The Philippine eCommerce landscape is booming. From home-based bakers in Quezon City to established gadget shops in Cebu, more and more local businesses are selling online. Since 2016, Shopee has been the go-to marketplace for sellers wanting instant access to millions of shoppers. But as Shopee’s fees continue to rise—again—many Philippine SMEs are asking: “Is this still worth it?”
If you’re a Philippine business owner feeling squeezed by marketplace fees, limited by platform rules, or worried about losing control of your brand, you’re not alone. There’s a better way to grow your sales, keep more profit, and build a business based on a more sustainable business model.
Welcome to the ultimate platform comparison guide: Prosperna vs. Shopee—designed to help you make the best decision for your business.
The True Cost of Selling on Shopee
Shopee promises reach, convenience, and sales. But let’s talk about what it really costs to sell on the platform in 2025.
Marketplace Fees: The Hidden Drain on Your Profits
Every sale you make on Shopee comes with a long list of fees:
- Commission Fees: 3.5% (as of August 2025) + 8% SST (service tax) on the commission
- Transaction Fees: Included in the above, varies by category and seller tier
- Order Processing Fee: ₱5 per order (effective September 3, 2025)
- Marketing and Promotion Fees: Want more visibility? You’ll need to pay for Shopee Ads, flash sales, or special placements
- Shipping Fees: Often subsidized by sellers or built into your margins
- Penalties and Deductions: Late shipping, cancellations, or customer disputes can result in deductions from your payout
Hidden Costs
- Discount Pressure: Shopee’s algorithms reward frequent discounts and flash sales, forcing sellers to slash prices just to stay visible
- “Required” Promotions: Participation in major sales events can be mandatory for certain categories, often with additional fees
- Platform Dependency: Shopee controls your store’s visibility, promotions, and even your customer relationships
Bottom line: The more you sell, the more you pay—without any guarantee your brand will stand out or your customers will return.
Introducing Prosperna: The Homegrown Alternative
If Shopee feels like a never-ending race to the bottom, Prosperna is the Godsent option you need. Built specifically for Philippine SMEs, Prosperna is a great Shopee alternative that puts you back in the driver’s seat.
What makes Prosperna different?
- Made for PH Brands: Local payment integrations (GCash, PayMaya), local shipping (J&T, Lalamove), and local support that understands your needs
- No Coding Needed: Drag-and-drop online store builder—launch your branded store in minutes
- Transparent Pricing: Clear, simple plans with lower transaction fees and no hidden costs
- AI-Powered Tools: Automate product descriptions, SEO, and marketing with built-in AI features
- You Own Your Brand: Full control over your store’s look, feel, and customer experience
“We created Prosperna to empower 1 million Philippine SMEs with simple, affordable eCommerce software. Your success is our mission.” — Dennis Velasco, Founder
Prosperna vs. Shopee: Side-by-Side Feature Comparison
Let’s break it down. Here’s how Prosperna stacks up against Shopee on the factors that matter most to PH SMEs:
Prosperna vs. Shopee: Side-by-Side Example Fee Comparison
This is what you actually take home per ₱1,000 sale—no guesswork.
The Power of Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) Selling
Top 4 reasons why more Philippine brands are moving away from marketplaces to D2C platforms like Prosperna as a Shopee alternative?
- Higher Margins, More Profit: Every peso you save on fees goes straight to your bottom line.
- Full Control Over Your Brand: On Shopee, your store looks like every other store. On Prosperna, your brand shines.
- Build Direct Customer Relationships: With your own store, you own your customer list. Send personalized emails, run loyalty programs, and turn first-time buyers into loyal fans.
- Future-Proof Your Business: Marketplaces can change rules, raise fees, or even ban your store overnight. With Prosperna, your business is truly yours.
“We used to rely on Shopee, but the fees kept eating our profit. After switching to Prosperna, our margins grew and we finally built our own brand community. The best part? We control everything—from design to delivery. Highly recommended for any PH SME!” — Camilo, owner of a Manila-based Health & Wellness Brand
Common Myths About Leaving Marketplaces (and the REAL Truth)
- “It’s hard to build my own store.”
With Prosperna, you can launch your store in under 2 minutes. No coding, no IT guy needed—just up
load, drag, drop, and start selling.
- “I’ll lose customers if I leave Shopee.”
You can sell on both! Prosperna supports multichannel selling, so you can keep your Shopee store
and even sync your orders and inventory between Shopee and Prosperna while building your own
brand.
- “It’s expensive to run my own store.”
Prosperna’s Free Forever plan lets you start without any risk. Paid plans are affordable, and you’ll save
more in the long run by avoiding high marketplace fees.
How to Get Started with Prosperna (Step-by-Step)
- Create Your Free Account: Sign up in seconds—no credit card required.
- Build Your Store: Use the drag-and-drop builder to customize your site. Add your logo, products, and brand story.
- Activate Payments and Shipping: Enable GCash, PayMaya, COD, and local couriers with a few clicks.
- Go Live: Launch your store and start accepting orders. Promote via social, email, and SMS—all built into Prosperna.
- Grow with AI: Use Prosperna’s AI-powered tools to write product descriptions, optimize SEO, write blogs and create landing pages.
Prosperna vs Shopee FAQ
Can I use Prosperna while still selling on Shopee?
Yes! Prosperna supports multichannel selling. You can keep your Shopee store open while building your own branded site—best of both worlds.
What support do I get as a new Prosperna user?
All users get access to our FREE weekly online training webinars and our local support team via email or in-app chat. Paid plans offer enhanced, priority, or premium support, including training and resources to help you succeed.
How do I migrate my products from Shopee to Prosperna?
You can manually add products or use our bulk upload tool. Our support team can guide you step-by-step to make migration smooth and hassle-free.
Final Thoughts
Shopee helped many Philippine SMEs take their first step online. But as fees rise and competition gets tougher, it’s time to think bigger. Prosperna gives you the tools, control, and support you need to build a brand that lasts—on your own terms.
To be really successful in eCommerce, we’ve always tried to emphasize and train brands to sell multichannel with focus on going direct-to-consumer and not rely on one source such as an online marketplace like Shopee or Lazada alone.
Don’t let rising fees hold your business back. Take control, keep more profit, and grow your brand with Prosperna.
Prosperna, Your Partner to eCommerce Success
Prosperna is an all-in-one AI-powered eCommerce platform for SMEs, entrepreneurs and digital creators. Our mission is to empower 1 million businesses with simple and affordable eCommerce software with the power of AI.
In fact, we are so passionate about helping small-to-medium sized businesses, entrepreneurs and content creators that we’re giving you a free account forever!
Want to create your online store?
Create your FREE-forever Prosperna account.
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