Whatnot vs Palmstreet

If you sell houseplants, cuttings or rare plants live, you have probably heard of Palmstreet. It built a reputation as a live shopping app where plant lovers gathered to buy from growers and collectors, and it has expanded into other categories since. Whatnot, meanwhile, is one of the largest live shopping marketplaces, with a plant category alongside cards, collectibles, fashion and much more. This Palmstreet vs Whatnot guide helps you decide where your live shows belong.

A quick note on scope. Palmstreet is a smaller, younger platform, and details like its fees, supported countries and category list can change quickly. We describe it in general terms and avoid specific claims we cannot be confident about. Before you commit, check Palmstreet's own seller pages and the current app experience.

What we can do is compare the two models clearly: a niche-leaning live app versus a broad live marketplace, and how that difference affects fees, audience, selling experience and growth.

Palmstreet vs Whatnot: Side-by-Side

For a full roundup of live apps, see our pillar guide to Whatnot alternatives and the best live selling apps compared.

Fees: What to Compare

Whatnot's fees

Whatnot's commonly reported US fees are 8% commission on the item price for most categories plus 2.9% + $0.30 payment processing on the order total (item, shipping and tax). There are no listing fees or monthly subscriptions. On a $30 plant, that works out to about $2.40 commission plus roughly $1.17 processing, or about $3.57, before your plant cost, pot, packaging and any heat or cold packs. Confirm current rates on Whatnot's fee page and read our Whatnot seller fees guide.

Palmstreet's fees

We are not quoting a Palmstreet fee here, because smaller platforms frequently run promotions, change commission rates and adjust how shipping is charged. When you check Palmstreet's current terms, look for:

• The commission rate on each sale, and whether it varies by category.
• Payment processing fees and whether they apply to shipping and tax.
• Who pays shipping and how shipping rates are calculated.
• Payout timing and any fees for faster payouts.
• Any new-seller promotions and when they end.

Audience: Niche Community vs Broad Marketplace

The biggest difference between the two is scale and focus.

Palmstreet's appeal for plant sellers has been its concentrated plant community. When most viewers on an app are there for plants, a grower selling variegated cuttings may find buyers who know exactly what they are looking at and appreciate rare cultivars. Smaller apps can also feel more personal, and a new seller may stand out more in a smaller pool.

Whatnot's appeal is its much larger overall audience and the maturity of its discovery tools. The plant category sits within an app that a very large number of shoppers use for many kinds of live shopping, so there is potential to reach casual plant buyers as well as collectors. Raids, scheduled show notifications, category feeds and Boost all help you find viewers. The flip side is more competition for attention across a bigger marketplace.

How to judge where your buyers are

• Browse live plant shows on both apps at the times you would stream, and note viewer counts and how active bidding is.
• Look at what sells: common houseplants, rare cultivars, cuttings, pots and supplies.
• Check price levels for items similar to yours.
• Notice how sellers run their shows and which formats get the most engagement.

Our guide to the best time to stream on Whatnot can help you plan comparable test shows.

Selling Experience and Live Tools

Both apps let you go live, present items and sell in real time. The differences are in the depth of tools and the surrounding ecosystem.

On Whatnot

• Auctions with timers, including sudden death, plus Buy It Now and pre-bids.
• Giveaways (including buyer-only giveaways) to reward your audience.
• Flash sales, raids to send viewers to another show, moderators and co-hosting.
• Weight-based shipping profiles, combined shipping for multiple wins, and prepaid labels.
• Seller analytics to track what works.

Read how to go live on Whatnot and running giveaways as a seller for how these tools fit together.

On Palmstreet

Palmstreet provides core live shopping tools for selling in real time. Because smaller apps add and change features frequently, the best way to evaluate it is to download the app, explore the seller tools, and watch a few shows to see how auctions, checkout and shipping work today. Look for how easy it is to manage a fast-moving show and how buyers check out and pay.

Shipping Live Plants on Either Platform

Whichever app you use, plants are one of the trickiest categories to ship. The same best practices apply:

1. Watch the weather. Extreme heat and cold can damage plants in transit. Many sellers pause shipping or use heat or cold packs during extreme weather.
2. Ship early in the week. This reduces the chance of packages sitting in a warehouse over a weekend.
3. Secure the soil and stem. Wrap the root ball, stabilize the plant inside the box and fill empty space.
4. Know the rules. Some plants and soil face agricultural restrictions on where they can ship. Check regulations for the destinations you serve, and check each platform's policies on live plants.
5. Set expectations. Explain your shipping schedule and any weather holds during your show.

On Whatnot, accurate shipping profiles are essential, because a large potted plant can weigh much more than you expect. See Whatnot shipping profiles and our dedicated guide to selling plants on Whatnot.

Plant Show Formats That Work on Live Apps

The format of your show often matters more than the platform. These approaches work on any live app that supports auctions and fixed-price sales:

• Rare drop shows: build anticipation around a small number of rare or variegated plants, announced in advance with photos, and sell them one by one at the peak of the show.
• Cutting and starter auctions: low-cost cuttings and small starter plants keep bidding lively and let newer buyers participate.
• Themed nights: group plants by type (hoyas, aroids, succulents, carnivorous plants) or by care level, such as easy plants for beginners.
• Plant plus supplies bundles: pots, soil mixes and care accessories pair naturally with plants and raise average order value when buyers get combined shipping.
• Care education segments: short care tips between auctions build trust and keep viewers watching, especially beginners.

Whatever format you choose, show each plant clearly on camera: leaves, roots where practical, any pests or damage, and the pot size the buyer will receive. Honest presentation reduces disputes on any platform. For more ideas, browse our list of Whatnot show ideas and formats.

Who Should Choose Palmstreet and Who Should Choose Whatnot

Palmstreet may suit you if you...

• Sell plants and want to reach a community that is focused on them.
• Prefer a smaller platform where it may be easier to stand out early.
• Want to test a second live channel alongside your main one.

Whatnot may suit you if you...

• Want the largest possible live shopping audience.
• Sell plants alongside other categories, such as crystals, home goods or vintage.
• Value a mature set of live tools, analytics and seller programs.
• Plan to grow into a full-time or larger operation over time.

If you sell crystals or minerals as well, our guide to selling crystals on Whatnot covers a category that often pairs well with plant audiences.

How to Use Both Palmstreet and Whatnot

Running both apps is a reasonable way to find out where your buyers are. A practical plan:

1. Pick a primary platform. Choose the one you will stream on most consistently. Consistency matters more than being everywhere.
2. Run comparable test shows. Use similar inventory, show length and time of day on each app for several weeks.
3. Measure the same metrics. Track viewers, sales per hour, average order value, net profit after fees and shipping, and new followers.
4. Keep one inventory list. Plants are often one-of-a-kind (a specific cutting or specimen). Mark items sold immediately so you never sell the same plant twice.
5. Avoid simultaneous streaming at first. Two chats and two checkouts in one stream are hard to manage. Read our note on multistreaming before trying it.
6. Double down on what works. After a few weeks, shift more of your schedule to the platform with better results.

Questions to Ask Before Committing to Any Smaller Live App

These questions apply to Palmstreet and any other niche live shopping app you consider:

• How large and active is the audience in your specific category right now?
• What are the current fees, and how often have they changed?
• How do payouts work, and how quickly do funds reach your bank?
• What buyer protection and dispute processes exist, and how do they affect sellers?
• How is shipping handled, and who pays for labels?
• Is the app actively updated, and is it available in your country?

Smaller apps can be great opportunities, but it is wise not to put your whole business on any single platform. See Whatnot vs Popshop Live and Whatnot vs Jamble for similar comparisons with other smaller live apps.

Bottom Line

For plant sellers, Palmstreet's focused community can be appealing, while Whatnot offers a far larger audience, a deep set of live selling tools and room to sell other categories alongside plants. Because smaller apps change quickly, verify Palmstreet's current details yourself and test both with real shows before you decide. Results vary widely depending on your inventory, pricing and consistency.

If you want to start on Whatnot, follow our step-by-step guide to selling on Whatnot. For structured beginner training on building a marketplace business, see our independent overview of the Marketplace SuperHeroes free workshop.