Online marketplaces make money by charging fees to buyers, sellers, or both. However, fee structures differ widely across platforms, especially between traditional marketplaces (like eBay or Facebook Marketplace) and digital marketplaces (like Gameflip, G2A or Eneba).

Understanding who pays fees, how commissions work, and where payment processing fees are applied can help both buyers and sellers choose the most cost-effective platform.

This article aims to explain how the various types of fees work in online marketplaces like Gameflip, Kinguin, G2A, Eneba, Swappa, Mercari, eBay, and Facebook Marketplace for both sellers and buyers.

How Marketplace Fees Work

Most marketplaces charge fees in one or more of the following ways:

1. Seller Fees (Commission)

A percentage taken from the sale price when an item sells.

Typical examples:

• eBay: final value fee (varies by category)

• Mercari: flat selling fee percentage

• Facebook Marketplace: flat selling fee for shipped items

These fees are sometimes called commissions because the marketplace takes a portion of the completed transaction.

2. Buyer Fees

Some marketplaces charge explicit buyer fees during checkout.

These may appear as:

• Service fees

• Buyer protection fees

• Marketplace service charges

Digital marketplaces for game keys and other digital goods often apply these fees.

3. Payment Processing Fees

Payment providers charge fees to process transactions.

Typical processing fees include:

• Credit card processing

• PayPal processing

• Payment gateway costs

These are usually around 2.9% + a small fixed fee, but some marketplaces bundle processing into their overall fee.

Buyer Fees vs Seller Fees

One of the biggest differences between marketplaces is who pays the majority of the fees.

Marketplaces that charge mostly sellers

These platforms generally advertise “no buyer fees.”

Examples:

• eBay

• Mercari

• Facebook Marketplace

In these marketplaces, sellers pay commissions, and buyers usually only see taxes or shipping costs.

Marketplaces that charge buyers

Some platforms charge fees directly to buyers to cover costs for services, platform maintenance, and buyer protection.

Examples:

• G2A

• Eneba

• Kinguin

These service fees or buyer protection fees are often added during checkout.

Marketplaces that split fees

Some of the digital marketplaces charge both buyers and sellers.

Examples:

• Swappa

This model spreads the cost of operating the marketplace between both sides of the transaction.

Digital Marketplace Fee Structures

Digital marketplaces—especially those selling game keys, digital items, or software licenses—often use different fee models than traditional marketplaces.

Common patterns include:

• Lower seller commissions

• Explicit buyer service fees

• Additional payment processing charges

Platforms such as 2A, Eneba, and Kinguin often add checkout fees. These fees intend to cover costs for services, keeping the platform running, and protecting buyers.

This means that the starting price of a listing may vary depending on the platform and the fees charged at checkout.

Which Marketplace Has the Lowest Fees for Buyers?

For buyers looking for the lowest fees, platforms that do not charge explicit buyer fees are usually the most transparent.

Generally:

Lowest buyer fee marketplaces

• Facebook Marketplace

• eBay

• Mercari

These platforms typically charge seller commissions instead of buyer service fees.

However, digital marketplaces sometimes have lower listed prices, even though they add buyer service fees at checkout.

Because of this, the total cost can vary depending on the listing and marketplace fee structure.

How Gameflip's fee structure works

Gameflip’s fee model is designed to be transparent and performance-based. 

For Sellers

Listing items is completely free, allowing you to post as many products as you like without any upfront risk. Once a transaction is completed and accepted by the buyer, a clear fee structure is applied: an 8% commission, a 2% partner fee, and a small fixed fee (ranging from $0.10 to $0.80 based on price). 

For digital goods like skins or gift cards, an additional 2% digital fee is included to maintain high-level fraud protection. This model ensures the platform remains a secure, high-traffic marketplace while letting sellers scale their business with zero initial overhead.

Standard Fee Breakdown

For more information, check out our FAQ article.

For Buyers

Gameflip maintains a fee-free platform experience for buyers, meaning there are no direct "service fees" or hidden marketplace charges added to your order by Gameflip itself. 

To keep transactions seamless, the only additional costs are payment processing fees (typically a fixed amount plus a percentage, such as $1.00 + 6–7%), which are charged directly by trusted payment providers like Visa, Mastercard, and Google Pay to securely handle the financial transfer.

Pro Tip: You can completely avoid these processing fees by using your Gameflip Wallet balance (earned from sales or by adding funds) or Gameflip Credits for your purchase, as these internal funds do not require third-party payment processing fees.

Buyer Cost Overview

For more information, check out our FAQ article.

Key Takeaways

• Fee structures differ widely between marketplaces.

• Traditional marketplaces mostly charge seller commissions.

• Digital marketplaces often add buyer service fees.

• Some platforms include payment processing in their commission, while others charge it separately.

• How Gameflip’s fee structure works.

Understanding these differences helps both buyers and sellers choose the marketplace with the lowest total fees for their situation.