Trendyol or eMAG to begin with? If you are targeting Romania, both marketplaces tempt you with similar reach, but they differ in commission model, logistics and entry threshold. Below we compare them mechanism by mechanism so you pick the platform that fits your assortment and budget – not the one currently being talked about.
Table of contents
- Markets and customers – who you reach on each platform
- Commissions and costs – comparing the models
- Logistics and currency
- Entry difficulty and requirements
- Decision table: when Trendyol, when eMAG, when both
- Frequently asked questions
- Take the next step
Markets and customers – who you reach on each platform
The first difference is strategic, not technical: it is about who you reach. If Romania is your goal, both platforms give you access to the same country, but from a different side of the market and with different brand recognition among buyers.
- eMAG – the most recognisable marketplace in Romania and the natural reference point for a local buyer. Customers arrive here with a concrete intent to purchase, often compare offers and look at seller ratings. More on how selling on eMAG works is on our pillar page.
- Trendyol – in our context we treat it as a channel to the Romanian market, where the platform is building its presence and attracting buyers who respond strongly to price, promotions and choice. It is a good place to reach the bargain-hunting customer. The basics of running an account are gathered in the selling on Trendyol hub.
The practical conclusion: if your product lives on recognition and trust (electronics, brands, the upper shelf), eMAG is often the safer first step. If you compete on price and volume, and your assortment is broad and promotion-friendly, Trendyol becomes a real alternative or a complement.
Before you decide, ask yourself three questions: who buys my product today, how do they decide (price versus trust in the seller) and is my category strongly represented on the given platform. The answers usually point to a channel better than intuition or the popularity of a name does. There is no point entering where your category is empty – nor where competitors have been draining margin with promotions for years.
Commissions and costs – comparing the models
What matters most here is the principle, not a single number: on both platforms commission depends on the product category and is charged on the gross order value (usually including the delivery the customer pays for). There is no single „eMAG rate” or „Trendyol rate” – there are ranges per category.
The mechanism worth understanding before you calculate margin:
- Sales commission – a percentage of every completed order, different by category.
- Additional fees – these may cover payment handling, returns costs or fulfilment service fees (the eMAG platform) if you use them.
Rather than basing your decision on one figure, calculate the total cost for your actual category: commission + fees + logistics cost + expected returns level. We break down the cost side of eMAG in how much selling on eMAG costs, and gather Trendyol rates in our piece on Trendyol commissions in 2026. Put both numbers side by side for your product – only that is a fair comparison.
A simple scheme for calculating this on a single product: from the selling price subtract the category commission, then payment and any fulfilment fees, then the cost of shipping to Romania, and finally the averaged cost of returns (the more return-prone the assortment, the bigger this item’s share). What remains is your real per-unit margin – and that, not commission alone, decides whether a platform pays off. The same category can be profitable on one platform and loss-making on the other purely because of differences in logistics and returns. You do not have to do this by hand – run the same product through the free eMAG profitability calculator and the Trendyol profitability calculator and compare the two results side by side.
Logistics and currency
Logistics and exchange rate differences are the areas that can wipe out any advantage from a lower commission. Here too, the mechanism is what counts.
Currency and settlements
Selling into the Romanian market, you operate in Romanian lei (RON) – the prices customers see and your settlements with the platform are in the local currency. That means you have to account for currency conversion as well as the payout cycle and threshold, which differ between platforms. RON exchange rate swings affect your real margin, especially when you buy stock in another currency.
| Feature / financial term | eMAG Romania | Trendyol Romania |
|---|---|---|
| Selling currency (customer) | Romanian leu (RON) | Romanian leu (RON) |
| Default payout currency | RON (payouts in EUR possible with multi-currency account integration) | RON / EUR (depending on account type) or USD (for global API settlements) |
| Funds hold period | Up to 7-14 days from delivery (protecting the customer’s right of return) | 7 to 14 days (standard), up to 28 days (special categories/electronics) |
| Payment day and cycle | Twice a month (usually around mid-month and month-end – fixed dates) | Once a week (Thursdays) – after the settlement closes on Wednesday at 10:00 |
| Minimum payout threshold | None (all funds from the approved settlement period are paid out) | No fixed threshold (some foreign banks may impose a minimum for SWIFT transfers) |
Shipping and returns
- Delivery to the customer – both platforms expect efficient shipping in the target market. You can ship yourself from Poland via a courier that covers Romania or, in eMAG’s case, use the fulfilment model the platform offers.
- Delivery time – longer transport from Poland means lower conversion and a higher risk of cancellation. A Romanian customer used to local deliveries is comparing you with a warehouse next door.
- Returns – the returns policy and who covers the cost affect the bottom line more than commission itself, especially in fashion and clothing, where returns run high.
In practice it is logistics, not commission, that most often decides whether a category is worth it at all. Before choosing a platform, work out the cost of getting one parcel to Romania and back.
Entry difficulty and requirements
Both platforms require a registered business and passing seller verification – neither is fully „click and sell”. The differences lie in the pace of approval, the documents required and local formalities.
- Company documents – the registration process requires preparing company data, registration documents and a payout account. You have to supply digital copies of your Polish registration documents (KRS/CEIDG), confirmation of EU VAT status, a scan of an identity document and an official bank statement, and the company details on all of them must be 100% identical. Bear in mind that the exact list of required documents is updated by the platforms from time to time.
- Tax matters – VAT obligations depend entirely on the logistics model you choose. If you ship goods directly from Poland, once you exceed the EU threshold of EUR 10,000 in turnover you account for Romanian VAT (21%) through the straightforward VAT OSS scheme at your Polish tax office. If, however, you store products in Romania (FBE), you must go through local VAT registration with the Romanian tax authority (ANAF) from your very first sale.
- Product page and catalogue – both platforms have their own requirements for listing content, images and specifications. Entering the catalogue correctly is a condition for starting, not cosmetics.
- Account health – after launch the metrics count: fulfilment time, cancellations, ratings. Weak metrics limit offer visibility regardless of platform.
Realistically: more time passes between submitting an application and your first sale than most beginners assume – verification, filling in the catalogue and setting up logistics take weeks, not hours. The exact approval time varies, so build in a buffer and do not plan a campaign launch for the day you register.
If you are just starting out, it is worth treating registration and initial configuration as a separate project. We guide you through it step by step in how to start selling on Trendyol, and the equivalent entry from the eMAG side is described in the eMAG marketplace hub.
Decision table: when Trendyol, when eMAG, when both
Below are two tables. The first compares the platforms by criteria, the second suggests a decision depending on your situation. Treat all specific rates as subject to confirmation – here we compare the character of the platforms, we are not declaring figures.
| Criterion | eMAG (Romania) | Trendyol (Romania) |
|---|---|---|
| Recognition among buyers | Very high, the local leader | Growing, strong on promotions |
| Customer profile | Purchase intent, compares ratings | Price-sensitive, hunts bargains |
| Commission model | A percentage depending on category | A percentage depending on category |
| Account fee | None | None |
| Settlement currency | RON | RON |
| Logistics to RO | Own shipping or fulfilment | Own shipping |
| Entry threshold | Company + verification + catalogue | Company + verification + catalogue |
| Your situation | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| A brand and upper shelf, trust is what counts | Start with eMAG |
| A broad assortment, competing on price and promotions | Consider Trendyol as a start or a complementary channel |
| Limited budget and time, one channel as a trial | Pick the platform that fits your category, not both at once |
| A proven product, operational readiness, you want to scale | Both – with stock and offer synchronisation |
The most common mistake is firing up two platforms at once with no operational backbone. Multichannel selling makes sense when you have a consistent catalogue and control over stock levels – otherwise you multiply errors rather than turnover.
Frequently asked questions
Trendyol or eMAG – which is cheaper to start with?
It depends on your category, because commission on both platforms is charged as a percentage per category, with fees and logistics costs on top. Instead of comparing a single „rate”, calculate the total cost on your actual product. Check the specific commission ranges in our material on the costs of selling on eMAG and on Trendyol commissions.
Can I sell on both platforms at the same time?
Yes, and many sellers do. The condition is an operational backbone: a shared catalogue, stock synchronisation and control over order fulfilment. Without that, two channels increase the risk of stockouts and cancellations rather than turnover.
Is Trendyol in Romania the same as global Trendyol?
In our context we talk about Trendyol as a channel to the Romanian market, where the platform is building its presence and attracting local buyers. We relate the terms, logistics and formalities to Romania, not to global selling out of Turkey.
Which platform do I need if I sell clothing?
In fashion the key factors are the level of returns and customer price sensitivity, which often argues for Trendyol. But the final decision depends on margin after returns and delivery costs to Romania – calculate it on your own data before choosing.
Do I need a local company to sell into the Romanian market?
Not always, but tax and registration obligations can appear once thresholds are exceeded. This is a topic we do not guess at – confirm the VAT terms and any local registration with your accountant.
Take the next step
You do not have to choose blindly – the best platform will be indicated by your category, margin and logistical readiness. If you would like to run the numbers on specifics, write to us, and if Romania via Trendyol looks like your direction, start with the guide on how to start selling on Trendyol.
