Not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by eBay, Etsy, Amazon, Mercari, Poshmark, Depop, Whatnot or Stripe. The name is a trademark of its owner and appears here only to identify whose published fee schedule we use.
Seller fees compared
The platforms charge in three different ways: a percentage of the sale (eBay, Mercari, Poshmark, Amazon), a percentage plus payment processing (Etsy, Whatnot), or payment processing only (Depop in the U.S., your own site).[1][2][3][4]
| Platform | Main fee | Processing | Charged on shipping? |
|---|---|---|---|
| eBay | 13.6% (most categories) + $0.30/$0.40 per order | Included | Yes, and on sales tax |
| Etsy | $0.20 listing + 6.5% | 3% + $0.25 | Yes |
| Amazon (you ship) | 15% referral (most categories) | Included | Yes |
| Mercari | 10% | None | Yes, buyer-paid shipping |
| Poshmark | 20% ($2.95 under $15) | Included | No (prepaid label) |
| Depop (U.S.) | None | 3.3% + $0.45 | Processing, yes |
| Whatnot | 8% commission (standard tier) | 2.9% + $0.30 | Processing, yes |
| Own site (Stripe) | None | 2.9% + $0.30 | Yes |
Poshmark's and Whatnot's buyers pay a prepaid shipping label, so the seller pays no postage there; the comparison accounts for that.[5][7] Depop charges U.S. sellers no selling fee.[6]
Which marketplace has the lowest fees?
Depop and your own site take the smallest share in the U.S. because they charge only payment processing, but the answer depends on the price: flat and fixed fees matter most on cheap items, percentages on expensive ones.
| Item | eBay | Etsy | Amazon, you ship | Mercari | Poshmark | Depop |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $15.00 | $11.47 | $12.36 | $11.55 | $12.70 | $12.00 | $13.79 |
| $40.00 | $33.07 | $34.99 | $32.80 | $35.20 | $32.00 | $37.97 |
| $100.00 | $84.91 | $89.29 | $83.80 | $89.20 | $80.00 | $95.99 |
| $300.00 | $257.71 | $270.29 | $253.80 | $269.20 | $240.00 | $289.39 |
Your own site keeps the most per sale[8], but you pay for the store, the traffic and the trust that marketplaces provide. The Shopify fee calculator adds a store subscription to the picture.
Fees are only part of the choice
A lower fee does not help if the item does not sell. Buyers for vintage clothing, trading cards, handmade goods and electronics gather on different platforms, and some sell faster at a higher price where the fee is higher. Use this table to see the cost of each channel, then compare it with how fast and at what price similar items actually sell. When you know your target margin, the selling price calculator turns a fee percentage into a price.
Frequently asked questions
Which selling app has the lowest fees?
In the U.S., Depop (processing only, 3.3% + $0.45) and Mercari (10%) are usually cheapest among resale apps; Poshmark (20%) is the most expensive on items over $15. Your own website with a card processor costs less per sale but needs its own traffic.
Is eBay or Etsy cheaper?
It depends on the item. Etsy's standard fees come to roughly 10% of a typical order plus $0.20 per listing; eBay takes 13.6% in most categories plus a per-order fee, but charges nothing to list your first 250 items a month.
Do all marketplaces charge fees on shipping?
Most do: eBay, Etsy, Amazon and Mercari include the shipping the buyer pays. Poshmark and Whatnot use prepaid labels paid by the buyer.
Does the comparison include ads and promotions?
No. It uses default settings. Promoted listings, Etsy Offsite Ads, Depop boosts and store subscriptions change the totals; use each platform's own calculator for those.