11 of the Best Apps to Sell Clothes Online
Clearing out your wardrobe and identifying those items of clothing you no longer wear can be challenging. Some find it hard to part with items they have fond memories of, while others hate throwing their gently used clothing in the trash.
In recent years, there has been an increase in apps to sell clothes if the items are in good condition. Not only will this make you some extra cash, but it also means that you are living a more sustainable lifestyle – recycling instead of just sending more clothing to a landfill.
But with so many apps to choose from, it isn’t easy to know which ones are worth downloading. Ideally, you want an app that is easy to use, has a larger customer base, and has lower fees to keep as much of the profits as possible. Here at My Money Chronicles, we have done the hard work for you, researching the various apps on the market. See below for our list of best apps to sell clothes on the market. Some are dedicated to selling second-hand clothing, while others are linked to social media platforms. We detail why we like each of these apps to sell clothes online and some cons to ensure you can make an informed choice.
Best Apps to Sell Clothes Online
1. eBay
One of the most well-known online selling sites is eBay, where sellers can list many items sold for a set fee or to the highest bidder. The app is extremely user-friendly, making listing your items for sale easy. As there are so many items on eBay, it is essential to take great photos of your clothing and write a detailed description of the product so those searching on the app can find your items. eBay takes a percentage of your profits from every sale – a little higher than most sites, but it is worth trying as they have a massive, worldwide customer base. eBay is good for selling used clothes and used shoes.
2. Facebook Marketplace
The social media platform Facebook has been around for a while, but Facebook Marketplace is a much newer concept. The Marketplace section of Facebook is easy to use. Facebook users can scroll through items near their area, meaning they can usually collect the item rather than having to factor in shipping costs and time. Facebook has over 2 billion daily users, so there is a huge market for selling your items. Communication is done through the messenger section of Facebook, which most of us are familiar with, making it easier to use than learning a new platform.
3. OfferUp
OfferUp is a platform that has gained a larger following recently due to its clever marketing campaigns. Sellers can easily take pictures of their items in the app and upload them to their selling page. OfferUp has an excellent algorithm that categorizes your items automatically, helping buyers find what they are looking for. If buyers like the look of the item, they will then use the messaging feature on the app to contact you and discuss purchasing it. It can be great if you are looking to sell low-priced clothing fast. However, another platform may best suit your needs if you want to sell higher-priced shoes or coats.
Another good thing is that OfferUp provides its sellers with a shipping label. That’s one less thing that you have to worry about. If you want to avoid shipping items, OfferUp lets you sell locally.
4. Vinted
Vinted is purely focused on selling second-hand clothes and accessories rather than other platforms with a broader range. This means that everyone looking on the platform is interested in buying clothes, and therefore, it may be easier to generate a sale.
The app is free to download and only charges a small service fee on products you sell, making it one of the most affordable clothes-selling platforms on the market. Uploading items is easy. You upload your photos and then add a description for potential buyers. You can communicate with buyers through the messages section of the app to negotiate on price or answer any questions they may have. The app has excellent security features, and the only way to transfer your profit is through PayPal, so you will need an account if you want to try Vinted.
5. ThredUP
ThredUP is next on the list of best apps to sell clothes. This app is slightly different, however. Instead of selling to individuals, you are selling them to ThredUP itself. To start, you need to take photographs of the clothing you want to sell before sending them and some details about your products to ThredUP’s estimator. The estimator will look at your items and give you a valuation.
If you are happy with this amount, you can send off your clothes, and once they have been checked, you will receive payment via your PayPal account or bank card. A third payment option is store credit, which you can use to buy other clothes from the platform. Usually, you will be offered slightly more as store credit. ThredUP then goes on to sell your items themselves.
This is a great way to sell your items if you want to get rid of them quickly.
6. Tradesy
If you want to buy or sell designer clothing, Tradesy is a great platform to download. When you upload an item, Tradesy edits your pictures to make them look professional. You can enter details like the brand name, size, and condition description to help potential buyers find your items. Based on the details you enter, the app will help you set prices for your items based on what similar items previously on the app have sold for. The Tradesy app will not accept all clothing items, only focusing on high-end ones that have only been worn a few times and are in good condition.
Some examples of high-end brands are Christian Louboutin, Louis Vuitton, and Chanel. Tradesy charges fees for using their app, taking $7.50 for any items you sell under $50 or a 19.5% commission on items over $50.
7. CPlus for Craigslist
Craigslist has been around for years and has a considerable following, which is a great market for selling your clothes. The C-Plus part of their site allows sellers to list their items quickly and upload photos of them. However, Craigslist has some issues that it is important to consider before choosing to sell on their site. The platform is so large that it is tough to vet buyers, meaning that scammers can fall through the net. Scammers can waste your time, and you may lose your money. Additionally, the customer service on the platform could be better, and it is difficult to get hold of a company member to discuss any issues you have.
8. Depop
Depop is very similar to the Poshmark platform. It was founded in Europe. Influencers and bloggers use it often, and its interface looks a lot like Instagram. If you are searching for clothing on the app, you can like pictures so that you can go back to them later and message the seller directly to make an offer. The app is used by small clothing brands and individuals selling second-hand clothing. Pictures on the site vary depending on the seller, with some clothing worn on models and some on hangers. Depop is a great way to reach more clients from different countries.
9. Mercari
One of the best shopping apps to sell clothes is the Japanese app Mercari. Mercari has a massive marketplace for several different products, including clothing. This app has one of the largest customer bases, so your item’s chances to sell are increased. If you are thinking of downloading and using this app, do it! The app has many users, meaning you will have a good chance of selling your clothing.
You can list all kinds of new and used items on this app. People list clothing and accessories on Mercari to make extra money.
10. Poshmark
Another great platform for selling designer or high-end clothing is Poshmark. Poshmark focuses on oversized brand items, including clothing, shoes, handbags, and make-up. Here is a list of brands that sell well on Poshmark. If you have a lot of women’s clothing, Poshmark is the app for you.
The app is straightforward to use and can be used in multiple ways. Sellers create their profiles where they can post their items and gain followers. They can sell their items via this profile and hold ‘Posh Parties,’ which are real-time shopping events where app users can meet up, share and sell their goods. These parties can increase the visibility of your products, making them more likely to sell.
To start a successful profile, the platform recommends that users upload multiple items at once – around 5 or 10- to start building their brand. Styling these items in photographs can also help potential buyers visualize how they will look as part of an outfit, meaning they are more likely to invest in your items. Poshmark fees are high compared to other sites. Poshmark will take a flat fee of $2.95 if you sell anything under $15, while the site takes 20 percent of your profits on more expensive items. If you are considering selling designer items, Poshmark has a great pool of buyers for more expensive products so that it may be worth the costs.
Click here to sign up for Poshmark
11. Instagram
Instagram is another social media platform that has recently garnered attention for buying and selling clothes. Instagram is a flexible platform for various things, including selling your clothes. Whether you post items on your own profile and stories or create a separate account dedicated to selling them, Instagram can reach thousands of potential buyers. Instagram has always been a great platform to show off fashion trends and clothing, so naturally, it has progressed to selling them.
During the COVID-19 lockdown, clothing accounts on Instagram became popular because many high-street shops were closed. If you want to sell your clothes on Instagram, include hashtags people can search for to find your clothing. Popular hashtags commonly used are #previouslyowned, #recycleyourstyle, or #instashop.
As we see from our extensive list above, there are so many apps to sell things online. No one app is the best, as each has its strengths and weaknesses. No matter which app you use, you must present your clothes well to gain potential buyers’ attention. Ensure that your items are in good condition and not creased or crumpled.
Take pictures of the clothes on a model if possible, as this helps customers visualize them better, or put them on a hanger against a plain backdrop so that the clothes can be seen well. Remember, if your garment is displayed well, it is more likely to sell, so it is worth putting in a little time and effort when preparing your photographs for your chosen app.
Which one of these is your favorite app to sell clothes on?
Jason Butler is the owner of My Money Chronicles, a website where he discusses personal finance, side hustles, travel, and more. Jason is from Atlanta, Georgia. He graduated from Savannah State University with his BA in Marketing. Jason has been featured in Forbes, Discover, and Investopedia.
