What is the difference between UPC and GTIN exemption?

Two completely different things one is a type of barcode while in another case you ask a certain platform (Amazon) to let you list without any barcode provided.

UPC is an abbreviation of Universal Product code which you buy for your product to sell it online or in a retail store, whereas GTIN exemption is the permission from an online selling platform like Amazon and this permission allows you to list your products without a barcode on that platform.

Two completely different types of barcodes, one is a type of barcode, while the other is requesting that a certain platform Amazon let you list without one.

Universal Product Code (UPC) is a type of Global Trade Item Number (GTIN) that is widely used as a product identifier in North America. WHEREAS a GTIN exemption is a way for sellers on Amazon to list products without a UPC or other GTIN. Amazon allows sellers with a registered brand to apply for a GTIN exemption for their products if they can demonstrate ownership of the brand through a trademark, design patent, or other legally recognized form of intellectual property.

UPC is a Universal Product Code and you have to buy from a UPC provider website and use it but if you have an exception for that then you don’t need to buy UPC from any of the websites for a listing creation.

UPC is a universal product code that you need to buy from the GS1 website and you need them to list your product on Amazon and GTIN exemption means if you don’t want to buy UPC then you can get an exemption on that UPC as GTIN exemption then you can list the product without UPC.