Two places to run a card show from your desk. Compare access, buyers, auctions and shipping 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. Apply for eBay Live if you already sell cards on eBay and want your live auctions in front of its buyers, once eBay accepts you.
eBay Live
eBay LiveWhatnot
WhatnotSide by side
How they compare on packing and shipping.
- Getting access
- eBay LiveSellers apply or join a waitlist, and eBay adds them in stages.
- WhatnotYou apply to sell through Whatnot’s seller application.
- Where buyers come from
- eBay LiveeBay’s existing US 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 and collectibles were the first categories eBay opened for Live.
- WhatnotSports and trading cards are Whatnot’s biggest categories.
- Payment after a win
- eBay LiveeBay charges the winner’s default payment method when the auction ends.
- WhatnotBuyers pay through the Whatnot app with a saved card.
- Fees
- eBay LiveeBay Live posts its seller fees in its help center, which beats any figure quoted second-hand.
- WhatnotCheck Whatnot’s seller fees page for the current commission and processing fee.
- Selling between shows
- eBay LiveYour normal eBay listings keep selling when you are offline.
- WhatnotWhatnot centers on shows, so plan regular streams.
- Gear you need
- eBay LiveA phone or camera on an overhead arm, lights and a mic.
- WhatnotThe same gear: an overhead arm, lights and a mic.
| eBay Live · 1 | Whatnot · 1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Getting access | Sellers apply or join a waitlist, and eBay adds them in stages. | You apply to sell through Whatnot’s seller application. |
| Where buyers come from | eBay’s existing US buyers, on the website and in the eBay app. | An app built around live shows, with buyers who follow sellers. |
| Card categories | Trading cards and collectibles were the first categories eBay opened for Live. | Sports and trading cards are Whatnot’s biggest categories. |
| Payment after a win | eBay charges the winner’s default payment method when the auction ends. | Buyers pay through the Whatnot app with a saved card. |
| Fees | eBay Live posts its seller fees in its help center, which beats any figure quoted second-hand. | Check Whatnot’s seller fees page for the current commission and processing fee. |
| Selling between shows | Your normal eBay listings keep selling when you are offline. | Whatnot centers on shows, so plan regular streams. |
| Gear you need | A phone or camera on an overhead arm, lights and a mic. | The same gear: an overhead arm, lights and a mic. |
Choose eBay Live if
- You already have an eBay store full of singles and want live auctions alongside it.
- You are happy to apply and wait for eBay to add you.
- You want unsold cards to stay listed on eBay after the show.
Choose Whatnot if
- You want to apply and start streaming without a long wait.
- 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 opens to sellers in stages. You apply on eBay’s Live seller page, and eBay has been adding sellers and categories since it launched in the US. Its sign-up page says it favors sellers who can stream regularly.
Whatnot takes applications from sellers. Have an inventory 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 username on a sticky note as each lot closes, so you pack from the notes after the show.
Shipping what sells
Each win becomes an order to ship. A single card goes in a sleeve and toploader inside a rigid mailer; a stack from one buyer goes in a team bag first.
Both platforms generate prepaid labels for live sales, usually USPS Ground Advantage for cards. Check each help center for the shipping options and handling time on live orders.
Two different working weeks
A Whatnot seller spends evenings live and mornings packing a batch of orders. An eBay seller lists in the quiet hours and packs a steady trickle every day.
Count the hours you can give each week before choosing. A skipped show loses that evening’s buyers, while a late listing still sells.
Questions
Straight answers to what sellers ask about this.
Can anyone sell on eBay Live?
Not straight away. Sellers apply through eBay’s Live seller page, and eBay contacts you if it adds you.
Is eBay Live only for collectibles?
It started with collectibles 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 inventory list so a card sold on one show is gone from the other.
Do I need different gear 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.
