Platform Fee Comparison
How much does net income vary when listing the same product across different platforms? Choose the right channel before you launch.
| Platform | Commission Rate | Commission Amount | Net Profit | Net Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🛒 Amazon | 8% | $3.04 | $17.46 | 45.9% |
| 🏪 Walmart | 8% | $3.04 | $17.46 | 45.9% |
| 🖥️ Newegg | 8% | $3.04 | $17.46 | 45.9% |
| 🔨 eBay | 12% | $4.56 | $15.94 | 41.9% |
Choosing the right marketplace is one of the highest-leverage decisions a cross-border e-commerce seller makes. Platform commission rates range from 6% to 17% depending on category, and even a 3-4 percentage point difference compounds dramatically at scale: a seller moving 500 units a month at $40 each faces a $600–$800 monthly swing purely from platform choice. This free platform fee comparison tool lets you enter your selling price, product cost, and shipping cost, then instantly see how Amazon, eBay, Walmart, TikTok Shop, and Shopify stack up on commission amount, net profit, and net margin side by side. Run the comparison before committing to a new channel, after a fee structure update, or whenever you question whether your current primary marketplace is still your most profitable option.
How Platform Commission Structures Work
Every major marketplace charges a referral fee—a percentage of the sale price paid to the platform in exchange for access to its buyer base. Amazon's referral fees range from 6% for personal computers to 17% for Amazon device accessories, with most categories landing between 8% and 15%. Electronics typically carry 8%, home and kitchen 15%, clothing 17%, and toys 15%. eBay charges a final value fee of 8%–13.25% depending on category, plus a flat per-transaction fee of $0.30. Walmart Marketplace fees range from 6% for consumer electronics to 15% for apparel, structured similarly to Amazon but without a mandatory monthly seller subscription for most tiers. Shopify charges no platform referral fee, but payment processing fees apply at 2.9% plus $0.30 for online transactions on the Basic plan. TikTok Shop's commission structure varies by category and promotion period, often starting at a lower introductory rate to attract new sellers before normalizing higher. Understanding the exact fee rate for your specific product category is the starting point for any accurate profitability comparison—rates differ even within broad categories, as shoes and accessories both fall under clothing but can carry different rates on some platforms.
Hidden Costs Beyond the Referral Fee
The commission rate is only the most visible cost of selling on a platform. Amazon sellers using FBA pay fulfillment fees that vary by size tier: for a small standard-size item up to 1 lb, the 2024 rate is approximately $3.22 per unit. Storage fees, inbound placement fees, and aged inventory surcharges add further layers. eBay charges payment processing fees separately from the final value fee. Walmart Fulfillment Services has its own fee schedule comparable to FBA. Advertising spend is a significant variable cost that differs markedly by platform: Amazon Sponsored Products typically requires a meaningful budget to rank competitively in established categories, while newer platforms like TikTok Shop may allow organic reach during their growth phase, reducing effective customer acquisition cost. Return rates also deserve attention—Amazon apparel return rates can exceed 20%, each return triggering a refund processing fee and restocking cost. When comparing platforms, model your total cost per sale—commission plus fulfillment plus advertising allocation plus return provision—rather than relying on the referral fee rate alone. Use our Profit Calculator to layer in these additional variables after identifying your best-fit platform here.
Choosing the Right Platform for Your Product Category
The optimal platform depends on your product category, target customer, competitive intensity, and operational capacity. Amazon dominates in categories where buyers prioritize trust, fast delivery, and Prime eligibility—electronics, home goods, baby products, and health and personal care. Its enormous buyer base justifies higher fees for sellers whose products convert well there. eBay retains strengths in collectibles, used goods, rare parts, and niche categories where its auction-plus-fixed-price model attracts highly motivated buyers. Walmart Marketplace is growing rapidly in household staples and nationally recognized brands—its fee structure is comparable to Amazon, and lower seller competition in many categories often means lower advertising cost per sale. Shopify makes the most sense for brands with direct audience access such as an email list, social following, or influencer relationships, where capturing the full margin without a marketplace cut is achievable. TikTok Shop is best suited for visually appealing consumables, fashion, and lifestyle products that perform in short-form video content. Multi-channel diversification—listing across two or three platforms—protects against account suspensions, fee changes, and algorithm shifts that can devastate a single-channel business. Use this comparison tool to identify which secondary platform best preserves your margin when you expand.
How to Use the Platform Fee Comparison Tool
- Enter your selling price in USD—use the same price you plan to list on all platforms for a true apples-to-apples comparison.
- Enter your product cost per unit, including manufacturing and packaging but excluding platform-specific fulfillment fees.
- Enter your per-unit shipping or fulfillment cost. For FBA sellers, use your FBA fee estimate; for self-fulfilled orders, use your carrier rate.
- Select the product category that best matches your item—commission rates vary significantly by category on every platform.
- Review the comparison table. The highlighted row shows the highest-margin platform for your inputs. Use those figures as the starting point for your channel strategy decision.