LootyAI vs eBay:
Full Comparison

Last updated: March 25, 2026 7 min read By LootyAI

LootyAI and eBay both let you sell collectibles online, but they differ in key ways. eBay has the largest buyer base (132M active buyers) and charges approximately 15.9% in combined fees. LootyAI charges a flat 4% fee and adds AI-powered scanning that identifies and prices items from your phone camera. On a $50 sale, you keep $41.89 on eBay versus $48.00 on LootyAI — a difference of $6.11 per transaction. eBay wins on audience size; LootyAI wins on economics and technology.

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Side-by-Side Comparison

FeatureLootyAIeBay
Seller Fee4% flat~15.9% combined
Listing FeesNone$0.35 after free allotment
AI Scanning16+ categoriesCards only (MTG, Pokémon, YGO)
Pricing Sources8 sources, median calceBay data only
Shelf ScanningYes (25+ items)No
Collection TrackingYes, with value over timeBasic (My Collection)
ShippingUSPS + UPS integratedUSPS, UPS, FedEx + GSP
Buyer BaseGrowing (new platform)132 million active buyers
Auction FormatNo (fixed price only)Yes (auction + Buy It Now)
AuthenticationNo (coming soon)Yes ($2,000+ items)
Categories16+ collectible categoriesEverything (general marketplace)
SubscriptionNone — always free$0-$299.95/month for stores
Return Policy48-hour inspection windowBuyer-favored (30+ days)

Where eBay Wins

Audience size is eBay's undeniable advantage. With 132 million active buyers, listing on eBay exposes your items to the largest collectibles-buying audience in the world. For rare items where you want competitive bidding to drive the price up, eBay's auction format is unmatched.

eBay's authentication service for items over $2,000 provides an additional layer of trust for high-value transactions. International shipping through the Global Shipping Program also extends your reach beyond the US.

Variety of selling formats — auctions, Buy It Now, and Best Offer — give sellers flexibility in how they price and sell.

Where LootyAI Wins

The fee difference is substantial. On a $50 sale, you keep $48.00 on LootyAI versus $41.89 on eBay. Over a year of regular selling, this adds up to hundreds or thousands of dollars. There are no listing fees, no subscription fees, and no payment processing surcharges — just the flat 4%.

AI scanning is a game-changer for listing speed. Instead of manually typing item details, searching for comps, and setting prices, you scan with your camera and LootyAI handles identification and pricing from 8 sources. eBay has added card scanning, but it's limited to three card games. LootyAI covers 16+ categories.

Shelf scanning lets you photograph an entire shelf and identify everything at once — a feature eBay doesn't offer at all.

The 48-hour inspection window protects sellers better than eBay's buyer-favored 30+ day return policy. Buyers can inspect the item and flag issues, but sellers aren't dealing with returns weeks after the sale.

The Math: What You Keep on Each Platform

Sale PriceeBay FeesYou Keep (eBay)LootyAI FeesYou Keep (LootyAI)You Save
$25$4.39$20.61$1.00$24.00$3.39
$50$8.11$41.89$2.00$48.00$6.11
$100$15.90$84.10$4.00$96.00$11.90
$250$39.30$210.70$10.00$240.00$29.30
$500$78.30$421.70$20.00$480.00$58.30

Who Should Use Which Platform

Use eBay if: You have rare, high-value items (graded cards, sealed retro games, first editions) where maximum buyer exposure and competitive bidding justify the higher fees. eBay's authentication service adds value for items over $2,000.

Use LootyAI if: You're selling everyday collectibles in the $10-$300 range where keeping 96% of the sale matters more than reaching 132 million buyers. The AI scanning and multi-source pricing save time on listing, and the 4% fee means more money in your pocket.

Use both: Many sellers scan and price on LootyAI (the tools are free regardless of where you sell), then decide on a per-item basis — list standard items on LootyAI for the better economics, list rare items on eBay for the audience.

Frequently Asked Questions

LootyAI charges 4% flat fees vs eBay's approximately 15.9% combined. LootyAI offers AI scanning across 16+ categories while eBay only scans 3 card games. eBay has a much larger buyer base (132M active buyers) and offers auction format and authentication. LootyAI is best for everyday collectibles; eBay is best for rare, high-value items.

Yes. LootyAI charges a flat 4% on completed sales with no listing fees, per-order fees, or payment processing surcharges. eBay charges approximately 15.9% combined (13.25% final value fee + $0.30 per order + 2.35% payment processing). On a $100 sale, you save $11.90 by selling on LootyAI.

For most collectibles selling, yes. LootyAI supports 16+ categories with built-in USPS and UPS shipping, Stripe payments, and a 48-hour buyer inspection window. The main trade-off is audience size — eBay has 132 million buyers while LootyAI is a newer platform with a growing user base.

LootyAI charges a flat 4% on completed sales only. There are no listing fees, no subscription fees, no per-order fees, and no payment processing surcharges. Scanning, identification, pricing, and collection management are completely free with no limits.

No. eBay has 132 million active buyers worldwide. LootyAI is a newer platform with a growing user base. For rare items where maximum exposure matters, eBay's audience size is an advantage. For standard collectibles, LootyAI's lower fees mean you keep more of each sale.

Yes. LootyAI is operated by Shellcraft Labs LLC, incorporated in Georgia. Payments are processed through Stripe Connect with full buyer and seller protection. Shipping uses direct USPS and UPS API integrations with tracking on all shipments. The platform is free to use with no hidden fees.

LootyAI is an AI-powered collectibles platform. You scan any collectible with your phone camera, the AI identifies it using computer vision, pulls real-time pricing from 8 sources, and lets you sell it in a built-in marketplace with 4% fees. It covers 16+ categories and is 100% free to use.

Use LootyAI for everyday collectibles ($10-$300 range) where keeping 96% of the sale price matters. Use eBay for rare, high-value items where competitive bidding and maximum buyer exposure justify the higher fees. Many sellers use both — scan and price on LootyAI, then decide where to list each item.

Scan. Price. Sell. Keep 96%.

16 categories. 8 pricing sources. AI-powered identification. 100% free.

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