How to Compare Live Commerce vs Online Shop Fees
Live commerce platforms (TikTok Shop, Amazon Live) typically charge 6–15% in fees, while selling through your own Shopify store costs around 2.9% in payment fees. The difference compounds quickly at scale — this calculator shows exactly how much more (or less) you keep on the same sales volume.
Net income = Selling price × Units × (1 − Fee rate) − Extra costs. Extra costs for live commerce often include streaming setup, host fees, and production. For an online shop, include ad spend and fulfillment costs if not already captured in your margin.
Live commerce may have higher fees but drives impulse buying and volume spikes. If your live session sells 3× more units than a typical storefront day, the total take-home can easily exceed the lower-fee channel. Use this tool for equal-volume comparisons, then layer in your volume expectations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Check the Seller Center or fee schedule for each platform. Rates vary by product category and seller tier. Payment processing fees (typically 2.9%) are usually separate from platform commissions — include both for accuracy.
Many sellers do. Be mindful of price consistency — if you offer steep discounts during live sessions, regular storefront customers may feel they overpaid. Align your pricing strategy across channels.