Ecommerce Platform Fee Comparison 2026
Input one product and see your profitability across Amazon, eBay, Etsy, Shopify, and Walmart side by side. Find the best platform for your margins.
Not used for Amazon FBA (fulfilled by Amazon)
$0 = free shipping. Not used for Amazon FBA.
Used for FBA fulfillment fee calculation
Shopify is the most profitable platform for this product, earning $21.15 per unit. Selling on Shopify instead of Amazon FBM saves you $5,459.88/year.
Best Platform
Shopify
$21.15 / unit
Best Monthly Profit
$2,115.00
Worst Platform
Amazon FBM
$16.60 / unit
Annual Difference
$5,459.88
Shopify vs Amazon FBM
Profit Per Unit by Platform
Detailed Comparison
| Platform | Fees / Unit | Profit / Unit | Margin | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ShopifyBest | $1.85 | $21.15 | 52.9% | $2,115.00 | $25,380.00 |
| Etsy | $4.25 | $18.75 | 46.9% | $1,875.00 | $22,500.00 |
| Amazon FBA | $10.23 | $17.77 | 44.4% | $1,776.51 | $21,318.12 |
| eBay | $5.60 | $17.40 | 43.5% | $1,740.00 | $20,880.00 |
| Walmart | $6.00 | $17.00 | 42.5% | $1,700.00 | $20,400.00 |
| Amazon FBM | $6.40 | $16.60 | 41.5% | $1,660.01 | $19,920.12 |
Fee Breakdown by Platform
Shopify
Etsy
Amazon FBA
eBay
Walmart
Amazon FBM
Amazon, eBay, Etsy, Shopify, and Walmart fee rates last verified March 25, 2026. Platform fees change periodically — verify current rates on the official platform before making business decisions.
Need better product descriptions?
Ritely uses Claude AI to write SEO-optimized product descriptions that match your brand voice. Analyze your products with AI vision, research competitors, and generate descriptions in seconds.
How Fees Work on Each Platform
Every selling platform takes a cut of your sales, but the fee structures are wildly different. Some charge a percentage, some have fixed fees, some have monthly subscriptions, and some combine all three. Understanding these differences is the first step to choosing the right platform.
Amazon
Amazon charges a referral fee (8-17% depending on category) plus a $39.99/month Professional seller subscription. If you use FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon), add fulfillment fees ($3-5+ per unit depending on size and weight) and monthly storage fees. The total cost is typically 30-40% of the selling price with FBA, or 20-25% with FBM (self-fulfillment). The tradeoff: Amazon's massive traffic and Prime eligibility often justify the higher fees.
eBay
eBay uses Managed Payments with a final value fee of about 13.25% on most categories (applied to item price + shipping) plus a $0.30 per-order payment processing fee. No monthly subscription for most sellers. eBay's fees are straightforward and competitive, especially for used items, collectibles, and electronics.
Etsy
Etsy stacks multiple fees: a $0.20 listing fee, 6.5% transaction fee, and 3% + $0.25 payment processing. Total for US sellers: roughly 10-12% of the sale price. If Offsite Ads triggers, add 12-15% on those specific sales. Etsy works best for handmade, vintage, and craft supplies where the built-in audience justifies the fees.
Shopify
Shopify charges a monthly plan fee ($39 for Basic) plus credit card processing (2.9% + $0.30 with Shopify Payments). Total effective fees are typically 5-8% at moderate volumes, making it the cheapest platform per transaction. The catch: Shopify provides zero built-in traffic. You need to invest in paid ads, SEO, social media, or email marketing to drive customers.
Walmart
Walmart charges a referral fee of 8-15% depending on category, with no monthly subscription. Walmart Fulfillment Services (WFS) is available for an additional fee. Walmart's marketplace is less saturated than Amazon, but approval is required and traffic is lower. It's a strong second-channel for sellers already established on Amazon.
When each platform makes sense
- High volume, mass-market products: Amazon (traffic + Prime) or Walmart (lower competition)
- Handmade, unique, or vintage items: Etsy (built-in audience searching for these categories)
- Brand building with full control: Shopify (lowest fees, but you drive traffic)
- Used items, collectibles, liquidation: eBay (auction format, collector community)
- Multi-channel diversification: Start with your strongest platform, then add 1-2 more as volume grows
Hidden costs that calculators miss
Platform fees are only part of the picture. Factor in:
- Customer acquisition: Shopify requires paid ads ($5-50+ per customer). Marketplaces include traffic but at higher fee rates.
- Returns: Amazon has a notoriously generous return policy. Budget 5-15% return rates depending on category.
- Software and tools: Inventory management, repricing, analytics, listing optimization — $50-300/month on most platforms.
- Time: Each platform has its own learning curve, rules, and optimization requirements. Multi-channel multiplies the operational complexity.