Whatnot or eBay? If you sell live, the real comparison is now Whatnot against eBay Live, eBay’s own live selling. Here’s what each one leaves you, using current US fees, alongside a regular eBay listing.
Whatnot or eBay: where you keep more
Profit after each platform's fees, your shipping and what you paid. Updates as you type.
Each platform uses its standard settings, noted under its name. Open its calculator to change them. Fees checked 22 October 2026. How we calculate fees.
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Whatnot vs eBay fees
| Whatnot (US) | eBay Live (US) | eBay listing (US, no Store) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commission or selling fee | 8% of the item price (less for high-volume sellers) | 6% of the total sale (4% for coins, bullion and sneakers), up to $100 per item | 13.6% up to $7,500, then 2.35% of the total sale in most categories |
| Payment processing | 2.9% + $0.30 on the item, shipping and tax | 2.9% + $0.30 on the total sale | Included in the selling fee |
| Per-order fee | None | None | $0.30 or $0.40 |
“Total sale” means everything the buyer pays: the item, shipping and sales tax. eBay Live fees are from eBay’s Live seller pricing, checked 30 October 2026.
What you keep at each price
| Item price | Whatnot | eBay Live | eBay listing |
|---|---|---|---|
| $10 | $8.37 | $8.07 | $7.11 |
| $25 | $21.70 | $21.64 | $19.92 |
| $50 | $43.92 | $44.24 | $41.27 |
| $100 | $88.36 | $89.46 | $83.96 |
| $250 | $221.69 | $225.11 | $212.03 |
US sales with $7 shipping paid by the buyer, a $7 label and 7.5% sales tax, before what you paid for the item. Whatnot at its standard commission; eBay Live and eBay listings in most categories. Fees as of 30 October 2026.
Below about $29, Whatnot leaves you a little more. Above that, eBay Live does, because its 6% commission is lower than Whatnot’s 8%, even though eBay charges it on shipping and tax too. Both leave you more than a regular eBay listing at every price. The tool above compares Whatnot with a regular eBay listing.
Beyond the fees
- Audience. Whatnot is built around live shows, with buyers who come to watch and bid. eBay Live puts your shows in front of eBay’s existing buyers.
- Volume discounts. Whatnot’s commission steps down for sellers with higher sales over each 4-week period. eBay Live’s commission stops at $100 per item, which matters for big-ticket pieces.
- High-value orders. On Whatnot, there’s no commission on the part of an order above $1,500.00 in categories such as cards, comics, toys, coins and watches.
For every option on Whatnot, including whole shows and other countries, use the full Whatnot fee calculator. For listings, use the eBay fee calculator.
Whatnot vs eBay questions
Is Whatnot cheaper than eBay?
Cheaper than a regular eBay listing, yes. Against eBay Live, it depends on the price: Whatnot leaves you more on items under about $29, and eBay Live on items above that.
What is eBay Live?
eBay’s live selling, where you sell items during a live video show, like on Whatnot. It has its own fees, lower than regular eBay listings.
Does Whatnot charge fees on shipping?
Whatnot’s commission is on the item price only. Its payment processing fee applies to the item, shipping and tax.
Can I compare other platforms?
Yes. Where should I sell this? compares eight marketplaces at once: eBay, Poshmark, Depop, Mercari, TikTok Shop, Etsy, Vinted and Whatnot.