Simple pricing for modern trading
Trade item-for-item completely free. Only pay a small fee when payments are processed through the platform. No seller fees, ever.
- No seller fees, ever
- Buyer protection included
- Instant seller payouts
Your buyer fee
3.5% of cash · seller keeps 100%
Pricing
Transparent, flexible pricing
No hidden fees. No seller charges. Pay only when money moves through the platform.
Item-for-Item Trades
Trade your items directly for other items with zero platform fees.
- Unlimited trades
- Protected transactions
- In-app messaging
- Shipment tracking
- Buyer protection
Purchases & Item + Cash
Most commonbuyer service fee
When money changes hands, only buyers pay a small fee. Sellers keep 100%.
- Secure payment processing
- Seller pays $0 fees
- Fee only on cash portion
- Instant payout to sellers
- Full buyer protection
Shipping
at checkout
Transparent shipping costs with discounted label pricing based on package size, distance, and delivery method.
- Prepaid shipping labels
- Carrier tracking included
- Insurance available
- Local meetup option (free)
- Easy returns
Examples
Real trade example breakdowns
See exactly how pricing works across different types of trades.
- Item + Cash for Item
Combine an item with cash to reach the value you need — you're only charged 3.5% on the cash portion, and nothing on the traded item.
- Cash in the deal
- $50
- Items traded
- Free
- Your fee · 3.5% of the cash
- $1.75
Cash$50
Mountain Bike$800
Laptop$900 - Item for Item
Guitar$400
DSLR Camera$480- Cash in the deal
- None
- Items traded
- Free
- Your fee · no cash, no fee
- $0.00
- Cash for Item
Cash$80
Sneakers$100- Cash in the deal
- $80
- Items traded
- Free
- Your fee · 3.5% of the cash
- $2.80
Why Trade Up
Why our pricing works
Built to help traders keep more value while making flexible, protected deals.

Keep more of your money
Sellers keep their earnings without losing large percentages to platform fees.
Pay only when money moves
Item-for-item trades stay free. Fees only apply when payments are involved.
Transparent from the start
See all pricing before confirming a trade with no surprise fees later.
Comparison
Compare marketplace pricing
See how Trade Up compares to traditional marketplaces.
| Feature | Trade Up | eBay | OfferUp | Mercari | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seller fees | 0% | 13.25% | Varies | 12.9% | Varies |
| No fees on item-based trades | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Keep full item value | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Item + cash flexibility | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Structured trade offers | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Buyer protection | Yes | Partial | Partial | Partial | Partial |
FAQ
Pricing questions, answered
Everything you need to know before you make your first trade.
Who pays the fees — the buyer or the seller?
Sellers never pay a fee — they keep 100% of every sale. Buyers pay a 3.5% service fee, and only on the cash portion of a deal. Item-for-item trades are completely free for both sides.
When am I actually charged a fee?
Only when a deal involves cash. If you trade item-for-item with no cash, there's no fee at all. When cash is involved, the 3.5% applies to that cash amount — never to the value of a traded item.
Is there a buyer protection fee?
For cash purchases, buyer protection is already included in the 3.5% fee. On shipped item-for-item trades, you can add optional buyer protection for a small flat fee — $0.99 for items under $20, or $2.99 for items $20 and up.
How much does shipping cost?
Shipping is calculated at checkout using discounted carrier rates based on package size, distance, and delivery method, with tracking and insurance available. Prefer to meet in person? Local pickup is always free.
Are there any hidden or listing fees?
None. Listing items, browsing, messaging, and making offers are always free. The only fee is the 3.5% on the cash portion of a purchase — no subscriptions, no listing fees, no surprises.
How are payments handled?
Every payment is processed securely through Stripe. Buyer protection keeps eligible orders covered, so you can trade with confidence.
Start trading smarter
Join thousands of traders making flexible, protected deals with lower fees.
- Verified users
- Protected payments
- Secure trading
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