
Selling online has never been more accessible—or competitive. Whether you’re a part-time side hustler, a small business owner, or launching a full-scale e-commerce operation, choosing the right platforms can make or break your success. Each online selling app or marketplace has distinct features, audiences, and fee structures, making it vital to understand where your products fit best.
In this guide, we’ll explore 15 top online sales platforms and apps that every modern seller should be familiar with in 2025.
1. Amazon Marketplace
Amazon is the king of global e-commerce, with a customer base that spans every demographic. Sellers can list products alongside Amazon’s inventory or opt for Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) to handle storage and shipping.
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Why it’s great: Enormous customer base, trusted platform, advanced logistics (FBA).
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Watch out for: Steep competition, referral fees (8–15%), and subscription costs.
Best for: Sellers aiming for large-scale distribution and those using private labeling or wholesale models.
2. eBay
eBay offers both auction and fixed-price options, making it perfect for unique, collectible, or secondhand items. With decades of experience, eBay remains a go-to for millions of buyers worldwide.
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Why it’s great: Strong global reach, great for vintage or rare items, flexible pricing formats.
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Watch out for: Final value fees, required maintenance of active listings.
Best for: Sellers of collectibles, refurbished goods, or niche electronics.
3. Etsy
Etsy specializes in handmade goods, vintage items, and custom crafts. It’s ideal for creative entrepreneurs who want to sell unique, artisanal products.
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Why it’s great: Loyal buyer base, niche market, strong branding tools.
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Watch out for: Listing fees ($0.20/item), transaction and payment processing fees.
Best for: Crafters, artists, and small-scale makers.
4. Shopify
Unlike marketplaces, Shopify is a website builder tailored to e-commerce. You get a fully branded online store and access to tools for marketing, payments, inventory, and analytics.
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Why it’s great: Complete customization, integrates with multiple sales channels, scalable.
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Watch out for: Monthly subscription fees, extra charges for apps and themes.
Best for: Businesses wanting full control over branding and customer experience.
5. Facebook Marketplace & Shops
This social-commerce platform connects sellers directly with buyers through Facebook and Instagram. It’s especially popular for local sales and social media-savvy brands.
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Why it’s great: Free to use, wide exposure, built-in messaging and community trust.
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Watch out for: Limited tools for scaling, 5% fee on shipped items.
Best for: Local sellers, small businesses, and creators using social engagement to drive sales.
6. OfferUp
OfferUp is a mobile-focused platform for buying and selling locally. Merged with Letgo, it simplifies selling household items, electronics, or furniture in your area.
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Why it’s great: Easy to use, fast listing, supports both local and shipped sales.
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Watch out for: Seller fees (12.9% for shipped items), limited nationwide exposure.
Best for: Individuals looking to sell household goods, used electronics, or vehicles locally.
7. Craigslist
Craigslist is a classifieds platform with virtually no fees. It’s a basic, no-frills way to reach local buyers without commissions or listing restrictions.
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Why it’s great: Free to list in most categories, very local audience.
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Watch out for: No buyer protection, risk of scams, outdated interface.
Best for: Large, used, or one-off items like furniture, appliances, or services.
8. Vinted
Focused on pre-owned clothing and accessories, Vinted is especially popular in Europe. It’s growing rapidly as more consumers turn to sustainable fashion.
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Why it’s great: No seller fees, built-in shipping options, easy interface.
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Watch out for: Limited to fashion and home goods, limited U.S. audience.
Best for: Casual sellers of secondhand fashion or accessories.
9. Depop
Owned by Etsy, Depop caters to a younger, trend-focused crowd—particularly Gen Z. It blends resale with social media, making it great for fashion entrepreneurs.
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Why it’s great: Trendy, social media feel; strong youth market.
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Watch out for: 10% fee on sales, competitive environment for vintage sellers.
Best for: Fashion-forward sellers and creators with a strong aesthetic or social following.
10. Mercari
Mercari is a simple, mobile-friendly app for selling a wide range of used goods. It’s suitable for sellers looking to declutter or casually make extra income.
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Why it’s great: User-friendly, supports shipping nationwide, broad product categories.
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Watch out for: 10% selling fee, customer service can be hit-or-miss.
Best for: Individuals selling a variety of household or personal items.
11. AliExpress
Part of the Alibaba Group, AliExpress connects global consumers with sellers—mostly based in China. It’s often used for dropshipping and bulk orders.
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Why it’s great: Global reach, low product prices, perfect for dropshippers.
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Watch out for: Long shipping times, language barriers, potential quality issues.
Best for: Dropshippers or small wholesalers targeting international markets.
12. Shopee
Shopee is a fast-growing marketplace in Southeast Asia and Latin America, with a strong mobile-first approach and robust payment and shipping integration.
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Why it’s great: Massive user base in emerging markets, mobile-focused interface.
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Watch out for: Limited access for non-regional sellers, competitive pricing wars.
Best for: Sellers based in or targeting Southeast Asia or LATAM audiences.
13. Flipkart / Shopsy
India’s leading marketplace Flipkart offers massive reach across the country. Its sub-brand, Shopsy, enables resellers to start selling with minimal investment.
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Why it’s great: Huge customer base, support for COD, logistics integration.
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Watch out for: Regional limitations, high competition in popular categories.
Best for: Sellers operating within India, especially targeting Tier 2 and 3 cities.
14. Meesho
Meesho is India’s top reselling platform, ideal for sellers who use WhatsApp or Facebook to market products. It charges no commission and supports cash on delivery.
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Why it’s great: No seller fees, great for social selling, easy onboarding.
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Watch out for: Narrower profit margins, limited branding control.
Best for: Indian sellers starting out with limited capital or looking to leverage social media.
15. IndiaMART
IndiaMART is the country’s largest B2B marketplace, connecting suppliers with buyers across categories like manufacturing, chemicals, packaging, and textiles.
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Why it’s great: Direct access to bulk buyers, ideal for wholesalers and manufacturers.
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Watch out for: Lead-based model (not instant sales), potential for buyer verification issues.
Best for: Indian businesses focused on bulk supply or industrial B2B transactions.
How to Choose the Right Selling Platforms
With so many choices, picking the right combination depends on your goals. Here’s how to start:
Consider Your Product
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Creative or handmade goods? Choose Etsy, Shopify, or Depop.
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Used goods or collectibles? Look to eBay, Mercari, or Craigslist.
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High-volume or international sales? Amazon, Shopee, or AliExpress are great picks.
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Reselling in India? Explore Meesho, Flipkart, and IndiaMART.
Think About Logistics
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Do you want the platform to handle shipping (like Amazon FBA)?
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Are you offering local pickup (Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp)?
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Can you manage international fulfillment (AliExpress, Shopee)?
Understand the Fees
Platform | Listing Fee | Commission | Ideal Use Case |
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Amazon | No/Monthly | 8–15% | Global retail, private label |
Etsy | $0.20/item | ~10–12% total | Handmade and vintage goods |
eBay | Free (limit) | ~12–15% | Collectibles, auctions |
Shopify | $39+/month | 2.9% + fees | Branded e-commerce stores |
Free | 5% | Local goods, social commerce | |
OfferUp | Free | 12.9% (shipping) | Local household items |
Vinted | Free | Buyer pays fees | Pre-owned fashion |
Mercari | Free | 10% | General secondhand goods |
AliExpress | Free | 5–8% | Dropshipping, global sales |
Meesho | Free | None | Indian resellers |
Final Tips for Online Sellers
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Don’t rely on one platform: Diversify across 2–3 platforms to reduce risk and increase reach.
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Use quality visuals: Clean, well-lit product