What Is the Best Platform To Sell Online for Beginners?
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Comments: Whether you want to build an online store from scratch, or simply sell a few products on the side, there are plenty of platforms available to help you make money, from Amazon to Rakuten.
For beginners, there are a few key things to consider, such as fees, product types, and audience reach, and I’ll discuss these areas in more detail below.
Key Takeaways 🔍
- Use Shopify and Wix to build an online store and manage your inventory
- Amazon can help you reach a large audience base
- Etsy is a great option for creatives
- eBay and Bonanza let customers negotiate prices
- AliExpress can be used as a dropshipping supplier
What’s the Best Platform to Sell Online for Beginners?
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick summary of each platform and why I recommend using them:
| Platform | Good for | Key features | Fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon | Selling to a large community | Connect with millions of customers, flexible selling, simple shipping | $0.99 per item or $39.99 per month + referral fees |
| Etsy | Creative businesses | Built-in community, product management tools, seller protection | $0.20 per item + 6.5% transaction fee |
| Shopify | Growing your own online store | Multichannel selling, 100+ payment options, AI tools | Starting from $29 per month (billed annually) |
| Wix | Building your brand | AI website builder, personalized SEO support, abandoned cart recovery | Starting from $29 per month (billed annually) |
| eBay | Selling secondhand goods | Auction selling, integrate with other platforms, view sales trends | 10-15% final value fee + product listing fee (after 250 products) |
| Bonanza | Less experienced sellers | No listing fees, beginner-friendly interface, less competition | $14.99 set-up fee + $0.25 transaction fee + 11% final value fee |
| Poshmark | Businesses using social media | Simple setup, prepaid shipping, social selling features | $2.95 for sales under $15 + 20% for sales over $15 |
| AliExpress | Selling dropshipping products | Global reach, dropshipping supplier, more control | 5% to 8% commission fee |
| Rakuten | Selling in Japan | Built-in selling support, store customization, Japanese focus | Registration fee + subscription + commission fee (based on monthly sales) |
This gives you a clear overview of what a platform is good for and the fees you need to consider, but I’ll provide more detail in the dedicated sections below. For small businesses and side hustles, remember to really weigh up the costs involved with each platform, since you don’t want to spending more money than you make.
Amazon
As one of the largest and most popular marketplaces, Amazon is a trusted platform to sell online with since it’s home to a very active community of sellers and customers already. In 2024, sales on Amazon hit nearly $638 billion, so while there’s plenty of competition, there’s also opportunity to boost sales and build brand awareness.
✔️ Pros
- Millions of customers globally
- Sell a variety of products
- Support for small and large businesses
❌ Cons
- Lots of selling costs to consider
- Competitive and crowded market
- Not ideal for niche businesses
Amazon Fees
With Amazon, there are two options: pay $0.99 per item sold, or subscribe to the Professional plan for $39.99 per month. Additionally, referral fees (where you pay a percentage of the total price) range from 5% to 45%, depending on the product category and overall sales price. Selling Amazon device accessories will incur the largest referral fee.
Is Amazon Right for Your Business?
I recommend using Amazon to sell online if you’re looking to connect with a broad audience, since the global platform caters to millions of customers. Because of this versatility and range of product categories, Amazon is a great option for all business types, from side hustles to growing online stores.Etsy
Etsy’s marketplace isn’t as versatile as Amazon, catering to a niche crowd of hobby sellers, crafters, artists, and creatives. Merchants can only sell a select range of goods, including handmade products, vintage items, and craft supplies. This limits the types of businesses that can use Etsy, but the platform does attract engaged and active customers.
✔️ Pros
- Niche marketplace for sellers
- Millions of daily customers
- Sync with social media channels
❌ Cons
- Limited product types allowed
- Fees can add up quickly
- Some merchants will be charged a set-up fee
Etsy Fees
To sell on Etsy, you’ll be charged a listing fee of $0.20 per product. Your listing lasts for four months only, meaning you’ll be charged the same amount again when it’s time to renew. And, any sale made through Etsy will face a 6.5% transaction fee, based on the product price, delivery, and gift wrapping.
Alternatively, you can subscribe to Etsy Plus for $10 per month. This unlocks additional growth tools for your brand, 15 listing credits each moth, as well as Etsy Ads credits.
Is Etsy Right for Your Business?
Etsy is ideal for niche and creative businesses, such as artists. The platform isn’t as flexible as others, like Amazon, because it limits the types of products you can sell, but Etsy’s customers are engaged and ready-to-shop.Shopify
Shopify is our top-rated ecommerce website builder for 2025, offering impressive sales features to help you get online, manage your inventory, and promote your products to potential customers. All of Shopify’s plans let you sell unlimited products online, and you get total control over your store with a single subscription fee.
✔️ Pros
- Customizable checkout
- Multichannel selling capabilities
- Sell unlimited products, no listing fee
❌ Cons
- Pay for a monthly or annual plan
- Additional costs, such as templates and custom domains
- More hands-on for beginners
Shopify Fees
Shopify’s pricing ranges from $29 to $299 per month (billed annually), split across three core website builder plans. For merchants just looking to sell via social media, you can use the $5 per month Shopify Starter plan. And, on the other end of the scale, industry leaders can subscribe to Shopify Plus or the Enterprise plan for extra support.
You can test out Shopify’s features for yourself with its three-day free trial, and get your first three months for just $1 per month.
Is Shopify Right for Your Business?
Shopify is an affordable, user-friendly option to start selling online. Unlike online marketplaces, Shopify helps you set up an online store from scratch and grow your business from a single dashboard. I recommend choosing Shopify if you want greater control over how you sell products, promote your brand, and connect with your customers.Wix
Wix is our second top-rated ecommerce website builder, sitting just behind Shopify in our rankings. With Wix, you can expect great website functionality, a user-friendly editor, and 24/7 business support as you start selling online. Like Shopify, Wix lends a helping hand no matter what stage of the entrepreneurial journey you’re at.
✔️ Pros
- Use the AI website builder to create your store
- Beginner-friendly platform
- Great marketing tools
❌ Cons
- Limited inventory and storage space
- 2.9% + $0.30 processing fee
- Slow loading times during my tests
Wix Fees
To sell online with Wix, you’ll need to choose either the Core, Business, or Business Elite plan. Wix’s pricing for these ecommerce plans ranges from $29 to $159 per month (billed annually). You can start building your online store with Wix’s free plan, then use our code “TAKE10” to get 10% off your Wix plan when it’s time to upgrade.
Is Wix Right for Your Business?
Wix is the perfect all-in-one solution for smaller businesses finding their feet online. While it can’t match Shopify’s high-quality sales features, Wix is perhaps the better website builder for sellers with a handful of products, as opposed to an extensive inventory, thanks to its user-friendly interface and marketing tools.eBay
eBay is another recognizable platform for selling online, having been founded in 1995. Thirty years later, eBay now has 134 million active buyers around the world who love the budget-friendly and auction-style shopping experience. eBay is incredibly versatile, like Amazon, letting businesses sell a range of unique products. Plus, you can easily integrate eBay with other platforms, given its popularity and position in the ecommerce community.
✔️ Pros
- Recognized marketplace globally
- Supported seller community
- Great for secondhand products
❌ Cons
- Non-refundable listing fees
- Not ideal for luxury goods
- Intense competition
eBay Fees
There are two fees to consider when selling on eBay: the insertion fee and final value fee. You’ll get a minimum of 250 listings for free each month, after which you’ll be charged a non-refundable insertion fee per listing and per category. Once you’ve made a sale, eBay will charge a 10-15% final value fee, depending on the product type.
You can also subscribe to an eBay Store plan for additional tools and lower fees. These range from $4.95 per month to $2,999.95 per month (billed annually).
Is eBay Right for Your Business?
eBay is a popular site for sellers, particularly for side hustlers and small businesses looking to make some extra cash. I wouldn’t recommend using this platform to sell high-value or luxury products, since eBay has a reputation for getting items at a budget-friendly price. But, its auction selling model can work to your advantage if you have the patience to await the outcome of a bidding war.Bonanza
Bonanza isn’t a very established platform for selling online, especially in comparison to Amazon or Shopify – brand names recognized by regular people, and not just businesses. However, given its smaller scale, it’s a good option for beginners because you won’t have to compete with a large crowd of experienced sellers. With a focus on unique goods, you can sell products for a fixed price or negotiate with customers directly through Bonanza.
✔️ Pros
- Intuitive to use
- Integrate with other marketplaces
- No listing fees
❌ Cons
- Fewer customers than Amazon or eBay
- Set-up fee
- Limited to 75,000 products
Bonanza Fees
Unlike Amazon or eBay, Bonanza charges a one-time set-up fee of $14.99. That said, you won’t be charged to list products to sell online. However, each sale will incur a $0.25 transaction fee, and Bonanza will take a percentage of the final sale price (the final value fee has increased to a minimum of 11%, as of May 2025).
Is Bonanza Right for Your Business?
Whereas Amazon and eBay cater to a wide range of products, Bonanza is a great fit if you have unique goods to sell. And, because of its reduced visibility, smaller businesses won’t have to fight off the competition to get their products seen by customers.Poshmark
Poshmark caters to a niche crowd, focusing on fashion, beauty, and home goods. The platform is a good option for beginners because of its user-friendly interface and social media integrations, making it easy to promote your products and sell to more customers.
✔️ Pros
- Affordable option for small goods
- Pre-paid shipping labels
- Impressive social selling tools
❌ Cons
- High fees on larger sales
- Competitive market
- Can’t message customers directly
Poshmark Fees
Poshmark keeps things simple, especially in comparison to other platforms which charge multiple fees (such as set-up fees, listing fees, and final value fees). Poshmark will take $2.95 from any sale with a value less than $15. For anything over $15, Poshmark will take a 20% commission.
Is Poshmark Right for Your Business?
Because of its focus on select products, Poshmark won’t be suitable for every business. For example, I wouldn’t suggest using the platform if you’re selling pet supplies. However, its social selling features (including Posh Parties and virtual events) make it an impressive option for beginners looking to build an online brand presence. With higher commission fees on larger sales, it feels like a good starting point but not a long-term solution.AliExpress
AliExpress helps businesses sell to millions of customers around the world, operating in 220 regions and 18 languages. The massive marketplace welcomes over 150 million active customers, helping you reach more buyers to boost sales. AliExpress also offers its own dropshipping model, which is great if you’re selling on the side and don’t want to worry about inventory or shipping.
✔️ Pros
- Millions of customers daily
- Dropshipping model supported
- No listing or set-up fees
❌ Cons
- Commission fee depends on product
- Limited control over quality
- Slow shipping for international orders
AliExpress
AliExpress only takes a cut from your business once you’ve landed a sale. Commission fees range between 5% and 8%, depending on the product category. For example, clothing and accessories are set at 8%, whereas home appliances have a rate of 5%.
Is AliExpress Right for Your Business?
With the US tariffs, overall costs and delivery times can be impacted when using a platform like this to sell online, especially if you rely on AliExpress as a dropshipping supplier. That said, AliExpress is a low-cost option for businesses, since you don’t need to worry about listing or set-up fees, and the dropshipping benefits can be ideal for small sellers.Rakuten
Rakuten was founded in Japan in 1997, making it one of the oldest platforms on this list to sell online with. But that doesn’t mean Rakuten has become outdated. In fact, Japan is the fourth largest ecommerce market, giving your business access to millions of engaged customers ready to shop online. You can sell all types of products via Rakuten, but consider your target audience before choosing this platform.
✔️ Pros
- Tap into the Japanese market
- Businesses get more control
- Get paid weekly
❌ Cons
- Not the most accessible platform
- Have to translate product information
- Limited countries are eligible
Rakuten Fees
If you manage a business outside of Japan, select countries (including the US and Canada) can still access Rakuten through its Basic Shop Open plan or via a service partner, such as Shopify. There’s a registration fee of ¥60,000, followed by a subscription fee of ¥65,000 per month. Rakuten will also charge commission fees, based on your monthly sales.
Is Rakuten Right for Your Business?
Because Rakuten operates within Japan, I only recommend picking this platform if your target audience is also based in the country. While you can sell all kinds of products, location is key – Rakuten caters to Japanese consumers and offers useful tools to help you connect with this community. If you don’t operate in this market, consider an alternative platform. However, Rakuten is a good option if your business is exploring international expansion.Tips for Selling Online
So, what is the best platform to sell online for beginners? It really depends on your business needs, the products you sell, and your target customers. Saying that, there are a few tips I can suggest to help you start selling online:
- Choose whether you want a website builder or not – Wix and Shopify are your best options for selling online, but you need to decide how involved you want to be with running an online store and managing your inventory (platforms like Amazon can be easier if you’re just selling a few products)
- Find your niche – If you haven’t narrowed down who you’re selling to or assessed the competition in your market, do your research to give yourself the best opportunity to convert customers
- Determine your budget – Free ecommerce platforms are an option if you’re looking to save money, but they’re more limited than the marketplace and website builders I’ve mentioned in this list
- Prepare your inventory – Figure out what you want to sell online, whether that’s physical products or digital downloads (make sure it makes sense for your business and your customers!)
- Boost brand awareness – No matter which platform you pick, make sure you spread the word and build hype for your products, whether that’s with a TikTok video or an Instagram post
Next Steps: Start Selling Online Today
For beginners, it can be overwhelming knowing where to sell online and understanding which platform could work best for their ecommerce needs. For greater control and flexibility, I suggest picking a website builder, like Shopify, to grow your online store. With these builders, you can connect to online marketplaces as well.
That said, selling sites, like Amazon and AliExpress, make it easy for you to tap into millions of engaged customers without much effort on your behalf. So, consider your business priorities (product types, location, shipping), and weigh up the pros and cons I’ve mentioned to help make your decision.
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