The increasing popularity of searching for eBay alternatives highlights a growing desire to discover platforms similar to eBay. While the site is still considered to be a popular option for selling online, this surge is unfortunately driven by market saturation, intense competition, high fees and taxes, and a few other drawbacks.
Explore our detailed guide to discover the top 12 alternatives to eBay this year as we find the platform that could become your next major sales channel. Whether you aim to expand your online footprint, target niche markets, or avoid crowded platforms, our guide will steer you toward the ideal solution.
Popular Alternatives to eBay
Let’s take some time to explore some of the best alternatives to selling on eBay!
- Ecwid: Ecwid is a popular ecommerce platform that allows you to create an online store and sell products or services easily.
- Amazon: Amazon is a global giant offering extensive product categories for both new and used items.
- Etsy: Etsy specializes in handmade, vintage, and unique items, appealing to crafters and artisans.
- Bonanza: Bonanza is known for its
user-friendly interface and variety of product categories, focusing on unique and collectible items. - Facebook Marketplace: Facebook marketplace is a local selling platform integrated with Facebook, facilitating transactions within communities.
- Craigslist: Craigslist is primarily a classified ads platform for buying and selling goods locally.
- Google Shopping: This platform offers increased visibility. Products listed on Google Shopping can reach a wide audience through Google search results and specific
shopping-related searches. - Ruby Lane: Ruby Lane specializes in antiques, art, vintage collectibles, and jewelry, catering to collectors and enthusiasts.
- OfferUp: Offer up is a
mobile-centric marketplace for buying and selling locally, particularly popular for used goods. - Mercari: Mercari is a mobile marketplace app where you can buy and sell used or new items, known for its simplicity and ease of use.
- Newegg: Newegg focuses primarily on electronics, computer hardware, and related accessories.
- Alibaba: Alibaba is a global wholesale platform connecting buyers and sellers worldwide, primarily for bulk purchases.
In the next sections, we’ll dive into several prominent alternatives to selling on eBay, highlighting their key strengths, target audiences, suitability for different types of transactions, and understanding of how each of these options can help you find the right or multiple platforms for your specific business needs.
1. Amazon as an alternative to eBay
What started as an online book store, has grown since into one of the largest and most influential companies in the world. Selling on amazon can offer multiple advantages to selling on eBay.
- Global reach: Amazon has a vast global marketplace with a presence in many countries, providing sellers access to a wide customer base worldwide.
- Fulfillment options: Sellers can use Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA), where Amazon handles storage, packing, shipping, and customer service, streamlining operations for sellers.
- Prime membership: Products eligible for Prime can benefit from free
two-day shipping for Prime members, potentially increasing sales due to faster delivery times. - Brand registry: Amazon Brand Registry helps sellers protect their intellectual property and create an accurate and trusted shopping experience for customers.
- Advertising tools: Amazon offers robust advertising options, including Sponsored Products, Sponsored Brands, and Display Ads, to help sellers promote their products and increase visibility.
Amazon pricing vs. eBay pricing
Amazon typically offers
Amazon also charges sellers a referral fee for each product sold. This is usually a percentage of the total sales. It can often range between 6% to 45%.
In addition to referral fees, certain categories on Amazon also have a closing fee. This fee is a fixed amount per item sold and applies to media products like books, DVDs, and video games.
Sellers who use Amazon’s fulfillment services (Fulfillment by Amazon — FBA) pay fulfillment fees. These fees are based on the item’s size and weight, and they cover picking, packing, shipping, customer service, and returns handling.
eBay charges sellers a fee to list items on their platform. Once an item sells, eBay charges a final value fee. This fee is a percentage of the total sale amount, including shipping costs (if any).
2. Ecwid as an alternative to eBay
While both platforms serve different purposes in the ecommerce world, here’s how Ecwid compares and can work as one of the best alternatives to eBay:
- Integration with existing website: Ecwid allows you to seamlessly integrate an online store into your existing website or blog, providing a professional storefront without needing a separate marketplace like eBay.
- SEO friendly: Ecwid’s design incorporates SEO best practices, making it simpler to enhance product listings and increase visibility in search engine results. This could lead to an increase in organic traffic to your store.
- Customization: Unlike eBay, where listings are standardized within eBay’s platform, Ecwid offers extensive customization options for your store’s design, branding, and layout, giving you more control over your online presence.
While Ecwid does not replicate eBay’s
Ecwid pricing vs. eBay pricing
Ecwid: Free plan, or paid plan starting at $25 per month. Ecwid does not charge transaction fees on any of its plans.
eBay: Typically charges insertion fees for each listing you create. First 50 listings are usually free, but additional listings involve fees. eBay charges a final value when your item sells. This is typically around 10 %.
3. Etsy as an alternative to eBay
Etsy has long been a favored platform for artisans, crafters, and vintage enthusiasts to showcase and sell their unique creations online, making it a preferable choice over eBay for those desiring to sell and buy handmade or
- Handmade and unique products: Etsy specializes in handmade, vintage, and unique items, appealing to a niche market of crafters, artisans, and collectors.
- Community and brand identity: Etsy fosters a
community-centric platform where sellers can build a brand identity and connect withlike-minded customers. - Listing fees: Etsy charges a minimal listing fee per item, making it
cost-effective for sellers to list products without upfront costs. Seller-friendly policies: Etsy emphasizesseller-friendly policies, including transparency in fees, guidelines for selling handmade items, and support for small businesses.- Seller dashboard: Etsy provides a seller dashboard with analytics and insights to track sales performance, understand customer behavior, and optimize listings.
Etsy pricing vs eBay pricing
Etsy: Etsy charges a $0.20 USD listing fee for each item listed on the platform. Etsy also charges a 6.5% transaction fee on the total sale price (item price + shipping cost) for each transaction completed through the platform.
eBay: eBay generally offers the first 50 listings per month for free, although there may be fees for additional listings depending on the category. eBay charges a final value fee when an item sells.
4. Bonanza as an alternative to eBay
Selling on Bonanza is another compelling alternative to eBay for both buyers and sellers seeking a
User-friendly interface: Sellers can list and manage their products with ease thanks to Bonanza’s simple to use, intuitive platform.- Numerous product categories: Bonanza provides a broad selection of product categories, including fashion, home goods, collectibles, and more, much like eBay.
- Low fees: With a simple fee structure that includes a final value fee when an item sells, Bonanza usually charges less than eBay.
- Google Shopping integration: By connecting with Google Shopping, Bonanza can potentially reach a wider audience and boost the visibility and traffic to listings.
- Advertising choices: To advertise their goods and increase their visibility on the platform, sellers can choose from a variety of advertising options available on Bonanza.
Bonanza pricing vs. eBay pricing
Bonanza: Bonanza generally does not charge upfront listing fees for sellers. This means sellers can list their items without incurring initial costs. Bonanza charges a final value fee when an item sells. Bonanza’s final value fees are typically lower compared to eBay, ranging from 3.5% to 17.5%, depending on the final sale price.
eBay: Typically, the final values of fees are higher than those of Bonanza. Up to 50 free listings.
5. Facebook Marketplace as an alternative to eBay
User-friendly interface: Sellers can list and manage their products with ease thanks to Bonanza’s reputation as a simple, intuitive platform.- Numerous product categories: Bonanza provides a broad selection of product categories, including fashion, home goods, collectibles, and more, much like eBay.
- Minimal fees: Bonanza generally levies fees that are less than those of eBay, with a simple fee structure that Facebook Marketplace takes advantage of, as well as the vast user base and engagement of the social network by being seamlessly integrated into Facebook’s platform.
- Local selling: By concentrating on local transactions, the marketplace enables sellers to establish connections with local buyers for convenient pickup or delivery.
Facebook Marketplace is a
Facebook Marketplace pricing vs eBay pricing
Facebook Marketplace has emerged as another prominent alternative to eBay, offering a streamlined and convenient platform for buying and selling a wide range of goods locally.
Facebook Marketplace: Does not charge any fees for listing items for sale. Sellers can create listings for free, making it
eBay: Charges a final value fee when an item sells. This fee is a percentage of the total selling price (including shipping), typically around 10%, but varying by category.
6. Craigslist as an alternative to eBay
Selling on Craigslist offers another locally driven and distinct alternative to eBay, focusing primarily on local classifieds and direct transactions between buyers and sellers.
- Local focus: Craigslist primarily facilitates local buying and selling, allowing sellers to connect with buyers in their immediate geographic area.
- No fees for most listings: Craigslist typically does not charge fees for listing items, making it a
cost-effective option for sellers compared to platforms with transaction fees. - Flexibility in transactions: Sellers have flexibility in terms of payment methods and transaction arrangements, including
in-person exchanges or cash transactions.
Craigslist pricing vs. eBay pricing
Craigslist: It does not charge any fees for listing items for sale on its platform. Sellers can create listings for free in various categories, including goods, services, housing, jobs, and more. Craigslist does not facilitate transactions directly, nor does it charge transaction fees. Sellers and buyers typically arrange payment and delivery or pickup independently.
eBay: eBay charges higher fees but offers more comprehensive seller tools, including analytics, messaging systems, dispute resolution, and customer support, whereas Craigslist relies on direct communication between buyers and sellers.
7. Google Shopping as an Alternative to eBay
Google shopping is considered another popular selling option. By offering a streamlined shopping experience directly integrated with Google’s search engine, it serves as a top alternative to eBay.
- Comparison shopping engine: Google Shopping functions primarily as a comparison shopping engine, aggregating product listings from various online retailers and presenting them to users based on their search queries.
- Global reach: Products listed on Google Shopping can potentially reach a global audience, as Google’s search engine is used worldwide.
- Shopping campaigns: Sellers can run Google Ads Shopping campaigns to promote their products, targeting specific audiences and optimizing for conversions.
- Quality traffic: Users often visit Google Shopping with a clear intent to purchase, making the traffic quality high and potentially increasing conversion rates.
Google Shopping pricing vs. eBay
Google Shopping: Operates on a
eBay: Google Shopping does not charge upfront listing fees, making it
8. Ruby Lane as an alternative to eBay
Ruby Lane is a specialized online marketplace. Many prefer it over eBay given the platform’s curated shopping experience for buyers interested in unique and often
- Specialization in antiques, art, and collectibles: Ruby Lane serves collectors and enthusiasts with premium antiques, art, vintage collectibles, and jewelry.
- Curated marketplace: Ruby Lane features products that are
hand-picked based on their quality and distinctiveness, drawing in serious buyers who are interested in particular niche markets.
Ruby Lane pricing vs. eBay
Ruby Lane pricing: Charges a listing fee of $0.30 USD per item listed. Listings remain active until the item sells or is removed by the seller.
Ruby Lane charges a tiered commission fee based on the final selling price of the item:
- Items sold for $0
– $50: 6.7% commission - Items sold for $50.01
– $1,000: 4.7% commission - Items sold for $1,000.01 and above: 3.5% commission
The platform may also charge additional fees for optional features such as enhanced search placement or promotional tools to increase visibility.
eBay: Generally offers the first 50 listings per month for free, with additional fees for listings beyond this quota. eBay offers various optional upgrades and promotional tools (e.g., subtitle, featured listing) for additional fees to enhance listing visibility and attract more buyers.
Ruby Lane’s commission fees are tiered based on the final selling price, potentially offering lower fees for
9. Offer Up as an alternative to eBay
Offer up is considered another popular and local alternative to selling on eBay. The platform is known for its straightforward mobile app experience, connecting sellers with buyers within their communities.
- Local selling: OfferUp facilitates local transactions, allowing sellers to connect with buyers in their immediate geographic area for easy pickup or delivery.
- Social media integration: OfferUp integrates with social media platforms like Facebook, allowing sellers to promote their listings and reach a broader audience.
Mobile-centric platform: OfferUp is primarily accessed through its mobile app, making it convenient for sellers to manage listings and communicate with buyers on the go.- No shipping required: Sellers on OfferUp typically arrange for local pickup or delivery, eliminating the need for shipping and associated costs.
Offer up pricing vs. eBay
OfferUp: Typically does not charge listing fees for standard listings. Charges a flat fee of 12.9% of the total selling price for items over $500, or a flat fee of $50 for items sold for $500 or less.
The platform also uses its own payment processing system, which charges a fee of 7.9% + $0.30 per transaction.
eBay: Often uses PayPal for payment processing, which charges a fee of 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction. eBay charges a final value fee based on the total selling price plus shipping, typically around 10% to 12% depending on the category of the item.
10. Mercari as an alternative to eBay
Mercari operates as a mobile app and website where users can list items for sale at fixed prices rather than through auctions.
User-friendly mobile app: Mercari is primarily accessed through its mobile app, providing sellers with a convenient platform to list and manage items on the go.- Simple listing process: Mercari sellers can quickly create listings with photos, descriptions, and pricing details directly within the Mercari app, streamlining the selling process.
- Shipping options: Mercari offers shipping options for sellers, allowing them to ship items directly to buyers, similar to eBay’s shipping functionality.
- Fee structure: Mercari typically charges a flat 10% selling fee per completed transaction, simplifying fee calculation compared to eBay’s varied fee structure.
Mercari pricing vs eBay
Mercari: Generally does not charge upfront listing fees for sellers to list items on their platform. Listings are free to create. Mercari charges a flat 10% selling fee on the total sale price (including shipping costs) when an item is sold. This fee is deducted automatically from the seller’s earnings.
eBay: Charges final fee. Mercari charges a flat 10% selling fee on the total sale price, which is straightforward compared to eBay’s final value fees, which can vary by category and may include additional fees for optional upgrades.
11. Newegg as an alternative to eBay
Newegg is primarily known as an online retailer specializing in electronics and computer hardware.
- Focus on electronics and tech products: Newegg specializes in electronics, computer hardware, software, and related accessories, catering to
tech-savvy buyers and sellers. - Global marketplace: Newegg operates as a global marketplace, providing sellers with access to a wide customer base across multiple countries.
- Fee structure: Newegg typically charges a
per-sale commission fee, which varies depending on the product category and seller agreement, offering transparent fee structures for sellers.
Newegg pricing vs. eBay
Newegg: Typically does not charge upfront listing fees for sellers to list products on their platform. Newegg charges a commission on each sale made through their platform. The commission rate varies depending on the product category and other factors.
The platform also offers different seller plans, including a free Basic plan and a paid Pro plan with additional features. The Pro plan has a monthly subscription fee.
eBay: Charges a final value fee when an item sells, typically around 10% of the total selling price (including shipping), but this can vary by category. Both Newegg and eBay generally do not charge upfront listing fees for sellers, making it accessible to list products initially.
12. Alibaba as an alternative to eBay
Alibaba and eBay serve different marketplaces and customer bases, so while they both facilitate ecommerce, they cater to different needs and types of transactions, making Alibaba a common alternative to selling on eBay:
- B2B marketplace: Alibaba primarily operates as a
business-to-business (B2B) marketplace, connecting sellers with wholesale buyers and businesses globally. - Verified suppliers: Alibaba verifies suppliers and offers various levels of certification, helping buyers trust the authenticity and reliability of sellers.
- Trade assurance: Alibaba’s Trade Assurance program provides payment protection to buyers, ensuring sellers receive payment for orders completed satisfactorily.
- Negotiation and communication: Sellers can negotiate prices and terms directly with buyers through Alibaba’s messaging system, fostering personalized interactions.
- Fee structure: Alibaba typically charges fees based on membership levels and service usage, with options for sellers to choose plans that suit their business needs.
Alibaba pricing vs eBay
Alibaba: Alibaba charges sellers an annual Gold Supplier membership fee, which varies depending on the membership level and the services included.
eBay: eBay generally offers the first 50 listings per month for free, with fees for additional listings beyond this quota. Alibaba’s fees are primarily based on membership levels and optional advertising services, with no direct transaction fees on the platform itself.
eBay charges a combination of listing fees, final value fees, and optional promotional fees for enhanced visibility.
That’s a Wrap on Alternatives to Selling on eBay!
The sky’s the limit when it comes down to eBay selling alternatives.
Exploring different options outside of the platform can offer a diverse range of opportunities tailored to different business needs and market niches. Whether you’re looking to focus on handmade crafts, unique collectibles, electronics, wholesale goods, or local transactions, each platform offers distinct advantages.
Every platform possesses distinct advantages, such as extensive market coverage, specialized offerings in niche markets,
The best option will depend on your target market, preferred selling strategy, and business objectives.
