Etsy vs eBay vs Poshmark: Which Is Cheapest to Sell On?
Three very different marketplaces, three very different fee models. Here's what each takes, what each is actually for, and which one leaves you with the most.
The short answer
On fees alone, on a $40 sale with no ads, Etsy is the cheapest (10.6%), eBay sits in the middle (14.6%), and Poshmark is the priciest (20.0%; Poshmark is a flat 20% from $15 up). But that ranking only matters if all three can sell your item, and they cannot. Etsy is restricted to handmade and vintage, eBay takes almost anything, and Poshmark is built for fashion resale. The right pick is the cheapest platform that fits what you sell.
The fees compared
Run your own price through each calculator, since the gap changes with shipping, category and price point:
Poshmark's flat fee flips the math on cheap items. Below $15 it charges a flat $2.95, so a $10 sale costs 29.5%, worse than eBay's 16.6%. But Poshmark includes the shipping label, which the others don't.
What each platform is for
Etsy: handmade goods, craft supplies and genuine vintage (20+ years). You can't resell mass-produced new products here, but for makers and vintage sellers it's both the cheapest of the three on the example sale and the most targeted audience.
eBay: almost anything, new or used, auction or fixed price. The widest reach and the most flexible, with category fees from 6.7% to 15.3%; the all-in fee is higher than Etsy’s ($5.84 against $4.25 on a $40 sale) but it sells things the others won't touch.
Poshmark: fashion, shoes, accessories, home and beauty resale, with a social, app-first audience. The 20% is steep, but the bundled shipping label and built-in buyers can be worth it for clothing resellers. For younger fashion, also weigh up Depop, which charges US sellers a 0% selling fee and only payment processing: $1.77 on a $40 sale, against $8.00 on Poshmark.
Which keeps the most of your sale
- Handmade or vintage:
- Etsy, for the cheapest fees of the three and the right buyers.
- Used electronics, collectibles, anything unusual:
- eBay, often the only option, and its reach justifies the 14.6% on a $40 sale.
- Secondhand clothing:
- Poshmark or eBay for reach; Depop for the lowest fees on younger fashion.
- Cheap items under $15:
- avoid Poshmark's flat $2.95: on a $10 sale it leaves you $7.05, against $8.34 on eBay and $9.22 on Depop.
Whichever you choose, your payout is the last cost, not the marketplace fee. If you sell across currencies, a marked-up conversion can eat into the fee advantage. See the Wise and Payoneer calculators, and our guide on how to lower marketplace seller fees.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Etsy, eBay or Poshmark cheapest?
On a $40 item with no shipping or ads, Etsy keeps you the most: $35.75 on Etsy, $34.16 on eBay, $32.00 on Poshmark, so fees of 10.6% on Etsy, 14.6% on eBay, 20.0% on Poshmark. Poshmark takes 20% on sales of $15 and above (or a flat $2.95 below), and eBay's rate depends on the category. They serve different sellers, so fees alone don’t decide it.
Can I sell the same items on all three?
Not always. Etsy only allows handmade goods, vintage items at least 20 years old, and craft supplies, with no reselling of mass-produced new products. eBay allows almost anything, new or used. Poshmark is for fashion, accessories, home and beauty. Match the platform to your inventory.
Which is best for selling clothes?
For secondhand fashion, Poshmark and eBay are the go-tos: Poshmark bundles the shipping label and has a social-selling audience, while eBay has the widest reach. True vintage clothing (20+ years) can also sell on Etsy, and Depop is a strong low-fee option for younger fashion resale.
Which platform keeps the most of my money?
On the $40 example, Etsy, on fees ($35.75 of $40), for eligible handmade or vintage items. But the audience, shipping and your payout all matter too, because a marked-up currency conversion when you withdraw can swing the outcome more than the fee gap between platforms.
Compare your real take-home
Run the same item through each calculator to see which platform keeps you the most.
Related Guides & Calculators
The two costs every freelancer pays (the platform fee and the payout currency markup) and how to keep more of both in 2026.
What Stripe really charges in 2026 (the 2.9% + $0.30 base plus ACH, international, keyed, instant payouts and disputes) and how to lower your bill.
Listing, transaction, payment & ads fees.
Final value fee + per-order fee by category.
$2.95 under $15, or 20% commission.
Once you sell abroad, where the FX cost actually lands.
Sources & References
Provider pricing and exchange rates are set by the companies named and can change. Figures in this guide are checked against these official sources. Always confirm the live rate before you transact.