For store owners
How Bazaarak compares
Bazaarak is a Canadian marketplace that gives each shop its own brand, cart, and checkout. This page lists the plain differences versus typical marketplaces and standalone store builders, without naming brands. Live plan amounts are always on Plans & pricing.
Side by side
| Topic | Bazaarak | Typical marketplace | Standalone store builder |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fees | Free Starter or Pro (platform % + monthly membership); $25 one-time setup; no listing fees. Card payment processing is separate and only applies on card checkout | Often higher % plus listing fees, payment processing, and ads | Monthly software fee; you pay for traffic and tools separately |
| Your brand | Your store, your brand, your cart and checkout | Often a shared marketplace cart and weaker brand control | Full brand control on a site you run alone |
| Discovery | Marketplace browse by category and Canadian shoppers, plus basic product visibility work on Google and other platforms for every seller. Optional paid ads when you want extra reach | Marketplace reach, often algorithm-heavy; ads usually required for visibility | You bring every visitor |
| Canadian payments | Card after onboarding; Interac e-Transfer when you offer it | Varies; Interac is not always available | Depends on the payment apps you connect |
| Curation | Independent shops — not mass-produced, not dropshipped | Often mixed with mass listings | Whatever you put on your own site |
Why a monthly plan exists
Bazaarak uses a clear monthly membership on Pro tiers so the platform transaction percent can stay lower than stacked marketplace charges. Starter stays $0 per month with a higher percent if you are testing the waters. Card payment processing fees are separate and only apply when a buyer pays by card — not for Interac e-Transfer or cash/other in-store.
Product visibility included
Every seller gets basic online visibility measures so products can be discoverable on Google and other platforms. Paid advertising is optional if you want extra reach — it is not required for the baseline visibility work we apply for all shops.
Frequently asked questions
How do Bazaarak fees compare to typical marketplaces?
Bazaarak Pro combines a monthly membership with about 2.5% platform fee and no listing fees. Card payment processing fees apply only on card payments. Typical marketplaces often stack a higher transaction percent, listing fees, payment processing, and ads. Confirm live amounts on the pricing page.
Do you market my products online?
Yes. Basic visibility measures for your products (including work aimed at Google and other platforms) are included for all sellers. Optional paid ads are available when you want to boost reach further.
How is Bazaarak different from a standalone store builder?
A standalone store builder gives you a site you must market yourself. Bazaarak gives you your own brand, cart, and checkout inside a Canadian marketplace. Shoppers can also discover you by category and browse, with baseline product visibility included.
Do I keep my brand on Bazaarak?
Yes. Each store keeps its own branded storefront, cart, and checkout.