Opportunity Scout 2026

Low Competition Etsy NichesPerfect for Beginners

Competing with shops that have 10,000+ reviews isn't the only path to Etsy success. These 12+ low-competition niches offer genuine opportunity for new sellers to gain traction fast. Real data shows manageable competition, solid demand, and room for newcomers to rank on page 1—without massive ad budgets.

Under 50K Competing ListingsBeginner-Friendly Entry PointsPage 1 Ranking OpportunitiesSolid Search VolumeLess Ad Spend NeededFast Track to First Sales
Find Your Opportunity NicheSee Competition Analysis

🎯Quick Answer: What Are Low Competition Etsy Niches?

Low competition Etsy niches have solid demand but manageable competition—typically under 50,000 listings with room for new sellers to rank organically.

The Sweet Spot:

  • Search volume: 500-5,000 monthly searches
  • Competing listings: 2,500-50,000 total
  • Top sellers: Mix of new and established shops
  • Review distribution: Not dominated by 5K+ review shops
  • Entry barrier: Moderate skill level, not requiring expensive equipment

Top Low Competition Niches (2026):

  1. 1. Pet Memorial Products — 8K listings, emotional buyers, premium pricing
  2. 2. Niche Digital Planners — 15K listings, ADHD, neurodivergent, specific professions
  3. 3. Eco-Friendly Kids Products — 12K listings, growing sustainability trend
  4. 4. Custom Pet Embroidery — 6K listings, high perceived value
  5. 5. Printable Board Game Extensions — 3K listings, engaged hobbyist market
  6. 6. Religious/Spiritual Niche Items — 5-20K listings, specific denominations, rituals
  7. 7. Accessibility Products — 8K listings, underserved + growing
  8. 8. Niche Hobby Supplies — 10-25K listings, disc golf, rock climbing, kayaking
  9. 9. Sustainable Wedding Alternatives — 18K listings, conscious consumer trend
  10. 10. Cultural/Heritage Specific Items — 5-15K listings, Scottish, Irish, Polish, etc.
  11. 11. Custom Recipe Books/Cards — 9K listings, gift market potential
  12. 12. Niche Professional Templates — 12K listings, therapy worksheets, coaching tools

Why These Work:

  • • Specific enough to avoid massive competition
  • • Broad enough to have consistent demand
  • • Passionate buyer base (less price sensitivity)
  • • Room for unique positioning and differentiation

What Makes a Niche "Low Competition"?

The competition sweet spot framework

Manageable Listing Count

<strong>Ideal</strong>: 2,500-50,000 total listings<br/><strong>Avoid</strong>: 100K+ listings (oversaturated)<br/><strong>Avoid</strong>: Under 500 listings (too niche, insufficient demand)<br/><strong>Check</strong>: Can you find 3-5 shops with under 500 reviews ranking on page 1?

Diverse Seller Landscape

Mix of new shops (under 1 year) and established shops ranking well. Top results not all dominated by 2+ year old shops with 5,000+ reviews. Opportunity to differentiate through style, pricing, or specialization. No single mega-seller controlling 30%+ of search results.

Accessible Entry Point

Doesn't require expensive specialized equipment (laser cutters, embroidery machines over $5K). Skill level achievable within 30-60 days of learning. Startup costs under $500 for physical products, under $50 for digital. No licensing barriers or strict regulations.

Solid Search Demand

Minimum 200-500 monthly searches for main keyword. Growing or stable trend over 12 months (not declining). Multiple related keyword variations (proves broader interest). Evidence of recent sales (listings showing "20+ in cart" or sold recently).

12 Best Low Competition Etsy Niches (2026)

Untapped opportunities with real growth potential

🐾

Pet Memorial & Remembrance Products

60-80% margin

Examples: Custom pet memorial ornaments ($28-50), Pet loss sympathy cards ($8-25), Paw print memorial jewelry ($35-65), Rainbow Bridge themed items ($20-45)

Pro Tip: Competition: Low (8K-12K listings) | Avg Price: $25-65 | Difficulty: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆

📋

Niche-Specific Digital Planners

95-98% margin

Examples: ADHD-friendly planners ($15-30), Neurodivergent task management ($12-28), Chronic illness/spoonie planners ($15-30), Niche profession planners ($18-40)

Pro Tip: Competition: Low-Medium (15K-25K listings) | Avg Price: $10-30 | Difficulty: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

🌱

Eco-Friendly & Sustainable Kids Products

50-70% margin

Examples: Reusable snack bags ($15-30), Wooden/silicone sensory toys ($20-45), Organic cotton baby clothes ($25-55), Montessori wooden toys ($30-65)

Pro Tip: Competition: Low (12K-18K listings) | Avg Price: $20-55 | Difficulty: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆

🧵

Custom Pet Embroidery

55-70% margin

Examples: Custom pet portrait embroidery hoops ($35-75), Embroidered pet stockings ($25-50), Pet name embroidered blankets ($40-85), Pet memorial embroidery ($35-70)

Pro Tip: Competition: Very Low (6K-10K listings) | Avg Price: $30-75 | Difficulty: ⭐⭐☆☆☆

🎲

Printable Board Game Extensions

95-98% margin

Examples: Custom score sheets and player aids ($3-8), Printable card game expansions ($8-18), Character sheets and campaign trackers ($5-15), Themed tokens and markers ($6-15)

Pro Tip: Competition: Very Low (3K-8K listings) | Avg Price: $5-20 | Difficulty: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

🕯️

Religious & Spiritual Niche Items

60-80% margin

Examples: Denomination-specific liturgical art ($12-30), Sacrament/ritual preparation guides ($8-20), Faith tradition journals ($15-35), Cultural/religious holiday decorations ($18-45)

Pro Tip: Competition: Low-Medium (5K-20K listings) | Avg Price: $15-50 | Difficulty: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆

♿

Accessibility & Adaptive Products

50-75% margin

Examples: Adaptive clothing (magnetic closures) ($30-65), Sensory tools and fidgets ($10-30), Mobility aid accessories ($25-55), Adaptive kitchen tools ($15-45)

Pro Tip: Competition: Low (8K-15K listings) | Avg Price: $20-60 | Difficulty: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆

🏔️

Niche Outdoor Hobby Supplies

50-70% margin

Examples: Disc golf scorecards and bag tags ($5-20), Rock climbing chalk bag holders ($15-40), Kayaking waterproof pouches ($12-35), Mountain biking trail maps ($8-25)

Pro Tip: Competition: Low-Medium (10K-25K listings per hobby) | Avg Price: $12-50 | Difficulty: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆

💐

Sustainable Wedding Products

60-85% margin

Examples: Seed paper invitations (plantable) ($8-25), Reusable fabric wedding signage ($40-80), Zero-waste wedding favors ($5-15), Silk flower bouquets ($50-120)

Pro Tip: Competition: Low-Medium (18K-30K listings) | Avg Price: $15-75 | Difficulty: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆

🗺️

Cultural & Heritage Products

55-75% margin

Examples: Cultural heritage map prints with family name ($20-45), Traditional embroidery patterns ($10-25), Heritage language learning printables ($8-20), Traditional recipe cards ($15-40)

Pro Tip: Competition: Low (5K-15K listings per culture) | Avg Price: $15-60 | Difficulty: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆

📖

Custom Recipe Organization Systems

90-95% margin

Examples: Custom recipe binder kits ($25-45), Printable recipe card templates ($8-20), Family recipe book creation kits ($30-60), Meal planning systems ($15-35)

Pro Tip: Competition: Very Low (9K-12K listings) | Avg Price: $12-40 | Difficulty: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

💼

Niche Professional Development Tools

90-95% margin

Examples: Therapy session notes templates ($15-40), Coaching goal-setting frameworks ($20-50), Social work case management organizers ($18-45), Teaching IEP documentation ($15-35)

Pro Tip: Competition: Low (12K-20K listings) | Avg Price: $15-50 | Difficulty: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆

The Low Competition Advantage

2,500-50K
Ideal Listing Count for Low Competition
3-6 weeks
Faster Time to First Sale vs High Competition
50-70%
Less Ad Spend Needed to Gain Visibility
30-60 days
Typical Timeframe to Page 1 Ranking
2-4X
Higher Profit Margins in Underserved Niches
85%
Success Rate for Sellers in Low Competition Niches (vs 15% in high competition)

How to Identify Low Competition Niches

Your 5-step niche validation framework

1

Find Potential Niches

Start with audience-first thinking:

  • • What specific problems or needs are underserved?
  • • What communities or identities have unique product needs?
  • • What hobbies, conditions, or life situations create demand?
  • • Check InsightAgent's niche explorer for opportunity scores
  • • Browse Etsy categories and note gaps in offerings
2

Check Competition Level

Use InsightAgent's competition analysis:

  • • <strong>Search main keyword</strong> — Note total listing count
  • • <strong>Target range</strong>: 2,500-50,000 listings
  • • <strong>Red flag</strong>: 100K+ listings = oversaturated, avoid
  • • <strong>Red flag</strong>: Under 500 listings = too niche, insufficient demand
  • • <strong>Check</strong>: Can you find 3-5 shops with under 500 reviews on page 1?
3

Validate Demand

Confirm people are actually searching and buying:

  • • <strong>Search volume</strong>: Minimum 200-500 monthly searches for main keyword
  • • <strong>Related keywords</strong>: Find 5-10 related search terms (proves broader interest)
  • • <strong>Sales signals</strong>: Look for "20+ in cart" or "bestseller" badges
  • • <strong>Reviews</strong>: Check if top listings have recent reviews (last 30 days)
  • • <strong>Google Trends</strong>: Verify stable or growing interest over 12 months
4

Analyze Top Sellers

Study who's succeeding and why:

  • • <strong>Shop age diversity</strong>: Mix of new (under 1 year) and established shops?
  • • <strong>Review distribution</strong>: Top sellers have 200-2,000 reviews (not 10,000+)?
  • • <strong>Style variety</strong>: Multiple different aesthetics ranking well?
  • • <strong>Opportunity gaps</strong>: What are top sellers NOT offering?
  • • <strong>Price range</strong>: Room for you to compete at mid or premium tier?
5

Calculate Entry Feasibility

Can you realistically compete here?

  • • <strong>Skill level</strong>: Achievable within 30-60 days of learning?
  • • <strong>Startup costs</strong>: Under $500 for physical, under $50 for digital?
  • • <strong>Equipment needs</strong>: Do you have or can afford necessary tools?
  • • <strong>Time investment</strong>: Can you create products in reasonable timeframe?
  • • <strong>Differentiation potential</strong>: Can you offer something unique?

Competition vs. Demand Sweet Spots

Find the ideal balance for fast growth

Too Little Competition (Avoid)

  • Under 500 Total Listings
    Might seem like a great opportunity, but likely means insufficient demand. Risk: You create products no one searches for.
  • Warning Signs:
  • • Main keyword has under 100 monthly searches
  • • No "bestseller" badges in top 50 results
  • • Top listings have under 5 reviews after being up 6+ months
  • • Related keyword searches return "no results" or unrelated items
  • • Google Trends shows declining or nonexistent interest
  • Example: "Artisanal hand-carved avocado pit jewelry" — 120 listings, 10 monthly searches. Too niche, not enough buyers.

Too Much Competition (Avoid)

  • Over 100K Total Listings
    Means you're competing with established shops with years of reviews, optimized SEO, and customer loyalty. Risk: You can't get visibility organically.
  • Warning Signs:
  • • First 3 pages of results dominated by 2+ year old shops with 5,000+ reviews
  • • Requires $50-100+/day in ads just to get clicks
  • • Top sellers have "bestseller" on 50+ listings (mega sellers)
  • • Price pressure (everyone racing to bottom)
  • • Identical products repeated across 100+ shops
  • Example: "Printable wall art" — 850,000 listings. Oversaturated, brutal competition, price wars.

The Perfect Competition Sweet Spot

Where new sellers can actually win

2,500-10,000 Listings (Best for Beginners)

Low competition with solid demand. Mix of new and established sellers ranking. Organic ranking achievable in 30-60 days. Ad spend $5-10/day can make real impact. Differentiation strategy can get you to page 1.

10,000-30,000 Listings (Good for Beginners)

Medium-low competition. Still room for new sellers with good SEO. Organic ranking achievable in 60-90 days. Ad spend $10-20/day helpful but not required. Need clear differentiation or superior product.

30,000-50,000 Listings (Moderate Challenge)

Medium competition threshold. Requires excellent SEO, photos, and differentiation. Organic ranking achievable in 90-120 days. Ad spend $20-30/day recommended for initial boost. Focus on sub-niches within the broader niche.

50,000-100,000 Listings (Advanced Only)

High competition, not recommended for beginners. Requires significant ad budget or established shop authority. Organic ranking difficult without existing customer base. Better to niche down further to sub-category. Only enter if you have unique angle or unfair advantage.

Competition Validation Checklist

Run this analysis before committing to any niche

1

Listing Count Check

Verify the niche has manageable competition:

  • • [ ] Total listings between 2,500-50,000?
  • • [ ] At least 500 listings minimum (proves demand)?
  • • [ ] Under 100,000 listings (avoids oversaturation)?
2

Search Demand Check

Confirm there is sufficient buyer interest:

  • • [ ] Main keyword: 200+ monthly searches?
  • • [ ] 5-10 related keywords with search volume?
  • • [ ] Google Trends stable or growing over 12 months?
  • • [ ] Evidence of recent sales (bestseller badges, "in cart" signals)?
3

Seller Landscape Check

Analyze the competitive landscape:

  • • [ ] Mix of new shops (under 1 year old) ranking on page 1?
  • • [ ] Top shops have 200-2,000 reviews (not 10,000+)?
  • • [ ] Multiple different aesthetics/styles in top results?
  • • [ ] No single mega-seller dominating 30%+ of page 1?
  • • [ ] Recent listings (last 3 months) appearing in top 100?
4

Opportunity Gap Check

Identify your competitive advantage:

  • • [ ] Can you identify what top sellers are NOT doing?
  • • [ ] Room for differentiation through style, price, or features?
  • • [ ] Underserved sub-audience within broader niche?
  • • [ ] Opportunity to provide better customer experience?
  • • [ ] Can you create higher quality or more unique version?
5

Entry Feasibility Check

Assess if you can realistically enter this niche:

  • • [ ] Startup costs under $500 (physical) or $50 (digital)?
  • • [ ] Skills achievable within 30-60 days of learning?
  • • [ ] Equipment/tools accessible and affordable?
  • • [ ] Time investment realistic for your schedule?
  • • [ ] Legal/regulatory requirements manageable?

If you checked YES to 12+ of these boxes, you've found a solid low-competition opportunity.

Low Competition Niche Best Practices

Common Mistakes to Avoid

❌Don't Do This

  • •**Assume zero competition means opportunity** — Under 500 listings usually means no demand
  • •**Ignore search volume for "easy" niches** — Competition is low for a reason if no one's searching
  • •**Jump into first low-competition niche you find** — Validate it fully before committing
  • •**Compete on price in low competition niches** — These buyers value quality and specificity, not cheapest price
  • •**Copy the only successful seller** — If there's only one, understand WHY before replicating
  • •**Overlook skill barriers** — "Low competition" because it requires embroidery isn't helpful if you can't embroider
  • •**Launch with 1-2 products** — Even in low competition, Etsy favors shops with breadth
  • •**Ignore your target audience** — Low competition niches serve specific people; understand them deeply
  • •**Give up after 2 weeks** — Low competition ≠ instant sales; still takes 4-6 weeks typically
  • •**Forget about SEO** — Low competition makes ranking easier, not automatic; optimize your listings

✅Do This Instead

  • •**Validate demand before investing time** — Use InsightAgent to confirm search volume and recent sales signals
  • •**Look for "fresh opportunity" signals** — New shops ranking on page 1, diverse review counts, style variety
  • •**Focus on underserved sub-niches** — "ADHD-friendly meal planner" beats generic "meal planner"
  • •**Check seller landscape diversity** — Mix of new and established shops = room for you
  • •**Calculate realistic entry costs** — Know exactly what you'll spend before committing
  • •**Start with 10-15 listings minimum** — Low competition doesn't mean 1-2 products will work
  • •**Engage with target communities** — Reddit, Facebook groups, forums to understand real needs
  • •**Differentiate from day one** — Don't just copy top sellers, find your unique angle
  • •**Track ranking progress weekly** — Monitor where you appear in search results and adjust
  • •**Give it 6-8 weeks minimum** — Even low competition needs time to gain traction

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about finding and succeeding in low-competition Etsy niches.

Use InsightAgent's niche explorer with competition filters set to "Low" or "Medium-Low." Look for niches with 2,500-50,000 total listings, stable search volume (200+ monthly searches), and a mix of new and established sellers ranking on page 1. Check for "fresh opportunity" signals: recent listings in top 100, shops with under 500 reviews ranking well, and diverse styles/approaches succeeding. Focus on specific audiences (ADHD planners, pet memorial items) or underserved sub-categories (sustainable wedding, adaptive clothing) within broader markets.
Low competition has 2,500-50,000 listings with 200+ monthly searches and evidence of recent sales. No demand has under 500 listings, minimal search volume (under 50 searches/month), and top listings showing no recent sales or reviews. Low competition = opportunity. No demand = you'll create products no one searches for. Always validate demand BEFORE celebrating low listing counts. Use InsightAgent to check search volume, Google Trends for interest over time, and Etsy itself for "bestseller" badges and "in cart" signals.
Yes—often MORE than high competition niches because: (1) Less ad spend needed to gain visibility (organic ranking easier), (2) Less price pressure (you're not competing with 100 identical sellers), (3) Specific audiences willing to pay premium for products that meet their exact needs, (4) Faster to first sale (30-60 days vs 90-180 days in high competition), (5) Higher conversion rates (better product-market fit). Many sellers earn $2,000-5,000/month in low competition niches with 20-30 listings. The key is choosing niches with sufficient demand, not just low competition.
Common reasons: (1) **Skill barrier** — Requires embroidery, specific software knowledge, or expertise, (2) **Knowledge barrier** — Need deep understanding of niche community (board games, cultural traditions, specific disabilities), (3) **Emotional barrier** — Difficult topics like grief, loss, or accessibility that sellers avoid, (4) **Audience barrier** — Serving specific communities requires authentic understanding, (5) **Research required** — Sellers don't know these markets exist or how to find them. These barriers protect you once you enter. Don't confuse "low competition" with "easy money"—it's low competition because it requires something most sellers won't invest.
Start with 2-3 related niches (10 listings each) for 6-8 weeks. This lets you: (1) Test which resonates most with your skills and interests, (2) Gather data on which gets traction fastest, (3) Hedge against picking a dud, (4) Discover unexpected opportunities. Once you identify a winner (consistent favorites, sales, positive reviews), double down with 20-30 more listings in that niche. Avoid spreading too thin (10 different niches = no authority in any) or putting all eggs in one basket before validation.
Typically 30-90 days for page 1-2 ranking with: 10-15 listings, optimized SEO (titles, tags, descriptions), quality photos, and weekly listing additions. Low competition (2,500-10K listings) = 30-60 days. Medium-low competition (10K-30K listings) = 60-90 days. First sales often come before page 1 ranking (1-4 weeks) through long-tail keywords and Etsy ads. Unlike high competition niches (6-12 months to rank), low competition lets new sellers gain visibility fast, but it's not instant. Consistency and optimization matter.
Not always. If a niche becomes popular (featured in media, influencer attention, viral trend), competition can surge. However, niches requiring skill, knowledge, or serving specific communities tend to stay relatively low competition because barriers remain. Example: Generic printables quickly get saturated, but "therapy session note templates for LCSWs" stays low competition because it requires professional knowledge. Monitor your niche quarterly. If competition doubles (20K to 40K listings), consider niching down further or adding unique differentiation.
Yes, IF you choose niches with learnable skills and invest time upfront. Easiest low competition niches for beginners: (1) Digital products requiring design software you can learn (Canva, Photoshop), (2) Niche planners/printables for communities you're part of, (3) Print-on-demand products with unique designs. Avoid low competition niches requiring: expensive equipment (laser cutting, commercial embroidery machines), advanced skills (hand embroidery, woodworking), or professional credentials (therapy tools if you're not a therapist). Choose niches where your knowledge or audience understanding is the differentiator, not equipment.
Proceed with extreme caution. This likely means insufficient demand, not golden opportunity. Validation steps: (1) Check search volume—if under 50 monthly searches, there's no market, (2) Google Trends—if declining or nonexistent, demand is dying/dead, (3) Check if listings have recent sales and reviews—if top listings have 2 reviews after 2 years, buyers aren't finding or wanting these products, (4) Look for related keywords—if no variations exist, market is too narrow. Exception: You're creating a NEW market (extremely risky). Usually better to find 5,000-10,000 listing niches than 50.
Ask yourself: (1) **Can I create products at this level?** — Check top seller photos, product quality, features, (2) **Do I understand this audience?** — Am I part of this community or willing to deeply research?, (3) **Can I afford entry costs?** — Materials, tools, software under $500?, (4) **Can I differentiate?** — What will I do better/different than current sellers?, (5) **Time realistic?** — Can I create 10 products in 30 days?. If you answer "yes" to 4-5 of these, you can compete. If "no" to 3+, choose a different niche. Low competition doesn't mean easy—it means fewer competitors, but you still need to deliver quality.
Yes, but less aggressively than high competition. Start with $1-2/day for 2 weeks to test. In low competition, you'll rank organically faster, so ads are a temporary boost, not a permanent requirement. Use ads to: (1) Get initial visibility while SEO builds, (2) Test which products resonate (ads give faster data), (3) Compete for top keywords during initial launch. Once you're ranking on page 1-2 organically (30-90 days), reduce or eliminate ad spend. Unlike high competition where $50-100/day is required indefinitely, low competition lets you transition to mostly organic traffic.
Often higher than high competition because less price pressure. Typical ranges: **Digital products** (90-98%), **Handmade with skill barrier** (embroidery, woodworking: 60-80%), **Niche supplies** (50-70%), **Personalized items** (65-85%), **Service-oriented products** (therapy tools, professional templates: 85-95%). Low competition means buyers prioritize fit and quality over price. You can charge premium pricing if you serve the specific need well. Avoid competing on price in low competition niches—you're solving a specific problem, not selling a commodity.

Related Guides

Profitable Etsy Niches

High-margin niches with proven sales potential

Etsy Keyword Research Guide

Optimize your listings to rank higher in search

How to Find Your Niche on Etsy

Complete framework for discovering your perfect niche

What Can You Sell on Etsy

Complete list of allowed products and policies

Etsy Competition Analysis

How to analyze competitors and find gaps

Competition levels, search volumes, and market conditions change over time. Listing counts and opportunity assessments are based on current data (February 2026) and may shift as markets evolve. This guide is for informational and educational purposes only and does not guarantee specific results or income. Success depends on product quality, SEO optimization, customer service, and sustained effort. Always conduct your own current research and comply with Etsy's policies and local regulations.

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