Meesho vs Amazon for New Sellers (2026): Real Numbers
By Vanshika - ecommerce seller & educator, @chitraabyvanshika (100,000+ followers)
Both platforms now advertise something close to zero commission - Meesho with 0% on most categories, Amazon with 0% referral on products up to ₹1,000 since March 2026. Neither is free, and they are expensive in different places.
The short answer: start on Meesho if you are under ₹500 and new. Start on Amazon if you are above ₹1,000 or selling something buyers research before buying. Between ₹500 and ₹1,000 it is a genuine toss-up that depends on your weight and your category.
Here is the arithmetic behind that.
What each actually deducts
| Meesho | Amazon | |
|---|---|---|
| Commission / referral | 0% most categories | 0% up to ₹1,000, then category rate |
| Fixed per-order fee | None | Closing fee, ₹5 - ₹80 |
| Shipping | ~₹65 sub-500g | ₹29 - ₹75 by weight and zone |
| GST on fees | 18% | 18% |
| Customer return | ~₹153 reverse shipping | Original shipping fee not refunded |
| RTO | No reverse shipping fee | Varies |
| GST required | No - Enrolment ID works | Yes, from the first sale |
| Payment cycle | ~7 days from delivery | ~14 days |
Two rows there do most of the work.
Amazon has a fixed closing fee and Meesho does not. On cheap products that single line decides everything. A ₹200 item on Amazon Easy Ship carries ₹5 closing plus ₹29 shipping plus GST before anything else.
Meesho charges roughly ₹153 on a customer return, and nothing on an RTO. That figure comes from the reverse shipping rate card inside the Supplier Panel and is far higher than the ₹30-80 most articles quote. The detail is in Meesho return charges and RTO.
The same product, both platforms
A ₹350 kurti costing ₹180, under 500g, local delivery:
| Line | Meesho | Amazon (Easy Ship) |
|---|---|---|
| Selling price | ₹350 | ₹350 |
| Commission / referral | ₹0 | ₹0 |
| Closing fee | - | -₹9 |
| Shipping | -₹65 | -₹29 |
| GST on fees (18%) | -₹12 | -₹7 |
| Settlement | ₹273 | ₹305 |
| Product cost | -₹180 | -₹180 |
| Packaging | -₹10 | -₹10 |
| Profit per delivered order | ₹83 | ₹115 |
On paper Amazon wins by ₹32, because its local shipping fee is lower.
Now add returns, and the picture changes shape. Meesho's return rate runs higher - it is a discovery-led, browse-heavy platform - while Amazon buyers more often arrive knowing what they want. A ₹153 reverse shipping charge at a 20% return rate costs you roughly ₹31 per order across the batch, which erases most of the per-order difference in the other direction.
The honest conclusion: on a mid-priced fashion item the two are closer than either platform's marketing suggests. Which is why the decision usually turns on something other than fees.
What actually separates them
Meesho suits you if
- Your product is under ₹500, where Amazon's fixed fees bite hardest
- You do not have GST yet - Meesho's Enrolment ID route lets you start without it, covered in selling on Meesho without GST
- You want faster money - roughly 7 days from delivery against Amazon's 14
- You sell fashion, home or everyday items where browsing drives the purchase
- You need volume to learn on rather than margin
Amazon suits you if
- Your product is above ₹1,000, where a percentage referral on a larger sale beats fixed fees on a small one
- You sell something buyers research - electronics, appliances, branded goods
- Brand matters to your buyer and a Prime badge changes conversion
- You already have GST, since it is required from your first sale
- You can support FBA on a fast-moving product
The price bands, plainly
| Your price | Start here |
|---|---|
| Under ₹300 | Meesho |
| ₹300 - ₹500 | Meesho, usually |
| ₹500 - ₹1,000 | Either - test both |
| ₹1,000 - ₹3,000 | Amazon, usually |
| Above ₹3,000 | Amazon |
Run your own product rather than trusting the band. The free platform comparison tool takes one set of numbers and shows all three marketplaces side by side.
The mistake most new sellers make
Listing on both from day one.
It sounds like diversification. In practice it means two sets of listings, two fee structures, two account health systems and two return processes to learn - while you still do not know whether your product sells at all.
Pick one, get to 50 orders, then expand. By then you know your real return rate, your real margin and whether the product works. Adding the second platform is straightforward at that point and near-impossible before it.
If the answer is genuinely unclear, Meesho is the cheaper place to be wrong - lower barriers, no GST requirement, faster settlement, and a smaller amount of money tied up while you learn.
What does not differ
Worth saying, because sellers expect a platform to fix these:
- Product quality decides returns on both
- Accurate sizing and honest photos cut returns on both
- Neither rescues a bad price. If your sourcing cost is too high, no marketplace fixes that
- Both punish cancellations harder than late dispatch
- Both need consistent listings before ads make any sense
The full cost stack for each is in Meesho seller fees explained and Amazon seller fees 2026.
FAQ
Meesho ya Amazon, konsa better hai naye seller ke liye?
Agar aapka product ₹500 se kam hai aur GST nahi hai, toh Meesho se shuru karo - wahan Enrolment ID se bhi bech sakte ho aur payment 7 din mein aa jaata hai. ₹1,000 se upar ke products ke liye Amazon better hai. Dono par ek saath mat shuru karo - pehle ek platform par 50 order kar lo.
Is Amazon really 0% commission now?
Zero referral fee on products up to ₹1,000 across 1,800+ categories since March 2026. The closing fee, weight handling fee and 18% GST still apply, so it is not free - just cheaper than it was.
Which platform pays faster?
Meesho, at roughly 7 days from delivery against Amazon's 14. For a seller whose cash is tied up in stock, that difference matters more than a few rupees of fees.
Can I sell on Meesho without GST?
Yes, using a free Enrolment ID for own-state selling in many everyday categories. Amazon requires a GSTIN from your first sale, with no equivalent route.
Which has higher returns?
Meesho generally runs higher, because it is a browse-led platform where buyers discover rather than search. Amazon buyers more often arrive with intent. Your category and listing accuracy matter more than the platform either way.
Should I sell on both?
Eventually, not initially. Two platforms means two of everything to learn while you still do not know if the product works. Get to 50 orders on one, then expand.
Which is better for fashion?
Meesho, usually - the audience browses for it and the price points suit. Amazon works better for branded or premium fashion above ₹1,000.
The full system for one platform, done properly, is in the Meesho A-Z Course - and most of it transfers when you expand.
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