Redbubble vs. Esty

Ryan Barnett · December 25, 2024

 

After sketching out a quirky design during your lunch break, you may wonder if it could make you some money. By selling these creative designs on platforms like Redbubble and Etsy, you will surely find a way to make some extra bucks. These platforms aren't just about making money, as they provide a way to share your creativity with the world and build a brand that's all about you.

While looking for options to make money with your creativity, you can put designs on Redbubble's print-on-demand platform or benefit from Etsy's personalized handcrafted approach. However, to solve this puzzle of which platform suits you better, dive into the comprehensive guide below on Redbubble vs. Etsy and discover your path.

Part 1. Overview: Redbubble vs Etsy

Understanding Etsy vs. Redbubble by considering what they bring to the table can help you decide where to invest your time and creativity. Therefore, this section is a complete guide for anyone aiming to share their designs with a global audience to turn their passion into profit.

1. Redbubble

This platform provides a print-on-demand service specifically designed for creatives who want a hands-off approach to selling their work. Here, you simply need to upload your design, and the products are made per order to get shipped worldwide. On the contrary, customers get 20% off on their first purchase as they sign up on this platform. It also has a vast range of sellers catering to different goods, including wall art and clothing. 

2. Etsy

On the other hand, Etsy stands out as a well-known e-commerce platform tailored to sellers who offer handmade and other unique products. Furthermore, it allows users to make free registries, which helps them find gifts for every occasion, whether for weddings or baby showers. Apart from this, the experts on this platform spark new ideas for your registry regarding the latest trends and more. 

Part 2. A Comparative Analysis: Redbubble vs Etsy

When choosing between selling on Redbubble vs. Etsy, it often comes down to what you prioritize as a seller. Hence, let's fractionate the key differences between these platforms to help you decide which aligns with your creative and business needs.

1. Ease of Listing

Overall, listing on Redbubble is quite simple, as all you need to do is upload any artwork in JPEG or PNG format. Moreover, you can enable or disable individual products with just a tap and edit them to fit your design needs. Apart from adding product descriptions, the service sets a base price for every product with the additional cost of reproducing your design on demand.

Etsy has a much more thorough process because the platform hosts a wide variety of products the sellers create. Additionally, to add an item to your Etsy shop, you'll need to provide a description, product category, shipping arrangement, and some product images. Not only this, but you can also set the price of your choice while offering free delivery if preferred. 

2. Product and Selling

Your choice between the platforms can be sorted according to the types of products you want to sell. As a seller, your only involvement is collecting the profit because the service will print on demand and ship it to the buyers themselves. This means individuals can lead an online shop with minimal effort with some best-selling products like dresses, home decor, and phone cases.

However, with Etsy, you sell virtually anything handmade, craft supplies, or a vintage product at least 20 years old. The significant difference between Etsy and Redbubble is that you'll need to create or source products on this hands-on selling platform. 

3. Profit Margins and Transaction Fees

The pricing model for Redbubble is more straightforward, with a base price for each item covering production and fulfillment costs. Moreover, you can add your preferred markup percentage to calculate your profit margin. Unlike Etsy, this platform doesn't charge listing or transaction fees, which may seem appealing.

That said, their base prices are relatively restricted to account for their expenses, often resulting in lower profits per sale compared to Etsy. On the other hand, Etsy gives you full control over your product pricing, but you'll need to account for various fees. These include a $0.20 listing fee per item, a 6.5% transaction fee on the total sale, and a 3% payment processing fee plus $0.25.

While this might seem more complex than Redbubble's approach, it allows for better control over your expenses and profit margins. With strategic sourcing, you can potentially earn higher profits on Etsy than on Redbubble.

4. Payments Fees and Method

There are two significant payment options for Redbubble that include PayPal or direct deposit, with a minimum payout threshold of $20. The direct deposit is, however, limited to bank accounts in Australia, the U.S., and the United Kingdom. In contrast, Etsy also offers PayPal payment methods, but the service recently introduced a new option called Etsy payment. 

In the war of Redbubble vs. Etsy, the payment options for the latter help sellers choose how often they want payments, such as weekly or monthly. Additionally, Etsy offers an array of payment options, including credit cards, Apple Pay, and more. Despite your preferred method, you'll need to meet the minimum threshold for the money to be sent while the platform will deliver earnings in your local currency. 

5. Audience Age and Statistics

Regarding demographics, Redbubble's audience is divided by gender, with 51.12% of the audience belonging to women's shops and 48.88% to men's shops. Moreover, the largest age group of visitors is 25-34 years, followed closely by people aged between 18 to 24 years. When we look at the statistics for which countries sent the most traffic to Redbubble, we see the names of the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia.

On the other site, Etsy reveals that 41.62% of males and 58.38% of females share markets across various audiences. However, the largest group of visitors on this platform is 25-34 years old, with monthly visits ranging from 503.3 M. Apart from this, the top countries that grab traffic on Etsy include the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada.

Part 3. Which is More Profitable for You

After having a detailed analysis, deciding between Redbubble vs. Etsy primarily depends on the time you dedicate and the type of products you wish to sell. Both platforms have unique advantages and challenges influencing their profitability, so let's break down which service might work best for you.

1. Redbubble 

This setup is best for designers who require a low-maintenance way to monetize their creative artwork, as all it needs is to upload the design. However, the profit margins are comparatively lower due to service fees, but it still allows you to earn passive income with minimal upfront effort.

Redbubble is perfect for those who prefer to focus entirely on creative artwork without getting involved in the logistics of running a business.

2. Etsy 

It's ideal for crafters and entrepreneurs ready to build a personal brand, take an active role in their business, and showcase their unique styles directly to customers. Moreover, this service is best for sellers offering handmade or vintage products because buyers on this platform often seek one-of-a-kind items.

For those willing to invest effort into growing their businesses, Etsy is the ideal choice as it involves handling production, shipping, and customer service. 

Part 4. How Can I Effectively Boost Sales on Both Platforms

While selling on Redbubble vs. Etsy offers endless opportunities, you can still expand your reach and boost sales by exploring platforms like Shopify and Zazzle. However, regardless of your chosen service, implementing effective strategies is the key to improving your success. So, here are some practical tips and techniques to help you increase sales on Redbubble and Etsy.

1. Describe Your Products Accurately

Always use clear, concise, and key-rich titles to make descriptions more straightforward for users to find your products. This means crafting product descriptions highlighting features and materials with creatively designed titles that resonate with potential buyers.

2. Focus on Product Quality

Make sure that your design or handmade product meets high-quality standards to encourage repeated purchases on Etsy. For Redbubble, this could involve uploading high-resolution files to ensure the prints look professional and polished.

3. Research Your Competitors

On Etsy, look for competitors' pricing, listing strategies, and customer feedback to identify trends and gaps you can fill. While using Redbubble for selling, check the trending designs and adjust your keywords to improve visibility in the saturated marketplace. 

4. Provide Good Photos

Attractive visuals are essential to draw buyers' attention because they showcase your product's quality in a better way. Moreover, ensure your design previews are vibrant because they give customers a clear idea of what they are purchasing. 

5. Engage with Your Audience

By responding promptly to your customer inquiries and reviews, you can build a connection with them more effectively. Not only this, but engaging with your audiences might foster trust and encourage repeated purchases through the platform you are using.

Part 5. Create Better Image with insMind

When selling products on Etsy vs Redbubble, high-quality visuals are one of the most crucial factors for marking the place. After all, captivating images can make a massive difference in attracting serious buyers and generating revenues. In this connection, draw light on insMind as your creative mate, who can help you make better visuals for selling products.  

Try insMind for Free

With the help of this innovative platform, individuals can quickly eliminate unwanted backgrounds using the AI background remover tool. Not only this, but you can also effectively enhance the overall look of your product photo with its AI image enhancer tool. Additionally, it enables artists and professional editors to erase and remove undesired objects from product shoots using the AI replace feature. 

Other Expertise of insMind 

AI Logo Generator: You can create a logo for your online business by simply inputting the required details, including brand name, slogan, and other important information. Moreover, it facilitates users with a batch of results related to the information they entered and allows them to edit further.

AI Models: Using this feature, individuals can efficiently create a model blended to showcase their products. In this regard, they only need to upload a reference image, choose gender, and one face that resonates with the targeted audience's ethnicity.

AI Photo Filter:  By using an AI photo filter, individuals can apply various filters to their product's photoshoot in just one click. Furthermore, it assists users in transforming their ordinary dull pictures into something exceptional with anime and sketch filters.

AI Expand Image: With the help of this AI expander tool by insMind, professional editors can expand their images to fit their platform's needs without stretching. All you need to do is upload the photo to the tool and choose a size according to your preference from the options provided.

AI Design Generator: To attract your audience through appealing designs, sellers can create product ads using this tool. By only inserting benefits, product images, and main headings, the tool can generate beautiful designs in no time with an option to change the batch results.

Benefits of Using insMind 

• Whether you're optimizing selling products on Redbubble vs. Etsy, this platform adapts your needs from enhancing photos to creating vibrant mockups for digital designs.
• High-quality tools often come at a price, but insMind provides users with a suite of features to achieve professional-grade results without any extra cost.
• Time is valuable for online businesses, and insMind allows you to enhance your outcomes in just a few steps, freeing time to focus on other aspects.
• With insMind, you don't need any technical expertise to create professional-looking images because it provides a simple interface.

Conclusion 

In conclusion, the debate on Redbubble vs. Etsy ends with the solution that both platforms cater to different needs, primarily depending on the creative goal. After exploring the above statistics for the audience, payment methods, and product selling capabilities, it is clear that each service has its automated approach to selling products.

So, regardless of your chosen platform, one thing remains essential: presenting your high-quality products grabs attention. Therefore, selecting insMind for your creative needs is suggested because it is a trustworthy partner for all your editing and designing purposes.

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Ryan Barnett

I'm a freelance writer with a passion for editing and designing photos. Here at insMind, I strive to educate users on image creativity, photography, and enhancing product photos to help grow their businesses.