Society6 vs. Etsy: A Head-to-Head Comparison for Art Lovers

Society6 vs Etsy: Which Platform is Best for Artists and Art Lovers?

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Choosing the right online platform to buy or sell art can be a game-changer. Two of the biggest names in the creative space are Society6 and Etsy, but they operate on fundamentally different models. For artists looking to monetize their work and art lovers seeking the perfect piece, understanding these differences is crucial. Is one better than the other? The answer depends entirely on what you're looking for.

This comprehensive guide breaks down the society6 vs etsy debate, comparing everything from the business models and product types to the fees, profit potential, and overall experience for both creators and consumers. Whether you're an artist deciding where to build your brand or a shopper on the hunt for unique art, this comparison will help you make an informed choice.

Table of Contents

At a Glance: The Key Differences

Feature Society6 Etsy
Business Model Print-on-Demand (POD) Global Online Marketplace
Who Sells? Artists, designers, photographers Independent makers, curators of vintage goods, craft suppliers
Product Focus Art prints, home decor, apparel, accessories with artist designs Handmade goods, vintage items (20+ years old), craft supplies
Seller's Role Upload designs, promote work Create/source products, manage inventory, handle shipping, customer service
Inventory None. Products are made to order. Seller manages all physical or digital inventory.
Upfront Costs Free to open an account and upload designs. $0.20 USD per listing (renews every 4 months).
Profit Model Artists earn a royalty (typically 10%) on base product prices. Seller sets the price and keeps the profit after Etsy fees.

What is Etsy? The Global Marketplace for a Human Touch

Etsy is a vast global marketplace connecting millions of buyers with independent sellers. Its core mission is to "Keep Commerce Human" by providing a platform for unique and creative goods, from handcrafted pieces to vintage treasures.

When you buy on Etsy, you're not buying from a large corporation's warehouse; you're purchasing directly from an individual seller or a small business. This model fosters a vibrant community of real people. Sellers on Etsy are entrepreneurs who manage their own inventory, set their own prices, handle their own shipping, and communicate directly with customers. This gives them complete control over their brand and products, allowing for a high degree of personalization and custom orders that you can't find anywhere else.

What is Society6? The Artist-Driven Print-on-Demand Hub

So, what is society6? Unlike Etsy, Society6 is a print-on-demand (POD) and dropshipping platform. The society6 business model is built around empowering artists to sell their work on a wide array of products without ever needing to handle inventory, printing, or shipping. Artists simply upload their designs, and society6 takes care of the rest.

Here’s how society6 works: An artist creates a piece of art and uploads the digital file to their Society6 shop. They then choose which products they want their art to appear on, such as art prints, phone cases, tapestries, mugs, t-shirts, and furniture. When a customer orders a product, Society6's network of third-party manufacturers prints the artwork onto the chosen item and ships it directly to the customer. This hands-off approach makes it a popular choice for artists who want to focus purely on creation.

Selling Art: A Head-to-Head Comparison for Creators

The experience of selling on society6 vs etsy is vastly different. Your choice will depend on how much control you want, how hands-on you're willing to be, and your primary goals for selling your art.

Getting Started and Costs

Etsy: Opening a shop is free, but it costs $0.20 to create a listing, which is active for four months. This fee is charged again each time the item is renewed or sold. This low barrier to entry empowers creative entrepreneurs to start and scale their businesses with minimal upfront investment.

Society6: Is it free to sell on society6? Yes, it is. There are no fees to open an account or upload your designs. This makes it a zero-risk option for artists to test the waters and see which of their designs resonate with buyers. The question of how much does it cost to sell on society6 is simple: nothing upfront.

Product Creation and Control

Etsy: As a seller, you have total control. You are responsible for making or sourcing your products, whether that's painting original canvases, creating digital downloads, or having your designs printed by a production partner of your choosing. You also manage your own inventory, photography, packaging, and shipping. This is a lot of work, but it offers complete creative and quality control.

Society6: This is where society6 print on demand shines. Your only job is to create and upload high-resolution artwork. Society 6 manages the entire production process, from printing to fulfillment. This is a form of society6 dropshipping, where you never see or handle the physical product. While this is incredibly convenient, it means you have no control over the print quality, materials, or shipping times, relying entirely on the platform's standards.

Fees, Commission, and Profit

This is one of the most critical points in the society6 vs etsy debate.

Etsy: Sellers set their own prices. After a sale, Etsy deducts several fees:

  • Listing Fee: $0.20 (renews upon sale of a multi-quantity item).
  • Transaction Fee: 6.5% of the total order amount (including shipping and gift wrap).
  • Payment Processing Fee: Varies by country, but for the US it's 3% + $0.25.
  • Offsite Ads Fee: 12-15% on sales generated from Etsy's offsite ads (mandatory for sellers making over $10,000/year).

Despite the fees, the profit potential is much higher on Etsy because you control the final price.

Society6: The platform sets a base price for each product. The artist's earnings, known as society6 royalties, are a percentage of that base price.

  • What percentage does society6 take? For most products, Society6 takes a 90% cut of the base price, leaving the artist with a 10% commission.
  • Society6 Artist Profit: Artists can set their own markup price only for art prints, framed prints, and canvas prints. For all other products (mugs, shirts, etc.), the 10% royalty is fixed.
  • This structure answers the question of how much do society6 artists get paid: a 10% royalty on most items. So, how much money can you make on society6? It depends entirely on volume. You need to sell a large number of items to generate significant income, as the profit per item is relatively low.

Buying Art: The Shopper's Perspective

For art lovers, the choice between platforms depends on whether you're seeking a one-of-a-kind piece with a personal connection or a beautifully designed product featuring an independent artist's work.

Product Variety and Customization

Etsy: Etsy is the global marketplace for the truly unique. You can find original paintings, handmade sculptures, custom portraits, vintage art prints, and digital downloads. A key feature is the ability to connect directly with sellers for personalized or custom items. You can message a shop to request a specific size, color, or even a completely custom-made piece, fostering a human connection at the heart of commerce.

Society6: The variety on Society6 comes from the sheer number of designs applied to a standardized set of products. You can get the same piece of art on a shower curtain, a comforter, or a coffee table. While you can't request custom alterations from the artist, you're buying a product that directly supports their work on a high-quality item. You can find the same artist on both platforms, but you'd go to Etsy for their original painting and to society6 website for a throw pillow featuring a print of that painting.

Quality and Trust

Etsy: Quality can vary from shop to shop, as each seller manages their own production. This is why it's crucial for buyers to check a shop's reviews, policies, and shipping times. However, Etsy offers a Purchase Protection program for qualifying orders, providing a full refund if an item doesn't arrive, arrives damaged, or doesn't match the description.

Society6: Since Society6 manages all production, there is a more standardized level of quality. The question "is society6 legit?" is often asked, and the answer is yes; it's a well-established company. Customer society6 reviews are generally positive regarding product quality, though issues can occasionally arise as with any large-scale manufacturer. Because they control the process, they are responsible for reprints or refunds if there's a manufacturing defect. The platform is generally considered society6 trustworthy.

Society6 Pros and Cons for Artists

Pros Cons
Completely Passive: Upload a design once and potentially earn from it for years. Low Profit Margins: The standard 10% royalty on most products is very low.
No Upfront Costs: Free to start and no listing fees. No Control Over Quality: You can't vet the final product, packaging, or shipping.
No Logistics: Society6 handles all printing, shipping, and customer service. Limited Branding: All products ship with Society6 branding, not yours.
Wide Product Range: Your art can be sold on dozens of different items instantly. No Customer Interaction: You can't build a direct relationship with your buyers.

Etsy Pros and Cons for Artists

Pros Cons
High Profit Potential: You set your own prices and control your margins. Time and Labor Intensive: You are responsible for everything from creation to shipping.
Direct Customer Relationships: Build a loyal following and get direct feedback. Upfront Costs: Listing fees and potential costs for materials and supplies.
Total Brand Control: Your shop, your branding, your packaging. Requires Marketing Effort: You must drive traffic to your shop; it's not passive.
Flexibility: Sell physical originals, prints, digital files, vintage items, and more. Competition: The marketplace is vast and it can be hard to stand out.

Can You Use Both? Society6 and Etsy Integration

A common question is, can you link society6 to etsy? The direct answer is no. There is no official feature where does society6 integrate with etsy. They are separate platforms with distinct business models.

However, many artists successfully sell on both platforms as part of a diversified business strategy.

  • Sell Originals on Etsy: Use Etsy to sell your original, high-value artwork, limited edition handmade prints, or digital downloads. This is where you build your brand and connect with serious collectors.
  • Sell Merchandise on Society6: Use your society6 artists account to sell more accessible, lower-priced merchandise like t-shirts, mugs, and phone cases featuring your art. This allows fans of your work to support you at a lower price point and helps with brand exposure.

This hybrid approach allows you to leverage the high-profit, brand-building power of Etsy while enjoying the passive income stream from Society6.

The Verdict: Which Platform Is Right for You?

Ultimately, the society6 vs etsy decision comes down to your personal and professional goals.

Choose Etsy if:

  • You want to build a distinct brand.
  • You enjoy the hands-on process of making, packing, and shipping.
  • You want full control over your product quality and pricing.
  • Your goal is to maximize your profit margin on each sale.
  • You sell original art, vintage items, or unique handmade goods.

Choose Society6 if:

  • You want a passive or low-effort income stream.
  • You want to focus solely on creating art, not on business logistics.
  • You don't have the capital or desire to manage physical inventory.
  • Your goal is broad exposure and selling your designs on a wide variety of merchandise.
  • You want to test which of your designs are most popular with zero financial risk.

Some also ask, which is better society6 or redbubble? Redbubble is another major print-on-demand competitor with a similar model but offers artists more control over their profit margins on all products, making it a strong alternative to consider in the POD space. However, when comparing a POD platform to a marketplace like Etsy, the fundamental differences in business model remain the most important factor.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Society Six?
"Society Six" is a common misspelling of Society6, a popular online platform where artists can upload their artwork to be sold on a variety of products like art prints, home decor, and apparel. It is a print-on-demand service, meaning products are created only after a customer places an order.

How does selling on Society6 work?
An artist creates an account, uploads their designs, and enables those designs on various products offered by the platform. When a customer buys a product with the artist's design, Society6 handles the manufacturing, packaging, and shipping. The artist then earns a royalty on that sale, typically 10% of the base price.

Is selling on Society6 worth it?
Many artists find it worthwhile as a source of passive income and for brand exposure without any upfront cost or risk. However, due to low profit margins, it can be difficult to earn a full-time income. Therefore, is selling on society6 worth it depends on your goals; it's great for supplemental income, but less so for a primary business.

How to sell art on Society6?
To sell art on society6, you simply create a free account, set up your artist shop, and upload high-resolution digital files of your artwork. From there, you use the platform's tools to apply your art to different products and publish them to your shop for customers to purchase.

How to make money on Society6?
You make money through royalties on sales. To maximize earnings, artists should upload a large portfolio of high-quality, in-demand artwork, use relevant tags to be found in search, and promote their Society6 shop on social media and other channels to drive traffic.

How does Society6 work for artists?
For artists, Society6 functions as a hands-off fulfillment partner. The platform provides the e-commerce storefront, product manufacturing, payment processing, shipping, and customer service. The artist's primary role is to create compelling artwork and promote their shop.

How much do Society6 artists get paid?
Artists are paid a 10% royalty on the base price of most products. For art prints, framed prints, and canvas prints, artists can set their own markup to determine their profit margin.

How does Society6 pay you?
Society6 pays artists via PayPal. Payments are processed on the first business day of each month, covering the royalties earned from sales that shipped during the previous month (for example, earnings from sales shipped in March would be paid out in early May).

Where are Society6 products made?
Society6 works with a global network of third-party manufacturers, primarily in the United States, Australia, and other locations, to print and fulfill orders. The manufacturing location depends on the product type and the customer's shipping destination.

Who owns Society6?
Society6 is owned by Leaf Group, a diversified internet company that also owns other media and marketplace brands like Saatchi Art and Hunker.

Is Society6 good for artists?
This is a subjective question often discussed on platforms like society6 reddit. It's excellent for artists seeking a low-effort, zero-risk way to sell their art on merchandise and earn passive income. However, artists seeking higher profit margins, brand control, and direct customer relationships may find platforms like Etsy more suitable. Many society6 reviews from artists highlight the ease of use but also the low commission rate.

What are some selling on Society6 reviews?
Reviews from sellers are mixed. Positives often center on the platform's ease of use, the quality of the products, and the completely passive nature of the income. Negatives almost universally focus on the low society6 commission of 10% and the lack of control over branding and customer service.