How to Sell on Shopee vs Lazada in Malaysia (2026 Guide)
If you are expanding your retail business online in Malaysia, you immediately face the ultimate e-commerce question: Should you sell on Shopee or Lazada?
While both platforms offer massive reach, they cater to different types of shoppers, feature drastically different logistics networks, and, most importantly, have highly distinct fee structures that can make or break your profit margins.
Here is a complete 2026 guide on how to choose, set up, and sell on Malaysia’s top two e-commerce marketplaces.
1. The Market Landscape: Who is Buying Where?
Before you list your products, you need to understand who is actually browsing these platforms.
- Shopee: Shopee holds the majority market share in Malaysia. Its audience is highly price-sensitive and deal-driven. The platform excels at moving high volumes of budget-friendly goods, fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), and daily necessities.
- Lazada: Lazada attracts a slightly older, mid-to-high-income demographic that is more brand-loyal. Thanks to the strong reputation of LazMall, it is the preferred platform for higher-ticket items, premium brands, home appliances, and electronics.
2. 2026 Seller Fee Structures
Both platforms have aggressively restructured their fees recently, meaning your margins are tighter than ever. It is crucial to look past the “base commission” and understand the effective take rate—the total percentage the platform deducts from your sale.
| Fee Component | Shopee Malaysia | Lazada Malaysia |
| Base Commission | 5% to 15%+ (varies by category) | 5% to 22.5% (varies by category) |
| Transaction / Payment Fee | 2.12% (SST inclusive) | 2.00% to 4.99% |
| Tech / Platform Fee | 5% (Introduced February 2026) | Variable order processing fees |
| New Seller Waiver | 120 days or first 100 orders | 90 days zero commission |
The Reality for Sellers: Due to recent fee hikes, if you sell high-margin items like fashion or beauty, your effective take rate (including transaction fees and optional promotional programs) can now reach 17% to 20% on Shopee and up to 22.5% on Lazada.
3. Requirements to Start Selling
Setting up a shop on either platform is free and follows a virtually identical verification process.
To register as a local business seller (Corporate/SSM), you will need:
- A copy of the business owner or director’s IC.
- Your Business Registration Certificate from SSM (Companies Commission of Malaysia).
- A recent 1-month company bank statement to route your payouts.
The Setup Process:
- Register: Head to the Shopee Seller Centre or Lazada Seller Center and create an account.
- Verify: Upload your SSM and banking documents. Approval typically takes 1 to 3 business days.
- List: Upload high-resolution product photos, write SEO-optimized product titles, and set your pricing.
4. Which Platform Should You Choose?
There is no definitive “best” platform; it depends entirely on your product catalog and business model.
Choose Shopee if:
- You sell highly competitive, budget-friendly items.
- You rely on mass-market volume rather than high profit-per-item.
- You have the margins to heavily utilize in-app advertising and participate in Shopee’s “Coins Cashback” and “Free Shipping” programs to gain visibility.
Choose Lazada if:
- You sell authentic, premium branded goods or bulky items (like furniture and large electronics).
- You want to leverage Lazada Logistics, an integrated fulfillment network that offers superior reliability for high-ticket items compared to third-party couriers.
- You plan to qualify for LazMall to build long-term brand trust.
5. The Smart Move: Omnichannel E-Commerce
Relying exclusively on third-party marketplaces is a massive risk. As we have seen with the 2026 fee hikes, Shopee and Lazada can cut into your profit margins overnight. Furthermore, on a marketplace, you don’t own your customer data—the platform does.
The most successful Malaysian retailers use a hybrid approach. They use Shopee and Lazada for customer acquisition, but drive repeat business to their own independent e-commerce websites where they pay zero marketplace commissions.
Want to take control of your e-commerce revenue?
At My Hub Solution, we specialize in building robust, high-converting e-commerce websites tailored for the Malaysian market. We design platforms that seamlessly sync your inventory across Shopee, Lazada, and your independent store, giving you total control of your digital retail empire.
Ready to build a store you actually own? Contact us today for a free e-commerce consultation.
