eBay or Etsy? The short answer: it depends on what you're selling. Handmade jewelry belongs on Etsy. A used power drill belongs on eBay. But for the products in between — home decor, vintage items, art prints — the right platform depends on your specific situation.
Compare fees across marketplaces
See which platform gives you the best profit: Etsy, Amazon, or eBay.
This guide compares fees, audiences, and product fit so you can choose with confidence.
Quick comparison: eBay vs Etsy at a glance
| Factor | eBay | Etsy |
|---|---|---|
| Total fees | 14-16% | 10-11% (up to 25% with Offsite Ads) |
| Active buyers | 132 million | 90+ million |
| Best for | Used, collectibles, electronics, any product | Handmade, vintage, personalized, digital |
| Monthly fee | Free (250 listings/mo) | $0.20 per listing (no monthly fee) |
| Listing format | Auction or fixed price | Fixed price only |
| Fulfillment | Self-ship (no FBA equivalent) | Self-ship |
| Competition | Price-driven | Quality/uniqueness-driven |
| Brand identity | Limited | Strong shop identity |
Many sellers use both for different product lines.
Fee comparison: eBay vs Etsy
Fees hit your margin directly, so this is where most sellers start comparing.
eBay fee structure
| Fee Type | Amount |
|---|---|
| Final value fee | 12.7-15.3% of total sale (including shipping) |
| Per-order fee | $0.30-$0.40 |
| International fee | +1.65% (if applicable) |
| Insertion fee | Free for first 250/month, then $0.35 |
| Typical total | 14-16% |
Store subscriptions ($7.95-$299.95/month) reduce final value fees by about 0.9% per sale. Worth it if you sell $500+/month.
For detailed breakdowns, see our eBay Fees Explained guide.
Etsy fee structure
| Fee Type | Amount |
|---|---|
| Listing fee | $0.20 per item |
| Transaction fee | 6.5% of sale + shipping |
| Payment processing | 3% + $0.25 |
| Typical total | 10-11% |
If Offsite Ads trigger (mandatory for shops earning $10K+/year), add 12-15% — pushing total fees to 22-26%.
For detailed breakdowns, see our Etsy Fees Explained guide.
Fee comparison example
A $40 item with $8 shipping ($48 total):
On eBay (no store subscription):
- Final value fee (13.25%): $6.36
- Per-order fee: $0.40
- Total fees: $6.76 (14.1%)
On Etsy (no Offsite Ads):
- Listing fee: $0.20
- Transaction fee (6.5%): $3.12
- Payment processing (3% + $0.25): $1.69
- Total fees: $5.01 (10.4%)
Etsy saves you $1.75 per sale in this scenario. But if Offsite Ads trigger on Etsy, the math flips — Etsy would charge $12.21 (25.4%) versus eBay's $6.76.
Calculate your actual fees
Use our calculators to compare with your real numbers:
Product fit: What sells where
This matters more than fees. Selling handmade jewelry on eBay — even at lower fees — won't beat Etsy's built-in audience for it.
Best products for eBay
eBay works best for:
- Used and refurbished items — eBay built its reputation on secondhand goods
- Electronics and gadgets — Phones, laptops, gaming consoles, components
- Collectibles — Sports cards, coins, stamps, memorabilia
- Auto parts — One of eBay's strongest categories
- Brand-name products — Buyers search eBay for specific brands
- Liquidation and overstock — Bulk lots and clearance items
- Anything with existing search demand — If people search for the exact product name
eBay buyers know what they want and search for it by name. They compare prices across multiple listings.
Best products for Etsy
Etsy works best for:
- Handmade items — Jewelry, crafts, art, custom goods
- Vintage items — 20+ years old per Etsy policy
- Personalized products — Custom names, dates, engravings
- Digital downloads — Printables, templates, planners, patterns
- Craft supplies — Beads, fabric, tools, patterns
- Unique designs — Items you can't find on other platforms
- Wedding and party items — Invitations, favors, decorations
Etsy buyers browse, discover, and pay premium prices for uniqueness and craftsmanship.
Products that work on both
Some categories perform well on either platform:
- Vintage clothing — Etsy for curated pieces, eBay for volume
- Home decor — Handmade on Etsy, manufactured or vintage on eBay
- Art prints — Original art on Etsy, reproductions or posters on eBay
- Books — Rare or vintage books work on both
- Jewelry — Handmade on Etsy, brand-name or estate on eBay
Consider listing different product lines on each rather than the same items on both.
Compare fees across marketplaces
See which platform gives you the best profit: Etsy, Amazon, or eBay.
Audience differences
eBay's buyer base
eBay shoppers tend to:
- Search for specific products by name or model
- Compare prices across multiple sellers
- Look for deals, used items, and hard-to-find products
- Care about price, condition, and shipping speed
- Buy from any seller with good feedback
eBay is a marketplace of products, not shops. Buyers rarely remember which seller they bought from.
Etsy's buyer base
Etsy shoppers tend to:
- Browse and discover products rather than searching for exact items
- Value the story behind the product and maker
- Accept longer shipping times for handmade or custom items
- Pay more for uniqueness, quality, and personalization
- Return to favorite shops and follow sellers
Etsy is a marketplace of makers. Buyers often remember and return to specific shops.
Competition and discoverability
Competition on eBay
- Price-driven — Similar products compete primarily on price
- Feedback-dependent — Top Rated Seller status boosts visibility
- Volume-friendly — More listings generally means more sales
- Promoted listings optional — Ads help but aren't required
- Seasonal patterns — Electronics and collectibles spike around holidays
Standing out on eBay means competitive pricing, fast shipping, and strong seller metrics.
Competition on Etsy
- Quality-driven — Photos and presentation matter more than price
- Discovery-friendly — Etsy's algorithm surfaces new listings alongside established ones
- SEO-dependent — Tags, titles, and keywords drive organic visibility
- Lower ad costs — Etsy Ads are cheaper than eBay promoted listings
- Niche advantages — Unique products face less direct competition
Standing out on Etsy means great photography, strong SEO, and products that tell a story.
Selling format differences
eBay auctions vs fixed price
eBay offers both formats:
- Auction — Good for rare items, collectibles, and items where market value is uncertain
- Fixed price (Buy It Now) — Better for standard products with known pricing
- Best Offer — Lets buyers negotiate on fixed-price listings
Most successful eBay sellers use fixed price for consistency and predictability. Auctions work best for unique, one-of-a-kind items.
Etsy: Fixed price only
Etsy uses fixed-price listings exclusively. You set your price, and buyers either purchase or move on. This simplifies pricing but means you need to research your market to price competitively.
Getting started: Barriers to entry
Starting on eBay
- Cost to start: Free (250 listings/month included)
- Setup time: Under an hour
- Requirements: Bank account, PayPal or managed payments, identity verification
- Restrictions: Few category restrictions for most products
- Learning curve: Moderate (shipping labels, seller standards, listing optimization)
Starting on Etsy
- Cost to start: $0.20 per listing (no setup fee since 2024 — the old $15 fee was removed)
- Setup time: A few hours (shop policies, branding, initial listings)
- Requirements: Bank account, product photos, shop policies
- Restrictions: Items must be handmade, vintage (20+ years), or craft supplies
- Learning curve: Moderate (SEO tags, photography standards, shop branding)
Both platforms are accessible to beginners. eBay is slightly faster to start; Etsy requires more upfront effort on branding and photography.
Brand building
On eBay
eBay gives you limited brand presence:
- Buyers see the product, not your store
- Store pages exist but get little organic traffic
- No direct customer communication after sale
- Feedback applies to you as a seller, not to individual products
- Repeat customers are rare for most categories
On Etsy
Etsy encourages seller identity:
- Your shop has a name, logo, banner, and story
- Buyers often remember which shop they purchased from
- Direct messaging builds relationships
- Shop reviews reflect your overall brand quality
- Favorites and follows create a built-in audience
If building a recognizable brand matters to you, Etsy offers significantly more tools for it.
When to choose eBay
Choose eBay if:
- You sell used, refurbished, or secondhand items
- Your products are brand-name or commodity goods
- Price is your competitive advantage
- You want access to a broad, non-niche audience
- You sell electronics, auto parts, or collectibles
- You have inventory to move quickly
- You don't need a strong brand identity
eBay rewards competitive pricing, fast shipping, and high seller ratings.
When to choose Etsy
Choose Etsy if:
- You make handmade or custom products
- Your items are unique or personalized
- You want to build a recognizable shop brand
- Lower fees matter to your margins
- You sell vintage items or craft supplies
- Your buyers value craftsmanship over convenience
- You sell digital downloads
Etsy rewards creativity, quality photography, and strong SEO.
Selling on both platforms
Many sellers use both platforms for different product lines. Here's how:
Strategy 1: Different products on each
- Handmade items → Etsy
- Used/secondhand finds → eBay
- Same inventory stays separate
Strategy 2: Test and expand
- Start on one platform
- Validate your products and pricing
- Expand to the second platform once you're profitable
Strategy 3: Seasonal splitting
- eBay for Q4 electronics and gift shopping
- Etsy year-round for handmade and personalized items
Managing both:
- Keep inventory synced to avoid overselling
- Price differently to account for fee differences
- Customize listings for each platform's audience (eBay buyers want specs; Etsy buyers want story)
Common mistakes when choosing
Mistake 1: Choosing based on fees alone
Etsy's lower base fees don't guarantee higher profit. If your product fits eBay's audience better, more sales at 14% fees beats fewer sales at 10%.
Mistake 2: Listing handmade items on eBay
Handmade products get buried under mass-produced alternatives selling for half the price. Etsy buyers specifically seek handmade — your competition is other makers, not factories.
Mistake 3: Listing commodity products on Etsy
Generic products without a handmade or unique angle underperform on Etsy. Etsy's search algorithm favors items that match buyer intent for unique, custom, or vintage goods.
Mistake 4: Ignoring Etsy's Offsite Ads impact
Shops earning $10K+/year are automatically enrolled in Offsite Ads, adding 12-15% to fees on attributed sales. This can significantly change the fee comparison.
Mistake 5: Not optimizing for each platform
Copying the same listing text to both platforms underperforms. eBay listings need detailed item specifics and competitive pricing. Etsy listings need keyword-rich tags, lifestyle photography, and compelling shop branding.
FAQ
Is eBay or Etsy better for beginners?
Both are beginner-friendly, but for different reasons. eBay is faster to start — list an item in minutes with no branding required. Etsy requires more setup (shop branding, photography, SEO tags) but offers lower fees and less price-based competition. If you're selling used items from around your house, start with eBay. If you're making handmade products, start with Etsy.
Which has lower fees: eBay or Etsy?
Etsy charges 10-11% total versus eBay's 14-16%. However, Etsy's mandatory Offsite Ads (12-15% on attributed sales) can push fees to 25%+ for successful shops. For most sellers below $10K/year in revenue, Etsy fees are lower.
Can I sell vintage items on both eBay and Etsy?
Yes. Etsy requires items to be 20+ years old to qualify as "vintage." eBay has no age requirement — anything used or collectible can be listed. Many vintage sellers list curated, higher-end pieces on Etsy and bulk inventory on eBay.
Does eBay or Etsy have more traffic?
eBay has more total buyers (132M vs 90M+), but total traffic doesn't equal relevant traffic. Etsy buyers looking for handmade jewelry are more valuable to a jewelry maker than eBay's larger but less targeted audience. Match your products to the platform where your buyers shop.
Can I sell digital products on both?
Etsy is significantly better for digital downloads. The platform supports instant delivery, has a large digital product buyer base, and digital sellers pay no shipping fees. eBay has limited digital product infrastructure.
Which platform is better for part-time sellers?
Both work for part-time sellers. eBay's 250 free listings per month and no monthly fee make it low-risk for occasional sellers. Etsy's $0.20 per listing is also minimal. Choose based on product fit rather than time commitment.
Next steps
- Match your products to a platform — Handmade/unique → Etsy. Used/commodity → eBay. Vintage → test both.
- Calculate your fees — Use our eBay Fee Calculator and Etsy Fee Calculator with your actual prices.
- Research your competition — Search both platforms for similar products. Note pricing, photos, and reviews.
- Start small — List 5-10 items before investing in inventory or paid tools.
- Optimize your listings — Use our AI Listing Generator to create platform-optimized titles, descriptions, and keywords for either marketplace.
Related guides
- eBay Fees Explained: Complete Seller Guide
- Etsy Fees Explained: Listing, Transaction & Payment Fees
- Amazon vs Etsy: Fees, Traffic & Sales Compared
- Amazon vs eBay for Sellers: Complete Comparison
- eBay Title Optimization: Character Limit & Best Practices
- Etsy Title Formula: How to Write Titles That Rank
Compare fees across marketplaces
See which platform gives you the best profit: Etsy, Amazon, or eBay.
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