Is There a Better eBay Alternative in 2025? Escaping the Fee Hikes and Ghost Towns

I still remember the specific Tuesday in late 2024 when I hit my breaking point with eBay. I had just sold a vintage Nikon camera lens for $300. I was thrilled—until I saw the payout breakdown. Between the 13.25% Final Value Fee, the $0.30 transaction fee, and the Promoted Listing ad fee I felt forced to use just to get views, eBay had taken nearly $50 of my profit.

I felt like I was working for them, not myself.

I spent the next month migrating 20% of my inventory to every eBay alternative I could find. I tried the "social" apps, the "auction" sites, and even the niche collector forums. What I found was a mixed bag of ghost towns, high-maintenance buyers, and a few hidden gems that actually outperformed the giant.

If you are tired of fee hikes and looking for sites like eBay to diversify your income, you aren't alone. But be careful. The grass isn't always greener; sometimes it's just cheaper because nobody is walking on it.

The "Big Generalist": Mercari vs. The World

When people ask for an alternative ebay, they usually want a place where they can sell anything—from a used toaster to a PS5 video game. Mercari is the closest 1:1 match.

The 2025 Reality Check

Mercari has been through a "whiplash" era. In 2024, they experimented with removing seller fees entirely (shifting costs to buyers), which caused cart abandonment rates to skyrocket. In 2025, they’ve settled back into a more traditional model:

Selling Fee: 10% (Flat).
Processing Fee: 2.9% + $0.30.
Total: ~13%.

My Honest Failure: I cross-listed a pile of DVDs on Mercari and eBay. On eBay, they sold in 3 days. On Mercari, they sat for 3 weeks. Why? Mercari is a "digital yard sale." Buyers there want deals. If you aren't priced 20% lower than eBay, your items will sit.

Best For: Items under 5lbs, decluttering, and trendy items (Squishmallows, Lululemon).
Avoid For: High-end electronics or rare antiques. The buyers just aren't there.

The "Ghost Town" Risk: eBid and Bonanza

Here’s where it gets interesting... there are websites like eBay that promise incredibly low fees. But you have to ask yourself: Am I paying for fees, or am I paying for customers?

eBid: The Low-Fee Desert

eBid is often cited as the ultimate low-cost auction sites like eBay.

The draw: You can pay a one-time "Seller+" lifetime fee (around $50-$100 depending on promos) and pay 0% listing fees and 0% final value fees forever.
The Catch: Traffic. eBay gets ~135 million visitors. eBid gets maybe 8 million.
My Experience: I listed 50 comic books on eBid. In three months, I sold two. I saved money on fees, sure, but I made no money on sales. It is a slow, slow burn.

Bonanza: The Fallen Giant

For years, Bonanza was the darling of the reseller world. "Everything but the ordinary," they claimed.

The 2025 Shift: In May 2025, Bonanza hiked their fees significantly (jumping to a minimum of ~11% plus transaction costs for many users).
The Result: The price advantage over eBay is now negligible. Unless you really love their Google Shopping integration, there is little reason to prioritize Bonanza over eBay in 2025.

The Specialized Alternatives (Niche is King)

If you sell specific categories, generalist sites are often the wrong room. You want a specialized audience.

Poshmark (Fashion & Home)

Fee: 20% (Flat).
Why use it? While 20% sounds high compared to eBay's ~13%, Poshmark buyers pay more. I can sell a J.Crew sweater on eBay for $15. On Poshmark, that same sweater often sells for $25. The "social" aspect drives higher perceived value.
Limitation: It is high maintenance. You have to "share" your closet daily. (I use Closo to automate sharing my Poshmark closet – saves me about 3 hours weekly – because doing it manually is a recipe for carpal tunnel).

Whatnot (Collectibles & Live Auctions)

If you are looking for online auctions other than eBay, Whatnot is the adrenaline junkie's choice.

The Vibe: It’s QVC meets Twitch. You go live on camera and auction items in 30-second bursts.
The Math: Fees are around 11-12% total. But the sales velocity is insane. I’ve seen sellers move 100 items in an hour.
The Downside: You have to be an entertainer. If you are an introvert who likes to list and forget, this is your nightmare.

Is There a Good Alternative to eBay for Electronics?

Selling electronics (laptops, phones, cameras) is risky due to scams. eBay always sides with the buyer. So, is there a better alternative to eBay for tech?

Swappa

The Difference: Swappa verifies the IMEI/Serial number before you list. This keeps scammers out.
The Fee: Much lower than eBay (usually a small flat fee paid by buyer or seller depending on current structure, or ~3% sale fee).
My Win: I sold an old iPhone on Swappa. The process was rigid (I had to upload photos of the screen on with a specific code), but the buyer paid instantly, and I didn't hold my breath for 30 days worrying about a "Item Not Described" return.

Back Market / Decluttr

These aren't marketplaces; they are buy-back programs.

Pros: Instant cash. No photos. No customers.
Cons: You get 40-50% of market value. You are paying for convenience.

People always ask me...

"Are there any alternatives to eBay that are free?"

Common question I see. Truly free? No. Platforms like Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist have no listing or selling fees for local cash pickup. However, if you use Facebook's "Shipping" option to sell nationwide, they charge a 5% fee (or flat minimum).

Opinion Statement: "Free" usually means "High Risk." On Craigslist, you pay with your time and safety. On eBay, you pay with money. Pick your poison.

"Is eBid a legitimate site?"

Yes, eBid is 100% legitimate. It has been around since 1999. It is safe, and they pay out. The issue isn't legitimacy; it's liquidity. It is a "parking lot" for inventory, not a highway. Use it for items you are willing to sit on for 6-12 months, like rare antiques or books.

"Can I import my eBay listings to other sites?"

People always ask me... Yes. Most ebay alternatives (like Bonanza and eBid) have an "eBay Import Tool." You link your account, and they pull your photos and descriptions over.

Warning: Be careful with inventory management. If you sell the item on Bonanza and forget to delete it on eBay, you will get a "Out of Stock" defect on eBay, which can kill your account.

Conclusion

So, is there a better alternative to eBay? If you mean "Is there a site with 135 million buyers and 5% fees?" — No.eBay is still the king of traffic.

However, if you are strategic, you can beat eBay by fragmenting your business:

Fashion: Move it to Poshmark.
Tech: Move it to Swappa.
Cheap/Trendy: Move it to Mercari.
Junk/Bulky: Move it to Facebook Marketplace.

Keep eBay for the weird, rare, long-tail items that need a global audience to find that one specific buyer in Germany who collects vintage staplers.

Diversifying isn't just about saving fees; it's about insurance. If eBay bans you tomorrow (which happens), having a presence on sites like eBay ensures your business doesn't vanish overnight.

If you are ready to start multi-channel selling, check out our guide on how to cross-list inventory efficiently. And if you are struggling to price your items on these new platforms, read our breakdown of Mercari vs. Poshmark pricing strategies to maximize your margins.

FAQ

Here's something everyone wants to know: Which eBay alternative has the lowest fees?

eBid generally offers the lowest fees, especially if you upgrade to their "Seller+" lifetime membership, which eliminates listing fees and final value fees entirely for a one-time payment. For local sales, Facebook Marketplace (local pickup) is completely fee-free.

Common question I see: Is Mercari better than eBay for selling?

For casual sellers and declutterers, Mercari is often better because the listing process is faster (you can list in seconds from a phone) and the return policy is stricter (3 days vs. eBay's 30 days). However, for professional resellers needing volume and business tools, eBay is superior due to its larger audience and analytics.

People always ask me: What is the best eBay alternative for auctions?

If you specifically want the "auction" format (bidding wars), eBid is the closest traditional alternative. However, for a modern, fast-paced auction experience, Whatnotis the leader in live video auctions, particularly for collectibles like trading cards, comics, and toys.