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Comparison

Creative Market vs Etsy

Creative Market and Etsy both land on Depends.

Creative Market versus Etsy
CompareCreative MarketEtsy
VerdictDependsDepends
Best forFreelance designers buying fonts and graphicsHandmade and craft sellers
Who it's not forAnyone needing custom, made-for-you design workBrands needing full storefront control . use Shopify
PrivacyNo known public vulnerabilities found in the sources reviewed.⁸Caution: a third-party leak exposed 1.6M Etsy customer emails; users report account takeovers; no direct platform CVEs found.
Support qualityWeekday-only hours; buyer confusion reportedNo phone support; complaint threads abound
Public sentimentBuyers praise the catalog and savings; sellers and subscription users raise commission, licensing, and value concerns.¹Sentiment is polarized: shoppers keep buying, but Reddit seller threads openly debate leaving over fees, trust, and support.11
Biggest gotchaLicensing terms trip buyers up . read the license FAQ before commercial use⁶Fees stack: listing, transaction, payment processing, plus ad fees . calculate real profit before pricing

Pick Creative Market when

  • Freelance designers buying fonts and graphics
  • Small brands needing ready-made templates
  • Designers selling their own assets
  • Content creators needing social media bundles

When Creative Market is not a fit

  • Anyone needing custom, made-for-you design work
  • Enterprises needing managed licensing or asset governance
  • One-off buyers . subscription value only works for frequent purchases

Pick Etsy when

  • Handmade and craft sellers
  • Vintage and collectible shoppers
  • Gift buyers seeking unique items
  • Side-hustle makers wanting built-in traffic

When Etsy is not a fit

  • Brands needing full storefront control . use Shopify
  • High-volume sellers with thin margins
  • Anyone who needs phone support
  • Buyers requiring verified authenticity

Sources

  1. Creative Market Reviews - Trustpilottrustpilot.com
    review
  2. Creative Market on G2 (seller)g2.com
    review
  3. CreativeMarket Reviews - Sitejabbersmartcustomer.com
    review
  4. Creative Market (@crtvmrkt) - Facebookfacebook.com
    review
  5. Annual Membership Plans - Supportsupport.creativemarket.com
    official
  6. License FAQcreativemarket.com
    official
  7. Creative Market Raises $7 Million Series Aglobenewswire.com
    news
  8. OpenBugBounty report for creativemarket.comopenbugbounty.org
    security
  9. Are subscription plans worth it? - Redditreddit.com
    review
  10. Creative Market account issues and licensing concerns - Facebook groupfacebook.com
    review
  11. Etsy Reviews | Trustpilottrustpilot.com
    review
  12. Why are you guys still on Etsy? . Reddit r/Etsyreddit.com
    review
  13. Etsy fees and margins . Reddit r/EtsySellersreddit.com
    review
  14. Fees & Payments Policy . Etsyetsy.com
    official
  15. Etsy Fee Calculator . EverBeeeverbee.io
    official
  16. How to Contact Etsy Support . Etsy Helphelp.etsy.com
    official