eBay vs Amazon: which is better for sellers? For arbitrage sellers the answer in 2026 is clear: Amazon is the main channel. eBay is a useful add-on for stock that does not sell on Amazon, such as slow movers, returns or used items. Gumtree, Vinted and similar sites are built for private sellers and are not a serious platform for traders. In this comparison I cover the key differences between Amazon and eBay, fees in 2026, a worked example, a VAT trap many beginners miss when buying on eBay, and how to combine both marketplaces.
Key takeaways
On Amazon you sell on existing product pages with huge demand, win the Buy Box with Fulfilment by Amazon and scale with software. On eBay you create your own listings, usually ship yourself and compete for visibility in search. For arbitrage: Amazon first, eBay for whatever does not sell there. And do not buy your stock on eBay unless you get a proper VAT invoice, otherwise you lose the VAT you could reclaim.
Amazon vs eBay: the key differences
Amazon works like a centrally run online department store with fixed prices and a standardised checkout. eBay is an open marketplace where you can run auctions or Buy It Now listings and buyers can send you offers. The most important difference for sellers: on Amazon there is one listing per product that all sellers share, on eBay every seller creates their own listing with their own photos and description.
| Amazon | eBay | |
|---|---|---|
| Listing | One listing per product, shared by all sellers | Own listing per seller |
| Format | Fixed price | Auction, Buy It Now, Best Offer |
| Buyers | Look for new branded goods, expect fast Prime delivery | Look for bargains, used and rare items |
| Monthly fee (UK) | £25 excl. VAT (Professional) or 75p per item (Individual) | None without a shop subscription |
| Selling fees | Referral fee usually 7 to 15% by category plus FBA fees | Final value fee by category plus a fixed fee per order |
| Logistics | FBA handles storage, shipping and returns | Usually shipped by you |
| Buyer protection | A-to-z Guarantee | eBay Money Back Guarantee, you set your return policy |
| For arbitrage | Main channel | Add-on channel |
Why Amazon wins for arbitrage
Demand already exists. Customers search Amazon for specific branded products. You do not build a listing, you add your offer to an existing product page and benefit from its reach straight away.
Fulfilment by Amazon. With FBA you send stock to Amazon's warehouse, and Amazon handles storage, shipping, customer service and returns. Your offers get Prime delivery, which boosts your Buy Box chances. On eBay you are responsible for storage and shipping yourself.
Scaling with software. Mature tools scan thousands of shops for profitable Amazon deals. ProfitPath Supplier Search compares 1,000+ UK and EU shops with Amazon, and Price Alerts notify you of new deals automatically. Nothing comparable exists for eBay as a sales channel.
Buyer trust. Customers trust Amazon for fast delivery, easy returns and the A-to-z Guarantee, and that trust carries over to your offer even though you are an unknown seller.
Where eBay gives you more freedom. On eBay you design listings and your shop more freely, set your own return policy and can present your own brand. For arbitrage with other people's brands, that freedom matters little: demand and sell-through speed decide.
How the Amazon and eBay algorithms rank you
On Amazon the algorithm decides who wins the Buy Box, weighing price, fulfilment method, delivery time and seller performance, so it does not automatically go to the cheapest offer. On eBay, search ranks individual listings by relevance, total price including postage, seller rating and listing quality, so you have to optimise title, photos and description yourself.
Amazon FBA: why fast shipping wins
Online shoppers on Amazon expect fast shipping and consistent pricing. Prime listings fulfilled from Amazon warehouses meet that expectation automatically, which is why most sellers in a competitive marketplace use FBA. You pay for it through fulfilment and storage fees, but you save the time and shipping expenses of doing it yourself, and Amazon's seller support handles customer questions about delivery.
What eBay offers that Amazon does not
eBay lets you choose between auction style listings, fixed price listings and Best Offer. You can list in minutes with the eBay app, talk to buyers directly and build your own eBay store with your own brand. Bargain hunters love eBay, so competitive prices on used, refurbished and rare items sell well. For new branded products at scale, Amazon usually wins.
How many sellers compete on a listing?
On Amazon, multiple sellers share one listing, and third-party sellers account for more than half of all units sold. Before you buy, check how many other sellers are on the listing, whether Amazon itself sells it and how the price has moved. ProfitGo shows the number of sellers, the Buy Box history and your profit in one view. On eBay, you compete with other sellers' listings in search instead, so a clear pricing strategy and good seller ratings matter most.
When eBay makes sense
Amazon is the main channel, but not every product sells there. That is why many sellers in our community use eBay as a second channel.
Stock that does not sell on Amazon. If a product sits in the FBA warehouse racking up storage fees, selling it on eBay can beat cutting your price on Amazon.
Returns and B-stock. Customer returns that can no longer be sold as new often find a buyer on eBay quickly.
Niche products and collectibles. Rare items, discontinued models and niche products reach buyers on eBay who search for exactly that, often via auction.
Amazon seller fees vs eBay fees in 2026
Amazon offers two account types. The Individual plan suits individual sellers and costs 75p per item sold. The Professional plan is for professional sellers and comes with a monthly subscription fee of £25 excl. VAT. On top comes the Amazon referral fee, a percentage of the total sales price that is usually 7 to 15% depending on the category, plus a fixed closing fee on media items such as books, DVDs and video games. With Amazon FBA you also pay FBA fulfilment fees per unit and monthly storage fees, and Amazon keeps a refund administration fee when you refund an order. eBay fees for business sellers work differently: insertion fees once you exceed your free listings, final value fees on the total amount including postage plus a fixed fee per order, and optional listing upgrade fees for extras such as subtitles or promoted listings. There are no separate payment processing fees, because eBay handles payments itself. An eBay store subscription lowers some fees and adds free listings, which pays off for high volume sellers. Private sellers in the UK no longer pay final value fees in most categories, but that does not apply to traders. Always check the current rates for your category.
Worked example: the same item on both platforms
Take a £40 item in a category with a 15% referral fee on Amazon. On Amazon you pay £6.00 plus the FBA fee, but shipping, storage and returns are handled. On eBay the percentage may look similar or lower, but you pay postage, packaging and your own time on top. In the end the costs are often closer than the percentages suggest, the real difference is effort and how fast your stock sells. ProfitGo shows your exact Amazon profit right on the product page.
Buying on eBay: watch out for VAT
Many beginners buy stock on eBay to resell on Amazon. That is risky. Private sellers do not give you a VAT invoice, so there is no VAT to reclaim. Many business sellers sell used goods under the margin scheme, which also means no VAT on the invoice. Compared with buying on a proper VAT invoice, a VAT-registered seller can lose up to 20% of margin this way. Such receipts are also useless for Amazon brand approval. That is why ProfitPath focuses on online shops and wholesalers with clean invoices. More in our Amazon online arbitrage guide and the Amazon ungating guide.
Gumtree, Vinted and co: not for traders
Gumtree, Vinted and similar sites are built for private sellers clearing out their homes or wardrobes. Traders lack reach, business-level protection and any way to automate and scale. Our advice is clear: Amazon for most of your revenue, eBay as an add-on, skip the rest.
Selling on Amazon and eBay together
1. Buy for Amazon. Base your sourcing on Amazon demand. See our list of the best brands for online arbitrage.
2. Watch your inventory. Products that sit in FBA longer than planned are candidates for eBay.
3. Use Multi-Channel Fulfilment. Amazon can ship orders from other channels straight from your FBA stock.
4. Sync your stock. If you list the same items on several channels, avoid overselling with clean inventory sync. For all Amazon business models, see arbitrage vs private label.
Which business model fits which marketplace?
Arbitrage and wholesale with branded products fit Amazon best, because demand already exists and you compete on the same listing. Selling used goods, one-off items or clearance stock fits eBay. If you build your own brand, Amazon offers the biggest reach, while eBay can be useful for testing demand with small batches. New sellers who want serious sales should start on Amazon and add eBay once their sourcing runs smoothly.
FAQ
Is it better to sell on eBay or Amazon?
For arbitrage sellers Amazon is better, because demand already exists on product pages and FBA handles shipping. eBay is a good add-on for used items, returns and slow movers.
What fees does Amazon charge sellers in the UK?
£25 a month excl. VAT on the Professional plan or 75p per item on the Individual plan, plus a referral fee of usually 7 to 15% by category and FBA fees if you use FBA.
Can I sell on Amazon and eBay at the same time?
Yes. Many sellers use Amazon as the main channel and eBay for stock that does not sell there. Keep your inventory in sync.
What is the difference between eBay and Amazon?
On Amazon all sellers share one listing per product and compete for the Buy Box. On eBay every seller has their own listing, can use auctions and usually ships themselves.
Is Vinted or Gumtree good for resellers?
Both are built for private sellers. For arbitrage traders neither is a sensible sales channel.
Which has lower fees, eBay or Amazon?
eBay percentages are often similar or slightly lower, but you pay shipping costs and packaging yourself. Amazon charges more once FBA fees are added, but includes storage, delivery and returns. Compare the total cost per sale, not just the percentage.
Do I need a business account to sell on Amazon or eBay?
If you buy to resell for profit, you are trading and should register as a business seller on eBay and use the Professional plan on Amazon. Professional accounts unlock bulk tools, reports and the Buy Box eligibility you need for arbitrage.
Conclusion: Amazon first, eBay as an add-on
If you want to make money with arbitrage, focus on Amazon. Demand, FBA and the available tools make it the strongest marketplace. eBay is a valuable add-on for stock that does not sell there, and private-seller sites are not worth your time as a trader. Buy on proper VAT invoices so both VAT and brand approval work. Our free Q4 Ungating Playbook shows the 50 brands worth unlocking now, and ProfitPath comes with a 14-day free trial.
