Sales Channel Profit Comparison Calculator
Enter your product once and see which channel actually nets the most. Amazon, Etsy, eBay, Shopify, TikTok Shop, Walmart, and more, ranked by true net profit per order after real fees.
Your product economics (entered once)
Enter a selling price to compare channels
See which marketplace or platform actually nets you the most on the same product.
It depends on your product economics. The most profitable channel is the one where the referral, transaction, and payment fees leave the most net profit after your product cost, shipping, and ad spend. Marketplaces like Amazon and Walmart charge higher referral fees (often 15%) but bring built-in traffic, while your own Shopify or WooCommerce store charges only payment processing (around 2.9% + $0.30) but you pay to acquire every customer.
What the Channel Comparison Tool Does
Most sellers list the same product across several channels without knowing which one actually deposits the most money. This tool takes one product's economics, the selling price, product cost, shipping, packaging, fulfillment, and ad spend, and runs it through the real fee structure of every major sales channel at once. It then ranks each channel by true net profit per order so you can see the winner at a glance instead of guessing.
The comparison uses the same decimal-accurate engine as our Product Margin Calculator, applied once per channel with that channel's benchmark referral, transaction, and payment fees.
How the Comparison Is Calculated
For each channel, the tool computes customer revenue (selling price plus shipping charged), subtracts your cost of goods, fulfillment, and the channel's platform plus payment fees, holds back a return reserve, and finally deducts ad spend to reach net profit per order. Your costs stay constant across every channel, so the only thing that changes the ranking is each channel's fee structure.
- Customer revenue = selling price + shipping charged
- Less cost of goods sold, packaging, and inbound freight
- Less outbound postage and pick-and-pack fulfillment
- Less each channel's referral, transaction, and payment fees
- Less a return reserve and your ad cost per order
Fees by Sales Channel (2026)
| Channel | Typical fee structure |
|---|---|
| Shopify | 2.9% + $0.30 payment processing (Basic plan). No marketplace commission; monthly subscription is separate. |
| Amazon | 15% referral fee on average (8% to 17% by category). FBA fulfillment and storage billed separately. |
| Etsy | 6.5% transaction + $0.20 listing, plus 3% + $0.25 payment. Offsite Ads add 12% to 15% when attributed. |
| eBay | 13.25% final value fee + $0.30 per order (varies by category). Payment processing included. |
| TikTok Shop | Around 8% commission in the US, with reduced introductory rates for new sellers. |
| Walmart | 6% to 15% referral fee by category, no monthly fee. |
| WooCommerce / Square | 2.9% + $0.30 payment processing, no marketplace commission. |
Benchmark rates for guidance only and editable in the calculator. Verify your exact category rate against each channel's official pricing before making decisions.
How to Choose the Right Channel
A higher fee is not automatically a worse deal. Marketplaces charge more but supply their own shopper traffic, so your ad cost per order can be far lower than on a standalone store you have to drive traffic to yourself. Model both scenarios: a marketplace with a 15% fee and low ad spend can beat an own-site store with a 2.9% fee but a high customer acquisition cost. Use this tool to test each channel with realistic ad spend for that channel, not a single shared number.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a lower fee always mean higher profit?
No. Fees are only one input. A marketplace with a higher referral fee can still net more profit if it lowers your ad cost per order by supplying built-in traffic. Always compare net profit, not fees alone.
Are monthly subscriptions included in this comparison?
No. This tool compares per-order economics. Fixed monthly costs like the Shopify plan fee or Amazon Professional plan are spread across all your orders and are not included here. Use the Cost Per Order Calculator to allocate those.
Why do WooCommerce, Square, and Shopify show similar profit?
They all charge roughly the same payment processing rate (about 2.9% + $0.30) and no marketplace commission, so on identical product economics they land close together.
Can I trust the referral fee for my exact product?
Marketplace referral fees vary by category. Channels marked "varies" use a common benchmark. Confirm your category rate on the marketplace and adjust the Platform Fee percentage in the Product Margin Calculator for an exact figure.
MerchSites tools and guides are written and reviewed by ecommerce practitioners. Calculations are cent-accurate estimations based on reported platform fees and standard formula math.
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