eBay online marketplace does not require much introduction, because it has millions of users and vast visibility across the globe. Along with eBay, there are many other competitors leading the online marketplace. From those successes; there are a number of entrepreneurs thinking of starting new websites like eBay.
Before you initiate the development practice, it is advisable to understand the eBay website structure, features, and functions. Additionally, cross-check other competitors or eBay alternatives to know what’s more to add and what’s unique to integrate. The information about websites and current online marketplace technology trends will help you build a perfect and competitive online marketplace website for your own.
In this blog, we will explain eBay’s features, functions, business models, alternatives, and more. The guide will not only inform but also give you a glimpse of your own website development. So read and understand the current market competitions with own development strategies & process.
Let’s start with this valuable information to know more.
The immense game-changing advancements influenced eBay vendors to migrate to other platforms. Therefore, we decided to discuss sites like eBay and their features in this blog. Whether anyone wants to migrate or to build eBay like sites; in both cases the blog will help you gain enough knowledge.
So let’s get started.
Table of Contents
An Online Marketplace is a kind of eCommerce website that fills the gap in the market via exchanging goods & services between sellers and buyers. It is also called an electronic marketplace; where the admin or the website owner will operate all the functions and handle every transaction.
The sellers can list their products on the online marketplace website. They need to mention prices, details, and other features about the products; so that customers will be able to make comparisons and purchase through the platform directly. It is a source for the sellers to reach a vast market audience for far approaches. If you want to develop a new digital marketplace, then better to figure out some unique and best website ideas to grasp audience attention.
eBay is an online marketplace, which permits sellers to sell their products through this one dedicated platform. At the same time, customers will also get one platform to shop for all their necessities under one roof. Whether someone needs products for fashion, electronics, kitchen, home decor, sports, health & beauty, sports, etc.; this website will provide products for all needs.
There are 19 Million merchants and 1.9 Billion live product listings available on eBay. Also, the online store claims to take place with 2 Billion transactions every day. Here’s eBay is one of the oldest eCommerce selling platforms known to be the second-largest online marketplace in the US after Amazon founded in 1995.
eBay is an online marketplace for sellers to list and sell their products, on the other hand, customers can buy anything from the thousands of options available. Talking about the eBay business model is basically an online auction website. The platform does not have their own inventory, sellers are supposed to list on that.
Sellers have to register themselves on eBay first and then begin with the listing showing descriptions about the products, prices, shipping details, and other necessary details to make the product listing look appealing.
The buyers also need to register on the application. They can buy from the thousands and more options available on the online marketplace. Also, the customers can use filters, searches, and other features to find the right option based on their preference and choice.
eBay is a wonderful and popular online marketplace for exchanging goods & services between sellers and buyers. Still, there are some reasons influencing many eBay vendors to shift to other online marketplaces. Reasons are:
We have analyzed and made a list of the best websites like eBay for selling products online.
| S.No. | Ebay Alternatives | Founded | Headquarters | Fee/Charges/Subscription | Platform |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Amazon | 1994 | Bellevue, Washington, United States | Charge $0.99/ item and 8%-15% commission | Web |
| 2 | Etsy | 2005 | Brooklyn, New York, United States | Fees of $0.20/item and 6.5% Commission | Web |
| 3. | Facebook Marketplace | 2016 | Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States | Fee of 5 % /shipment, or $0.40 / item is under $8. | Web |
| 4 | Walmart | 1962 | Rogers, Arkansas, United States | 8-15% referral fee | Web |
| 5 | Poshmark | 2011 | Redwood City, California, United States | Flat commission – $2.95 for listings under $15 and 20% for sales above $15. | Web |
| 6 | Wish | 2010 | San Francisco, California, United States | Charge 15% fees on revenue share | Web |
| 7 | Craiglist | 1995 | San Francisco, California, United States | Charge fees for job postings and vehicles | Web |
| 8 | Rakuten | 1997 | Setagaya City, Tokyo, Japan | Charge $0.99/product listing and 8% to 20% commission and $39/month seller subscription. | Web |
| 9 | eBid | 1999 | Lomé, Togo | 5% fee on the product’s sale price. $1.99 (for 7 days) to $64.99 (1 year). | Web |
| 10 | Marcari | 2013 | Minato City, Tokyo, Japan | 10% commission / successful sales. | Web |
| 11 | Bonaza | 1994 | Mumbai, Maharashtra, India | Charge – $0.25 fee and 3.5% commission | Web |
| 12 | OpenSky | 2009 | China | $32 /month. 15% transaction fee together with 3% credit card processing fee | Web |
| 13 | Sears Marketplace | 1892 | Hoffman Estates, Illinois, United States | Charge 8% – 20% commission and $39.99/month seller subscription. | Web |
| 14 | Bookoo | 2018 | Lincoln, Nebraska | Free listings | Web |
| 15 | Ruba Lane | 1998 | San Francisco, California, United States | $25 monthly subscription | Web |
Amazon is the world’s largest online marketplace operating in 20+ countries with over 300+ active consumers. It is a professional selling platform that is vastly popular everywhere. This is a dedicated platform, which is responsible for multiple features implemented; such as order management, payments, shipments, and deliveries. Moreover, Amazon has multiple programs based on different business types, so that businesses can find one suitable program according to their requirements.
Websites like Amazon is the most popular and best alternative to eBay marketplace. It is doing wonders in the market, but at the same time vendors on Amazon need to know that they are about to step into a highly competitive zone. Besides the competition; also Amazon has algorithms that showcase your product to customers if they search for similar kinds of products.
| Pros | Cons |
| It is easy to start selling your products and services through Amazon. | Dishonest and deceitful businesses steal valid listings. |
| It’s a fair marketplace to sell unique and innovative products. | Amazon is expensive in charging heavy commissions. |
| Vast visibility with Amazon. This is a vast spread online marketplace, which can also give you a huge visibility globally. | Customers buying products know Amazon, which means there is no certain relationship established between customers and product selling owners. |
Etsy was founded in 2005, and since then it has become a great online marketplace platform. Moreover, there are so many entrepreneurs things to build websites like Etsy for starting a great business venture. The platform was built for crafters, artists, and vintage enthusiasts in Brooklyn and New York. After a period, Etsy became very popular and entered in multimillionaire market race with 7.5 Million active sellers and 96+ Million Active Buyers. This platform is expertise in handmade crafts and vintage goods, but later it added other different categories.
| Pros | Cons |
| The increased numbers of customers boost sales and enhance profit margin. | An increased number of sellers increases the competition as well. |
| Etsy is a big platform, where fetching customer’s attention is easier compared to other ways. | Etsy frequently changes its platform features; which challenges the stores to manage. |
| The cost of Etsy is still lower compared to other platforms. | Etsy increased transaction fees from 5% to 6.5% in April 2022, which decreased the profit margin of sellers. |
We all know that Facebook has billions of users. If you will list the products to sell; it will give extraordinary target space and mind-blowing opportunities. Websites like Facebook Marketplace is kind of similar to eBay, where users can post to sell their used or new products for selling.
For example – if you have any furniture item covering much space at home but not required; then you can list the product on Facebook for selling. Interested will connect you through “Comments and Direct Messages”, and close the deal.
Do you know, that the US has gone far away with FB Marketplace compared to other countries? If someone is using FB professionally to sell their products; then Facebook Checkout will offer them FB as a traditional eCommerce store to continue their selling work.
| Pros | Cons |
| It is a simpler buying and selling process, where the sellers need to click pictures and post them for selling with short descriptions. | There are many scams possible to happen in Facebook Marketplace. The buyers could be scammers, so you have to be careful and noticeable to identify if there is any red flag. |
| It has a very streamlined and smooth user interface to sell products easily into the local market. | Facebook Marketplace does not offer buyer’s protection. The buyers might have to compromise on the quality measures of the products. |
| The sellers themselves can decide who will pay the shipping fees, and at what cost you will charge for delivery cost. | There is no proper storage space available on Facebook Marketplace. |
Walmart was the biggest retailer, and later it expanded and became valuable alternative to eBay. It is not considered a good-to-go eCommerce for most sellers as of now, but slowly and steadily gaining ground. Walmart has partnered with Shopify recently; which means if you have an online Shopify Store, then you can sell the products to Walmart shoppers directly. Therefore, Walmart is known to be the best opportunity for sellers to get an e-commerce marketplace
It is a larger physical retail shop in America. The Walmart Marketplace is growing rapidly, and soon it might give tough competition to other well-established online marketplaces. The platform is selling products in almost every category; such as electronics, home essentials, fashion, beauty, health, etc. So the customer base can fulfill all their needs and requirements through the platform easily.
| Pros | Cons |
| Sellers will get instant credibility when registering with Walmart for selling. | Walmart promises for the most affordable yet quality products, and therefore the sellers have to face less profits due to matching the Walmart price. |
| Walmart will provide a huge customer base to the sellers for more sales. | There are some potential seller listing issues with Walmart. |
| There will be no referral fee to be paid on every sale like other platforms. |
Poshmark is also a great online marketplace, where buyers and sellers can exchange their used or new clothes, home goods, accessories, etc. The sellers can create their product listing for free on websites like Poshmark, and buyers can communicate with the sellers through a dedicated messaging/chatting option given to both parties. The platform is categorized into several categories; such as men’s, women’s, bags, shoes, beauty products, jewelry, etc.
The unique feature implemented in Poshmark was its social networking and community building; in which users can follow, comment, and share each other’s posts. It charges for commission fee on sales, based on product prices. The online marketplace will itself handle shipments and payments; so processing things with the web will become easier and more convenient.
| Pros | Cons |
| There are no listing fees on Poshmark. | It charges a higher commission. |
| It is quicker and easier to list on Poshmark. | The time-consuming process to maximize the Poshmark potential. |
| There are extra features added to boost sales. | It has a competitive pricing structure, which might cause problems for sellers. |
Wish is one well-known online marketplace and also other websites like Wish, where mobile shoppers can buy the best quality products of fashion, accessories, electronics, etc. It is a platform that gathers the Western audience with its discounted prices of goods because the materials are exported from China. Wish became a very popular platform, which sells items to over 300 Million users in over 120 countries.
This online marketplace significantly sells products at discounted prices; because they connect with manufacturers or make bulk purchases. Moreover, the previous buyers have submitted positive reviews and feedback about their products purchased.
| Pros | Cons |
| Great for beginner small business stores. | It is difficult to sell the brand’s name due to Wish’s reputation. |
| Wish has a massive audience in over 130 countries and 22 million visits in Dec 2022. | A cut price on shipping cost. |
| Mobile-friendly applications attract young customers. | Long-time payments after delivery lead to cash flow problems. |
Craiglist is an alternative to eBay, where you can sell anything. There are no listing or selling fees charged by the online marketplace. Moreover, it provides user-friendly designs and automation in the selling process. You might wonder, but there is a unique feature named “Free” on Craiglist where users can list the products they don’t want anymore to give it for free.
Compared to eBay, Craiglist allows users to sell products locally. One problem associated with the platform you must know; is that eBay is involved in disputes, but users are on their own at Craiglist increases the chance of risk in this situation. Building an E-Commerce Marketplace websites like eBay will help your business boost the businesses.
| Pros | Cons |
| It is a free-to-use platform. | This platform causes high fraudulent activities and scams. |
| It is the best platform for local sales. | There are limited categories, due to which the sellers won’t get more opportunities. |
| The platforms give accessibility for small selling to take little experience as well. | You cannot post personal information in ads, which might create privacy issues. |
Rakuten is a Japanese-based online marketplace, where the customers will get huge options of products and services across the globe. This platform was introduced in 1997, and from then it became the most largest and famous eCommerce company worldwide. The customers can search for various products in different categories; such as beauty, health, electronics, gardens, home essentials, decors, and many more. Rakuten is a great opportunity for start-ups and SMEs because they get a vast customer base through it.
| Pros | Cons |
| The sellers can look, feel, and customize the stores. | The sellers must have Japanese or US presence to sell their products on the platform. |
| The customer experience is enhanced over Amazon. | You’ll need to manage your own inventory on your own. |
| Huge customer base on Rakuten for vast visibility. | Initially, the platform is quite expensive with the product fees, commission, and subscription to pay for. |
eBid is one known websites like eBay that “sells anything.” It allows buyers and sellers to trade for a variety of products and services. The online marketplace is responsible for connecting buyers and sellers to purchase & sell the products online within secured measures and guidelines. The customers and sellers will come across multiple features in eBid; such as discount offers available, auction-style bidding system, classified sales, and fixed-cost sales. Almost every necessary category; such as household items, fashion, sports & games, electronics, etc., are available on eBid for sale & purchase.
| Pros | Cons |
| Sellers do not need to manage their stores much due to the consistent rules and regulations. | According to the surveys, there is a lag in sales. |
| The fee structure is more simple at eBid compared to other platforms. | eBid is an auction site, which works on selling things at large quantities. |
| The products listed on eBid will be shown on Google shopping as well. | To sell the items here, you need to restrict the cost a bit. |
Mercari is another Japan’s online marketplace, based on a community founded in 2013. It is the platform, which is known to provide a fully protected and safest eCommerce website platform for buyers and sellers. Websites like Mercari has collaborated with other platforms; like FedEx, USPS, and UPS to provide seamless shipping or product deliveries.
When the seller sells any product, the platform will send him a shipping label. Moreover, this platform also provides shipping insurance up to $200. Also, the stats prove that; this online marketplace takes place with 100,000+ product listings every day.
| Pros | Cons |
| Very less fees on the list compared to other platforms. | Customers complained about the help & support system. |
| Easier and Simple to list and edit the lost. | There are sometimes frauds that could happen, which is why you have to be careful. |
| The sellers can change prices and sell their products at discounted amount for more engagement | Based on the seller’s reviews, we have acknowledged that Mercari has a poorly designed dashboard. |
Bonanza is one of the best sites like eBay, which is incredibly known for its seamless navigation. The online marketplace provides a vast range of products; such as household essentials, gardening products, collectibles, fashion, beauty, health, fashion, handbags, jewelry, etc. The buyers can easily find their required product through search bars, filters, and using relevant keywords. On the other hand, the sellers can list their products, and also customize the listing according to their branding. It is an appropriate website to use due to its lowest fees charged. This online marketplace gained nearly 40,000+ merchants listing their products on it to sell.
| Pros | Cons |
| Commissions are lesser and only applied when there is a case of sale. | It is a lesser-known platform for sale. |
| An ideal selling system helps in saving time. | Limited customization options. |
| High level of security integrated. |
OpenSky is currently owned by Alibaba, which has gathered a 1+ Million customer base and 70000+ businesses together to sell & purchase products. This online marketplace websites like eBay provides a huge range of products and also guarantees 80% savings. Some customers praise the products’ quality, affordability, and prompt delivery, while others complain the low-quality goods, slow shipping, difficult returns, and poor customer support. With so many different merchants selling on the platform, it’s hardly unexpected that customers have a wide range of experiences. Even customer service is supposed to be handled mostly by merchants.
| Pros | Cons |
| It allows the sellers to attain good sellings and profits. | It does not have much reviews and ratings in the marketplace. |
| Helpful customer support. | OpenSky received many negative reviews from the audience and sellers. |
| Good quality product selling | Sometimes, the products are not matching the pictures uploaded. So make sure to cross-check appropriately. |
Sears Marketplace was introduced in 2009, in which third-party sellers can list their products for selling along with Sears. It is also a kind of eCommerce platform, which acts like a bridge between sellers and customers. There are diverse categories available on the marketplace; such as clothes, home essentials, furniture, decor, electronics, etc. This is a very useful and user-friendly interface platform; where the sellers can not only list their products but also manage their inventory, order, and follow up with order processing. On the contrary, customers can compare prices, search for products, use filters, and also make certain purchases according to their needs.
| Pros | Cons |
| Build trust among customers for the seller’s brand, because of the authenticity and faith in Sears Marketplace | The customers of Sears are not your brand customers. |
| The sellers’ items will be shown with Sears Items, and this integration will increase clicks and engagement. | If you leave Sears, it means you are leaving your shop and will start it with the complete newest. |
| No commitments to stay for a long term with Sears. | Thousands of sellers to compete with. |
BooKoo is almost similar to Craiglist, which is famous due to its similarities, free-of-charge, and low-fi classified ad-selling platform. There are a plethora of categories available on the online marketplace, so the sellers can choose and do product listings based on their product’s availability. The exchange of goods and payment management will be done under the purview of buyers & sellers. Those who are looking for one platform to do free-product listing can opt for BooKoo.
| Pros | Cons |
| The layout and UI are excellent at Bookoo. | Competition might create problems, and you find it more challenging to market. |
| The platform will follow the interest appropriately. | Higher commissions on the platform. |
| BooKoo’s customer support is just awesome. | BooKoo is more focused on the products, not the brands. |
There is another website like eBay called Ruby Lane. The name itself clarifies that; this online marketplace fills the gap of sellers who sell vintage products, antiques, and jewelry with customers. Etsy and Bonanza are two similar kinds of marketplaces to Ruby Lane, popularly establishing their growth with an increase of 1.1 Million users every month. It has been estimated that Ruby Lane is used by 85% of women falling under the age of 40 (approx.)
Those who want to deal in vintage and antique jewels throughout the market with the targeted audience only women should definitely think of choosing Ruby Lane as their best option.
| Pros | Cons |
| There will be no charges on individual listings. This monthly amount will be rebated if you are an active seller. | Sellers need to make recursive payments every month for listing. |
| It allows the shoppers to negotiate prices, and fix the deal accordingly. | Free shipping, but must be complicated |
| The platform is niche-oriented, so the sellers might be able to crack more deals compared to other platforms. |
Target.com is your one-go platform to shop for everyday necessities, electronics, appliances, outdoor living accessories, beauty, toys, gift cards, etc. Whatever you need; Target.com has products for all your needs. The website has acquired more than 2000 stores and also managed the supply chain from different locations.
The website has existed in the marketplace since 1946, and being an old-aged platform – Target.com does not fail to satisfy any of the consumer’s needs. Moreover, the consumers can expect same-day delivery in case of need.
| Pros | Cons |
| A vast array of products available under different categories | Target product selection might be lacking if someone is looking for products catering to specific hobbies, special diets, etc. Limited with niche product availability. |
| The platform is widely known for purchasing at affordable rates | It’s been reviewed that Target.com sometimes fails to provide the required products, which states it has inconsistency in product availability. |
| Target REDcard programs will improve the shopping experience through additional discounts and perks. | Target.com cannot be compared to fresh grocery stores, because there is already a lot to deal with on the platform. |
| In-store pick-up and home delivery services are available |
The Saleroom majorly focuses on delivering vintage and artistic products. This is yet another eBay alternative; which delivers vintage treasures at the right price. The platform has different categories; such as decorative art, fine art, watches, jewelry, Asian art, and even classic cars. This is not like other eCommerce selling sites, but auction sites where you can acquire vintage products to raise your values.
This UK-based auction site is selling antiques and collectibles. Enjoy the live and timed auction, websites like eBay. View and place bids online to get the collectibles at your place.
| Pros | Cons |
| Proper valuation of the collectibles | Not intended to initiate the business or brand |
| Connect to multiple reputational auction houses across the UK | No direct sales or third-party accounts |
| Clear explanation of current value and resale values of the collectibles while you show interest in purchase | Works with auction houses; which take a portion of every sale |
Invaluable.com is like other sites like eBay, where consumers can expect to retain collectibles and valuable artistic antique things. There are 5000+ sellers available in 53+ countries. Also, the platform has more than 250000 products. The consumers can buy products, as well as there are products to place bidding.
Just like Saleroom.com; Invaluable also has live and timed auctions; where almost 8 Million visitors come with monthly traffic of 425000 bids online. There is a private label service at Invaluable, which is a beneficiary for auction houses.
| Pros | Cons |
| Higher-quality collectibles in various products | Invaluable system works around the auction houses |
| Invaluable is connected with the most prestigious auction houses globally. | Complex algorithm for newbie online sellers |
| Live and Timed Auction – both available | No refund-policy and No exceptions |
There are many entrepreneurs, who are asking “How much does it cost to build websites like eBay ?” The average website development cost to build selling websites like eBay is $30000, but it is not a fixed amount.
When you hire a website development company in India to develop eBay like sites; they give you a quotation based on multiple factors:
Considering one as the best eBay alternatives is not the right way, because every alternate site has its own perks and lacks. So here the choice is all yours. We have given you descriptions on all the sites like eBay, so you decide now which is best suitable according to your purpose.
Apart this, if anyone wants to build selling platforms like eBay, connect with the best website development company in India. The experienced company hire web developer with exercised skills and vast knowledge; so that they can work on clientele project up to the estimated mark with advancements and latest technologies integrated.
We request the readers to feel free connecting us and discuss about your web app ideas. We have our expert IT Professionals, who are ready to discuss and get the best out of your ideologies and plans. Konstant Infosolutions has 20+ years of experience in the industry with Nodejs development services, best PHP development company in India, and more agile development solutions. The Konstantians will help figuring out the best and convenient way to create a peer-to-peer marketplace website.
Don’t you want such an eBay business venture to start for your own growth? If yes, then you must have a conversation with the IT experts of Konstant Infosolutions. It is one of the best eCommerce development companies, which does not only claim but also has a good portfolio to show some successful projects done by them. An average of 2500 projects are completed by the company, and still the count is increasing. This mobile app development company has set an example in the industry with its agile development process and knowledge of the latest technologies. So consider a conversation to discuss, and figure out how you can grow your business with the assistance and development from Konstant.
Everyone wants their business to grow and match the market’s high standards. Thanks to the idea of website like eBay, which can actually make high range of revenue more than your expected. Building an online marketplace like eBay is a profitable business opportunity, which charge from two way; commissions and advertising.
Do you want to develop site like eBay? If so, then first you have to conceptualize own idea and plans. Here are a few steps, you need to follow and you can get the best website compared to others ruling the online marketplace:
It will take nearly 3 months to 6 months in building a competitive website like eBay. In case the client has more ideas, features, and other unique ideas to add in his website; then it might take more time as well. So there is no certain fixed time we can give you for the development of eBay like websites; because the duration of development depends upon the client’s requirements and wants. So it would be advisable to consult with angularjs web development company for precise clarifications.
Vipin Jain is the Co-Founder and CEO at Konstant Infosolutions and is in charge of marketing, project management, administration and R&D at the company. With his marketing background, Vipin Jain has developed and honed the company’s vision, corporate structure & initiatives and its goals, and brought the company into the current era of success.
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