📋 Table of Contents
Whatnot and eBay are the two most important platforms for resellers in 2026 — but they couldn't be more different. eBay is the 30-year-old marketplace giant with 130+ million active buyers. Whatnot is the live selling disruptor that's turned collectibles into appointment television.
The question isn't really "which is better" — it's "which is better for YOUR business, YOUR inventory, and YOUR personality." This guide breaks down every important factor so you can make an informed decision.
Platform Overview
| Factor | Whatnot | eBay |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2019 | 1995 |
| Selling Format | Live auction + BIN | Listings (auction + BIN) |
| Active Buyers | ~5-10 million | ~133 million |
| Primary Categories | Collectibles, cards, sneakers | Everything |
| Seller Approval | Application required | Open to all |
| Revenue Model | Commission per sale | Listing fees + commission |
| Shipping | Built-in labels (USPS) | Multiple carriers |
| Returns | Platform-managed | Seller-managed |
Fee Comparison
Fees are one of the biggest factors in choosing a platform. Here's the real breakdown:
Whatnot Fees
- Seller commission: 8% of sale price (standard sellers)
- Payment processing: Included in the 8%
- Listing fees: None
- Monthly fees: None
- Promoted listings: N/A (no ad system)
Total Whatnot fee on a $50 sale: $4.00 (8%)
eBay Fees
- Final value fee: 13.25% for most categories (varies by category)
- Payment processing: $0.30 per transaction
- Listing fees: 250 free/month, then $0.35 each
- Store subscription: $0 (no store) to $299.95/month (Anchor store)
- Promoted listings: 2-15% additional (optional but increasingly necessary)
Total eBay fee on a $50 sale: $6.93 (13.25% + $0.30) — or $10+ with promoted listings
The Real Fee Difference
On a straight percentage basis, Whatnot is significantly cheaper. An 8% total fee vs eBay's effective 14-20% fee (with promoted listings) means you keep $3-6 more per $50 sale on Whatnot. Over thousands of sales, this adds up to thousands in extra profit.
Use our fee calculator tool to compare exact fees for your specific items and price points across platforms.
For a more detailed eBay fee breakdown, see our eBay seller fees guide. For multi-platform comparison, check eBay vs Poshmark vs Mercari fees.
Audience and Demographics
eBay's Audience
eBay has the massive audience advantage — 133 million active buyers worldwide. Virtually anything can sell on eBay because the buyer base is enormous and diverse. The demographics skew slightly older (35-55), with high purchase intent — people come to eBay to buy specific things.
Whatnot's Audience
Whatnot's audience is smaller but more engaged. The demographics skew younger (18-40), more collector-focused, and more spontaneous. Whatnot buyers don't always come to buy something specific — they come for the entertainment and end up buying.
Key difference: eBay buyers search for items. Whatnot buyers discover items. This fundamentally changes how you sell on each platform.
On eBay, your listing needs to be found through search — which means SEO, keywords, and competitive pricing matter enormously. On Whatnot, your personality and presentation sell the item. A $30 Pokemon card can sell for $50 on Whatnot during a hype moment that would never happen on eBay.
Selling Style: Live vs Listings
eBay: List and Wait
eBay selling is asynchronous. You photograph, write a title and description, set a price, and wait. The advantage is scalability — you can have 1,000 listings running simultaneously without any active effort. The disadvantage is passivity — listings can sit for weeks or months.
eBay rewards:
- Great photography
- SEO-optimized titles (how to write titles that sell)
- Competitive pricing
- Patience
Whatnot: Perform and Sell
Whatnot selling is live, synchronous, and performative. You're on camera, interacting with buyers in real time, creating urgency and excitement. The advantage is speed — you can sell 100 items in a 2-hour show. The disadvantage is that you must be "on" — it requires energy, personality, and scheduling.
Whatnot rewards:
- Personality and entertainment value
- Community building
- Product knowledge and storytelling
- Consistency in showing up
Which is right for you? If you're introverted, prefer working alone, and want passive income — eBay is your platform. If you're outgoing, enjoy performing, and want faster sales — Whatnot is your platform. If you're somewhere in between, use both.
Best Categories by Platform
| Category | Better On | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Pokemon Cards | Whatnot | Live breaks, pack openings, auction excitement |
| Sports Cards | Both | Live breaks on Whatnot, singles on eBay |
| Sneakers | Both | Hype sells live, but eBay has search volume |
| Vintage Clothing | eBay | Buyers search for specific pieces, sizes |
| Electronics | eBay | Buyers want specs, comparisons, returns |
| Funko Pops | Whatnot | Collectors love live mystery/chase drops |
| Comics | Both | Key issues on eBay, lots on Whatnot |
| Toys/Action Figures | Both | Vintage on eBay, lots/bundles on Whatnot |
| Home & Garden | eBay | Not a Whatnot category |
| Auto Parts | eBay | Not a Whatnot category |
The pattern: collectibles and hype items sell better on Whatnot. Everything else sells better on eBay. Whatnot excels when the buying experience itself is exciting — pack openings, mystery lots, bidding wars on desirable items. eBay excels when the buyer needs to find a specific item.
Income Potential Compared
Revenue Per Hour
Whatnot has a significantly higher revenue-per-hour of active selling time. A good Whatnot show generates $50-150/hour in revenue. On eBay, you might process 5-10 orders per hour of listing work, but the revenue happens passively over time.
However, eBay revenue keeps coming 24/7 without you doing anything. Whatnot revenue only happens when you're live. A seller with 500 active eBay listings might make $3,000-5,000/month with just a few hours of work per week maintaining listings and shipping orders.
Scalability
eBay scales better passively. You can grow to thousands of listings and hire a shipping assistant. The limiting factor is inventory, not your time.
Whatnot scales better actively — but it scales with your time. More shows = more revenue, but there's a ceiling based on your energy and audience size. The way top Whatnot sellers scale past the time ceiling is by building a team, improving production value, and growing audience.
Earnings Comparison
| Level | eBay Monthly Net | Whatnot Monthly Net |
|---|---|---|
| Beginner | $200–$800 | $50–$500 |
| Part-Time | $800–$3,000 | $500–$2,000 |
| Full-Time | $3,000–$10,000 | $2,000–$8,000 |
| Top Seller | $10,000–$50,000 | $6,000–$50,000 |
eBay has a higher floor (easier to make your first $500) but Whatnot has a comparable ceiling for sellers who build a large audience. For detailed Whatnot income data, see how much Whatnot sellers make.
Time Investment
eBay Time Breakdown
- Photographing items: 2-3 min per item
- Creating listings: 3-5 min per item
- Shipping: 3-5 min per order
- Customer service: 15-30 min/day
- No scheduled live time required
Whatnot Time Breakdown
- Pre-show prep (organizing, pricing): 1-2 hours per show
- Live show: 1.5-3 hours per show
- Post-show packing/shipping: 1-3 hours per show
- Social media promotion: 30 min/day
eBay is more time-efficient per item but requires ongoing maintenance. Whatnot is time-intensive in bursts but can move a lot of volume quickly.
Pros and Cons
Whatnot Pros
- ✅ Lower fees (8% vs 13.25%+)
- ✅ Faster sales (move 100+ items in one show)
- ✅ Higher engagement and community
- ✅ No listing creation (show and sell)
- ✅ Bundle-friendly (higher average order values)
- ✅ Algorithm promotes new sellers
Whatnot Cons
- ❌ Requires live presence (scheduled time commitment)
- ❌ Smaller buyer base
- ❌ Limited categories
- ❌ Performance anxiety for some sellers
- ❌ Revenue = 0 when you're not live
- ❌ Application/approval required
eBay Pros
- ✅ Massive buyer base (133M active)
- ✅ Works for virtually any category
- ✅ Passive income (listings sell 24/7)
- ✅ No camera or performance required
- ✅ Well-established buyer protections
- ✅ Open to all sellers
eBay Cons
- ❌ Higher fees (13.25% + promoted listings)
- ❌ Heavy competition on popular items
- ❌ Slow sales for non-trending items
- ❌ Time-intensive listing creation
- ❌ Return policy can favor buyers excessively
- ❌ Algorithm changes can tank visibility overnight
Why Most Successful Sellers Use Both
Here's the real secret: the most profitable resellers in 2026 aren't choosing between Whatnot and eBay — they're using both strategically.
The hybrid strategy:
- Source inventory broadly — buy with both platforms in mind
- Auction hype items on Whatnot — items that benefit from live excitement (sealed product, graded cards, rare collectibles)
- List steady sellers on eBay — items that sell at predictable prices (clothing, electronics, common collectibles)
- Use eBay as overflow — items that don't sell on Whatnot get listed on eBay
- Cross-reference pricing — eBay sold comps inform your Whatnot starting prices
This approach maximizes your revenue from every piece of inventory. Hype items get the auction premium on Whatnot. Steady items get the passive exposure on eBay. Nothing sits unsold.
For tips on managing inventory across platforms, read our cross-listing guide.
The Verdict
Choose Whatnot if:
- You sell collectibles, cards, sneakers, or hype items
- You're comfortable on camera and enjoy performing
- You want faster sales and lower fees
- You can commit to a consistent live schedule
- You enjoy building community and interacting with buyers
Choose eBay if:
- You sell a wide variety of categories
- You prefer working behind the scenes
- You want passive, 24/7 sales
- You have large quantities of similar items to list
- You value flexibility in your schedule
Choose both if:
- You want to maximize revenue from every inventory piece
- You have the bandwidth for both selling styles
- You sell items that work on both platforms
- You're serious about building a reselling business (not just a hobby)
The platform doesn't determine your success — your execution does. Pick the platform(s) that match your strengths, commit to them, and optimize relentlessly. Check our Whatnot seller tips and eBay title optimization guide to start strong on either platform.