Compare common seller fee structures for TikTok Shop, Shopify, Etsy, Amazon FBA, and Whatnot, then use the matching calculator to estimate payout, profit, margin, ROI, and break-even price for your own SKU.
Quick comparison table
| Marketplace | Main fee pattern | Do not forget | Best fit | Calculator |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TikTok ShopTikTok Shop referral fee updates | Usually category referral fee first, often 5%-6% in current US seller-center guidance. | Affiliate commission, campaign discount, fulfillment, refunds, and sales tax on referral fees in some states. | Social commerce, creator-driven sales, impulse products, and early channel tests. | TikTok Shop fee calculator |
| ShopifyShopify pricing | Payment processing plus monthly plan cost. Shopify's pricing page lists card rates from 2.9% + $0.30 USD. | Apps, themes, payment-provider differences, chargebacks, shipping software, and possible third-party transaction fees. | Owned storefronts, email/SMS lists, brand building, and products that need more control than a marketplace allows. | Shopify fee calculator |
| EtsyEtsy fees policy | Listing fee, 6.5% transaction fee, and payment processing fee that varies by country. | Offsite Ads, shipping-label costs, currency conversion, renewals, Pattern, and promoted listings. | Handmade, vintage, craft, giftable, personalized, printable, and niche search-driven products. | Etsy fee calculator |
| Amazon FBAAmazon selling fees | Referral fees vary by category; FBA adds fulfillment, storage, and other inventory-related fees. | FBA fulfillment, monthly storage, low-inventory risk, returns, ads, removals, and optional programs. | Demand-capture products, catalog search, repeatable replenishment, and sellers who can manage inventory economics. | Amazon FBA fee calculator |
| WhatnotWhatnot seller fees | Whatnot seller fees include commission plus payment processing on the total order value. | Category differences, live-selling discounts, shipping treatment, taxes on seller fees, and refunds. | Live selling, collectibles, auction-style sales, community buyers, and high-engagement inventory drops. | Whatnot fee calculator |
| GrailedGrailed seller fees | Grailed seller fee uses a reduced 6% tier under $120 with a $1.99 minimum, and 9% at $120 or more. | Payment processing, international processing, Grailed Label treatment, shipping support, cleaning, packaging, and returns. | Menswear resale, fashion inventory, designer items, closets, and sellers testing whether accepted offers still leave profit. | Grailed fee calculator |
Before comparing channels, calculate landed cost, packaging, fulfillment, ad allowance, return reserve, and target margin.
02A 6% referral fee is not the whole story if affiliate commission, payment processing, FBA, or offsite ads apply.
03Once break-even and margin look workable, use the listing workflow to improve titles, bullets, FAQs, and proof.
How to use this comparison
A seller may see a low referral fee and still lose margin once affiliate commission, fulfillment, payment processing, shipping discounts, return allowance, and ad spend are included.
Use this page as the comparison layer, then open the matching calculator for SKU-level math. If the SKU cannot survive the break-even price, improve the offer or skip the channel before rewriting the listing.
Community question angle
Reddit, Shopify Community, Etsy forums, and seller groups repeatedly surface the same pain: sellers know revenue, but not what they actually keep. This page gives a neutral explanation plus calculators for the exact channel.