Skinport is a marketplace designed for Steam items, with a particular focus on CS2 skins and related in-game content. Founded on April 26, 2018, it has been in operation for about six years under the leadership of Tristan Milla and is headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany.
Skinport operates as a traditional bot-based marketplace. Sellers must transfer their items to Skinport’s Steam bot accounts prior to listing them for sale. Unlike peer-to-peer (P2P) platforms, where items stay in the seller’s inventory until sold, this approach can be less convenient for sellers. However, it significantly improves the buying experience, as purchasers can receive items immediately upon payment—no further seller interaction needed.
Popularity
Skinport’s audience is roughly 74.43% male and 25.57% female, with the majority of visitors aged 18–24. Over the past year, interest in Skinport decreased by about 20%, yet the platform still averages around 422,000 searches each month.
History
Following its rebranding, Skinport experienced steady growth, fueled in large part by advertising campaigns run in collaboration with well-known YouTubers. It has since evolved into one of the largest skin marketplaces online, boasting millions of monthly visitors and an extensive catalog of items.
Transaction Fees
Skinport applies a 12% transaction fee to sellers listing their in-game items, which can drop to as low as 6% for high-value items listed in the seller’s local currency. Private sales between users are also subject to a 6% fee.
Buyers do not pay any processing fees, making Skinport an appealing option for those looking to purchase CS2 skins with real money.
Although the standard 12% selling fee is lower than the 15% charged by Steam, it is still higher than the rates offered by some competing platforms like BUFF163 (2.5%) or CSFloat (2.0%)
Fully Compliant EU Marketplace
This is made possible through its partnership with the payment processor Adyen. Under PSD2 rules, marketplaces in Europe cannot hold customer funds without a banking license. With Skinport, all transactions—sales, deposits, and withdrawals—are processed and managed by Adyen, which is licensed to securely handle and store user funds.
Other Projects
Beyond its core marketplace, Skinport offers additional tools that many users find invaluable:
- Skinport Float Database: Allows users to view detailed statistics for CS2 skins, including float values and, in some cases, ownership history. The database can highlight the lowest floats currently on the Steam market.
- Skinport Screenshot Tool: Enables users to inspect any CS2 skin in high resolution without launching the game. By pasting a Steam inspect link into the designated field, they can view an item’s float, stickers, pattern, and more.
Advantages
Skinport offers several notable benefits for traders:
- Intuitive and user-friendly interface, suitable for both new and experienced users.
- Multi-game support, including CS2, DOTA 2, Rust, and Team Fortress 2.
- Allows users to “cash out” their in-game inventory at competitive rates.
- Transaction fees are lower than those on the Steam Community Market.
- Sellers can freely set prices, enabling quick sales with discounts or premium listings for desirable skins.
- Full compliance with EU regulations, ensuring a secure and protected transaction environment.
- Comprehensive selection of skins, supported by millions of monthly visitors, including high-tier items often offered at reduced prices.
- Multiple payment methods through Adyen, with local-currency payouts in most regions.
- Buyers can purchase skins directly via credit card or other methods, without needing to fund an on-site wallet beforehand.
Disadvantages
Despite its strengths, Skinport does have a few drawbacks:
- Its 12% (potentially 6%) seller fee is higher than fees offered by certain competitors (e.g., BUFF163).
- Selling is restricted in some countries, and the absence of an on-site wallet prevents reinvesting earnings directly into new purchases.
- Many items are under trade holds, which can delay transfer to a buyer’s Steam inventory even after purchase.
- The lack of an “instant sell” option means that certain items, even at fair prices, can sit on the market for a prolonged period.
Question hub
Yes. Skinport is a legally registered company headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany, operating since 2018. It fully complies with European legislation and utilizes payment processor “Adyen,” a licensed banking entity. Buyers and sellers benefit from EU-level consumer protections, ensuring that your funds and transactions remain secure.
Skinport is a bot-based marketplace where sellers first deposit their items with Steam bots. Once purchased by a buyer, the item is immediately delivered, without waiting for a seller’s manual confirmation. This system streamlines the buying process but means sellers cannot keep items in their own inventories while listing them.
The standard selling fee is 12%. However, if you’re selling high-value items in your native currency, or making private sales to specific buyers, the fee can drop to 6%. Buyers pay no extra processing fees, which makes it more attractive for them to purchase skins at Skinport.
Although Skinport accepts users from a variety of regions, some countries do not allow cashouts from game items. If selling is blocked in your region, you can still buy items, but you won’t be able to list your own skins for sale. For supported countries, payouts typically go straight to a bank account once a sale completes.
Skinport uses Adyen to process transactions. Buyers can pay by credit card or other methods supported in their region. Funds from sales are transferred directly to your bank account in your local currency. Because there is no wallet or site balance, you cannot use sale proceeds to directly purchase new skins; the money goes to your bank, from which you can choose to buy again.
