eBay vs Etsy Fees (2026): Which Actually Keeps You More?

Q: Is Etsy cheaper than eBay?

Per sale, yes. Etsy takes about $9.95 on a $100 sale versus eBay's $14.00. But Etsy charges $0.20 to list whether the item sells or not, and mandatory Offsite Ads above $10k a year can push it higher.

Etsy looks cheaper until you count the pieces - three fees, a listing charge, and one that becomes mandatory as you grow.

SNAPLISTER GUIDES · RESELLING · UPDATED JULY 2026

Etsy looks cheaper than eBay until you count the pieces. There are three separate seller fees plus a charge just to put an item up — and one optional fee that becomes mandatory once you grow. Here's the real comparison for 2026.

The short answer: Etsy takes $9.95 on a $100 sale against eBay's $14.00. Etsy is cheaper per sale — but it charges $0.20 to list whether the item sells or not, and Offsite Ads can add 15%.

What you keep on a $100 sale

Etsy

$90.05

$0.20 listing
6.5% transaction = $6.50
3% + $0.25 processing = $3.25

eBay

$86.00

13.6% final value = $13.60
+ $0.40 per order

Etsy leaves you about $4 more per $100 sale. On $50 it's $44.80 vs $42.80.

Fee structure side by side

	Etsy	eBay
Listing fee	$0.20 per listing, charged whether it sells or not, again every 4 months on renewal	250 free/month, then ~$0.35
Transaction fee	6.5%	13.6% (most categories)
Payment processing	3% + $0.25	included
Per-order fee	none	$0.30 / $0.40
Ads	Offsite Ads 15% (12% for large shops) — mandatory above $10k/yr	Promoted Listings, always optional
$50 sale costs you	$5.20 (10.4%)	$7.20 (14.4%)
$100 sale costs you	$9.95 (9.95%)	$14.00 (14.0%)

The Offsite Ads trap. Once your shop passes $10,000 in a 365-day period, Offsite Ads become mandatory for the lifetime of the shop — you can never opt out again, even if revenue falls back. The fee is 15% (12% once you're over the threshold) on any order attributed to an ad click, capped at $100 per order. On a $100 sale that turns $9.95 into $24.95. Smaller shops are auto-enrolled but can opt out.

The costs the percentage hides

Both Etsy fees apply to shipping you charge the buyer — and processing also applies to sales tax. Real rates run above the item-only figures above.
$0.20 per listing adds up. 100 items that don't sell still costs $20, and again every 4 months on renewal.
Multi-quantity listings are charged $0.20 per additional item sold.

Verdict: Etsy is cheaper per sale — roughly 4 points — and is the better home for handmade, vintage and craft supplies, which is what its buyers come for. eBay wins on reach and on everything Etsy won't accept: electronics, parts, modern mass-produced goods. And once you cross $10k on Etsy, mandatory Offsite Ads can make it the more expensive of the two.

Fees aren't the whole story

A lower fee on an item that never sells is worth nothing. Before moving inventory, weigh buyer volume (eBay is the largest of these by a wide margin and sells nearly every category), category fit, and your time — listing the same item twice is real work.

Run your own numbers first: the free eBay fee calculator shows what you actually keep after every fee, your shipping label and what you paid. Free, and so is the /fees version in the chat bot.

Get the free fee calculator

FAQ

Is Etsy cheaper than eBay?

Per sale, yes. Etsy takes about $9.95 on a $100 sale (6.5% transaction + 3% + $0.25 processing + $0.20 listing) versus eBay's $14.00. But Etsy charges $0.20 to list whether the item sells or not, and mandatory Offsite Ads above $10k/year can push it higher.

How much does Etsy take from a $100 sale?

About $9.95 — a $0.20 listing fee, 6.5% transaction fee ($6.50) and 3% + $0.25 payment processing ($3.25). You keep roughly $90.05 before shipping and item cost.

What are Etsy's Offsite Ads fees?

15% of an attributed order, or 12% if your shop has passed $10,000 in a 365-day period. Below that threshold participation is optional; above it, it is mandatory for the lifetime of the shop and cannot be turned off. The fee is capped at $100 per order.

Does Etsy charge a listing fee?

Yes — $0.20 per listing, charged when you publish and again every four months when the listing auto-renews, regardless of whether it sells. eBay gives you 250 free listings a month.

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