What each platform charges
All rates are the platforms' own published US rates, with the date we last read each official page.
| Platform | Fees on a normal order | Charged on | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Etsy | $0.20 listing + 6.5% transaction + 3% + $0.25 processing | Item + shipping (processing also on sales tax) | 8 Nov 2026 |
| eBay, no Store | 13.6% final value fee (most categories) + $0.40 per order ($0.30 up to $10) | Item + shipping + sales tax | 10 Nov 2026 |
| TikTok Shop | 6% referral fee (most categories) | Item + buyer-paid shipping, before tax | 9 Nov 2026 |
| Own site, Stripe | 2.9% + 30¢ per US card payment | Whole payment, including tax | 8 Nov 2026 |
| Own site, PayPal Checkout | 3.49% + $0.49 | Whole payment, including tax | 9 Nov 2026 |
Example: a $25 item with $5 shipping
Your costs are $11.30 (item $6, postage $4.50, packaging $0.80). No sales tax.
| Platform | Fees | Fees as % | You keep |
|---|---|---|---|
| Etsy | $3.30 | 11% | $15.40 |
| eBay (most categories) | $4.48 | 14.9% | $14.22 |
| TikTok Shop | $1.80 | 6% | $16.90 |
| Own site, Stripe | $1.17 | 3.9% | $17.53 |
| Own site, PayPal Checkout | $1.54 | 5.1% | $17.16 |
Fees are not the whole story
- A marketplace brings buyers. Etsy, eBay and TikTok Shop charge more than a payment processor because they also send you traffic. On your own site you pay for visitors yourself, with ads or with your time.
- Optional costs change the order. An Etsy Offsite Ads sale adds 12% or 15%; a TikTok creator commission is often 10% to 20%; eBay Promoted Listings add an ad fee you choose. None of these are in the comparison.
- Sales tax matters on eBay. eBay's fee is charged on the tax too. With 8% tax, the eBay fees in the example rise from $4.48 to $4.81.
- Your own shop may have a monthly plan. The comparison only counts the card fee on your own site.
For one platform in detail, open its calculator above. To set a price that works everywhere, use the profit margin calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper for sellers, Etsy or eBay?
On fees alone, Etsy is usually cheaper for a normal order: about 9.5% plus $0.45 against eBay's 13.6% plus $0.40 in most categories for sellers without a Store. On a $30 order that is $3.30 on Etsy and $4.48 on eBay. An Etsy Offsite Ads sale (12% or 15% extra) reverses that.
Is TikTok Shop cheaper than Etsy?
The referral fee is lower: 6% of the item price plus buyer-paid shipping in most US categories, with no listing or per-order fee on TikTok's referral fee page. Many TikTok sales also carry a creator commission that you set, which can be much larger than the fee.
Why does my own site look cheapest?
Because a payment processor only moves the money: Stripe charges 2.9% + 30¢ on a US card. It does not bring you buyers. Add your advertising cost and any shop plan before comparing.
Does this include Amazon or Shopify?
No. We only include platforms where we could confirm one clear official rate. Amazon's referral fees change by category and fulfilment method, and Shopify's card rates depend on the plan.
Sources
Etsy Help: fees · eBay: Selling fees · TikTok Shop Seller University: referral fees (US) · Stripe pricing · PayPal US business fees
Last reviewed: November 2026 · By Muhammad Shujah Uddin Qazi · How we check rates · Fee changes tracker