warebywareby vs the big platforms.
the big platforms are built to sell to everyone, everywhere, and to take their cut on the way. wareby is built for one town at a time: verified local makers, within 25 miles of you. here’s how we stack up, with every number sourced.
every platform takes a cut. the difference is how big it is, and where the rest of your money goes. on wareby, a shop on the free plan pays 10% plus card processing on each sale, with no listing fees, no ad fees and no service fee for shoppers, and every seller is an independent business within 25 miles of you. civic economics found independent retailers put 52.9% of their revenue back into the local economy, compared with 13.6% for chains.
what each platform takes from a $35 sale
| platform | takes from a $35 sale | who’s selling | built for |
|---|---|---|---|
| wareby | $4.85 on the free plan, $3.45 for founding shops. no service fee for shoppers | verified independent businesses within 25 miles | your own town |
| etsy | $3.78, or $9.03 when an offsite ad brought the sale | sellers anywhere in the world | shipping worldwide |
| amazon handmade | $5.25, after a $39.99 first month | approved artisans anywhere | shipping nationwide |
| doordash | $5.25 to $10.50 on delivery orders, plus a 15% service fee from shoppers in minnesota | restaurants and stores | courier delivery |
| fiverr | $7.00 from the freelancer, plus $5.43 from the buyer | freelancers anywhere | remote digital work |
| facebook marketplace | $0 for local pickup, $3.50 when shipped | anyone with an account | one-off local listings |
a $35 order before sales tax, using each company’s published fees, card processing included. the details and sources are on each comparison.
why does buying local matter?
when you buy from an independent local business, more of your money keeps working near you: the owner pays local people, buys from local suppliers and spends their profit nearby. civic economics, an economic research firm, surveyed 318 businesses in 20 places between 2012 and 2022. independent retailers put 52.9% of their revenue back into the local economy (local wages, local suppliers, local services and profits spent nearby), compared with 13.6% for chain retailers. for restaurants, it was 64.1%, compared with 30.4% for chains.
minnesota runs on small businesses: 560,428 of them, 99.5% of all businesses in the state, employing 1.3 million people (45.8% of the state’s workers), according to the u.s. small business administration.
what does wareby charge?
shops start free: 10% per sale plus 3% + 30¢ card processing, with no listing fees, no ad fees and no fee to open. paid plans lower the sale fee to 8% ($29 a month) or 6% ($79 a month), and the first 10 shops near you get the loved plan free for a year. shoppers never pay a service fee. see seller plans.
what does wareby promise?
a real person checks every shop before it opens: the owner’s id, the address they sell from, and a food permit for anyone selling food. and every order is covered: if it isn’t ready, never arrives or never ships, you get your money back. the wareby promise.
every comparison
wareby vs etsy
listing fees, offsite ads, who you’re really buying from, and who keeps the customer.
comparison · 8 min read
wareby vs doordash
15 to 30% commissions, service fees, menu markups, and why home bakers can’t use it.
comparison · 7 min read
wareby vs fiverr
a 20% cut, buyer service fees, two-week payout holds, and custom work made near you.
comparison · 5 min read
wareby vs amazon handmade
15% of every sale, no food allowed, and who keeps the customer.
comparison · 5 min read
wareby vs facebook marketplace
free listings, no seller checks, uncovered pickups, and what scams cost.
comparison · 4 min read
sources
- civic economics: indie impact study series
- u.s. small business administration, office of advocacy: 2025 minnesota small business profile
- etsy: fees & payments policy
- amazon seller central: amazon handmade referral fees
- doordash: merchant pricing
- doordash: what fees do i pay?
- fiverr: payment terms of service
- facebook help center: selling fees on marketplace
- wareby: seller plans
- the wareby promise
fees checked october 12, 2026, on each company’s own pages. they change, so check theirs before you decide.
etsy, amazon handmade, doordash, fiverr and facebook marketplace are trademarks of their owners. wareby isn’t affiliated with any of these companies.
your town, not the whole world.
open your shop free in about 10 minutes, or find the makers already near you.