# eBay Live vs Whatnot for selling cards live in the UK

> 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.

## Side by side

| | eBay Live | Whatnot | Better |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 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. | Whatnot |
| 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. | Even |
| Card categories | Trading cards are among the categories eBay has opened for Live. | Trading cards are one of Whatnot’s main categories. | Even |
| 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. | Even |
| Fees | Check eBay Live’s help pages for current seller fees. | Check Whatnot’s seller fees page for current rates. | Even |
| Selling between shows | Your normal eBay listings keep selling when you are offline. | Whatnot centres on shows, so plan regular streams. | eBay Live |
| 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. | Even |

## 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.

## 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.