If you are choosing between Shopee and Lazada, the biggest mistake is comparing only the obvious fees.
Most beginner sellers look at the headline rate, like “0% commission for new sellers,” then assume they already know which platform is cheaper. But the real cost of selling is usually a mix of deductions, program charges, promo participation, payment-related fees, and shipping support rules that only become clear after orders start coming in.
That is why the better question is not just, “Which platform has the lowest fee?” It is: “Which platform helps you keep more of every sale while giving you more control over how you convert buyers?”
For Filipino small business owners, that difference matters. A platform with more traffic can still become expensive if your margins are thin and your deductions are hard to predict.
What “hidden fees” really mean
Hidden fees are not always secret. In many cases, they are written in seller terms, help-center articles, or optional program rules.
The problem is that beginners often do not see how these charges stack together.
In simple terms, hidden fees are costs that are easy to miss when you first sign up, such as:
- Commission fees after an intro period
- Order processing or transaction fees
- Payment-related charges tied to certain methods or features
- Shipping subsidy or shipping support deductions
- Promo or campaign costs that reduce your actual payout
- Return, refund, or failed-delivery costs that affect margin
So even if a platform says your commission is low, your net payout per order may tell a different story.
Shopee vs Lazada: the beginner-friendly way to compare
A clear comparison starts with one rule: do not compare one fee at a time. Compare the total order economics.
Here is the easiest way to think about it.
Shopee: strong reach, but watch the layered deductions
Shopee remains attractive because of its large buyer base and strong promo culture. But sellers need to pay close attention to how fees are layered over time.
Shopee’s terms state that sellers may be charged a transaction fee, an order processing fee, and a commission fee on successful transactions, with commission generally starting after the first 90 days from first listing. Its terms also note a seller growth support fee effective May 11, 2026, after the same 90-day window, plus an additional fee in some cases when Special SPayLater is activated. Shopee also says platform shipping benefits can be removed or suspended under certain conditions. (help.shopee.ph)
Shopee’s help content also shows that commission structures can vary by channel and program, including different treatment for external orders, Shopee Live, and Shopee Video. For some setups, external orders carry a 2.5% Shopee commission with caps, while other channels can differ depending on whether a seller is in comms-related programs.
For a beginner, that means Shopee can feel affordable at first, then become harder to predict if you join multiple growth tools, rely on shipping vouchers, or use platform-led promotions heavily.
What sellers often miss on Shopee:
- “0%” does not always mean zero total cost
- Fees can change after the new-seller period
- Shipping support may come with conditions
- Promo-heavy selling can reduce your true margin fast
- Your payout can be affected by optional but highly encouraged platform tools
Lazada: simpler onboarding pitch, but total cost still matters
Lazada currently promotes 0% platform commission for the first 90 days for new sellers in the Philippines. It also highlights onboarding benefits like campaign voucher support, traffic tools, ads credits, and seller education through Lazada University. (sellercenter.lazada.com.ph)
That is useful for beginners, especially if you want an easier first step into marketplace selling. But the same caution applies: intro offers are not the same as long-term cost.
Even when a marketplace starts with a low or waived commission, sellers still need to review what happens after the promo period, how campaign participation affects margin, and what logistics, returns, finance, or payment-related processes may cost in practice. Lazada’s seller ecosystem includes dedicated sections for finance, logistics, claims, and seller policies, which is a reminder that your real cost comes from the full operating model, not just the signup banner.
What sellers often miss on Lazada:
- Intro offers are temporary
- Campaign participation can influence real profitability
- Logistics and claims processes still affect net margin
- The cheapest-looking platform at signup may not stay cheapest as you scale
So which has fewer hidden fees?
For most beginners, the honest answer is: neither marketplace is automatically the cheapest in every situation.
Shopee and Lazada are both marketplace platforms. That means both can be cost-effective for acquiring customers, but both also come with platform rules, changing programs, and deductions that you do not fully control.
If your priority is marketplace reach, then the better choice may come down to category fit, traffic, and conversion performance.
If your priority is least surprise in deductions, then the better question becomes: How much control do you want over shipping, payments, promotions, and customer relationships?
That is where an owned-store approach starts to matter.
The smarter comparison: total cost, control, and conversion
A marketplace gives you traffic, but it also means the platform shapes much of the transaction.
An owned online store gives you more say over:
- Which payment methods you offer
- Which shipping partners you use
- Which discounts you run
- How you present products and bundles
- How you recover abandoned buyers and encourage repeat purchases
This is where the Prosperna angle becomes stronger for sellers who care not only about fees, but also about turning more visits into sales.
Prosperna positions itself as an online store builder for SMBs with support for local payment options such as GCash, Maya, credit cards, bank transfer, 7‑Eleven, and COD, plus shipping workflows with couriers like LBC, Lalamove, J&T, and Grab. It also emphasizes that sellers can manage their own store, social channels, and marketplace presence from one place. (prosperna.com)
That matters because better conversion is not only about traffic. It is also about reducing friction.
If a buyer can use a payment method they trust, choose a delivery option that works for them, or even select store pickup when relevant, the path to checkout becomes easier. And when you control your own store, you are not forced to depend as heavily on platform-wide vouchers or campaign mechanics just to stay visible.
In practical terms, that can mean:
- Fewer surprise deductions tied to marketplace programs
- More flexibility in how you price and bundle products
- Better control over promos so you do not discount more than necessary
- More chances to turn first-time buyers into repeat customers
- A clearer view of your real conversion and profit per order
That does not mean an owned store is “free” or that it replaces marketplaces overnight. It means sellers who want better margin visibility and a more conversion-focused setup may prefer to build a store they own alongside, or eventually beyond, marketplace channels.
In other words:
- Shopee and Lazada help you access marketplace demand
- Prosperna helps you convert that demand into more controllable, repeatable sales
For many small sellers, the strongest setup is not choosing one forever. It is using marketplaces for discovery while building an owned store where you have more control over checkout, promotions, and repeat buying.
What to check before choosing a platform
Before you commit, review these five things for each platform:
- Post-promo fees: What happens after the first 90 days?
- Payment deductions: Are there extra charges tied to specific payment features?
- Shipping support rules: Are subsidies conditional, limited, or removable?
- Promo pressure: Will you need constant vouchers, ads, or discounts to stay competitive?
- Customer ownership: Can you build repeat business easily, or are you renting access to buyers?
If you compare these five areas, you will make a much better decision than if you compare commission alone.
A Smarter Next Step
If the goal is the least hidden fees, do not stop at Shopee vs Lazada.
Map your expected total cost per order, then ask how much control you want over the parts that affect both your margin and your conversion rate: payments, shipping, promos, checkout experience, and repeat customers.
For sellers who want marketplace exposure, Shopee or Lazada can still make sense.
But for sellers who want fewer surprise deductions and a more conversion-focused setup, building an owned store with Prosperna is a practical next step. It gives you more control over how buyers discover products, how they check out, what payment and delivery options they see, and how you bring them back for future purchases—without depending entirely on marketplace rules. (prosperna.com)
FAQs About Hidden Fees on Shopee and Lazada
1. What is a hidden fee in marketplace selling?
It is any cost that is easy to overlook at signup but reduces your actual payout later, such as processing fees, shipping-related deductions, or promo-driven charges.
2. Is Shopee cheaper than Lazada for beginners?
Not automatically. Shopee and Lazada both offer beginner-friendly entry points, but the cheaper option depends on your category, promo use, shipping setup, and fees after the intro period. (help.shopee.ph)
3. Does 0% commission mean no seller cost?
No. A 0% commission offer may apply only for a limited period or only to certain fee types. Other deductions and operating costs can still affect your margin. (help.shopee.ph)
4. Why do shipping subsidies matter so much?
Because they can change the real profit on low-margin items. If a platform-supported shipping benefit changes, is removed, or requires participation in certain programs, your payout can shift quickly. (help.shopee.ph)
5. When does an owned store make more sense?
An owned store makes more sense when you want better control over fees, customer experience, repeat sales, and how promotions are used across your business. (prosperna.com)
Final thoughts
If you are choosing between Shopee and Lazada based on the least hidden fees, the safest conclusion is this: the lowest advertised fee is rarely the full story.
For beginner sellers in the Philippines, the smarter decision is to compare total cost, not just commission.
Shopee may work well if you want strong marketplace momentum and can monitor layered deductions closely. Lazada may feel simpler at the start, especially with new-seller incentives, but you still need to track your long-term net margin.
And if you want fewer surprises while improving how buyers actually complete a purchase, an owned-store setup with Prosperna is worth serious consideration—not as hype, but as a practical way to gain more control over conversion, repeat sales, and profit predictability.
Prosperna, Your Partner to eCommerce Success
Prosperna is an all-in-one AI-powered eCommerce platform for SMBs, entrepreneurs, and content creators. Our mission is to empower 1 million businesses with simple and affordable software powered by AI.
We’re so passionate about helping small businesses succeed that we’re giving you full access to our powerful tools for 14 days, absolutely free. No commitments—just pure growth for your store.
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