Introduction

Choosing between eBay vs Amazon can feel difficult. Both are top marketplaces for sellers in 2025. Each platform has its own fees, tools, and audiences. By comparing them side by side, you can pick the best place to grow your business. This guide explains the key differences. We cover eBay fees 2025, Amazon FBA, seller tools, and shipping options. You will learn how to sell on eBay or sell on Amazon with confidence. Read on to see which long term ecommerce platform in the United States in 2025 suits your needs.

What Is eBay?

Founded in 1995 as an auction site, eBay remains popular in 2025 for new, used, and collectible items. Sellers can choose fixed prices or auctions auctions sometimes yield higher bids for rare items. Its audience includes collectors and small businesses selling antiques, electronics, or handmade goods. In 2025, eBay uses AI to suggest prices and categories, and it shows similar sold items to help set fair prices. Fees include insertion fees (with a set number of free listings each month) and final value fees around 10–12% of the sale price (including shipping). The Seller Hub tracks views, watch counts, and sales, and offers discounted shipping labels. For unique or niche products, eBay remains a strong choice in online marketplace comparisons.

What Is Amazon?

Founded in 1994 as an online bookstore, Amazon has become the world’s largest online retailer, offering everything from books and electronics to groceries and fresh produce. A key feature is Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA), where sellers send inventory to Amazon’s warehouses for storage, packing, and shipping often enabling one- or two-day delivery for Prime members and higher search visibility. FBA sellers incur storage and fulfillment fees, while those who ship themselves (FBM) pay referral fees of about 15% plus a $39.99 monthly professional seller fee (or $0.99 per item for individual sellers). Amazon’s Seller Central dashboard provides real-time sales data, inventory management, and advertising tools like Sponsored Products; by 2025, AI-driven demand forecasting and pricing suggestions help entrepreneurs scale high-volume sales and grow their brands.

Seller Fees and Costs

Comparing eBay fees 2025 to Amazon fees helps you plan for profit.

eBay Fees

• Insertion Fee: Charged when you list an item. eBay often gives you free listings—up to 50 per month for basic accounts. Beyond that, insertion fees start at $0.10 per listing.
• Final Value Fee: A percentage of the sale price, including shipping. This is usually 10–12%, depending on the category.
• Payment Processing Fee: Around 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction through eBay’s managed payments.

Amazon Fees

• Referral Fee: About 15% of the total sale price (varies by category). This covers payment processing too.
• Fulfillment Fees (FBA): Charged per unit based on size and weight. For a small standard item, fees are around $3–$4. These fees cover picking, packing, and shipping.
• Storage Fees (FBA): Monthly storage fees based on volume. Extra fees apply during peak seasons (October–December).
• Professional Seller Fee: $39.99 per month for unlimited listings. Individual sellers pay $0.99 per item instead, with no monthly fee.

For low-volume sellers or those selling unique items, eBay’s lower upfront costs can be appealing. For high-volume sellers who want fast shipping and Prime access, Amazon FBA often makes sense despite higher fees. Choose based on your sales volume, product type, and whether you can handle shipping or need Amazon to do it.

Seller Tools and Features

Each platform offers tools to help you manage listings, orders, and customer service.

eBay Seller Tools

• Seller Hub: Combines listing creation, order management, and performance metrics in one place.
• AI Listing Assistant: Suggests titles, categories, and prices based on similar sold items.
• Promoted Listings: Pay-per-sale advertising that appears in search results for a small fee (1–2% of sale price).
• Bulk Listing: Upload hundreds of items at once using CSV files or the eBay API.
• Discounted Shipping Labels: Print USPS or UPS labels at lower rates directly from eBay.

Amazon Seller Tools

• Seller Central: A dashboard for inventory, orders, and performance reports.
• Amazon FBA: Handles storage, packing, shipping, and returns. This gives you Prime eligibility and fast shipping.
• Automated Pricing: AI-driven price adjustments to stay competitive while protecting margins.
• Sponsored Ads: Pay-per-click campaigns that highlight your products in search results.
• A+ Content: For brand-registered sellers, you can add rich images and comparison charts to product pages.
• Inventory Forecast: AI predicts how much stock you need each month to avoid overstock or stockouts.

Using third-party tools can further streamline your work. Services like Sellbrite and ChannelAdvisor sync inventory across both eBay and Amazon. They update stock levels automatically when an item sells on either platform. This helps prevent overselling.

Customer Base and Traffic

Understanding buyer demographics helps when choosing between eBay vs Amazon.

Amazon

• Over 300 million active users in 2025.
• 200 million Prime members who expect fast shipping.
• Shoppers often look for new items, electronics, and everyday essentials.
• Amazon’s algorithm rewards sellers who offer fast shipping and good customer service.

eBay

• 150 million active buyers worldwide in 2025.
• Strong community for collectors and secondhand items.
• Auctions attract buyers looking for rare or used products at good prices.
• eBay’s search (Cassini) favors well-priced items with high seller ratings and free shipping options.

Amazon is best if you sell mass-market products like electronics, books, or household goods. Its large Prime user base buys more often. eBay works well for unique or used items—antiques, collectibles, refurbished goods. Many sellers use both platforms to reach wider audiences and increase sales.

Shipping and Logistics

Shipping has a big impact on sales success in 2025.

Amazon FBA

• You send bulk inventory to Amazon’s warehouses.
• Amazon picks, packs, and ships each order to customers.
• Prime fast shipping (one-day or two-day) helps attract buyers.
• You pay a fulfillment fee per item and storage fees based on volume.
• Amazon handles returns and customer service, which saves you time.

Fulfilled by Merchant (FBM)

• You handle storage, packing, and shipping.
• You can still use Amazon’s shipping rates and tools.
• If you meet Amazon’s performance metrics, you can qualify for “Seller Fulfilled Prime.” This gives Prime tag without using FBA.
• You must keep inventory close to buyers to earn fast shipping badges.

eBay Shipping

• Sellers use eBay Labels to access discounted USPS and UPS rates.
• You package and ship items yourself.
• eBay’s shipping calculator estimates costs based on item weight and size.
• Free shipping listings rank higher in search results. If you include shipping in your price, promote “free shipping” to attract buyers.
• For large-volume sellers, consider a 3PL (third-party logistics) provider. This service stores inventory, picks, packs, and ships on your behalf. They integrate with your eBay account for seamless order handling.

Local Pickup can also work well on eBay. If you sell furniture or large items, offering a local pickup reduces shipping headaches. Always meet in a public place if the item is small, and bring a friend for safety.

Comparative Table: eBay vs Amazon Features Comparison

This table highlights key differences in our ecommerce showdown 2025, helping you decide where to sell based on your needs.

Conclusion

The eBay vs Amazon debate in 2025 comes down to your products and goals. eBay shines for unique, used, or collectible items. Its auction style can yield higher prices for rare goods. With lower upfront costs and discounted shipping labels, eBay is friendly to small sellers. Amazon, on the other hand, excels in high-volume sales with Amazon FBA. Its massive Prime member base expects fast shipping. If you sell new, mass-market items and want hands-off logistics, Amazon is hard to beat.

Use this guide to weigh eBay fees 2025 against Amazon FBA costs. Consider AI tools each platform offers for listing optimization and fraud protection. Remember to choose the marketplace that fits your inventory and capacity. For many sellers, using both platforms brings the best results: eBay for niche items and Amazon for brand growth. Whichever you choose, stay updated on platform changes to keep your business thriving.