Aioby vs Amazon: Selling Locally in Kerala Without Paying Commission
aiobyAmazon is a global retail and logistics company; Aioby is a free, Kerala-first social marketplace where local shops keep 100% of what they sell. The honest answer is that they solve different problems — Amazon is built for shipped, catalogued products at national scale, while Aioby is built for a local business to be found, followed and contacted directly by its own community, with no commission taken.
Last updated: 23 September 2026.
At a Glance
| Amazon | Aioby | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Shipped, catalogued products at national/global scale | A free local store — products, services, jobs, properties and more — with a social following |
| Free to list | No — seller/subscription fees apply | Yes, unlimited listings |
| Commission on sales | Yes — referral and fulfillment-related fees on most orders | No — Aioby does not currently charge a commission on sales |
| Who handles delivery | Amazon (or Fulfilled-by-Amazon logistics) | You arrange it directly with the customer — pickup, local delivery or your own courier |
| Relationship with buyer | Mediated by Amazon — limited direct contact | Direct — WhatsApp, call or in-app message |
| Beyond products | Products only | 15 listing types — services, jobs, property, vehicles, events and more |
| Social feed, follows, reviews | Reviews only | Posts, follows, reviews and community groups |
| Audience size | Very large, national | Newer, smaller, Kerala-first |
Where Each Is Stronger
Amazon — unmatched product catalogue, delivery infrastructure and buyer trust built over two decades. If you already manufacture or stock a shippable product and want national reach, that infrastructure is hard to replace. The trade-off is that Amazon charges sellers for that infrastructure — referral fees and fulfillment or shipping-related costs apply on most sales, on top of any advertising you choose to run — and a rejected or returned order can still leave you out of pocket for fees already charged.
Aioby — free to list anything, and the deal happens directly between you and the customer, so there is no commission to give up. The trade-off is the honest one: Aioby’s audience is newer and smaller than Amazon’s, and Aioby does not ship or warehouse anything for you — delivery is something you arrange yourself, the same way it would be if a customer found you on Instagram or WhatsApp.
Who Should Use What
| If you are… | Start with | Then add |
|---|---|---|
| A manufacturer or brand shipping nationally | Amazon | A free Aioby store for local/Kerala customers who’d rather deal with you directly |
| A local shop, home baker or small seller | Aioby + WhatsApp | Amazon only if you’re ready to handle national shipping and its fees |
| Selling a service, not a product | Aioby | Amazon does not really apply — it is not built for services |
| Hiring, renting out property, or selling a used item locally | Aioby | Amazon does not cover these at all |
What Aioby Costs
A store and listings are free, with no commission on what you sell. Optional extras: Growth at ₹29 a month (₹249 a year), Growth Plus at ₹79 a month (₹599 a year), Featured Boosts from ₹5, and ad campaigns from ₹9 — all launch prices, and nothing is pre-ticked or required. See Aioby pricing for the current numbers.
Amazon’s seller fees vary by category, fulfillment method and promotions running at the time, and change from time to time — check Amazon’s own current seller terms before you decide. Treat every fee description on this page as a general guide, not a quote.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Aioby cheaper than Amazon?
Aioby does not currently charge a commission on sales, while Amazon applies referral and fulfillment-related fees on most orders. For a local seller who does not need Amazon’s shipping network, Aioby is usually the lower-cost way to be found.
Can I sell on both?
Yes. Many sellers use Amazon for national shipped orders and a free Aioby store to reach local customers directly — the two are not exclusive.
Does Aioby handle delivery like Amazon does?
No. Aioby is a discovery and social marketplace, not a logistics company — you arrange payment and delivery directly with the customer, the same as any local business would.
Can I sell services or only products on Aioby?
Both, plus jobs, property, vehicles, events and more — 15 listing types in total. Amazon is built for products only.
Is there a catch to Aioby being free?
No — a store and unlimited listings are free for every business. Aioby earns from optional extras like Boosts, ads and paid plans that increase visibility, not from a cut of your sales.
Which has more buyers?
Amazon, by a large margin — it is a much bigger, older platform. Aioby’s honest trade-off for being commission-free is a newer, smaller, Kerala-first audience.
Explore more: why local businesses use Aioby, selling on Aioby with zero commission, or create your free store now.