Best eBay Alternatives: 9+ Options [Ranked and Reviewed]

eBay is one of the largest online marketplaces.

Since 1995, it’s given users a platform to sell anything, from their collections to their business products.

But the site’s longevity doesn’t necessarily make it the best option for your eCommerce needs.

There are plenty of eBay alternatives you can use to lower selling costs and reach a broad audience.

The Best eBay Alternatives at a Glance

Using eBay isn’t the only way to sell your goods.

Merchants who look for eBay alternatives want lower fees and platforms that are easy to use.

Read on to get reviews on more than nine of the best e-commerce platforms that help you make money online.

An Overview of eBay

As one of the largest online marketplaces, eBay is a popular platform for buyers and sellers.

Knowing how the service works helps you understand what to look for in eBay alternatives.

What Is eBay?

eBay is an online shopping platform based on an auction format.

Sellers can list an item and set a starting price and the amount they’re willing to accept.

This setup means you know you’ll get the right price for your goods, but you could also get much more if people continue to push the bid higher.

Where Does eBay Excel?

eBay excels in its diverse marketplace and auction-style format.

Sellers can list anything on this platform and set an opening price.

Bidders can ramp up the price, so sellers make more than expected.

You don’t have to depend on the auction, though—eBay also lets sellers use a Buy It Now button to sell at a set price.

Where Does eBay Fall Short?

eBay falls short in two significant ways for sellers.

One is the listing process, which starts by asking you to categorize your item.

You need several pictures and a detailed description to list an item on eBay.

The other failure is the fees eBay charges for the listing fee and as a commission on sold goods.

Best eBay Alternatives: Our Top 3 Options [Ranked & Reviewed]

There are so many online selling platforms that it’s hard to know what will make you money.

Instead of creating profiles on many different eBay alternatives to see what works, check out these reviews of the top three options.1.

Amazon: Our Pick

Amazon started as an online bookstore and expanded to include other products.

Now it sells everything, from clothing to Amazon-branded smart devices.

There’s even a grocery element to Amazon, thanks to a partnership with Whole Foods.

It might seem like this is for professional retailers, but many people can make money selling on Amazon.

Key Features of Amazon

• Broad audience: Everyone buys from Amazon because they can search a massive database, make a purchase with one click, and get quick shipping. Adding your products to the mix exposes you to this impressive audience.
• Amazon Seller app: The app makes it easy to manage your inventory on the go. You can fulfill orders, communicate with customers, and run ads from the app.
• Coupons: Using coupons can inspire customers to buy from you instead of someone else, and Amazon makes them easy to use. You don’t have to do the work yourself, just set the price and limit, schedule an ending date, and watch the sales add up.
• Automated pricing: You don’t have to do market research to stay competitive in your field. Amazon’s automated pricing chooses the best price for your goods, so you make a profit but edge out the alternatives.
• Customized promotions: Though you’re selling through Amazon, you can treat your items like they’re in your eCommerce store. You can run lightning deals, offer discounts, and provide free shipping.

eBay vs. Amazon: How They Compare

eBay and Amazon are similar in audience reach, so both are great potential moneymakers.

However, eBay relies heavily on the auction aspect, which can help you make more profit than expected.

Amazon provides more opportunities for your items to come up in searches and related items for potential customers.

Why Is Amazon a Great Alternative to eBay?

Amazon has a vast audience like eBay, but the company eliminates many barriers to selling.

It’s easier to list products on Amazon and sell them quickly compared to the work that goes into your eBay inventory.

You also don’t have to pay a listing fee to make more profit.

Pros of Amazon

• Huge platform: Amazon is the largest, most popular online marketplace, so you have a broad audience that can find your items through simple searches.
• Easy startup: If you’re new to selling online, using Amazon is the best way to enter the marketplace.
• Global reach: Amazon is a worldwide distributor, so you can access customers globally without needing to worry about currency exchange and shipping.

Cons of Amazon

• Fees: Amazon’s fees can add up when you consider the commission percentage, especially if you’re already paying for a Professional plan.
• Reputation: Some people don’t respect what Amazon’s founder, Jeff Bezos, stands for, so they don’t use his platform. You can lose some potential sales.
• Lack of data: When you sell through Amazon, you’re letting them have all customer data. You don’t have a chance to build a mailing list and customer database like you would with a personal eCommerce storefront.

Amazon Pricing

Amazon takes a portion of the final sale price for each item, with the average falling between 8% and 15%.

But there are also plans you can pay for to increase your audience.

• Individual plan: $0.99 per item sold
• Professional plan: $39.99 per month

Can You Try Amazon for Free?

Yes, you can try to sell items on Amazon for free, but you’ll have to pay a portion of the final sales price as a commission.

However, unlike eBay, there’s no listing fee you have to pay before you even make any money.

You can also sell for free by using Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA).

Conclusion: Should You Choose Amazon Over eBay?

Amazon and eBay have huge platforms, so they’re the top choices regarding audience reach.

Amazon wins because you can use FBA and be completely hands-on with your Amazon store, allowing the company to pick, pack, and ship the orders.

You know you’ll make a specific income on each sale, while eBay auctions can sell for less than expected.

Bonanza: Runner-Up

Bonanza is an online marketplace that boasts more than 22 million products for sale, including items like:

• Clothing for men, women, and children
• Home and garden goods
• Jewelry and fashion accessories
• Collectible items and artwork

The fees for selling on Bonanza are low, so you’re more likely to profit from this site than eBay.

Key Features of Bonanza

• Hosting: Instead of relying on the Bonanza marketplace, you can use it as hosting and connect your domain name or get a new one through the Bonanza dashboard.
• Inventory management: Bonanza’s dashboard has seller tools that make it easy to manage your inventory, update descriptions, and more.
• Store themes: You don’t need to know HTML to set up an attractive storefront. Bonanza has many eye-catching themes you can use for free.
• Link marketplaces: If you’re selling on eBay, Shopify, Amazon, or Etsy, you don’t need to make an additional Bonanza store—you can import your existing products.
• Simple store setup: You don’t have to create your storefront because it automatically populates based on your profile and uploaded items, simplifying the selling process.

eBay vs. Bonanza: How They Compare

Bonanza fees are low, charging a 3.5% commission on sales up to $1,000.

Even if you’re selling an item for a low price, $0.50 is the minimum fee Bonanza takes.

eBay charges 12% to 15% commission fees on sales up to $1,000.

They charge $0.35 per listing.

Why Is Bonanza a Great Alternative to eBay?

Bonanza only charges money if you make money, so you can make more of a profit on this platform.

You have to spend money to list an item on eBay, so you’re already starting at a disadvantage.

Bonanza is seller-centric, empowering them to list more and make sales.

Pros of Bonanza

• Lower fees: There’s no charge to open a booth and list items, and the percentage of each sale is very low.
• Ease of use: Bonanza is seller-centric, so creating an account and setting up a booth with your items is easy.
• Quality payment options: You can accept PayPal, Amazon Pay, and Stripe through Bonanza, so your customers can check easily.

Cons of Bonanza

• Automatic fee payment: Bonanza doesn’t let the fees build up and give you a chance to pay them later. Instead, when your account has enough money, they automatically take their portion.
• Smaller platform: eBay is one of the biggest online marketplaces, so you get a broad audience. Bonanza isn’t as well-known, so you have fewer eyes on your products.
• Limited layouts: Bonanza focuses on getting storefronts up and running. Therefore, the templates you can use for your store look fairly basic, and you can’t customize them to represent your brand.

Bonanza Pricing

• Gold Plan: $40 a month or $25 a month billed annually.
• Platinum Plan: $70 a month or $55 a month billed annually.
• Titan Plan: $200 a month or $167 a month billed annually.

Can You Try Bonanza for Free?

Yes, you can try Bonanza for free by creating an account and opening a booth.

However, if you want more selling features, you need a membership plan like those listed above.

You can try any membership level for free for 14 days.

Conclusion: Should You Choose Bonanza Over eBay?

Yes, Bonanza is a better pick compared to eBay because the fees are so low.

You can set up a storefront in less than ten minutes and link it to a custom domain name, making it easy to share your shop and bring in sales.

You don’t have to pay anything upfront, but memberships empower you to sell more and cut down on the overall fees.

Etsy: Budget Pick

When you’re selling niche products online, the best of all eBay alternatives is Etsy.

This online selling platform offers handmade goods and vintage items. Sellers list items such as:

• Jewelry
• Clothing
• Purses
• Home Decor

Because the items are vintage, meaning at least 20 years old, or handmade, the prices are higher than you’d pay for mass-produced goods.

There’s also more of a chance for Etsy sellers to showcase their personalities since buyers are directly supporting the creators.

Key Features of Etsy

• Easy setup: Etsy sellers can start a profile quickly, using the templates to import their products and easily manage inventory.
• Trustworthy: Buyers feel a greater sense of trust when buying from Etsy sellers. They’re buying handmade products directly from the creator, so it’s easier to trust the seller and know they care about the buying experience.
• Integrations: You can integrate your existing storefronts with Etsy if you use Shopify, Magento, WooCommerce, or others.
• Seller app: Etsy knows the sellers are creative people, so they simplify the selling process. The app is easy to use, so merchants can prioritize designing their goods.
• Featured artists: Etsy periodically highlights sellers making an impact on the community. This spotlight helps creators get more attention which leads to more sales.

eBay vs. Etsy: How They Compare

eBay is a site that allows sellers to list any type of merchandise, but people don’t go there for handmade gifts. Therefore, the audience is drastically different from what you find on Etsy.

If your merchandise suits what sells on Etsy, you can make more money because people pay for quality goods.

You also pay less in fees, so you can make a high profit.

Why Is Etsy a Great Alternative to eBay?

Etsy is a great alternative to eBay if you’re a creator or designer.

You know that the audience on Etsy prioritizes handmade goods, unique items, and high quality, and they’re willing to pay more for those items.

Etsy only takes a percentage of the sold price, so you’ll save money compared to paying to list items on eBay.

Pros of Etsy

• Easy listing: eBay requires users to go through many steps before they can list an item. Etsy simplifies the process, so merchants are free to focus more on creation than marketplace maintenance.
• Customized shipping: Since many handmade goods need specific packaging, using Etsy is best because you can specify your shipping method, so you’re reimbursed for the packaging materials and shipping that deliver goods unharmed.
• Sense of community: Etsy feels more natural than eBay or Amazon. Customers buy directly from the creators, so they have a sense of community that you don’t get on bland platforms.

Cons of Etsy

• Competition: Etsy is one of the biggest marketplaces for handmade goods, so you have a lot of competition on the site. It’s tough to stand out if you’re selling something similar to many other people.
• Lack of customization: Etsy provides the shop layout just as eBay does, so you don’t get a customized storefront to help convey your brand and personality, which increases the competition even more.
• No data collection: Etsy sellers don’t get to collect data from their customers like they could using their eCommerce site. They’re unable to build a mailing list or customer database because all that information goes directly to Etsy.

Etsy Pricing

Etsy makes money by taking commissions from all sales.

However, there is one paid subscription plan that provides listing credits, a custom domain name, and promotional materials.

• Etsy Standard: Free
• Etsy Plus: $10 a month

Can You Try Etsy for Free?

Yes, you can try Etsy for free, but you have to pay a commission when you make a sale.

You never have to pay for Etsy Plus—you can use the free Standard plan forever.

You can also choose to pay extra for Etsy Ads or Etsy Shipping Labels as needed without committing to a monthly fee.

Conclusion: Should You Choose Etsy Over eBay?

Yes, if you’re an artist, designer, or creator who sells handmade goods, you’ll find your ideal audience on Etsy.

eBay is better for professional retailers and those selling standard items.

Etsy customers are looking for unique, custom, creative products and gifts, and they’re willing to pay more for the items.

The Best Free eBay Options

The previous eBay alternatives charge a listing fee or take a commission.

Even if they take small percentages of each sale, these figures add up.

With those prices in mind, you should consider these free online selling platforms.

If you’re tired of the fees for using Shopify, you might prefer to list your goods on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist.

Facebook Marketplace

Many people have a Facebook account, so using Facebook Marketplace is a simple, free way to sell your items.

You post the item publicly, showcasing photos and a description.

You can sell it to local people and meet up with them to exchange goods, or you can add shipping to the listing and sell it to anyone worldwide.

Why Is Facebook Marketplace a Great Option?

Facebook Marketplace is a great option because you don’t have to create a seller account—you use your Facebook account.

There’s no fee, so you don’t have to worry about the platform charging you to list or taking a commission on the sale.

It’s also easy for buyers to filter their searches to locations nearby if they want.

Drawbacks to Facebook Marketplace

You’ll find a lot of scammers on Facebook Marketplace, so buy and sell carefully.

While you can see the profiles of your buyers and they can see yours, that doesn’t mean they’re who they claim to be.

Facebook has purchase protection in place that can help you, but it can take time to sort out.

Craigslist

Craigslist is a huge platform for classified ads, including job listings, creative opportunities, discussion forums, and services.

You can list items for sale on Craigslist in more than 40 categories.

The ads can be as descriptive as you choose, with one or more photos, a written description, and pickup or shipping information.

Why Is Craigslist a Great Option?

Craigslist is a great option because you can list your item without paying a fee or commission.

You don’t have to jump through hoops to create an ad and have freedom over the information you’re willing to share.

You use a masked email address, so you don’t have to worry about anyone contacting you outside of the Craiglist platform.

Drawbacks to Craigslist

Craigslist has specific marketplaces for various locales.

That means you’re selling to buyers in your city and surrounding area.

While you don’t have to choose as many niche categories as eBay, there are still over 40 channels to list your item.

Choosing the right one is important so you don’t miss a sale.

Notable Mentions: Other Alternatives to eBay

Our three top picks and the two free options give you lots to explore when selling online, but there are more eBay alternatives.

The three following platforms offer great outlets for people selling various goods.

eBid

The name eBid brings eBay to mind, but not many people know about eBid. It’s a good platform for sellers because the fees are much lower than eBay.

There are separate marketplaces for multiple countries, so you must set your location before buying or selling anything.

Why is eBid a Great Option?

eBid is a great option to sell online because there are no listing fees.

You have to pay a certain percentage of items sold, but your overall expense is lower than eBay’s.

Even though you might not know its name, it’s been around since 1999 and has a huge audience, so you’re sure to sell your items.

Drawbacks to eBid

The website layout is fairly busy, so buyers might have trouble scrolling through the results and finding your items.

You can also only accept three different payment options, which limits your buying pool.

A Seller+ membership can give you more benefits, but you have to pay for that subscription, which can eat into your profits.

eCrater

eCrater stands out from eBay and eBid because it’s more like an eCommerce store.

You get your storefront and can link to your specific profile to get more direct sales.

However, you don’t need to code your website, so it’s a simple process to do on your own.

Why is eCrater a Great Option?

eCrater is a great option for online sales because you can personalize a storefront without needing to build your website.

This feature makes it easy for you to stand out compared to other sellers.

When you think of Amazon’s results, everything is plain. But on eCrater, your store can look different from everyone else’s.

Drawbacks to eCrater

Unless you’re promoting your eCrater profile to your audience, you might find it hard to make sales.

The overall audience base is small, so you’re not going to get the organic traffic you do with eBay and Amazon searches.

The biggest eCrater sellers offer unique products or have an audience they’re sending to their storefront.

Ruby Lane

Ruby Lane is an online vintage store that sells clothes, collectibles, art, and jewelry.

Instead of searching through eBay results for true vintage finds, everything you see on Ruby Lane is retro.

You can even buy and sell antiques on this platform.

Why is Ruby Lane a Great Option?

Ruby Lane is a great option because professionals work behind the scenes.

They vet all the shops to ensure they’re selling legitimate vintage goods, which means buyers know they’re getting high-quality items.

Since the platform only sells vintage items, you can price them accordingly without worrying that buyers won’t appreciate the item and will try to underpay.

Drawbacks to Ruby Lane

Ruby Lane is a niche platform, so if you don’t sell vintage items, you won’t want to list them here.

You also have to meet specific guidelines to maintain a store on Ruby Lane, which may take more work than you’re willing to do.

If you list more than 50 goods, you have to pay a fee for each additional item.

Even More Options To Check Out

You’ve already learned about eight eBay alternatives, but there are many more options.

These three platforms give you another outlet to sell your items.

Walmart

Walmart is more than a retail store—it’s an online marketplace. Like Amazon, Walmart now allows third-party sellers to list their goods on its website.

When consumers search for an item on the Walmart website, the store’s products show up first, but yours are also in the search results.

Selling through Walmart gives you a huge audience.

Wish

Wish is a popular marketplace that now invites merchants to sell through the platform.

There’s a specific audience for Wish products, though, so you don’t want to list your expensive or high-end products on the site.

Many Wish customers buy small, inexpensive products, so you should only sell here if you offer trendy, low-priced items.

Newegg

Newegg is a platform for computer hardware, gaming systems, and tech accessories.

If you’re selling tech products online, you can list them through Newegg to get the best audience.

Buyers come to Newegg for tech-specific goods, so you know your items will sell here.

When you list items, make sure you’re specific so buyers know they’re getting what they need.

Other Alternative Roundups (Similar to eBay)

This article gives you more than nine alternatives to eBay, but they might not be the right fit for your merchandise.

If Amazon, Etsy, and Shopify seem like they’re almost right, you might want to check out some alternatives.

These platforms are similar to eBay, but all offer something different for sellers.

• Amazon Alternatives: We suggested Amazon as an eBay alternative, but there are also many Amazon alternatives you can use to sell your items.
• Etsy Alternatives: Etsy is a great platform for handmade items, though you can also list them on these Etsy alternatives.
• Shopify Alternatives: Shopify is a solid platform, but the fees are off-putting for many merchants. Try one of these Shopify alternatives for your storefront.

Frequently Asked Questions

You’ve learned all about more than nine quality eBay alternatives.

In case you need more information, check out the answers to these frequently asked questions.

Wrapping Up

There are many eBay alternatives on the market.

The one that best suits all sellers is Amazon.

With its large market and audience, it’s a no-brainer to use Amazon instead of putting up with eBay’s listing woes and fees.

Bonanza and Etsy are the runners-up which, depending on what you’re planning to sell, may be the right fit for you.

This article reviewed more than nine high-quality options to sell your goods.

Whether you sell merchandise, fashion, collectibles, handmade items, or technical accessories, there’s a platform for you.

When you list on the best marketplace, you’re going to have a built-in audience that needs your products.