Is There a Free Way to Integrate Etsy with Shopify?

If you sell products online, chances are you’ve thought about using Etsy and Shopify together. Etsy is great for discovering buyers, while Shopify gives full control over branding and store growth. Naturally, the first question I had was: Is there a free way to integrate Etsy with Shopify?

The short answer is yes, but it comes with limitations.

Many sellers struggle with manual order handling, inventory mismatches, and updating products on two platforms. I’ll break everything down clearly so you understand what “free” really means when it comes to Etsy–Shopify integration, and whether it’s the right choice for your business.

Table of Contents

Why Sellers Want to Integrate Etsy with Shopify

From my experience, managing Etsy and Shopify separately becomes messy very quickly. Here’s why most sellers want to integrate the two.

Manage products from one dashboard

Uploading the same product twice wastes time. Integration helps manage listings from one place instead of jumping between dashboards.

Sync inventory to avoid overselling

When inventory is not synced, a product can sell on Etsy and Shopify at the same time, even if only one item is left. This leads to cancellations and unhappy customers.

Centralize orders and customer data

Handling orders from different platforms manually increases errors. Integration helps keep everything organized.

Build a brand beyond Etsy’s marketplace

Etsy controls customer relationships. Shopify helps build a long-term brand with email marketing, custom design, and better analytics.

Can You Integrate Etsy with Shopify for Free?

Yes, you can integrate Etsy with Shopify for free, but only in limited ways.

There are three types of “free” integration options:

Completely free tools

These usually mean manual work. No automation, no syncing.

Free trials

Most integration apps offer free trials for a limited time, usually 7 to 14 days.

“Free but manual” methods

Some apps have free plans, but they come with strict limits and missing features.

So when someone says “free integration,” it usually means reduced functionality, not full automation.

Does Shopify Have Native Etsy Integration?

No, Shopify does not offer built-in Etsy integration.

This means:

You cannot connect Etsy directly from Shopify settings
You must use third-party apps

Shopify relies heavily on its App Store ecosystem, where developers create tools for marketplace integrations, automation, and syncing.

So if you want Etsy–Shopify integration, apps are unavoidable.

Free Ways to Integrate Etsy with Shopify (Explained Clearly)

Manual Integration (100% Free)

This is the only truly free method.

How it works

I manually add Etsy products to Shopify
I update inventory on both platforms myself
I track orders separately

Best for

Beginners
Sellers with very few products
Hobby sellers

Pros

No cost at all
Full control over listings

Cons

Very time-consuming
Easy to make inventory mistakes
Not scalable

Manual integration works, but only if product volume is low. Once orders increase, it becomes stressful.

Using Free Plans of Third-Party Apps

Some Etsy–Shopify integration apps offer free plans, but they are limited.

How free plans usually work

Product sync limit (for example, 5 or 10 products)
No real-time inventory updates
Branding or watermark from the app
Delayed syncing

Typical limitations

Inventory sync may be one-way
Order syncing may be disabled
Customer data syncing is often restricted

These plans are useful for testing but not for running a serious store.

Using Free Trials for Automation

Free trials are not truly free long term, but they are useful.

How free trials help

Test automatic product syncing
Check real-time inventory updates
Understand how order syncing works

What I recommend testing during trials

Inventory accuracy
Order import speed
Error handling

Why it’s not a long-term free solution

Once the trial ends, automation stops unless you upgrade. This can disrupt your workflow if you depend on it.

What You Cannot Do for Free

This part is important because many sellers have unrealistic expectations.

With free methods, you cannot get:

Real-time inventory sync
Automatic order syncing
Two-way product updates at scale

Any solution offering these features will eventually require payment. Being honest about this saves a lot of frustration later.

Is a Free Integration Enough for Your Business?

The answer depends on your business stage.

When free methods work well

You sell occasionally
You have fewer than 10 products
You’re testing Shopify for the first time

When paid integration becomes necessary

Orders increase daily
Inventory issues start appearing
You want to scale without manual work

Example scenarios

Hobby sellers
Manual or free plans are usually enough.

Growing Etsy brands
Free trials help temporarily, but paid apps become necessary.

Full-time ecommerce stores
Free integration is not practical. Automation saves time and prevents losses.

Best Low-Cost Alternatives to Free Integration

Instead of focusing only on “free,” I recommend looking at low-cost paid apps.

Why paid apps make sense

Save hours every week
Reduce order errors
Prevent overselling

Most entry-level plans cost less than what you’d lose from one inventory mistake.

ROI in simple words

If an app saves you 5–10 hours per week, it pays for itself very quickly.

Step-by-Step: How to Start With a Free Method

If you want to start without spending money, here’s what I suggest.

Step 1: Choose your method

Manual integration
Free plan from an integration app

Step 2: Connect Etsy and Shopify accounts

Authorize access carefully and check permissions.

Step 3: Add or sync products

Limit the number of products if using a free plan.

Step 4: Monitor inventory carefully

Double-check stock after every sale to avoid errors.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

I’ve seen sellers repeat these mistakes often.

Assuming “free” means fully automated

It never does. Free always means limited.

Ignoring inventory mismatches

This leads to refunds and bad reviews.

Not checking Etsy and Shopify policies

Some syncing actions can violate marketplace rules if done incorrectly.

Final Verdict

Yes, there is a free way to integrate Etsy with Shopify, but it’s limited.

Manual integration is free but time-consuming
Free plans and trials help you test, not scale
Paid apps become necessary as your store grows

My honest recommendation is to start free, understand the workflow, and then scale smartly when automation becomes essential. That approach saves money early and prevents bigger problems later.