Two places to run a card show from your desk. Compare access, buyers, auctions and postage before you plan your first stream.
The short answer
Pick Whatnot if you want to start streaming cards soon and build a following show by show. Register for eBay Live if you already sell cards on eBay and want your live auctions in front of its buyers, once eBay invites you.
eBay Live
eBay LiveWhatnot
WhatnotSide by side
How they compare on packing and posting.
- Getting access
- eBay LiveBy invitation. You register your interest and eBay contacts sellers as it adds more.
- WhatnotYou apply to sell through Whatnot’s seller application.
- Where buyers come from
- eBay LiveeBay’s existing UK buyers, on the website and in the eBay app.
- WhatnotAn app built around live shows, with buyers who follow sellers.
- Card categories
- eBay LiveTrading cards are among the categories eBay has opened for Live.
- WhatnotTrading cards are one of Whatnot’s main categories.
- Payment after a win
- eBay LiveeBay charges the winner’s default payment method when the auction ends.
- WhatnotBuyers pay through the Whatnot app. Check its help centre for details.
- Fees
- eBay LiveCheck eBay Live’s help pages for current seller fees.
- WhatnotCheck Whatnot’s seller fees page for current rates.
- Selling between shows
- eBay LiveYour normal eBay listings keep selling when you are offline.
- WhatnotWhatnot centres on shows, so plan regular streams.
- Kit you need
- eBay LiveA phone or camera on an overhead arm, lights and a mic.
- WhatnotThe same kit: an overhead arm, lights and a mic.
| eBay Live · 1 | Whatnot · 1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Getting access | By invitation. You register your interest and eBay contacts sellers as it adds more. | You apply to sell through Whatnot’s seller application. |
| Where buyers come from | eBay’s existing UK buyers, on the website and in the eBay app. | An app built around live shows, with buyers who follow sellers. |
| Card categories | Trading cards are among the categories eBay has opened for Live. | Trading cards are one of Whatnot’s main categories. |
| Payment after a win | eBay charges the winner’s default payment method when the auction ends. | Buyers pay through the Whatnot app. Check its help centre for details. |
| Fees | Check eBay Live’s help pages for current seller fees. | Check Whatnot’s seller fees page for current rates. |
| Selling between shows | Your normal eBay listings keep selling when you are offline. | Whatnot centres on shows, so plan regular streams. |
| Kit you need | A phone or camera on an overhead arm, lights and a mic. | The same kit: an overhead arm, lights and a mic. |
Choose eBay Live if
- You already have an eBay shop full of singles and want live auctions alongside it.
- You are happy to register and wait for an invitation.
- You want unsold cards to stay listed on eBay after the show.
Choose Whatnot if
- You want to apply and start streaming without waiting for an invite.
- You plan to stream on a fixed schedule and grow followers.
- You run breaks or rip packs on camera most weeks.
The guide
Each step in the order you'll need it.
Getting in
eBay Live is invitation-only for sellers. You register your interest on eBay’s seller page, and eBay has been adding sellers and categories since its UK launch in 2024. Its sign-up page says it favours sellers who can stream regularly.
Whatnot takes applications from sellers. Have a stock list and a show idea ready, because a clear plan for your first stream helps an application.
Running a card show
Both work the same way on camera. Point an overhead phone or camera at a clean mat, light it from two sides, and wear a clip-on mic so buyers hear you over the sleeve rustle.
Lay cards out in show order in penny sleeves. Write the winner’s name on a sticky note as each lot closes, so you pack from the notes after the show.
Posting what sells
Each win becomes an order to post. A single card goes in a sleeve and toploader inside a rigid mailer; a stack from one buyer goes in a team bag first.
Royal Mail, InPost and DPD all suit card parcels, and Evri works for low-value lots. Check each platform’s help pages for the postage options it offers on live sales.
Questions
Can anyone sell on eBay Live in the UK?
No. Selling is by invitation. Register your interest through eBay’s Live seller page and eBay contacts you if it onboards you.
Is eBay Live only for collectibles?
It started with collectibles in the UK and eBay has since opened more categories. Its eBay Live page shows the current ones.
Does eBay Live cost more than Whatnot?
Check both fee pages before you price lots: eBay Live’s help pages and Whatnot’s seller fees page. Fees change, so compare on the day you plan your show.
Can I stream on both eBay Live and Whatnot?
You can sell on both if each accepts you. Keep one stock list so a card sold on one show is gone from the other.
Do I need different kit for eBay Live?
No. An overhead arm, a pair of lights and a clip-on mic suit both, so a Whatnot desk carries over.
How do buyers pay on eBay Live?
eBay says it charges the winning bidder’s default payment method as soon as the auction ends.
