Which marketplace has the lowest seller fees? (2026)
Last updated June 2026 · ~7 min read
There's no single cheapest marketplace — it depends on what you sell, your price, and how much shipping costs. Here's an honest, up-to-date comparison of what each platform actually takes per sale, and how to find the best one for your item.
Every online marketplace makes money by taking a cut of your sale. But "the fee" is rarely one number: most platforms stack a selling/referral commission, a payment-processing fee, and sometimes fixed per-order or listing fees on top of each other. Two marketplaces can advertise the same headline percentage and still leave you with very different payouts.
Below is where each major US marketplace stood as of June 2026. After the table we break down who's cheapest, who's most expensive, and the three things that decide your real cost.
Seller fees compared (2026)
Headline platform fees for a standard US seller. Click any marketplace to run your own numbers through its calculator.
| Marketplace | Selling / referral fee | Payment processing | Charged on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Facebook Marketplace | 0% local pickup; ~5–10% on shipped orders | Included on shipped orders | Item + shipping + tax |
| Depop | 0% commission (US sellers) | 3.3% + $0.45 | Item + shipping |
| Bonanza | 3.5% final value fee + $0.25 (free booth) | Separate (~2.9% + $0.30) | Item + shipping |
| Reverb | 5% (min $0.50, max $500) | 3.19% + $0.49 | Item + shipping |
| TikTok Shop | 6% referral (3% new-seller promo) | Bundled into the referral fee | Item price |
| Whatnot | 8% commission (lower for coins/cards) | 2.9% + $0.30 | Item (commission); total (processing) |
| Grailed | 9% commission | 3.49% + $0.49 | Item price |
| Etsy | 6.5% transaction + $0.20 listing | 3% + $0.25 | Item + shipping |
| Mercari | 10% flat | None (bundled) | Item + buyer-paid shipping |
| StockX | 8–9.5% transaction (by seller level) | 3% | Sale price |
| Shopify | 0% marketplace fee (your own store) | 2.9% + $0.30 (Basic, online) | Order total |
| Walmart Marketplace | ~15% referral (6–20% by category) | Bundled | Item + shipping |
| Amazon | ~15% referral (8–45% by category, min $0.30) | Bundled (+ FBA if used) | Item + shipping |
| eBay | ~13.6% final value (varies by category) + $0.30–$0.40/order | Bundled into the final value fee | Item + shipping |
| Poshmark | $2.95 under $15; 20% at $15+ | Included (with shipping label) | Item price |
Fees as of June 2026 and subject to change. Rates shown are the standard US seller rates; many marketplaces vary fees by category, seller level, or subscription tier. Always confirm in your own seller dashboard.
The lowest-fee marketplaces
If you're optimizing purely for the smallest cut, a few platforms stand out:
- Depop — the cheapest way to ship in 2026: US sellers pay no selling commission at all, just ~3.3% + $0.45 processing. Ideal for vintage, Y2K and streetwear fashion that fits its young audience; less suited to generic or higher-ticket goods.
- Facebook Marketplace (local pickup) — genuinely free. No selling fee at all when you meet the buyer in person. The catch: no buyer protection, no shipping, and you're limited to local demand. Shipped orders do carry a fee.
- Bonanza — a low 3.5% final value fee on the free booth tier makes it one of the cheapest places to list standard goods. The trade-off is far less buyer traffic than eBay or Amazon, so a low fee on few sales isn't always a win.
- TikTok Shop — a flat 6% referral fee (and just 3% for new sellers' first 30 days) is very competitive, paired with huge discovery potential if your product suits short-form video.
- Reverb — at 5% plus processing, it's the cheapest and the most targeted place to sell music gear, where a general marketplace would charge more and reach fewer buyers.
The highest-fee marketplaces
- Poshmark — 20% on anything $15 and up is the steepest headline rate here. It's softened by an included prepaid shipping label and a built-in, engaged fashion audience, but on higher-priced items the cut stings.
- eBay, Amazon, and Walmart — all land around 13–15% all-in for most categories, with processing baked into the rate. You're paying for enormous buyer reach. Amazon and Walmart vary widely by category (as low as ~6–8%, as high as 45% on Amazon for some accessories), so check your specific category.
Why the headline percentage isn't the whole story
Three details quietly decide what you actually keep:
1. What the fee is charged on
Most marketplaces — eBay, Etsy, Amazon, Walmart, Mercari, Reverb, Bonanza — apply their selling fee to the item price plus the shipping the buyer pays. If you charge $12 shipping, you pay a percentage on that $12 too. Poshmark and Grailed charge commission on the item price only, which can make a higher headline rate cheaper in practice on shipping-heavy items.
2. Whether payment processing is separate
Flat-fee platforms like Mercari and Poshmark fold processing into one number. Others — Etsy, Reverb, Whatnot, Grailed, StockX, Shopify — add a separate ~3% + ~$0.30–$0.50 processing charge on top. That fixed cents-per-order piece hurts most on low-priced items.
3. Fixed and category fees
Etsy's $0.20 listing fee, eBay's $0.30–$0.40 per-order fee, and category-specific referral rates on Amazon and Walmart can swing your real cost by several points. On a $10 item, a $0.40 fixed fee is another 4% all by itself.
Compare your exact item
Reselling clothes or general goods? The side-by-side comparison tool shows Poshmark, Depop, Mercari and eBay payouts at once. Or pick a single marketplace below to run your numbers:
Frequently asked questions
Which marketplace has the lowest seller fees in 2026?
For shipped sales, TikTok Shop (6% referral) and Bonanza (3.5% final value fee) have the lowest headline commissions, and Facebook Marketplace is free for local pickup. Reverb (5%) is the low-fee choice for music gear. The cheapest option for you still depends on what you sell, your price point, and whether the fee applies to shipping.
Which marketplace takes the biggest cut?
Poshmark takes 20% on items $15 and over (a flat $2.95 below $15), though that includes a prepaid shipping label. eBay (~13.6% plus a per-order fee), Amazon and Walmart (~15% in most categories) are the priciest general marketplaces.
Do marketplaces charge fees on shipping?
Many do. eBay, Etsy, Amazon, Walmart, Mercari, Reverb and Bonanza calculate their selling fee on the item price plus the shipping the buyer pays, so a high shipping charge raises your fees. Poshmark and Grailed charge commission on the item price only.
Is it cheaper to sell on my own Shopify store?
Shopify charges no marketplace commission — just payment processing (2.9% + $0.30 on the Basic plan) plus your monthly subscription. That's far less than any marketplace's cut, but you supply all the traffic yourself. It's cheapest per sale once you have an audience, and most expensive if you don't.
How do I find the best marketplace for my product?
Enter the same price, cost, and shipping into each platform's calculator and compare the net profit, not just the fee percentage. Then weigh that against where your buyers actually are. A slightly higher fee on a marketplace that sells your item fast usually beats a rock-bottom fee on one that doesn't.