Does Shopify Integrate with Etsy? Yes, and Here's How to Do It

You might have started with Etsy and are looking to transition to Shopify, or you might want to consider keeping a store on both platforms. Either way, rest assured that yes, Shopify does integrate with Etsy.

Before we get to the various ways to do it, why would anyone be interested in integrating Shopify with Etsy? Integration between both platforms is valuable for shop owners to:

• Synchronize inventory: Making it easier to manage both shops at the same time 

• Import/export products: Updating product listings from one platform to another

• Manage billing and orders: For accounting purposes, if both shops are registered under the same legal entity for example

• Migrate from Shopify to Etsy, or the other way around: Moving your Shopify store to Etsy, or vice versa 

But just because you can sell on Etsy and Shopify at the same time doesn’t mean you should. It will depend on your audience, the products you’re selling and the strategy you have planned out for the future of your business. 

Let's stop here for a second before we move into Shopify / Etsy integrations.

Should you use Etsy and Shopify together?

Before you consider using Shopify and Etsy at the same time, it’s important to evaluate the key characteristics of both platforms:

• Etsy is a marketplace for unique and creative goods. With a community of 96.3 million active buyers and a small entry fee for sellers ($0.20 to list an item), it is a great choice for first-time online store owners.

• Shopify is one of the most popular ecommerce platforms. It offers a lot of control in terms of features and possibilities, it is one of the go-to options to build an online store.

While both platforms are attractive, one of the main differentials is the audience they’re serving:

• Etsy has a very active community of buyers interested in hand-crafted goods and antiques. It’s worth noting that 86% of sellers are women and that as much as 81% of purchases are made by repeat buyers that have shopped on the platform at least once before.

• Shopify featured 457 million buyers in 2020. It is present in 175 countries and used by major corporations such as Nestle or Pepsi. Interestingly enough, many shoppers never realize they are buying from online stores powered by Shopify, which speaks volumes about the platform's quality and customization possibilities.

Because of their very nature, each platform can help your ecommerce efforts in different ways. 

On top of customization, Shopify is great for businesses that scale. On the other hand, Etsy provides you with access to a large community of buyers and a straightforward, non-technical setup.

Source: Etsy

These differences explain why some business owners choose to sell on both platforms at the same time:

• Explore the field: Testing the market before honing in on one platform

• Expand coverage: Selling to audiences that don't overlap with each other

• Get the best of both worlds: Making the most out of both solutions’ features and advantages

If this is your case, then it's time to look at your options to integrate both platforms.

How to integrate Shopify and Etsy?

There are several ways you can go about connecting Shopify and Etsy:

• Coding the APIs

• Third-party agencies

• Native marketplace integrations

• Third-party integrations 

Let's take a look at them in order to see which one suits you best.

Coding the APIs

At its core, integrating Shopify and Etsy is a matter of connecting both platforms, which at a base level can be done using their APIs.

An application programming interface (API) is a computing interface defining interactions between software. In simple terms, you can think of them as gateways that connect software applications.

Platforms such as Shopify and Etsy provide authorized developers with their API keys, which allows them to develop solutions and apps. They can in turn monetize these on each platform’s marketplace.

If you’re reading this, chances are you’re not looking for a guide on how to code your own integration using the Shopify and Etsy APIs, but this still counts as a valid option.

Thankfully, there are easier ways to do this.

Third-party agencies

For large stores and large budgets especially, professional agencies and specialists are offering to help with your integration needs (at a price).

Shopify features these authorized partners in their “Shopify experts” section, where you can find everything from store setup, and branding consulting to Etsy-Shopify integrations.

Specialists for hire can also be found in Etsy’s general search, and experts for both platforms are advertising their services on freelancing websites like Upwork or Fiverr.

While this solution can be worthwhile for stores with thousands of listings, looking for a hands-off approach handled by a trusted specialist, it’s also the most expensive: prices for a full migration from Etsy to Shopify are ranging from $500 to upwards of $4000.

For a more affordable alternative, both Shopify and Etsy empower their users to manage their integration with apps, available in their marketplaces.

Native marketplace integrations

What we call native marketplace integrations are features and apps that are directly available within the official Shopify and Etsy app marketplaces. 

Here you will find two subtypes of integrations: 

• Apps that allow you to manage Etsy and Shopify simultaneously

• Integrations that let you migrate from one platform to the other

Managing Etsy and Shopify simultaneously

If running both Shopify and Etsy makes sense for you and your business, there are a few apps available that can facilitate that for you, such as Etsy Marketplace Integration by CedCommerce.

This is very popular option among Shopify users with more than 450 reviews averaging 4.7 stars out of 5. This integration features a free plan and a 7-day trial for its more advanced plans priced at $25, $39, and $59/month. 

On the not-so-bright side, there used to be more options just a couple of years ago, but many didn't survive and are simply not available these days.

Source: Shopify

Bonus: Dropshipping on Etsy

Managing Shopify and Etsy stores with native integrations is a popular choice among those who dropship Etsy products on Shopify. 

Dropshipping allows you to serve as an intermediate between a manufacturer and buyers, selling products without managing inventory and with minimal investment. 

Since Shopify is the preferred platform for dropshippers, integrating Etsy is a great way to get the best of both worlds. 

Note: As Etsy is a marketplace for unique goods, it might not always be the most appropriate for dropshipping, but it’s possible to do it.

Now that we covered the management of both platforms, it's time to address the subject of migrating from one platform to another.

How to migrate from Shopify to Etsy, or from Etsy to Shopify and keep your listings and products as they were originally set up?

Migrating from one platform to the other

Shopify makes migrating from Etsy very easy. All you have to do is follow the instructions available on their Help Center. 

While the migration process is clearly broken down, it will require you to manipulate CSV files and go through a series of technical steps.

For a less technical approach, you will also find the following option on Shopify's app marketplace from Etsy to Shopify:

• Easy Import: This app offers an easy way to migrate from Etsy to Shopify. It helps import the data you need and transfer the product listings, assigning products to individual collections in Shopify. With an average rating of 4.6 stars out of 5 from 48 reviews, its pricing starts at $0.10 per imported listing.

Since Shopify is typically the preferred platform when scaling up an online store, business owners tend to migrate from Etsy to Shopify and not the other way around. 

As a result, the possibilities are a bit more limited when it comes to migrating your Shopify store to Etsy.

However, this problem can be solved with the help of third-party integrations.

Third-party integrations

While native marketplace integrations are valuable, their costs can quickly add up, especially to running both platforms at the same time. 

Enter the world of third-party integrations. Automation tools like Make can help you connect Shopify and Etsy, letting you decide what you want to do:

• Sync products in both stores

• Manage parallel inventories

• Auto-replicate listings from one platform to the other

Unlike native marketplace integrations, Make gives you creative freedom, and is not limited to a single-use case.

Make features dozens of modules for Shopify and Etsy that can be combined to create all kinds of integrations, and to grow your business faster than ever.

Conclusion

Both native and third-party app integrations have their pros and cons, and it will be up to you to make the ultimate decision.

If you’re looking for a straightforward approach and don’t mind paying extra, an integration available on the Shopify App Store might be the best solution. While the costs can quickly add up, these apps are dedicated to executing a single task, which has its perks: 

• Their support is focused on ensuring that the main task goes smoothly

• Some of the apps are boasting large user communities

• If you dislike the tool, you can easily switch to a competing app in the store

On the other hand, if you’re looking to have more control over the integration, an automation tool like Make can be an interesting alternative:

• Significantly cheaper, with a free plan available 

• Virtually unlimited, you can set up your own automations

• Not limited to a specific use case: this could be the start of your automation journey

Your choice will depend on your priorities as a business, and the objectives you’re trying to reach by using Shopify and Etsy at the same time.

Let’s get to selling!

Note: This article has been updated with new information on July 6, 2022.