How this comparison works
You enter five numbers that describe your product. We compute net profit per unit on each of the four major marketplaces using their 2026 official fee schedules. The platform with the highest net profit wins — but the breakdown shows you why, so you can override the winner if you have channel-specific constraints (existing audience, brand fit, fulfilment capability).
What each platform charges
| Cost | Amazon FBA | Shopify | TikTok Shop | Temu (Semi-Managed) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commission / referral | 15% | 0% | 6% | 14% |
| Payment processing | — | 2.9% + $0.30 | 2.9% + $0.30 | 1.75% + $0.12 |
| Fulfilment / logistics | ~$4.86 (large standard) | You pay shipping | You pay shipping | ~$1.50 (built-in) |
| Storage / monthly fee | ~$0.10 / unit | $79 plan + apps ÷ orders | — | $0–$39 / mo |
| Creator commission | — | — | 10% (optional affiliate) | — |
| Refund processing | Eat returned unit | Eat return shipping | Eat return cost | Eat return cost |
When to override the "winner"
- Brand audience exists already: Shopify often wins on margin but loses on traffic. If you have 10K+ followers, Shopify's high margin compounds quickly.
- You can't run ads yet: Temu Full Consignment (not Semi-Managed) gives you Temu's traffic for free — comparison here assumes Semi-Managed, which requires ad budget.
- Low ASP product (< $15): Amazon FBA's flat fulfilment fee crushes thin-margin products. Temu and TikTok Shop are usually better below $15.
- High refund rate category (apparel 20%+): Temu's customer-friendly refund policy hits you harder. FBA absorbs returns more cleanly.
- Direct customer relationship matters: Only Shopify gives you the email and re-marketing rights.
The assumptions in this calculation
- Same retail price across all platforms (real-world: you'd price differently per channel — Temu shoppers expect 30–50% lower than Amazon).
- Ad spend per unit applied equally (real-world: TikTok Ads CAC and Amazon PPC have different efficiencies).
- Refund rate applied equally (real-world: Amazon ~5–8%, TikTok Shop 5–12%, Temu 8–15%).
- Shopify shows $79/month plan + ~$130/month app stack, amortised over your monthly volume.
- Amazon FBA assumes Large Standard size tier, 1–2 lb. Adjust on the FBA page if your product is heavier.
For platform-specific deep-dives, use the dedicated calculators: Amazon FBA · Shopify Margin · TikTok Shop · Temu Seller Profit.