marketing tools:

• Google Analytics for tracking store performance and user behaviour
• Pinterest Ads for visual product discovery
• Klaviyo or Mailchimp to build automated email flows, abandoned cart sequences, and product recommendations

Here's how they compare:

Feature	Society6	Etsy
Discount & Promo Codes	No	Yes
Email Marketing	No	Yes – via integrations
Abandoned Cart Recovery	No	Yes – built-in
SEO Optimisation	No	Full control over listings
Paid Ads	No	Etsy Ads available
Analytics	Basic sales data only	Supports Google Analytics & third-party tools
Retargeting & Remarketing	No	Possible with external tools

Verdict:
If you’re serious about building a brand and driving repeat sales, Etsy wins by miles.

Society6 just isn’t built for sellers who want control over growth or strategy — it’s more of a passive listing platform.

Etsy gives you the tools to actually market, scale, and turn visitors into long-term buyers.

Support & Fulfilment

This part comes down to how hands-on you want to be after the sale is made.

Fulfilment and customer service can either be fully automated or a shared responsibility — depending on the platform.

Society6 handles everything.

Once someone places an order, Society6 takes over. They:

• Print and ship the product
• Deal with customer emails
• Handle returns, replacements, and tracking
• Manage delays or damaged goods

It’s a true “set it and forget it” model. You don’t interact with the customer at all.

While that’s convenient, it also means you can’t build customer relationships or directly resolve any issues — you're completely out of the loop.

Etsy? It depends on how you’ve set things up.

If you're using a POD partner like Printful or Printify, they handle:

• Printing and fulfilment
• Shipping (with tracking)
• Some support, like replacing damaged items

But you’re still the storefront owner — so customers come to you when there’s a problem. That means:

• You write and manage your shop’s policies
• You’re the first line of communication for complaints, refunds, or questions
• You may need to coordinate between the customer and your POD provider

It’s more work, but it also gives you flexibility and control over how issues are handled.

Feature	Society6	Etsy with POD Partner
Order Fulfilment	Fully handled by Society6	Managed by POD provider (e.g. Printful)
Customer Support	Society6 responds directly	You respond, POD helps in background
Returns & Refunds	Managed by Society6	You manage or coordinate with supplier
Shipping & Tracking	Included, automated	Provided by POD partner
Seller Involvement	None	Medium – depends on setup

Verdict:
Society6 is more passive — you don’t lift a finger after the sale.

But with Etsy, you sacrifice ease for flexibility. You get to decide how your business responds, what your return policy looks like, and how customer service is handled.

For brand builders, that trade-off is often worth it.

Final Verdict: Which One Should You Use?

At the end of the day, choosing between Society6 and Etsy comes down to what you’re trying to build.

If you’re just dipping your toes into print-on-demand and want something passive with zero setup headaches, Society6 is an easy entry point.

It’s hands-off, low effort, and doesn’t require marketing or tech skills.

But if you’re here to build a real business — one with repeat customers, a strong brand, and scalable revenue — Etsy is where that happens.

You’ll have to put in more work upfront, but the long-term control and profitability make it worth it.

Here’s how I recommend thinking about it:

Use Case	My Recommendation
Total beginner, no audience, no time to market	Society6
Want to build a brand, grow traffic, scale sales	Etsy
Want to test and build at the same time	Use both — start with Society6, scale Etsy

Here’s what I do:

I use Society6 to test low-effort designs. It’s a sandbox — I throw some artwork up, see what gets traction, and move on. I don’t expect big returns from it, but it’s a nice passive add-on.

But 90% of my energy goes into my Etsy store. That’s where I’ve built my customer base, my brand, and my income.

It’s also where I have the most control — and that control is everything when you're playing the long game.

If you're serious about print-on-demand and want to create something that lasts, Etsy's the one to back.