Every marketplace has a headline fee. None of them advertise the real number. The gap between the number on the pricing page and what actually leaves your bank account is significant — and it's not accidental. Fee structures are designed to look favorable at a glance while extracting more value in practice.
Here's the complete picture. Six major marketplaces, every fee layer, calculated the same way. The methodology: we show the effective all-in rate on a $100 sale, including every mandatory fee a typical seller would encounter. Everything is compared at list price — seller-set, before shipping unless specified.
The Full Side-by-Side: 2026 Fee Comparison
| Fee Component | Etsy | Amazon | eBay | Faire | Poshmark | StockX | FluxPulse |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Listing Fee | $0.20/listing | None | None | None | None | None | None |
| Transaction / Seller Fee | 6.5% | 8–15%* | 13%+ | 5–15% | 20% | 9.5–10% | 8% |
| Payment Processing | 3% + $0.25 | 2.9% + $0.30 | 2.9% + $0.30 | Varies | Included | 3% + $0.30 | Included in 8% |
| Mandatory / Auto-Enrolled Ads | 12–15% above $10k/yr | 3–5% (auto) | Promoted optional | None | None | None | None |
| Category / Closing Fees | $0.25/order | $0.50–$1.50/item | $0.30–$1.50/order | Varies | None | None | None |
| Authentication / Handling | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | $5–$15/item | N/A |
| Payout Speed | Weekly | 14-day hold (new sellers) | 1–2 business days | Net-30 minimum | On demand | 3–7 days post-auth | Weekly |
| Effective Rate — $100 sale | 10–21% | 12–19% | 15–16% | 8–18% | 20% | 15–17% | 8% flat |
* Amazon's referral fee varies by category (8–15%). Electronics and media are 8%, most consumer goods 8–15%, handmade goods 15%, etc.
All figures represent 2026 published rates as of May. "Effective rate" = all mandatory fees on a $100 item sale.
What You Actually Keep: $100 Sale
$100 sale — how much ends up in your account?
Platform-by-Platform Breakdown
Etsy — The Fee Stacking Problem
Etsy's 6.5% transaction fee is the most-cited number — and the most misleading. The full picture adds up fast:
- The transaction fee applies to the shipping price you charge, not just the item price
- Payment processing (3% + $0.25) is mandatory with Etsy Payments — that's another 3.25% on a $100 item
- $0.20 listing fee per listing, per relist, per quantity-tracked item sold
- Offsite Ads at 12–15% is mandatory once you cross $10,000 in annual revenue — and it's retroactive to sales 30 days old
A seller doing $50k/year on Etsy with Offsite Ads enrolled is paying 18–21% in effective fees. The only sellers paying close to the headline 6.5% are low-volume sellers who opted out and charged no shipping.
Amazon — High Volume, High Fees
Amazon's referral fees range from 8% (electronics, media) to 15% (handmade, many other categories). Then there's the FBA fulfillment fee ($3–$8 per item), storage fees, and the Closeable/Additional fees that add $0.30–$1.50 per order. Many new sellers also face the 14-day payout hold.
For products where you can list at the higher end of the referral fee schedule, you're looking at 16–19% effective all-in. The buyer volume is unmatched — but the fee stack is substantial.
eBay — Simple-ish, But Not Low
eBay's final value fees sit at 13%+ depending on category, plus 2.9% + $0.30 payment processing. Add in order-level fees and optional promoted listing costs (which can range from 2% to 20% extra on top), and most eBay sellers are clearing 15–16%. The platform is broad but the effective rate is not competitive with the best alternatives.
Faire — Built for Wholesale, Fee Structure Reflects It
Faire charges 5% on wholesale orders under $500 and up to 15% on smaller retail orders. The net-30 payment terms are a significant cash flow hit — you're extending credit to retail buyers for a full month. For sellers who can manage the float, the platform's buyer audience (independent boutique owners) can be worth it. But the effective cost when you factor in cash flow is higher than the headline percentage suggests.
Poshmark — Expensive for Sellers, Cheaper for Buyers
Poshmark's 20% flat fee sounds simple — but at $20 per $100 sale, it's the second-highest effective rate on this list after mandatory ad enrollment on Etsy. The buyer experience is good, the seller experience is expensive. No listing fees and on-demand payouts are nice — but 20% is 20%.
StockX — Your Price Isn't Your Price
StockX operates on a bid-market model — you list an item, buyers bid against each other, and you sell at the current market price. You don't set your price; the market does. The seller fee (9.5–10%) plus a $5–$15 authentication fee (depending on item value) plus payment processing brings the effective rate to 14–17%. Plus, your item physically ships to StockX for authentication before reaching the buyer — adding a week of delay. Worth it for authenticated sneakers and limited-edition items; not worth it for most general resale.
FluxPulse Market — 8% Flat, Everything Included
8% per sale. That's it. No listing fees, no payment processing surcharge on top, no auto-enrolled ad programs, no closing fees, no authentication fees. Weekly payouts, no minimum balance. Browse the current listings to see what's selling, then set up your store in minutes.
Annual Impact: $50,000 in Revenue
The fee difference compounds at scale. Here's what you'd pay in annual fees on $50,000 in revenue:
| Platform | Effective Fee Rate | Annual Fees on $50k | Annual Payout |
|---|---|---|---|
| Etsy (with Offsite Ads) | ~20% | $10,000 | $40,000 |
| Poshmark | 20% | $10,000 | $40,000 |
| StockX | ~16% | $8,000 | $42,000 |
| Amazon | ~14–18% | $7,000–$9,000 | $41,000–$43,000 |
| eBay | ~15–16% | $7,500–$8,000 | $42,000–$42,500 |
| Faire | ~10–15% | $5,000–$7,500 | $42,500–$45,000 |
| FluxPulse Market | 8% flat | $4,000 | $46,000 |
On $50,000 in annual revenue, FluxPulse saves you $6,000 vs Etsy with Offsite Ads, $6,000 vs Poshmark, and $4,000–$5,000 vs Amazon or eBay. That difference funds inventory, part-time help, or just better margins. At $100,000/year, it doubles to $12,000. Fee structure matters — especially when you're selling at volume.
What to Watch For
Fee comparisons are never fully apples-to-apples, but a few patterns hold:
- Read the footnote on ad programs — Etsy, Amazon, and eBay can all enroll you in mandatory or semi-mandatory ad programs above a revenue threshold. These are often opt-out while you're small, opt-in when you're big enough to matter.
- Payment processing is rarely included — most platforms add 2.9–3% + $0.25–$0.30 on top of their headline transaction fee. That's 3–4% extra before you calculate your margin.
- Marketplaces with high buyer volume charge higher fees — Amazon and Etsy charge more because the traffic is real. The question is whether the traffic premium justifies the fee premium for your category and volume.
- Wholesale platforms (Faire) have different math — lower per-unit fees but net-30 payouts create a hidden cash flow cost. If your working capital is limited, that's a real factor.
Keep More of Every Sale
8% flat fee on FluxPulse Market. No listing fees, no mandatory ads, no payment processing surcharge. See what's currently listed or open your seller account — takes under 5 minutes.