Simple, transparent pricing
No listing fees. No subscriptions. Only pay when you earn.
Renter fee
8%
added at checkout
Paid by the renter on top of the listed price. Lower than every major rental platform.
Owner payout fee
3%
deducted from payout
Owners keep 97% of their rental price. Cleaning fees are passed through 100% — no cut taken.
Sale fee
5%
on completed sales
Selling an item outright? Pay just 5% when the sale completes. eBay charges 13.25%.
Example rental breakdown
Owner lists a camera at $50/day with a $10 cleaning fee and $100 deposit.
Renter pays
+ $100 hold released on return
Owner receives
Transferred via Stripe Connect after return confirmed
How we compare
| Platform | Renter fee | Owner fee | Sale fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| SwapleYou | 8% | 3% | 5% |
| Airbnb | ~14% | 3% | — |
| VRBO | 6–12% | 5% | — |
| Turo | — | 15–40% | — |
| Fat Llama | 15% | 0% | — |
| eBay | — | ~13% | 13.25% |
Security deposits & platform scope
Swaple is a listing platform — we connect renters and owners but are not a party to any rental agreement. Security deposits are entirely optional and set by the owner. When a deposit is set, Stripe places an authorization hold on the renter's payment method. This hold is never transferred to Swaple — it sits with Stripe until the owner confirms return, at which point it is released with no charge to the renter.
Any claims, disputes, or damage issues are solely between the renter and the owner. Swaple provides no insurance, arbitration, or reimbursement for losses. Owners who do not require a deposit have no Stripe-backed recourse mechanism — we remind them of this on every listing form.
Frequently asked questions
When does Swaple collect the renter fee?
The 8% fee is added on top of the listing price at checkout. It is charged to the renter — the owner receives their agreed listing price minus only the 3% payout fee.
When does the owner get paid?
Payouts are processed via Stripe Connect. After the renter confirms return (or the rental period ends), the rental amount minus the 3% payout fee is transferred to the owner's connected bank account. Cleaning fees are passed through 100% — Swaple takes no cut of them.
How does the security deposit work?
If the owner sets a deposit, the amount is held (not charged) on the renter's payment method via Stripe. It is NOT transferred to Swaple or the owner — it simply sits as an authorization. Once the owner confirms the item was returned in good condition, the hold is released and the renter is never charged. If the owner opts out of a deposit, no hold is placed and Swaple provides no protection.
What does Swaple do if there is a dispute?
Swaple is a listing platform — we connect renters and owners but are not a party to any rental agreement. Disputes over damage, late returns, or misrepresentation are between the two parties. We strongly recommend owners require a security deposit to have a Stripe-held mechanism for recourse.
How does the 5% sale fee work?
For listings marked "For Sale", when a buyer contacts the seller and a sale is completed, the seller pays a 5% fee on the agreed sale price. This is lower than eBay (13.25%) and most other marketplaces.
Are there any listing fees or subscription costs?
No. Listing on Swaple is completely free. You only pay fees when a successful transaction occurs.