Mossy vs Etsy: Stop Renting, Start Owning
Etsy is great for testing the waters. But if you're serious about your creative business, there's a better way.
Marketplace vs Your Own Store
Etsy is a crowded marketplace where you're one shop among millions, competing for visibility and playing by their rules.
Mossy gives you your own independent store. Your brand. Your customers. Your rules.
What You Actually Pay
Here's what a £50 sale costs you:
Etsy
- £0.16 listing fee (every 4 months)
- £3.25 transaction fee (6.5%)
- £2.20 payment processing (4% + £0.20)
- £6-7.50 offsite ads (12-15%, often mandatory)
- Total: £6.45-£10+ (13-20%)
Mossy
- £10/month (unlimited products)
- £0 transaction fee
- £0.58 payment processing (0.75% + £0.20 for UK payments)
- Total: £0.58 (1.16%)
You keep £6+ more on every £50 sale. That's over 12% more profit.
When Mossy Pays for Itself
- 2 sales/month: Mossy is cheaper
- 10 sales/month (£500): Save £55+
- 50 sales/month (£2,500): Save £300+
The more you sell, the more you save.
What You Actually Own
On Etsy
- Limited customer data
- No control over design
- Subject to policy changes
- Forced into their advertising
- Building their platform, not yours
With Mossy
- Full customer data — build real relationships
- Your brand — complete design control
- Predictable costs — no surprise fees
- Your marketing — no forced ads
- Your business — you own your customer data
The Trade-Off
Etsy gives you: Built-in marketplace traffic and instant visibility.
Mossy gives you: Lower fees, full control, and a business you actually own.
Yes, Etsy has ready-made traffic. But every customer you get there belongs to Etsy, not you. With Mossy, you're building something that's truly yours.
Use Both (The Smart Approach)
Don't abandon Etsy overnight. Many successful makers do this:
- Keep Etsy for marketplace exposure
- Build your Mossy store as your main home
- Direct customers to Mossy where you keep more profit
- Gradually shift as you build your audience
The Bottom Line
Etsy is renting space in a crowded mall. Mossy is owning your own storefront.
If you're making regular sales (even just a few per month), you'll save money and build something sustainable with Mossy.
Stop giving away 13-20% of every sale. Own your creative business.
All fees accurate as of 2024. Savings based on UK payments.