Amazon is a curated marketplace dominated by new products and Prime fulfillment, while eBay is an auction-based platform specializing in used, vintage, and collectible items with lower seller fees. Amazon offers greater reach and convenience, whereas eBay provides better margins for sellers of niche and second-hand goods.
Amazon vs eBay — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Amazon dominates in reach, convenience, and market share, making it ideal for sellers of new retail products seeking maximum exposure. eBay excels for niche sellers, vintage dealers, and those seeking lower fees and direct customer relationships. The choice depends on your product type and business model rather than overall platform superiority.
Global e-commerce and cloud computing giant with 300M+ products and Prime membership benefits.
Peer-to-peer marketplace specializing in auctions, used items, and collectibles with flexible seller policies.
Structured comparison data for Amazon vs eBay with 249 attributes.
Standard Non-Perishable Pet Delivery Time
2025 Pet Supplies Market Position (GMV Rank)
Specialty Pet Food Availability (Exotic/Medical Diets)
Average Product Price Index (baseline=100)
Average Price Difference on Beauty Products
Prime Eligible Items with Two-Day Shipping
Free Shipping Threshold (Standard Members)
Average Beauty Product Price Comparison (Foundation)
Customer Review Average Rating (Beauty Products)
Profit Margin Retention (Example: $100 sale)
Average Pet Food Price (25 lb bag, premium brand)
Electronics Price Premium vs Competitors
Amazon vs eBay — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Amazon vs eBay.
Is Amazon better than eBay for buying new products?
Amazon is generally better than eBay for buying new products. Amazon enforces strict seller standards, offers Amazon Prime with fast, reliable shipping, and has a more consistent buyer experience. Most listings on Amazon are for new items sold by vetted sellers or Amazon itself. eBay, while it does sell new products, is better known for used, refurbished, and rare items. If you want predictable quality and fast delivery for new purchases, Amazon is the stronger choice for most shoppers.
Which platform has lower fees for sellers in 2026, Amazon or eBay?
In 2026, eBay generally has lower fees for casual and low-volume sellers, charging around 13-15% in final value fees depending on the category. Amazon charges referral fees typically between 8-15%, but also requires a Professional selling plan at $39.99 per month for serious sellers, plus fulfillment fees if using FBA. For high-volume sellers using fulfillment services, costs can be comparable or higher on Amazon. eBay remains more cost-effective for occasional sellers without subscription commitments.
Which is better for selling vintage or collectible items, Amazon or eBay?
eBay is significantly better for selling vintage or collectible items. Its auction-style format allows rare or unique items to fetch competitive bids, and its buyer base actively searches for collectibles, antiques, trading cards, and memorabilia. eBay also has dedicated category pages and community features for collectors. Amazon's catalog-based system makes it difficult to list one-of-a-kind items, and its audience primarily shops for standard, new products rather than unique or hard-to-find collectibles.
What are the biggest changes to Amazon and eBay in 2026?
In 2026, Amazon expanded its AI-powered shopping assistant and personalized deal features, while also tightening third-party seller verification to combat counterfeits. eBay rolled out enhanced AI-driven listing tools that auto-generate titles, descriptions, and pricing suggestions for sellers, and improved its authentication program to cover more product categories including luxury goods and electronics. Both platforms also increased their focus on sustainability labels and eco-friendly product filtering in response to growing consumer demand for transparent environmental information.
Where can you find cheaper prices, Amazon or eBay?
eBay often offers cheaper prices, especially for used, refurbished, or auction-listed items where buyers can bid below retail value. Amazon tends to match or beat retail pricing on new items and offers competitive deals through Prime, Lightning Deals, and Subscribe & Save. For brand-new products, prices are often similar across both platforms. However, if you're flexible on condition or willing to wait for an auction to end, eBay can deliver significantly lower prices, particularly for electronics, clothing, and collectibles.