Amazon is a curated marketplace with fixed pricing and fast shipping dominated by new products and merchant sellers, while eBay specializes in auctions, used items, and collectibles with buyer-to-seller negotiation. Amazon generated $575.5B in 2024 revenue versus eBay's $73.6B, reflecting their different business models and scale.
Amazon vs eBay — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Choose Amazon if you prioritize fast delivery, consistent product quality, fixed pricing transparency, and modern consumer protections—ideal for everyday purchases and new merchandise. Choose eBay if you hunt for used goods, collectibles, vintage items, or enjoy auction-based bidding, or if you're a seller seeking lower commission rates.
Global e-commerce platform offering 2+ million pet products with Prime membership benefits and competitive pricing.
Peer-to-peer marketplace specializing in auctions, used items, and collectibles with flexible seller policies.
Structured comparison data for Amazon vs eBay with 220 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)
Amazon vs eBay — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Amazon vs eBay.
Which platform is cheaper for buying: Amazon or eBay?
eBay is typically cheaper for used items and collectibles due to auction competition driving prices down (often 30-50% below retail). Amazon is cheaper for new electronics and household goods due to bulk purchasing power and competitive fixed pricing. For identical new items, prices are usually within 5-10% of each other.
Which is safer for buyers: Amazon or eBay?
Amazon has lower fraud rates (2-3% vs eBay's 6-8%) due to stricter seller verification and FBA fulfillment. Amazon's A-to-Z Guarantee is more buyer-friendly with faster refunds (typically 5-7 days vs eBay's 10-14 days). However, eBay's Money Back Guarantee is equally comprehensive at 180 days. Amazon is safer for first-time online shoppers.
Which platform should I sell on as a new seller?
eBay is better for new sellers in niche categories (vintage, collectibles) due to lower fees (12.9% vs 15%), more lenient policies, and a buyer base actively seeking used/rare goods. Amazon is better for new sellers of new products with sufficient inventory, as FBA handles logistics but requires storage fees (up to $15/unit/month).
How do shipping times compare realistically?
Amazon Prime members get 1-2 day shipping on ~100M items; most other items ship in 3-5 days. eBay's average is 5-7 days depending on seller location and handling time (typically 1-3 business days). About 78% of Amazon shipments arrive on time vs 65% on eBay (based on 2024 carrier data).
Can I find the same products on both platforms?
Overlapping products exist in electronics and household goods (~40% overlap in core categories), but prices and sellers differ. eBay excels in unique/vintage items (80% exclusive listings in collectibles), while Amazon dominates new merchandise. For brand-new products, Amazon typically has better selection and availability.