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Amazon vs TikTok Shop Fees: Which Sells Better for You?
A plain-numbers look at what Amazon and TikTok Shop each charge sellers, so you can decide where a specific product is actually worth listing.
Quick Verdict
On a $29.99 item, Amazon's fees come to $9.25, leaving a margin of 27.5%. On the same style of item priced at $29.99, TikTok Shop's fees come to $2.55, leaving a margin of 49.8%. In this specific example, TikTok Shop leaves a wider margin than Amazon — though that gap can close or flip entirely at a different price point or product category.
This is one example at one price point, not a universal rule. Fee structures scale differently by price, weight, and category, so the right way to decide for your own product is to run its actual numbers through both platforms' own calculators, linked at the bottom of this page.
Fee Structure, Side by Side
Amazon
- Referral Fee — ~15%
- FBA Fulfillment Fee
TikTok Shop
- Commission Fee — ~6%
- Payment Processing — ~2.5%
Rates last verified: 2026-09-01 (Amazon) and 2026-09-01 (TikTok Shop). See our methodology for how we source and recheck these.
When Amazon Tends to Make More Sense
Amazon is generally worth prioritizing when your product fits well within its most common category rate, when you want access to its existing buyer base without building traffic yourself, and when you're comparing total profit per sale rather than just the headline fee percentage. Check the exact numbers for your product with the Amazon calculators.
When TikTok Shop Tends to Make More Sense
TikTok Shop is worth considering when its fee structure suits your price point better, when its audience or category mix lines up more closely with your product, or when you're deliberately diversifying beyond a single marketplace to reduce the risk of depending on one platform's policies. Check the exact numbers for your product with the TikTok Shop calculators.
FAQ
Is Amazon always cheaper than TikTok Shop, or the other way around?
Neither is universally cheaper — it depends on your product's price, category, and weight, since both platforms use different fee structures that scale differently. Use the worked example below as a starting point, then run your own numbers through each platform's calculator.
Can I sell the same product on both Amazon and TikTok Shop?
In most cases, yes — many sellers list the same product across several marketplaces at once. Just make sure you're pricing for each platform's own fees separately rather than using one price everywhere, since an identical price can be profitable on one platform and unprofitable on another.
Which platform has lower fees for beginners?
Lower headline fees aren't the only thing that matters for a new seller — audience size, ease of listing, and payment timelines matter too. Compare the actual profit per sale for your specific product using both calculators linked below rather than deciding on reputation alone.
Does this comparison include advertising or storage costs?
No — like our individual calculators, this comparison covers each platform's core per-sale fees only. Advertising spend, storage charges, and promotional discounts vary by seller and aren't included in either platform's total here.