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Whatnot vs eBay Fees: Which Keeps More?
On a $50 sale with no shipping charged, Whatnot keeps more by $1.45: Whatnot (Standard tier, Other category) charges $5.75 in fees and you keep $44.25, while eBay charges $7.20 and you keep $42.80. The gap is small at $50, and Whatnot’s tiered commission means high-volume sellers can widen it further.
Fees checked October 2026 · US rates · Estimates only, see Methodology.
Whatnot vs eBay Calculator
Enter one sale and see both payouts side by side. Results update instantly. Whatnot uses the Standard tier and Other category; eBay uses most categories.
WINNER ON THIS SALE
Whatnot keeps $44.25
Whatnot keeps $1.45 more than eBay on this sale.
The verdict on a $50 sale
Whatnot wins the $50 test by $1.45, but the real story is the tier system: Whatnot’s commission drops as your 28-day sales grow, so a Tier 3 seller in the Other category pays 5.5% commission instead of 8%, and the fee gap over eBay widens to about $2.70 on a $50 sale. eBay’s advantage is reach and format: fixed-price and auction listings for almost any category, plus a Store rate of 12.7% that closes much of the gap. Choose Whatnot for live selling, trading cards, sneakers, and fashion where its live audience converts; choose eBay when you need the broadest buyer pool or sell outside Whatnot’s core categories.
$50 worked example
| Line | Whatnot | eBay |
|---|---|---|
| Sale price | $50.00 | $50.00 |
| Shipping charged | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Total fees | $5.75 (11.5%) | $7.20 (14.4%) |
| You keep | $44.25 ✓ You Keep Most | $42.80 |
| Net profit | $29.25 | $27.80 |
| Margin | 58.5% | 55.6% |
Net profit uses the standard test: $10 item cost and $5 actual shipping cost. Whatnot figures use Standard tier, Other category.
Fee table: Whatnot vs eBay
| Fee | Whatnot (Standard, Other) | eBay (most categories) |
|---|---|---|
| Commission / selling fee | 8% of item price (tiered down to 4%) | 13.6% of item + shipping charged |
| Processing | 2.9% + $0.30 on total order | Included in the final value fee |
| Per-order fee | None | $0.30 / $0.40 depending on order total |
| Optional ads | None | Promoted Listings %; Store rate 12.7% |
When to pick each
Pick Whatnot for live selling, trading cards, sneakers, fashion, and collectibles where live shows and community bidding drive prices, and for sellers building toward higher tiers. Pick eBay for the widest audience, for categories Whatnot does not serve well, for auctions and fixed-price listings, and when you want a Store subscription to cut the rate to 12.7%.
How to calculate it
Whatnot fee (Standard, Other) = 8% × sale price + 2.9% × (sale price + shipping charged) + $0.30. eBay fee = 13.6% × (sale price + shipping charged) + $0.40 per order over $10 ($0.30 at $10 or less). You keep = sale price + shipping charged − fees. Net profit = you keep − item cost − actual shipping cost.
Tips to keep more
- On Whatnot, check your 28-day tier before pricing: a higher tier lowers your commission, so the calculator’s Standard figure may overstate your fees.
- On eBay, a Store subscription drops most categories to 12.7% — see the eBay Store calculator to check whether it pays for your volume.
- Category matters on Whatnot: Electronics is 5% flat and Coins start at 4%, so use the Whatnot fee calculator for your exact category and tier.
- Do not charge inflated shipping on either platform: both charge processing or final value fees on shipping charged.
Frequently asked questions
Is Whatnot cheaper than eBay?
At the Standard tier on a $50 sale, yes by $1.45 ($5.75 vs $7.20). The gap grows as your Whatnot tier improves, but eBay’s Store rate of 12.7% can close much of it.
What are Whatnot’s fees on a $50 sale?
At the Standard tier in the Other category, Whatnot charges 8% commission ($4.00) plus 2.9% + $0.30 processing ($1.75), for $5.75 total, leaving you $44.25 before item and shipping costs.
Does Whatnot’s fee change by category?
Yes. Commission varies by category and 28-day sales tier — for example, Electronics is 5% flat and Coins start at 4% — so check the full matrix on the Whatnot fee calculator before pricing.
Should I sell on Whatnot or eBay?
Whatnot suits live selling and its core categories (cards, sneakers, fashion, collectibles). eBay suits everything else and the broadest audience. Many sellers use both and let the calculator decide per item.
Related calculators and comparisons
- Whatnot fee calculator
- eBay fee calculator
- Compare all marketplaces calculator
- 2026 marketplace fee comparison chart
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- Fee Change Tracker
Fees checked October 2026. Rates are US rates and may change; always confirm on the platform’s official fee page before pricing. See Methodology and Sources.