Whatnot Alternatives: 8 Best Live Selling Platforms in 2026

February 20, 2026 · 20 min read

Whatnot is the biggest dedicated live selling platform, but it's not the only option. Whether you're looking to diversify, reach new audiences, or find a platform that better fits your niche, there are several strong alternatives worth exploring in 2026.

We tested every major live selling platform and talked to sellers who use them daily. Here's our honest comparison — fees, audiences, categories, and which platform is best for your specific situation.

Quick Comparison

1. TikTok Shop Live — The Biggest Whatnot Alternative

Best for: Fashion, beauty, trending products, reaching Gen Z

TikTok Shop has exploded in 2026. With over 150 million US users and a powerful algorithm that pushes live content, it's become the #1 alternative to Whatnot for live selling.

Fees: 5% for new sellers (first 90 days), then 8%. Significantly lower than Poshmark and competitive with Whatnot.

Pros:

• Massive built-in audience — the algorithm finds buyers FOR you
• Lower fees than most platforms
• Viral potential — one good live can reach millions
• Younger audience willing to impulse buy
• Affiliate program lets creators sell your products
• Shop tab integration means passive sales between lives

Cons:

• Not ideal for collectibles (cards, coins) — the audience skews fashion/beauty
• Strict content policies (harder to sell some categories)
• Returns rate tends to be higher (impulse buyers)
• Less auction-style selling (more fixed price drops)
• Building a following takes time if you're starting from zero

Our take: If you sell fashion, beauty, or trending consumer products, TikTok Shop should be your #1 priority after Whatnot. The organic reach is unmatched.

2. Poshmark Live (Posh Shows)

Best for: Women's fashion, shoes, accessories, bags

Poshmark launched Posh Shows — their live selling feature — and it's become a solid option for fashion resellers. The built-in audience of 80+ million fashion-focused users is the main draw.

Fees: 20% flat commission (same as regular Poshmark sales). This is steep but includes shipping label generation and buyer/seller protection.

Pros:

• Huge fashion-focused audience
• Built-in trust — buyers already comfortable purchasing on Poshmark
• Simplified shipping (prepaid labels)
• Great for closet cleanout shows
• Social features drive engagement (shares, followers)

Cons:

• 20% fee is the highest of any live platform
• Limited to fashion/accessories categories
• Smaller live selling audience than TikTok or Whatnot
• No auction format — only fixed price
• Less show discovery compared to Whatnot's browse page

Our take: If you're already selling fashion on Poshmark, adding Posh Shows is a no-brainer. But the 20% fee hurts on items under $50.

3. eBay Live

Best for: Everything — especially electronics, collectibles, and established eBay sellers

eBay launched live selling features in late 2025, and they're expanding rapidly in 2026. With 130+ million active buyers, the potential audience dwarfs every other platform.

Fees: Standard eBay fees (~13.25%) apply. No additional live selling fee.

Pros:

• Largest buyer base of any marketplace
• Works for virtually every category
• Existing eBay inventory integrates with live shows
• Auction-style selling available (like Whatnot)
• Buyer trust and protection already established

Cons:

• Still early — live selling features are less polished than Whatnot
• Live audience is still small (eBay buyers aren't used to live shopping)
• Higher fees than Whatnot (13.25% vs 8%)
• Less community feel than Whatnot
• Technical setup is more complex

Our take: Watch this space. eBay has the buyer base to become the biggest live selling platform. It's early, but worth testing if you're already an established eBay seller.

4. Amazon Live

Best for: Brands, new products, product demonstrations

Amazon Live is different from Whatnot-style live selling. It's more like QVC meets Amazon — focused on product demonstrations and brand storytelling rather than auctions and collectibles.

Fees: Standard Amazon seller fees (8-15% depending on category) plus potential referral/advertising costs.

Pros:

• 300+ million active Amazon customers
• Products appear on Amazon product pages during lives
• Amazon Influencer Program integration
• One-click purchasing (lowest friction checkout)
• Works well for product launches and demonstrations

Cons:

• Not designed for resellers — works best for brands and manufacturers
• High barrier to entry (Professional seller account required)
• Fees are complex and often higher than other platforms
• No auction format
• Discovery is limited unless you drive your own traffic

Our take: Not ideal for most resellers. Best for sellers with their own brand or exclusive products. If you're flipping thrift finds, skip this one.

5. Facebook Live Shopping

Best for: Local selling, community-based sales, general merchandise

Facebook's live shopping isn't a dedicated platform like Whatnot — it's a feature within Facebook. But with 2+ billion users, even a fraction of that audience is massive.

Fees: 0% for local sales, 5% for shipped sales through Facebook Shops.

Pros:

• Lowest fees of any platform (0-5%)
• Huge audience (Facebook Groups are goldmines)
• Great for local/regional sales
• No seller approval needed
• Works well for niche communities (group-based selling)

Cons:

• No built-in auction system
• Payment handling is clunky (many sellers use Venmo/CashApp)
• No buyer/seller protection on non-Shop transactions
• Scam risk is higher
• Facebook has been reducing commerce features (inconsistent support)

Our take: Facebook Groups are amazing for niche communities (vintage Pyrex, specific card brands, sneaker communities). The fees are unbeatable. But the lack of infrastructure means more manual work.

6. Loupe

Best for: Sports cards specifically

Loupe is the Whatnot alternative built specifically for the sports card community. If that's your niche, it's worth knowing about.

Fees: 9.5% seller fee.

Pros:

• Dedicated sports card audience
• Card-specific features (case break tools, randomization)
• Community of serious card collectors
• Less competition than Whatnot's card category

Cons:

• Much smaller audience than Whatnot
• Sports cards ONLY — can't sell other categories
• Slightly higher fees than Whatnot
• Less brand recognition

7. NTWRK

Best for: Streetwear, sneakers, art, curated drops

NTWRK is a curated live shopping platform focused on hype culture. Think exclusive drops, limited editions, and celebrity collaborations.

Fees: Invite-only for sellers. Revenue share varies.

Pros:

• Curated audience of hype culture enthusiasts
• Celebrity and brand partnerships drive traffic
• Premium positioning for exclusive items
• High engagement and willingness to pay premium prices

Cons:

• Invite-only — very difficult to get accepted as a seller
• Limited categories (streetwear, art, collectibles)
• Small compared to Whatnot or TikTok
• Not for everyday resellers

8. Popshelf Live

Best for: Home goods, crafts, affordable finds

Popshelf is Dollar General's upscale brand, and their live selling feature targets a specific audience: home goods and affordable lifestyle products.

Fees: ~10% seller fee.

Pros:

• Niche audience for home/craft categories
• Less competition than bigger platforms
• Growing audience interested in affordable finds

Cons:

• Very small audience currently
• Limited category appeal
• New and unproven

Which Platform Should You Choose?

Here's our recommendation based on what you sell:

The Multi-Platform Strategy

The smartest resellers in 2026 don't depend on one platform. They use 2-3 strategically:

1. Pick your primary: Where most of your revenue comes from. Master this platform first.
2. Add a live platform: Even one show per week can add $500-2,000/month in revenue.
3. Cross-list everything: What doesn't sell live goes on eBay, Mercari, or Poshmark.

Example multi-platform setup:

• Monday-Friday: eBay and Mercari listings (steady, passive income)
• Wednesday evening: Whatnot live show (collectibles)
• Saturday afternoon: TikTok Shop live (trending fashion)
• Cross-list unsold Whatnot inventory to eBay immediately

Bottom Line

Whatnot is excellent for collectibles-focused live selling, but it's not the only game in town. TikTok Shop offers massive reach with lower fees. Poshmark Live is ideal for fashion. eBay Live has potential to be huge. And Facebook Groups remain an underrated goldmine for niche communities.

The best strategy? Master one platform, then expand. Don't try to be everywhere at once. Build a solid business on your primary platform, then add a second when you have the capacity to do it well.