Amazon vs eBay Fees 2026
Amazon's 8â17% referral + FBA fees vs eBay's 10.9â14.9% FVF. eBay is generally 20â30% cheaper without FBA; Amazon FBA wins on Prime customer access.
Compare Amazon, eBay, Etsy, Shopify, Stripe, PayPal, TikTok and more. Find the cheapest platform for your business with our 103 comparison guides. We break down fees, pros, cons, and real dollar examples for every major marketplace and payment processor.
Compare Amazon, eBay, Etsy, Shopify, Stripe, PayPal, TikTok and more. Find the cheapest platform for your business.
Amazon's 8â17% referral + FBA fees vs eBay's 10.9â14.9% FVF. eBay is generally 20â30% cheaper without FBA; Amazon FBA wins on Prime customer access.
Amazon's 8â17% referral fee vs eBay's 10.9â14.9% FVF. eBay is better for beginners due to lower stakes and more listing control; Amazon wins on buyer traffic.
Amazon charges 17% referral + $0.30 closing fee for clothing; eBay charges 13.25% (Source: eBay, 2026) FVF. eBay is cheaper for clothing resale; Amazon has 300M Prime buyers.
Amazon charges 15%+ referral for collectibles; eBay charges 12.9% FVF. eBay's auction format works better for vintage items; Amazon wins on volume for fixed-price vintage.
Amazon charges 15â25% total fees vs Etsy's 6.5% (Source: Etsy, 2026) base. Etsy is cheaper for handmade and vintage; Amazon has 300M Prime buyers and higher average order values.
Amazon Handmade charges 15% referral; Etsy charges 6.5% (Source: Etsy, 2026) + $0.20 listing. Etsy has a stronger handmade community and lower fees for artisan sellers.
Amazon charges 20% referral for jewelry; Etsy charges 6.5% (Source: Etsy, 2026) transaction + $0.20 listing. Etsy wins on fees; Amazon wins on buyer volume for fine jewelry.
Amazon Handmade charges 15% referral; Etsy charges 6.5% (Source: Etsy, 2026) + $0.20 listing for vintage. Etsy has a built-in vintage buyer audience; Amazon Handmade has Prime eligibility.
Amazon charges 8â17% referral + FBA vs Etsy's 6.5% (Source: Etsy, 2026) transaction + $0.20 listing fee. Etsy wins on fees for handmade goods; Amazon FBA wins on buyer volume and Prime access.
Amazon charges 8â17% referral + fulfillment; Shopify charges $39/month + payment processor. Amazon wins on traffic; Shopify wins on brand control and profit margins.
Amazon charges 8â17% referral + FBA vs Shopify dropshipping with Oberlo/Spocket. Amazon wins on trust and Prime; dropshipping on Shopify has zero inventory risk and lower startup cost.
Amazon charges 8â17% referral + FBA vs Shopify Print-on-Demand with Printful/Printify. Amazon POD gives Prime badge; Shopify POD gives full brand control and lower platform fees.
Amazon charges 8â17% referral + FBA fees (25â35% total) vs Shopify $39/month + payment processor (3â5% total). Amazon wins on traffic; Shopify wins on profit margin.
Amazon charges 8â17% referral + $0.30 closing fee; Walmart charges 6â15% with no closing fee. Walmart requires approval; Amazon is open to all sellers.
Amazon's 8â17% referral + FBA fees vs Walmart's 6â15% referral. Walmart has fewer sellers but more lenient fee structure; Amazon has 10x the traffic.
Amazon FBA charges 6â25% for storage + fulfillment; FBM saves fulfillment cost but requires self-handling and excludes Prime badge. Calculate break-even at your sales volume.
Amazon FBA costs 15â30% total vs eBay 10.9â14.9% FVF without FBA. FBA gives Prime badge and higher sale prices; eBay keeps more of each sale with lower overhead.
Amazon FBA costs 15â30% total vs dropshipping 5â30% of product cost with zero inventory. FBA has better margins but requires upfront capital; dropshipping scales with no inventory risk.
Amazon Handmade charges 15% referral; Etsy charges 6.5% (Source: Etsy, 2026) transaction. Etsy is significantly cheaper for handmade sellers with a dedicated buyer audience.
Amazon Brand Registry costs $0â$2,500/year depending on your IP verification method. Protects against counterfeit and gives enhanced ad tools.
eBay charges 10.9â14.9% FVF vs Etsy's 6.5% (Source: Etsy, 2026) transaction fee. Etsy is cheaper overall; eBay has higher buyer volume and auction format for collectibles and vintage items.
eBay charges 10.9â14.9% FVF vs Etsy 6.5% (Source: Etsy, 2026) + $0.20 listing. eBay is easier to start with higher buyer volume; Etsy has a stronger community for unique items and lower fees.
eBay charges 10.9â14.9% FVF for clothing; Etsy charges 6.5% (Source: Etsy, 2026) + $0.20 listing. Etsy wins on fees for clothing sellers; eBay wins on volume and auction format.
eBay charges 12.9% FVF for vintage; Etsy charges 6.5% (Source: Etsy, 2026) + $0.20 listing. Etsy has a dedicated vintage buyer audience and lower fees; eBay has larger overall traffic.
eBay charges 10.9â14.9% FVF vs Shopify $39/month + payment processor. eBay wins for casual sellers under 50 orders/month; Shopify scales better with brand building and lower per-sale costs.
eBay dropshipping costs listing + 10.9â14.9% FVF vs Shopify dropshipping $39/month + app fees. eBay is cheaper to start; Shopify gives better brand control and app integrations.
eBay charges 10.9â14.9% FVF vs Shopify $39/month + payment processor. eBay wins for casual sellers; Shopify scales better with brand building and lower per-sale costs at volume.
eBay charges 10.9â14.9% FVF vs Mercari's flat 10%. Mercari is simpler with flat fees; eBay has larger audience, auction format, and better shipping options.
Shopify starts at $39/month; WooCommerce hosting runs $10â$50/month. True cost comparison at 100 and 1,000 orders/month with real dollar examples.
Shopify ($39â$299/month) vs BigCommerce ($29â$299/month). Both have similar base prices; Shopify has a stronger app ecosystem while BigCommerce includes more built-in features.
Shopify starts at $39/month; Magento Open Source is free but requires $500â$5,000/month hosting. Enterprise Magento costs $22,000â$180,000/year. Shopify is 99% cheaper for most businesses.
Shopify starts at $39/month; Squarespace starts at $16/month. Squarespace is simpler; Shopify wins for ecommerce depth, payment processing, and app integrations.
Shopify ($39/month) vs Weebly ($10/month). Weebly is cheaper; Shopify has vastly stronger ecommerce tools, app marketplace, and growth features for serious sellers.
Shopify ($39/month) vs Wix ($17/month). Wix is cheaper for basic sites; Shopify has superior ecommerce features, payment processing, and scalability for online stores.
Etsy charges 6.5% (Source: Etsy, 2026) + $0.20 listing vs Shopify's $39/month + payment processor. Etsy is cheaper at low volume; Shopify scales better with lower per-transaction costs above 50 orders/month.
Etsy charges 6.5% (Source: Etsy, 2026) + $0.20 listing; Shopify starts at $39/month. Etsy Handmade is purpose-built for artisans; Shopify gives full store customization and brand ownership.
Etsy charges 6.5% (Source: Etsy, 2026) transaction; Shopify starts at $39/month with Printify/Printful integration. Etsy wins on audience for print sellers; Shopify wins on brand control and lower per-sale fees.
Etsy charges 6.5% (Source: Etsy, 2026) transaction; Shopify costs $39/month + payment processing. Etsy is cheaper at low volume; Shopify keeps more profit per sale at higher order volumes.
Both charge ~2.99% + $0.30, but PayPal adds 1.5% for foreign cards and 3â5% for currency conversion. Stripe is significantly cheaper internationally.
Both charge ~2.99% + $0.30. Stripe is developer-focused with better APIs; Square wins on in-person POS hardware and simpler setup for retail.
Stripe (2.99% + $0.30) vs Adyen (2.99% + $0.30). Adyen targets enterprise with custom pricing and dedicated support; Stripe wins for startups and developers with better APIs and documentation.
Stripe (2.99% + $0.30) vs Braintree (2.99% + $0.30). Both owned by PayPal; Stripe wins on developer experience, Braintree wins on PayPal integration and credit options.
PayPal charges 2.99% + $0.30; Square charges 2.6% + $0.10 in-person, 2.99% + $0.30 online. Square is slightly cheaper for in-person; PayPal wins on brand recognition.
All three charge ~2.99% + $0.30 domestic. PayPal adds 3â5% for international vs Stripe's 1â2%. Square wins for retail POS; Stripe wins for online-only businesses.
Dropshipping has no inventory cost but supplier marks up 20â50%; FBA costs 15â30% total but earns higher margins and Prime badge. Break-even depends on your product pricing.
Dropshipping margins 5â30% (no inventory, supplier markup); Retail Arbitrage margins 20â40% (requires capital and scanner tools). Arbitrage builds brand value faster; dropshipping scales with less upfront.
Wholesale requires $2,000â$50,000 upfront (30â70% below retail); Dropshipping costs $0 inventory but 20â50% supplier markup. Wholesale has better unit economics; dropshipping has lower risk.
Private Label MOQ 100â1,000 units costs $1,000â$20,000 upfront; FBA requires $500â$5,000 for initial inventory. Private Label builds brand equity; FBA requires less upfront capital.
Top FBA alternatives ranked by fees and fulfillment speed: Shopify Fulfillment Network, ShipBob, Deliverr, and seller's own warehouse.
Best dropshipping suppliers ranked by product quality, shipping time, and fees. Oberlo, Spocket, and CJDropshipping compared.
Top Print-on-Demand services compared: Printful (base price + 20% markup), Printify (15â35% margin), Gelato (local production = faster shipping). Shopify integration included for all three. Compare fees, fulfillment speed, and product range.
Poshmark charges $2.95 flat (under $15) or 20% of sale; eBay charges 13.25% (Source: eBay, 2026) FVF. Poshmark is simpler; eBay has larger audience and auction format for clothing.
Depop charges 10% of sale; Etsy charges 6.5% (Source: Etsy, 2026) + $0.20 listing. Depop targets Gen Z (18â25); Etsy has broader audience. Depop is simpler; Etsy has more listing tools.
Amazon (8â17% + FBA), eBay (10.9â14.9% FVF), Etsy (6.5% (Source: Etsy, 2026) + $0.20), and Shopify ($39/month). Etsy is cheapest; Amazon has most traffic; Shopify builds brand equity.
Etsy (6.5% (Source: Etsy, 2026) + $0.20), eBay (10.9â14.9% FVF), and Shopify ($39/month + payment). Etsy is cheapest for handmade; eBay has highest volume; Shopify scales best for DTC brands.
Amazon (8â17% + FBA), eBay (10.9â14.9% FVF), and Etsy (6.5% (Source: Etsy, 2026) + $0.20). Etsy is cheapest for handmade; eBay wins for resale; Amazon dominates for new products with FBA.
Etsy Offsite Ads charge 15% of attributed orders; Amazon Sponsored Products cost $0.50â$5.00/click. Etsy ads work for impulse buyers; Amazon ads capture high-intent search traffic.
Shopify Audiences charges 5% of attributed sales; Amazon Sponsored Products cost $0.50â$5.00/click. Shopify ads work for social buyers; Amazon ads capture search intent.
Facebook Ads average $0.50â$2.00 CPC with 2â5x ROAS; Google Ads average $1â$3 CPC with 3â8x ROAS. Google wins for high-intent buyers; Facebook wins for brand awareness and retargeting.
TikTok Ads average $4â$10 CPM; Instagram Ads average $6â$12 CPM. TikTok wins for Gen Z reach; Instagram wins for direct conversions and shopping integration.
Instagram Shop charges no platform fee; TikTok Shop charges 2â8% commission. Instagram wins for discovery and brand building; TikTok Shop wins for viral sales and checkout volume.
Best payment processors for small business: Stripe, PayPal, Square, and Braintree compared on fees, ease of use, and features.
Best payment processors for ecommerce: Stripe, PayPal, Square, Adyen, and Braintree compared on fees, integrations, and checkout experience.
Best payment processors for dropshipping: Stripe, PayPal, and Square compared on reliability, fees, and chargeback policies.
Best payment processors for subscriptions: Stripe Billing, Chargebee, and PayPalSubscriptions compared on recurring billing features.
Best payment processors for high-volume merchants: Stripe, Adyen, Braintree, and WooPayments compared with volume discounts.
Best payment processors for international payments: Stripe vs Adyen vs PayPal compared on currency fees, settlement speed, and coverage.
We compare total fees across Amazon, eBay, Etsy, Shopify, and more. See which platform keeps the most profit at each sales volume.
eBay Individual pays $0.35/listing + 10.9â14.9% FVF with no monthly fee. Professional costs $27.95/month with 3% FVF cap. Professional saves money above 50â60 listings/month.
Amazon Standard Category fees 8â17%; Media Category fees 15â25%. Switching categories risks account suspension. Only use Media if your product genuinely qualifies.
Closed marketplaces (Amazon, Walmart) require approval but give traffic and trust; open marketplaces (eBay, Etsy) let anyone sell but require more self-promotion.
Direct-to-consumer (Shopify) costs $39/month + marketing to drive traffic. Marketplace (Amazon/eBay) charges 8â17% but provides buyers. Most sellers use both.
Selling on multiple channels (Shopify + Amazon + eBay) requires inventory sync but reduces risk. Single-channel selling is simpler but leaves you dependent on one platform's algorithm changes.
Subscription boxes cost $20â$200/month with platform fees 2.9% + $0.30 plus fulfillment. One-time purchases have lower platform fees but no recurring revenue or customer LTV.
B2B platforms charge lower fees (0.5â2%) but require higher order minimums and credit terms. B2C platforms charge 2.9â15% with immediate payment. Many sellers do both.
Local selling saves on shipping but limits audience. Global selling reaches more buyers but adds international fees (1â5% conversion), customs duties (0â25%), and longer shipping times.
New items command higher prices but face more competition. Used items sell for 30â70% less but attract bargain buyers. Both have their place; thrifting for resale can yield 40â60% margins.
eBay auctions charge $0.10 insertion + 10.9â14.9% FVF; fixed-price charges 13.25% (Source: eBay, 2026) FVF only. Auctions work for rare items; fixed-price wins for common inventory at scale.
Online selling fees average 2.9â15% with global reach. Offline POS fees are 2.6â3.5% plus hardware. Many successful sellers combine both channels for maximum customer coverage.
Walmart charges 6â15% referral with no closing fee; Amazon charges 8â17% plus $0.30â$180 closing fee. Walmart is cheaper overall; Amazon has 10x the traffic.
No single platform is always cheapest. eBay averages 12.9% total, Etsy 6.5% (Source: Etsy, 2026) base, Stripe/PayPal 3.2% per transaction, and Shopify 2.9% + monthly fees. The best choice depends on your sales volume, product category, and fulfillment model.
eBay is generally 20-30% cheaper than Amazon for comparable items. eBay's final value fees average 12.9% vs Amazon's 15%+ with FBA.
Stripe and PayPal charge identical domestic rates (2.99% + $0.30). However, Stripe is significantly cheaper for international payments (1% vs PayPal's 3% conversion markup).
eBay is best for beginners due to lower fees, easier onboarding, and more control over listings. Amazon provides more traffic but requires higher fees and stricter compliance.