Quick Answer: Which Platform Should You Sell On?
Start where your product and your skills fit. A seller who can make short videos or go live has a strong starting point on TikTok Shop. A seller with a steady catalog and tight margins often compares Lazada first on fees. Shopee is hard to ignore for everyday categories, but its total take is higher.
| Seller type | Start with | Why |
|---|---|---|
| New seller, small budget | Lazada or TikTok Shop | Lower total fee on the schedule |
| Reseller with many SKUs | Shopee, then Lazada | Large search-driven shopper base |
| Brand with an official store | LazMall or Shopee Mall | Mall tiers add trust and visibility |
| Content creator or live seller | TikTok Shop | Video, live and affiliate creators drive sales |
Not sure about trust and buyer behavior? Read Shopee vs Lazada and TikTok Shop vs Shopee prices to see the buyer side.
Seller Fees Compared: Shopee vs Lazada vs TikTok Shop
All three platforms stack several fees: a category commission, a payment or transaction fee, a fixed order fee and a platform program fee. This is the schedule used in this guide. Rates change by category and campaign, so confirm your own rates in each Seller Centre before you price.
| Fee type | Lazada PH | Shopee PH | TikTok Shop PH |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marketplace commission | 6.12% to 8.74% (Marketplace); 7.72% to 11.08% (LazMall) | 8.50% to 10.50% (Marketplace); 6.12% to 11.08% (Shopee Mall) | 5.00% to 8.50% (Standard) |
| Transaction or payment fee | 2.24% of total order including shipping | 2.24% of total order including shipping | 2.24%, or an integrated 5.25% handling package depending on logistics |
| Fixed order fee | ₱5 per order (waived first 90 days) | ₱5 per order (first 50 orders a month waived) | ₱5 per transaction |
| Platform growth or shipping fee | Optional Free Shipping Max, about 5.8% | 5.60% platform shipping fee plus 1.0% to 1.5% growth fee | 1.0% to 1.5% Seller Growth Fee (covers default cashback) |
| BIR withholding tax | 0.5% of gross sales | 0.5% of gross sales | 0.5% of gross sales |
Two details change the math. Shopee builds a platform shipping fee into the schedule, while Lazada makes its shipping program optional. TikTok Shop replaces individual program fees with a flat growth fee of 1.0% (such as Electronics, Grocery and large appliances) or 1.5% (Fashion, Beauty and lifestyle).
Browse live listings and prices on each platform before you set yours.
What Fees Cost on a ₱1,000 Order
To compare totals, add the percentage fees at the low and high end of each range. This example uses a ₱1,000 order with no shipping charged to the buyer, and leaves out the ₱5 order fee, the 0.5% tax withholding, the cost of your product and ad spend.
| Platform | How it adds up | Total fee | On ₱1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lazada (Marketplace) | 6.12% to 8.74% commission + 2.24% transaction | 8.36% to 10.98% | ₱83.60 to ₱109.80 |
| Lazada with Free Shipping Max | Add about 5.8% | about 14.16% to 16.78% | about ₱141.60 to ₱167.80 |
| Shopee (Marketplace) | 8.50% to 10.50% + 2.24% + 5.60% + 1.0% to 1.5% | 17.34% to 19.84% | ₱173.40 to ₱198.40 |
| TikTok Shop (Standard) | 5.00% to 8.50% + 2.24% + 1.0% to 1.5% | 8.24% to 12.24% | ₱82.40 to ₱122.40 |
Shopee looks costlier here because the 5.60% shipping fee is mandatory in this schedule. Lazada shows a similar jump once you opt into Free Shipping Max. Compare the full cost of getting an order to the buyer, not just the commission. Add the ₱5 order fee (waived for new sellers on Lazada and Shopee for a limited period) and 0.5% tax on top.
Tax and Registration for Online Sellers
Every platform in the schedule withholds 0.5% of gross remittances for the BIR under RR 16-2023. Sellers earning under ₱500,000 a year can submit a BIR Sworn Declaration to be exempt from the withholding. The DTI also requires online sellers to register and display the E-Commerce Trustmark, listed at ₱1,130 a year in the notes used here.
| Item | What it is | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| BIR withholding tax | 0.5% of gross sales withheld by the platform | Ask your accountant about the sworn declaration if you earn under ₱500,000 a year |
| DTI registration | Business name registration and E-Commerce Trustmark | Register and display the trustmark on your shop |
| Platform ID checks | Government ID and bank account at signup | Prepare both before you start |
This is general information, not tax advice. Rules change, so confirm with the BIR or DTI and your accountant.
How Each Platform Finds You Buyers
The fee is only half the story. Each platform sends traffic in a different way, which changes how much you spend to get a sale.
| Platform | How buyers find you | Your main levers |
|---|---|---|
| Shopee | Search, vouchers, Shopee Live and big sale days | Vouchers, ratings, Shopee Mall tier, campaign sign-ups |
| Lazada | Search, LazMall and campaign days | Category pricing, LazMall, campaign vouchers |
| TikTok Shop | Short video, live selling and affiliate creators | Content, live shows, creator commissions |
On Shopee, understand the buyer side too: Shopee Mall vs regular seller explains why buyers pick Mall. For video-led selling, read the TikTok Shop live selling guide and the full TikTok Shop seller guide.
Your First 30 Days as a Seller
Start with one platform and learn your real numbers before you expand.
| Week | Task | Check |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Register, set up the shop and payout details | ID, bank account, DTI and BIR status |
| 2 | List 10 products with clear photos and real prices | Fee per product at your selling price |
| 3 | Run your first shop vouchers and a small promo | Margin after fees and voucher cost |
| 4 | Review orders, ratings and returns | Decide whether to add a second platform |
Plan sale days early. The biggest windows are 11.11 and 12.12. See our Shopee 11.11 guide, Lazada 11.11 guide and TikTok Shop 11.11 guide to see how buyers shop on those dates.
Common Mistakes New Sellers Make
1. Pricing off commission alone. Add every fee, then the ₱5 order fee, tax, shipping and product cost.
2. Ignoring voucher costs. Seller-funded vouchers come out of your margin. Read how vouchers stack to see what buyers can combine.
3. Copying Mall prices. Mall shops carry brand trust. Compete on service and clear listings, not just price.
4. Listing on three platforms on day one. You will miss messages and ship late. Add platforms one at a time.
5. Sourcing blind. Compare suppliers first. See the Alibaba reseller guide and Taobao vs Alibaba vs Shopee for resellers.
Visit each brand page for current deals, and compare how buyers shop.
Bottom Line
On the fee schedule used here, TikTok Shop and Lazada cost less per order than Shopee, and Shopee brings the largest everyday shopper base. Pick one platform that suits your product and skills, price with the full fee total, and review after 30 days. Trust builds slowly, so also read whether TikTok Shop is legit to understand how buyers see each platform.