Reverb vs eBay
Reverb and eBay both let you ship music gear to a national audience, but they serve it differently. Reverb is a specialist marketplace built for instruments and gear, with lower fees - around 8% versus eBay's roughly 13% - and buyers who know exactly what they want. eBay has a larger overall audience but higher fees and a less specialized buyer base. For most music gear, Reverb nets more; for crossover or general items, eBay's reach can win.
Reverb is a marketplace built specifically for musical instruments and gear. Its entire audience is musicians, collectors, and gear enthusiasts who arrive knowing what they want - a specific guitar model, a particular pedal, a certain synth. That focus means listings reach exactly the right buyers, and the platform's tools, categories, and price guidance are all tailored to gear. Reverb's selling fee is also lower than eBay's, around 8%, which meaningfully improves the take on a higher-value instrument.
eBay is a general marketplace with an enormous, broad audience across every category imaginable. Music gear sells there too, and eBay's sheer reach means a lot of eyeballs. But its buyers are not exclusively gear-focused, its fees are higher at roughly 13%, and its tools are general-purpose rather than built for instruments. For music gear specifically, that combination often makes eBay the second-best option behind a specialist marketplace.
The honest comparison is one of specialization versus reach. Reverb's focused, gear-savvy audience and lower fees make it the stronger default for most instruments and gear - the buyers understand value, and the roughly 8% fee leaves more in your pocket than eBay's roughly 13%. eBay's advantage is its massive general audience, which can matter for crossover items, less specialized gear, or when you want to hit the widest possible pool. Many gear resellers list on both, leading with Reverb for the fee advantage.
The fee gap compounds on higher-value gear. On a $500 guitar, the difference between an 8% and a 13% fee is roughly $25 in your pocket - real money on every sale. Combine that with a buyer base that specifically wants instruments and generally knows what they are worth, and Reverb becomes the natural home for most music gear flips. The case for eBay is strongest when an item is only loosely 'music gear' or when its buyers are spread across general audiences rather than concentrated among enthusiasts.
Where Reverb wins
- Lower selling fee - around 8% versus eBay's roughly 13%, which is real money on higher-value gear
- Audience of musicians and gear enthusiasts who arrive knowing exactly what they want
- Purpose-built tools, categories, and price guidance tailored specifically to instruments and gear
- Buyers who understand gear value, which reduces lowballing and mispriced listings
- Strong fit for guitars, pedals, synths, amps, and brand-name gear like Fender, Gibson, and Roland
- A focused, on-topic marketplace where gear listings do not compete with unrelated categories
Where eBay fits
- Massive general audience across every category, offering the widest possible reach
- Better for crossover items or less specialized gear whose buyers are not exclusively musicians
- Familiar checkout and buyer protection that some general buyers trust
- Useful when you want to hit the broadest pool regardless of category focus
- Deep sold-listings history that serves as a comp source for a huge range of items
- Worth cross-listing to alongside Reverb for extra exposure on the right item
Which should you choose?
Choose Reverb for genuine musical instruments and gear - guitars, pedals, synths, amps, and brand-name equipment. Its lower fee (around 8%) and audience of knowledgeable musicians usually net more than eBay on real gear, especially higher-value pieces where the fee difference is meaningful.
Choose eBay for crossover or loosely-musical items whose buyers are general shoppers, for low-value items where the fee gap matters less, or when you want the widest possible reach. Its massive general audience can outperform a specialist marketplace on items that are not core instruments or gear.
The honest answer: many resellers use both. What matters more than the channel is knowing how to source, price, and sell - which is exactly what FB Marketplace Resellers Club teaches.
The same flip on both channels
A reseller sources a used Fender guitar and a generic no-name music stand at a garage sale. On Reverb, the Fender lands in front of exactly the right buyers - guitarists searching for that model who understand its value. Reverb's price guidance helps set a fair number, the roughly 8% fee keeps more of the sale in the reseller's pocket, and the guitar sells to a buyer who knew what they were getting. On a higher-value instrument like this, the lower fee alone is a meaningful edge over eBay.
The generic music stand is a different case. It is only loosely 'music gear,' and its buyers are not necessarily Reverb's enthusiast crowd - a general shopper on eBay is just as likely to want it. Here eBay's massive, broad audience is an advantage, and the fee difference matters less on a low-value item. The reseller lists the stand on eBay, where its wider general reach gives it the best shot at a quick sale.
The right relationship between these platforms for a gear reseller is Reverb-first for genuine instruments and gear, with eBay as the channel for crossover or general items and as a cross-listing option for extra reach. On a real instrument, Reverb's lower fee and gear-savvy audience usually net more. On something only tangentially musical, eBay's breadth can win. Checking sold comps on both - Reverb for gear, eBay's completed listings for general items - tells you which channel nets the most on each specific flip.
Reverb vs eBay: FAQ
Is Reverb or eBay better for selling music gear?
For genuine instruments and gear, Reverb is usually better: its fee is lower (around 8% versus eBay's roughly 13%) and its audience is gear-savvy musicians who know what they want. eBay's advantage is a larger general audience, which can win for crossover or less specialized items. Many resellers list on both, leading with Reverb.
What are the fees on Reverb versus eBay?
Reverb's selling fee is around 8%, while eBay's is roughly 13%. Exact rates change over time, so check each platform's current terms. On a higher-value instrument, that gap is real money - roughly $25 on a $500 sale - which is a key reason Reverb often nets more on music gear.
Should I list music gear on both Reverb and eBay?
Many gear resellers cross-list for extra exposure, leading with Reverb for its lower fee and gear-focused audience. Just update quickly when an item sells so you never ship it twice. For genuine instruments, Reverb usually nets more; for crossover items, eBay's reach can win.
Does Reverb have enough buyers to sell quickly?
For music gear, yes - Reverb's audience is entirely musicians, collectors, and enthusiasts actively searching for instruments and gear, so a fairly priced, in-demand item reaches exactly the right buyers. Its focus means less reach than eBay overall, but far more concentrated demand for gear specifically.
What music gear sells best on Reverb?
Brand-name instruments and gear sell best - guitars, pedals, synths, and amps from names like Fender, Gibson, and Roland carry strong, recognizable value. Reverb's price guidance and gear-savvy buyers make pricing and selling these easier than on a general marketplace. Always verify against recent sold comps.
When is eBay the better choice for gear?
eBay is better for crossover or loosely-musical items whose buyers are general shoppers rather than gear enthusiasts, and when you want the widest possible reach on a low-value item where the fee gap matters less. Its massive general audience can outperform Reverb on items that are not core instruments or gear.
More comparisons
Pick the channel. We'll teach you how to win on it.
FB Marketplace Resellers Club is where you learn to source, price, and sell flips for real. Join for $9/month.
Related: how Facebook Marketplace flipping works, glossary, and use cases.