I have a confession to make: I love keeping my kids’ things. I mean EVERYTHING. Baby clothes, baby toys, baby—everything. I used to have a hard time selling or donating these items simply because I attached a memory to them all.
Flash forward a year later. As closets started to burst and my wallet grew emptier from our transition to a one-income household, it was time for a change.
Being the innovative person I am, I knew there had to be a way to clean up and make money from this baby-hoarding habit I had gotten myself into.
Turns out, there was no need to invent anything. With some quick thinking and a little Googling, I landed among a plethora of selling apps!
I’ve found that these selling apps can be faster to use and, as a bonus, give all of my unused, once-loved “stuff” another platform to shine on.
The more exposure your items get, the bigger the audience, and the better chance you’ll have to sell everything—and presto—money for your next vacation!
Whether you’re looking to make space, get rid of things you don’t wear, or save money for your next purchase, below is a list of the 11 top-notch buying and selling apps you can easily download and start using today.
1. Poshmark
Clothes gathering dust in your closet? How about a playroom filled with unused toys? Grab your smartphone or tablet, snap a picture, upload it, and get selling in all of 60 seconds! Poshmark is a fashion-selling app that proudly advertises the premise that selling is simple, social, and fun. Simply grab your phone, download the app, create an account, and sell.
Here are the details on what you can sell using the app:
- Women’s clothing, shoes, jewelry, and accessories
- Men’s clothing, shoes, and accessories
- Kid’s clothing, shoes, toys, and accessories
- Beauty and wellness products
- Home decor and lots more
With Poshmark, once your item sells, you print out a free shipping label and ship it to the customer via USPS. Once the customer receives your item and verifies it (or three days pass), Poshmark releases the money to your account. The cost of shipping if you offered a discount and the Poshmark fee are deducted from your final earnings. Money can be used to purchase other items on the app, or you can withdraw it via PayPal, Venmo, direct deposit, or check.
2. VarageSale
The name describes it all: Your very own virtual garage sale! I like to think of this as a garage sale for all of us introverts out there. VarageSale is great for buying and selling locally. Clear out every room of your house and sell your unwanted items safely and securely within your community. The app verifies your identity via Facebook, so you need to make sure you have an account there.
Here’s an overview of how this buying and selling app works:
3. OfferUp
I’ve made $200 on OfferUp alone! The ease of use of this selling app made it attractive to me when I first started my search. In as little as 30 seconds, I had posted my first item!
Here’s the scoop on this selling app:
- Downloadable for Android and iOS devices
- Open platform to sell any items you have
- Buy and sell locally – no shipping required
- Seamless platform – it’s easy to upload your items and sell them
- Instantly message your buyers safely through the app
4. Mercari
From handmade items to clothing, new or used, you can buy or sell it here. The main difference with this app is that there are no meetups. Mercari users only interact via shipping, so whether you’re buying or selling, this app helps you ship and receive items easily. They make shipping super simple, which is a bonus.
Here’s how this buying and selling app works:
- Sell It: List your items for free and in minutes with a picture, description, and price.
- Ship It: A printable shipping label is emailed directly to the seller.
- Get Paid: A 10% selling fee is charged when your sale is completed. Consider that when posting your listing.
Mercari’s process is simple and streamlined, offering shipping conveniences that speed up your transactions.
5. Blinker
Ready to buy or sell a car? Blinker has eliminated the hassle out of the process with this easy car buying and selling app. There are no additional fees to sell your car, and you can sell your car even if you have an existing loan amount due. (Blinker takes care of that for you.) Here’s an overview of how it works:
- Create an account and snap a picture of your car.
- Email, text, or share your listing on social media.
- You’ll receive email notifications when a potential buyer is interested.
- Buyers will email you via the app, and you will never need to share phone numbers or email addresses, which provides another layer of security.
You will need to pass their 17-point vehicle ownership and history check to be eligible to sell on this app. Test drives in a neutral location are highly recommended, and they are set up by you and the buyer. You’ll also need to enter your banking information into the app to make transactions.
6. Listia
Listia is an online marketplace that allows people to buy and sell without money. When you sell on this app, you earn Listia credits (Ink) for trading purposes. There are other ways to earn Ink credits, such as bonuses for signing up, inviting friends, and connecting your Facebook account.
7. Vestiaire Collective (Previously Tradesy)
Vestiaire Collective is an online marketplace for designer items with curated collections and authentic luxury. This app is the place you want to go for buying and selling gently used high-end items. By agreeing to sell on the app, you must be in the United States and agree that your items are authentic. Here are some other notes about this platform:
- Sell straight from your closet and post unlimited listings.
- Set your price, and they will provide a prepaid shipping label.
- There are fees that Vestiaire Collective lists upfront before posting a listing.
- When the item sells, you ship it directly to the customer.
- Earnings are then available after delivery and transferred to your bank account.
- You take home 90% of the listing price.
- All sales are final, meaning you won’t have to deal with returns.
8. Etsy
Etsy is for more than just crafts! There’s actually a huge market for vintage items (at least 20 years old) sold through Etsy, either refurbished or as-is. You can find a large variety of vintage handbags, clothing, and even wedding rings! Shoppers can browse tons of once-loved goods, searching for unique finds they can’t get anywhere else.
With that said, processing fees are high compared to other apps, so you’ll have to consider that when pricing. Here’s how to sell through Etsy:
- Open your Etsy shop, connect it to an existing account, or create a new profile.
- List your item at a fixed price.
- Listing fees are $0.20. Etsy charges a 6.5% transaction fee once the item sells.
- Using Etsy payments costs an additional 3% + $0.25 payment processing fee.
- Profits are deposited directly to your bank account.
9. eBay
eBay is a longtime re-sell website where you can find everything from tech to collectibles. While not the most glamorous of re-selling sites, eBay can earn you some serious cash, especially in niche audiences.
Like Craigslist, eBay is a great place to put hard-to-find items up for auction. For example, there’s a big market for vintage makeup bought by collectors or production companies.
Here’s how selling on eBay works:
- Register as a seller, confirming identity and payout details.
- List your items, set your price, and set the auction starting price.
- Buyers can buy your item at the set price or bid on it in auction.
- Selling fees vary based on the item.
- Shipping costs and processes are your responsibility.
- Payouts are typically transferred within 1-3 business days of the purchase.
10. Facebook Marketplace
Selling on Facebook Marketplace has become synonymous with the app, offering quick and easy local sales within your community. Shoppers can narrow down items based on neighborhood or category for easy browsing.
This is a great platform to sell all of your unwanted goods, from home decor to electronics to baby clothes. There are no shipping or processing fees, as you only sell to local buyers!
Selling on Facebook Marketplace couldn’t be easier:
- Log in or sign up for a Facebook account.
- Make your listing, adding photos, location details, and pricing.
- Potential buyers will message you directly to schedule the transaction.
- For safety, arrange to meet in a public location for the sale.
- Choose secure payment methods like PayPal or Venmo, or when in doubt, cash is king.
11. Depop
Depop is one of the best apps for buying and selling clothing and accessories, letting you upload highly curated “closets” for users to shop from. This app specializes in trendy vintage clothing and has inspired a whole new generation of resellers. Popular listings are from much-loved decades, like the 70s, 90s, and Y2K.
Breakout stars from this app, like iGirl, gained so much popularity from this app, that she began her brand, selling highly-curated “bundles” to her fans along with a branded collection.
Here’s how to sell on this career-making app:
- Sign up for Depop and create your shop profile.
- Set up a verified Paypal account to start earning.
- List your items with set prices and keyword-optimized descriptions.
- Ship your items once sold.
- Items are free to list. The Depop fee is 10% on every sale. An additional transaction fee of 3.49% + $0.49 is also charged.
thredUP
thredUP is another buying and selling app; however, they now have a LOT of fees for selling stuff on their site. Holly has an in-depth review of using thredUP. Be sure to read it before jumping in, as well as the comments other people have left about the platform. Seller reviews on the Better Business Bureau and Trustpilot are poor for this online consignment shop.
Top Buying and Selling Apps Wrap-Up
Clearing out your closet, garage, bedroom, or entire home has never been easier! Gone are the days when posting an item online took an hour or more. With these buying and selling apps, all you need is your smartphone, good lighting, a quick description, and the click of a button to get organized and start making money in the process.
Looking for more places to sell your stuff? Here is a list of online and in-person consignment shops!
Originally published July 20, 2020. Content updated March 2024.
