Shopify vs Mercari — which takes less?
| Shopify | Mercari | |
|---|---|---|
| Headline rate | Basic 2.9% + $0.30 / Grow 2.7% / Advanced 2.5% online | 10% selling fee on item + shipping |
| $100 → fees | $3.20 | $10.00 |
| $100 → net | $96.80 | $90.00 |
Side-by-side quick reference
| Amount | Shopify fees | Shopify net | Mercari fees | Mercari net | Difference | Shopify charge→net | Mercari charge→net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $10.00 | $0.59 | $9.41 | $1.00 | $9.00 | shopify +$0.41 | $10.61 | $11.12 |
| $25.00 | $1.03 | $23.97 | $2.50 | $22.50 | shopify +$1.47 | $26.06 | $27.78 |
| $50.00 | $1.75 | $48.25 | $5.00 | $45.00 | shopify +$3.25 | $51.81 | $55.56 |
| $100.00 | $3.20 | $96.80 | $10.00 | $90.00 | shopify +$6.80 | $103.30 | $111.12 |
| $250.00 | $7.55 | $242.45 | $25.00 | $225.00 | shopify +$17.45 | $257.78 | $277.78 |
| $500.00 | $14.80 | $485.20 | $50.00 | $450.00 | shopify +$35.20 | $515.25 | $555.56 |
| $1,000.00 | $29.30 | $970.70 | $100.00 | $900.00 | shopify +$70.70 | $1,030.18 | $1,111.12 |
Shopify formula
payment processing 2.90% + $0.30
Basic 2.9% + $0.30 / Grow 2.7% / Advanced 2.5% online — verified 2026-11-10
Mercari formula
10% selling fee on item + shipping
10% selling fee on item + shipping — verified 2026-11-10
Shopify fee formula & hidden costs
payment processing 2.90% + $0.30
Worked example: $100.00 gross → $3.20 fees → $96.80 net. Reverse gross-up: charge = (target + fixed) / (1 − rate) → to net $100.00 charge $103.30.
Hidden fees to watch
- Using any gateway other than Shopify Payments adds a 2%/1%/0.6% transaction penalty by plan.
- Shopify keeps the card fee when you refund an order.
- Currency conversion for cross-border orders adds ~1.5-2%.
- The monthly plan fee ($39-$2,300) is a real per-order cost at low volumes — amortize it above.
Mercari fee formula & hidden costs
10% selling fee on item + shipping
Worked example: $100.00 gross → $10.00 fees → $90.00 net. Reverse gross-up: charge = (target + fixed) / (1 − rate) → to net $100.00 charge $111.12.
Hidden fees to watch
- The 10% fee applies to item price + shipping charged to the buyer.
- Instant Pay costs $3 per payout; direct deposit under $10 costs $2.
- Mercari may charge a $2 cancellation fee and deducted-label costs on voided shipments.
- Promoting works via price drops, which quietly cuts your margin.
Frequently asked questions
Which takes less on a $100 sale: Shopify or Mercari?
Shopify takes $3.20 (net $96.80); Mercari takes $10.00 (net $90.00). Shopify wins by $6.80 at $100.
Which is better for international sellers, Shopify or Mercari?
Shopify: Basic 2.9% + $0.30 / Grow 2.7% / Advanced 2.5% online. Mercari: 10% selling fee on item + shipping. Check the regional variants above — rates change materially by country.
What is the effective take rate difference between Shopify and Mercari?
At $100, Shopify takes 3.2% vs Mercari at 10.0% — a 6.8 point gap before modifiers.