eBay vs Amazon (2026): which is better for sellers?
Last updated June 2026 · ~6 min read
They're the two giants of online selling — but they're built for different things. eBay is an open marketplace where almost anything sells; Amazon is a product catalog optimized for new, branded goods at scale. The right choice comes down to what you sell, how you want to ship, and how much fee you can stomach.
The core difference
eBay is a marketplace for everything. New, used, vintage, parts, collectibles, one-of-a-kind — buyers come to browse and bid, and you usually ship the item yourself. Fees are lower and the rules are looser. Amazon is a product catalog. Buyers search for a product and compare sellers of the same item, so it's built for new, branded, repeatable inventory — often fulfilled by Amazon (FBA) so it qualifies for Prime. You get a huge, high-trust buyer base, but you pay more in fees and play by stricter rules.
Fees side by side
| eBay | Amazon | |
|---|---|---|
| Per-sale fee | ~13.6% final value fee (most categories), on item + shipping | 15% referral fee (most categories; 8% consumer electronics), on the full price |
| Fixed fee | $0.30–$0.40 per order | $0.30 minimum referral; FBA fulfillment ~$3–$7 (standard size) if you use FBA |
| Monthly cost | $0 (Store subscription optional, lowers the fee to ~12.7%) | $39.99/mo Professional plan (or $0.99/item Individual) |
| Fulfillment | You ship it yourself | You ship (FBM) or Amazon ships (FBA, for Prime) |
| Best for | Used, vintage, niche, one-off & lower-fee selling | New, branded products sold at volume with Prime |
Fees as of June 2026 (Amazon referral rates frozen for 2026). Run your exact numbers with the eBay and Amazon FBA calculators.
Where the decision flips
On fees alone, eBay almost always wins per sale — ~13.6% plus a small per-order fee, with no monthly plan and no fulfillment fee if you pack the box yourself. Amazon stacks up: a 15% referral, a fulfillment fee (if you use FBA), and a $39.99/month subscription to sell at any real volume. So why does anyone choose Amazon?
Two reasons: traffic and logistics. Amazon has the largest pool of ready-to-buy shoppers on the planet, and FBA hands off storage, packing, shipping and returns so you can scale without touching inventory — and your listings get the Prime badge that lifts conversion. That convenience and reach is what the higher fee buys.
When to choose each
Choose eBay if…
- You sell used, vintage, refurbished, collectible or one-of-a-kind items (Amazon's catalog is built for new, standardized products).
- You want the lowest fee per sale and you're happy to ship orders yourself.
- You're clearing out inventory, flipping, or testing products without committing to FBA.
Choose Amazon if…
- You sell a new, branded product you can reorder and scale.
- You want Prime eligibility and want Amazon to handle storage, shipping and returns (FBA).
- Your volume justifies the $39.99/month plan and you can compete for the Buy Box.
Choose both if…
- You run your core catalog on Amazon (FBA + Prime) and use eBay for used, overstock and clearance that doesn't fit Amazon — capturing buyers you'd otherwise miss on either side.
Run your numbers
Enter the same product into both calculators to see the real per-sale difference, then weigh it against the audience and fulfillment trade-off:
Frequently asked questions
Is eBay or Amazon cheaper for sellers?
Per sale, eBay is usually cheaper — about 13.6% plus a $0.30–$0.40 per-order fee, with no monthly plan required and no fulfillment fee if you ship yourself. Amazon charges a 15% referral fee for most categories, plus an FBA fulfillment fee (roughly $3–$7 for standard-size items) and a $39.99/month Professional plan. Amazon's bigger buyer base and Prime can convert better, but the all-in cost per sale is higher.
Can I sell the same product on both?
Yes — many sellers run new, branded products on Amazon (often via FBA for Prime) and use eBay for used, vintage, overstock and clearance. Multi-channel listing tools sync inventory across both so you don't oversell.
Do I need FBA to sell on Amazon?
No. You can fulfill orders yourself (FBM) and skip the fulfillment fee, but you lose the automatic Prime badge that drives a lot of Amazon's conversion. FBA trades a per-unit fee for Prime eligibility and hands-off logistics.