Beacons.ai and Etsy serve completely different audiences, but there’s some overlap. If you’re selling digital products, both platforms might seem like solid choices. But which one is actually better for your business?
I’ve done the research and tested both to break down the key differences—so you don’t have to waste time figuring it out yourself.
Quick Verdict: Beacons.ai vs Etsy
| Platform | Best for |
|---|---|
| Beacons.ai | Content creators selling digital products, memberships, or services. |
| Etsy | Artists, crafters, and handmade product sellers looking for built-in traffic. |
In this breakdown, I’ll compare Beacons.ai and Etsy on pricing, features, audience, and overall usability—so you can pick the best one for your business.
1. What Is Beacons.ai?
Beacons.ai is a link-in-bio tool that also functions as a mini storefront.
It was designed for influencers, content creators, and online entrepreneurs who want to sell digital products, offer memberships, collect tips, and promote affiliate links—all from a single page.
Unlike traditional e-commerce platforms, Beacons.ai functions as a personalized landing page where creators can consolidate all their links, offers, and sales channels.
Instead of needing a full-fledged website, you can use Beacons.ai to quickly set up a streamlined store that fits within your social media bio.
For content creators, this is a game-changer. If you’ve built an audience on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube, you can monetize your content directly without relying on a marketplace.
Instead of sending your followers to multiple sites, you can funnel them all through a single, branded storefront.
Key Features
- Sell digital products (e-books, templates, presets, etc.).
- Set up memberships or collect tips from followers.
- Link out to multiple platforms (Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, etc.).
- Built-in email collection for marketing.
- Completely customizable storefront with a simple drag-and-drop interface.
- No transaction fees on Beacons’ paid plans.
Beacons.ai is not a traditional marketplace. There’s no built-in customer base—you have to bring your own audience.
This means that while you have full control over your sales, you’ll also need to handle all the marketing and traffic generation yourself.
2. What Is Etsy?
Etsy is an e-commerce marketplace focused on handmade, vintage, and craft-related products.
It’s one of the biggest online marketplaces, meaning it comes with built-in traffic. If you sell physical or digital products, Etsy can get them in front of millions of potential buyers.
Etsy is particularly popular among artisans, crafters, and small business owners looking to sell unique, custom, or niche items.
With over 90 million active buyers, the marketplace provides an incredible opportunity to reach customers who are actively searching for products like yours.
Unlike Beacons.ai, you don’t need to drive traffic to your store—Etsy does a lot of the work for you.
Another key advantage of Etsy is its SEO-driven search engine. Unlike a personal storefront, where you need to generate your own traffic, Etsy listings can rank in both Etsy’s internal search and Google, increasing your product’s visibility without spending on ads.
Key Features
- Massive built-in audience (90M+ active buyers).
- Supports both physical and digital products.
- SEO-friendly marketplace with search-driven traffic.
- Seller tools for marketing, shipping, and customer management.
- Analytics dashboard to track store performance.
- Built-in trust factor—customers already know and trust Etsy.
The biggest downside? Etsy charges listing and transaction fees that cut into your profits. While the exposure is great, Etsy takes a significant percentage of every sale, meaning your margins will be lower compared to selling directly through Beacons.ai.
3. Beacons.ai vs. Etsy: Key Differences
Audience & Business Model
| Factor | Beacons.ai | Etsy |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Content creators, digital sellers | Handmade sellers, artists, vintage sellers |
| Traffic Source | You bring your own audience | Etsy provides organic search traffic |
| Product Type | Digital-only (e-books, courses, templates, etc.) | Digital + physical (printables, crafts, handmade goods, etc.) |
| Marketing Required? | Yes, you must promote your own products | Less marketing required—Etsy has built-in buyers |
Bottom line:
- If you already have an audience, Beacons.ai gives you full control with zero listing fees.
- If you need built-in buyers, Etsy’s marketplace does a lot of the work for you.
With Beacons.ai, your success depends entirely on how well you market your products. If you have a strong social media following, you can direct traffic to your store and avoid Etsy’s high fees.
On Etsy, competition is fierce. Even though there are millions of buyers, you’ll be competing with thousands of other sellers. Etsy also favors stores that consistently bring in sales, so ranking high in Etsy search isn’t guaranteed—you may still need to run Etsy Ads to get visibility.
Fees & Pricing
| Cost Factor | Beacons.ai | Etsy |
|---|---|---|
| Listing Fees | No listing fees | $0.20 per product |
| Transaction Fees | No transaction fees (paid plans) | 6.5% + payment processing fees |
| Monthly Fees | Free plan available; Pro starts at $10/mo | No monthly fee (Etsy Plus is optional at $10/mo) |
Bottom line:
- Beacons.ai lets you keep 100% of your earnings (on paid plans).
- Etsy charges multiple fees, which eat into your profit margin.
Etsy’s pricing model can be expensive if you’re selling low-cost products. A 6.5% transaction fee may not seem like much, but when combined with payment processing fees, listing fees, and advertising costs, your profits can shrink fast.
Beacons.ai offers a free plan, but it takes a 5% commission on sales. If you upgrade to a Pro plan ($10/month), you keep 100% of your revenue.
If you sell a lot, the Pro plan pays for itself quickly compared to Etsy’s fees.
Customization & Branding
| Feature | Beacons.ai | Etsy |
|---|---|---|
| Custom Storefront | Yes, full branding control | Limited (Etsy controls store layout) |
| Custom Domain | Yes | No (Etsy URLs follow a set format) |
| Email Collection | Yes, built-in | No direct email marketing allowed |
Etsy’s biggest limitation is that it doesn’t allow sellers to collect customer emails directly. This means you don’t own your audience, and if Etsy suspends your account, you lose everything.
Beacons.ai, on the other hand, allows you to collect emails and build a customer list, which is critical for long-term business growth.
4. Pros & Cons of Each Platform
Beacons.ai Pros & Cons
✔ No listing or transaction fees (on paid plans)
✔ Full control over branding and design
✔ Perfect for digital product sellers
✔ Super easy to set up
✖ No built-in audience—you have to bring your own traffic
✖ Limited features compared to full marketplaces like Etsy
Beacons.ai is a great low-cost alternative for creators who want to sell without being locked into a marketplace’s rules.
Since there are no listing fees, you can experiment with different products and pricing strategies without worrying about overhead costs.
However, this freedom comes with a tradeoff—you’ll need to drive 100% of your own traffic. If you don’t have an audience already, getting sales can be a struggle.
Another downside is that Beacons.ai lacks some essential e-commerce tools that platforms like Etsy or Shopify offer.
For example, you won’t find detailed product analytics, advanced discounting tools, or built-in advertising options.
You’re responsible for setting up your own marketing strategy—whether that’s through social media, email marketing, or paid ads.
Etsy Pros & Cons
✔ Huge built-in customer base (90M+ buyers)
✔ SEO-friendly, meaning organic sales are possible
✔ Supports both physical and digital products
✔ More powerful seller tools (shipping, analytics, SEO)
✖ Multiple fees that add up quickly
✖ Limited customization—you don’t fully “own” your storefront
✖ Highly competitive marketplace
One of Etsy’s biggest strengths is its organic traffic potential. Unlike Beacons.ai, where you have to drive all your own visitors, Etsy provides access to millions of potential buyers who are already searching for products like yours.
If you can rank high in Etsy’s search results, you can generate consistent passive sales without needing to promote your shop 24/7.
However, Etsy is also notorious for high fees and increasing competition. Since Etsy is a marketplace, you’re always competing against thousands of other sellers, and it can be difficult to stand out.
Many sellers end up relying on Etsy Ads, which further eats into profits. If you’re selling low-ticket items, these fees can make Etsy less profitable than selling directly through your own platform, like Beacons.ai.
5. Which One Should You Choose?
Go with Beacons.ai if…
✅ You sell digital products like courses, templates, or memberships.
✅ You already have an audience (Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, etc.).
✅ You want zero transaction fees and full branding control.
If you’re a content creator or coach, Beacons.ai makes selling super easy. You don’t have to build a full website—just set up a page, upload your digital product, and start sharing the link. Plus, since Beacons.ai allows email collection, you can start building a long-term customer base instead of relying on a third-party platform.
The downside? If you don’t have an existing audience, you’ll need to actively promote your store through social media, ads, or other marketing strategies. If you struggle with traffic generation, Etsy might be a better choice.
Go with Etsy if…
✅ You sell physical or handmade goods.
✅ You need built-in traffic to drive sales.
✅ You don’t mind paying fees in exchange for Etsy’s organic search visibility.
If you’re selling handmade products, jewelry, printables, or crafts, Etsy is one of the best platforms to reach buyers quickly.
You don’t need a massive social media following—just optimize your listings with strong SEO, and Etsy’s marketplace will help bring in customers.
However, the fees can add up fast, especially if you rely on Etsy Ads. Many sellers start on Etsy for exposure but eventually move to their own website to avoid the high costs.
Use BOTH if…
You want to sell printables or digital products on Etsy, while also having a fully branded storefront on Beacons.ai.
Many sellers start on Etsy to get exposure, then use Beacons.ai as a secondary platform to drive traffic from their Etsy customers.
For example, if you sell digital planners, you could sell them on Etsy to get organic sales but also include a Beacons.ai store link in your shop bio.
This way, you get the best of both worlds—marketplace traffic plus full control over your own sales.
6. Final Verdict
If you’re a content creator or digital seller, Beacons.ai is the better option—you keep more profits, have full branding control, and don’t rely on Etsy’s marketplace rules.
If you sell handmade or physical products, Etsy is the clear winner—its built-in traffic makes it easier to get customers without heavy marketing.
Want the best of both worlds? Use Etsy for organic sales and Beacons.ai for a branded, direct-to-customer experience.
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