When I first started looking into NFTs, OpenSea was the name that came up constantly. It was just the place you went. I didn’t think much about alternatives. Then Rarible started appearing in the same conversations and I assumed it was just a smaller version of the same thing — different branding, same idea.

The more I read, the more I realised that wasn’t quite right. They’re both NFT marketplaces, but they’ve made different choices about governance, fees, and what kind of creator experience they’re trying to build. Those choices matter depending on what you’re trying to do.

OpenSea: The Default

OpenSea is the largest NFT marketplace by trading volume. It’s been the dominant platform since the NFT market expanded in 2021, and despite multiple controversies — including several changes to its royalty enforcement policy — it has maintained that position largely through liquidity. More buyers are on OpenSea than anywhere else, which means if you list something there, it has the best chance of actually selling.

OpenSea supports multiple blockchains including Polygon, Ethereum, Solana, and others. For Polygon specifically, the low gas fees make it a practical option for smaller transactions that would be expensive on Ethereum mainnet.

The platform takes a 2.5% fee on sales. Simple and consistent. The royalty situation has been more complicated — OpenSea made creator royalties optional for buyers at one point, which caused significant backlash from creators who had built revenue models around secondary sales. The policy has shifted more than once and is worth checking before you list anything there with royalty expectations.

Rarible: The Creator-Focused Alternative

Rarible positions itself as more creator-focused than OpenSea. The most meaningful difference is governance: Rarible has a native token called RARI that gives holders a say in platform decisions. The idea is that the people who use the platform have some control over how it evolves, rather than having those decisions made entirely by a company.

Rarible also supports multiple chains including Polygon and has generally taken a stronger stance on enforcing creator royalties. For a creator who cares about receiving a cut of secondary sales, that difference matters.

The trade-off is liquidity. Rarible has fewer buyers than OpenSea. Listing something on Rarible gives you a smaller audience. Whether the stronger royalty stance and governance model are worth that trade-off depends on what you’re prioritising.

What Actually Matters When Choosing

After reading through both, the questions I’d ask are straightforward. Are you a buyer or a creator? If you’re buying, OpenSea’s liquidity probably matters more than anything else. If you’re creating, the royalty enforcement policy is the first thing to check — and that means verifying the current policy, not assuming it’s the same as what you read six months ago. Both platforms have changed their policies before.

Does the chain matter? If you’re working on Polygon, both platforms support it. The gas cost difference between Polygon and Ethereum is significant enough that it’s worth confirming you’re actually listing on the right network before you pay any fees.

What I’m Still Not Clear On

The current state of royalty enforcement on both platforms in 2026 is something I’m not fully up to date on. Both have changed policies before and could change them again. If you’re making a decision based on royalties, verify the current policy directly on the platform rather than relying on anything I’ve written here — or anything written more than a few months ago. This is one of those areas where the details change faster than written guides can keep up with.