Etsy vs Poshmark Fees 2026: Which Platform Pays You More?

This comparison came up in my local craft fair group last weekend.

One seller makes jewelry and sells on Etsy. Another makes vintage clothing bundles and uses Poshmark. Both were convinced the other platform was cheaper.

So I ran the numbers. Turns out they're both right—depending on what you're selling.

The Basic Fee Structures

Etsy:

$0.20 listing fee (every 4 months)
6.5% transaction fee
3% + $0.25 payment processing
Plus shipping fees charged to buyer
Possible 12-15% offsite ads fee

Poshmark:

20% on sales over $15
Flat $2.95 on sales under $15
Buyer pays $7.67 shipping (up to 5 lbs)
No listing fees, no payment processing fees

At first glance, Etsy looks way cheaper. 6.5% + 3% = 9.5% vs Poshmark's 20%.

But that's not the whole story.

Let's Do the Math on a $40 Sale

Etsy (no offsite ad):

Listing fee: $0.20
Transaction fee (6.5%): $2.60
Payment processing (3% + $0.25): $1.45
Total fees: $4.25
You keep: $35.75 (11% in fees)

Poshmark:

Platform fee (20%): $8.00
Total fees: $8.00
You keep: $32.00 (20% in fees)

Etsy wins, right? Well... not so fast.

Shipping Changes Everything

On Poshmark, the buyer pays shipping separately. You print a label, ship it, done. No calculations, no variables.

On Etsy, you're responsible for shipping. You can:

Charge the buyer (and include it in your item price)
Offer "free shipping" (you eat the cost)
Use Etsy's calculated shipping (buyer pays based on location)

If you're offering free shipping to compete, add $5-8 to your costs. Suddenly that $35.75 becomes $28-31.

Poshmark's $32 doesn't look so bad anymore.

The Offsite Ads Wildcard (Etsy's Secret Fee)

Here's where Etsy can get expensive.

If a buyer finds your item through an Etsy ad on Google or Facebook, you pay an additional 12-15% fee.

That $40 sale with offsite ads:

Regular Etsy fees: $4.25
Offsite ads (15%): $6.00
Total fees: $10.25
You keep: $29.75

Worse than Poshmark.

And if you've made over $10k on Etsy in the last year? Offsite ads are mandatory. No opt-out.

I wrote a whole article about offsite ads if you want the details, because they're frustrating.

What Actually Sells Where

This is more important than fee percentages.

Etsy is for:

Handmade items
Craft supplies
Vintage items (20+ years old)
Digital downloads
Custom/personalized goods

Poshmark is for:

Clothing and accessories
Shoes and bags
Jewelry (but not handmade—resale only)
Home goods (limited)

You can't sell handmade jewelry on Poshmark. You can sell vintage clothing on Etsy, but Poshmark's audience is specifically looking for that.

The $15 Threshold (Poshmark's Sweet Spot)

Poshmark's flat $2.95 fee on items under $15 is criminally underrated.

Sell a vintage tee for $12? You keep $9.05 (24.5% fee, but only $2.95).

On Etsy, that same $12 sale:

Listing: $0.20
Transaction: $0.78
Processing: $0.61
Total fees: $1.59
You keep: $10.41

Etsy wins on cheaper items—unless offsite ads hit, then Poshmark wins again.

When I Use Each Platform

I sell vintage clothing and some handmade accessories.

Etsy gets:

Custom jewelry pieces I make
Vintage items over $50
Anything unique that benefits from Etsy's search SEO

Poshmark gets:

Everyday vintage clothing under $50
Shoes and bags
Items I want to move quickly
Anything over 3 lbs (Etsy shipping gets expensive)

I don't cross-list between them because the audiences are too different. Someone shopping Poshmark for a $30 vintage blazer isn't browsing Etsy for the same thing.

The Real Costs (Hidden and Otherwise)

Etsy's hidden costs:

Listing fees add up (100 items = $20 every 4 months)
Shipping label fees (if using Etsy shipping)
Potential offsite ads on every sale over $10k/year
More time per listing (photos, descriptions, SEO optimization)

Poshmark's hidden costs:

Time spent "sharing" your closet for visibility
Posh Parties (if you participate)
The mental drain of lowball offers
5 lb shipping limit (overages get expensive)

Neither platform is "free" to use, even beyond the percentage fees.

My Honest Take

For handmade items with decent margins (40%+), Etsy's fees are manageable—until offsite ads hit. Then they hurt.

For resale clothing and accessories, Poshmark's 20% is steep but the shipping simplicity and fast-moving inventory make up for it.

If you're on the fence, try both for a month. See where your specific items get more traction. Fees matter, but sales velocity matters more.

If you want to run the exact numbers for your items, I built a calculator that breaks down what you'd actually take home on each platform.