You’ve got a closet full of clothes you don’t wear, an old laptop in a drawer, and a couch that doesn’t fit the new apartment. Selling it used to mean a garage sale and a folding table. Now it means picking an app, and the app you pick changes how much of that sale you actually keep.
That’s the part most guides skip. Every platform is happy to show you how easy it is to list an item. Fewer lead with what they take out once the sale closes. Line the fees up side by side and the picture looks different from what the marketing pages suggest.
Why the fee picture changed this year
A few big secondhand apps rewrote their pricing in the past two years. Depop dropped its seller commission to 0% for U.S. sellers. Mercari flattened its own fee to a single 10% cut and shifted more of the remaining cost onto buyers through a separate buyer protection fee. The resale market kept growing alongside these changes: researchers peg it near $350 billion in the U.S. for 2026, with about 58% of consumers saying they’ve bought something secondhand this past year.
None of this is a guaranteed way to make money. It’s a way to recover some value from things you already own. Treat any number below as a range that depends on your item’s condition, the platform, and how you price it.
How these fees actually work
Most apps stack their costs in layers instead of one flat rate, which is where people get caught off guard at payout time.
- Seller commission: a percentage of the sale the platform keeps.
- Payment processing: a smaller fee, often around 3%, for moving the buyer’s payment to your account.
- Buyer protection fee: apps like Mercari and Vinted now charge this to the buyer instead. It can make a listing look “free” on your end, but buyers see the real total.
- Shipping: you buy a label or the buyer pays it, and either way it eats into what the item nets you.
Local, cash, in-person sales through Facebook Marketplace skip almost all of this. No fees, but no buyer protection either, and you’re the one screening who shows up.
What each app actually takes in 2026
Here’s the breakdown, as of mid-2026, per each platform’s published fee schedule. Category or promotional rates can differ, so check the platform’s own fee page before listing anything high-value.
| App | Seller fee | Who else pays | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| About 13.6% + $0.30 to $0.40 per order, varies by category | Nothing extra by default | Electronics, collectibles, higher-value items | |
| $2.95 flat under $15; 20% above that | Fee bundles in payment processing and a prepaid label | Sellers who want shipping handled for them | |
| Flat 10% | Buyer pays a separate 3.6% buyer protection fee | Quick, no-frills listings across categories | |
| 0% commission for U.S. sellers | Roughly 3.3% + $0.45 payment processing still applies | Trendy or vintage clothing, younger buyers | |
| $0, no commission or processing fee | Buyer pays a buyer protection fee, roughly 5% plus a flat amount | Everyday clothing, full listing price kept | |
| $0 for local pickup | 10% (minimum $0.80) only if shipped via Facebook checkout | Furniture, local pickup, bulky items |
Two footnotes: Depop’s optional boosted listings carry their own extra fee, and eBay accounts rated “below standard” pay several points more per sale. Treat this table as a general guide, not a quote for your exact item.
Best apps for selling clothes
Clothing is where the fee gap matters most. Most pieces sell for $10 to $40, and a 20% cut feels a lot bigger on a $15 shirt than on a $500 sofa.
- Depop, if your stuff leans trendy or vintage. With the commission gone for U.S. accounts, you’re mostly just covering payment processing.
- Vinted, if you want the sticker price to be exactly what you keep. Buyers see a higher total at checkout, which can slow sales on lower-priced items.
- Poshmark, if you’d rather not buy your own shipping labels. The 20% commission includes that convenience, plus payment handling.
Best apps for electronics and furniture
Buyers of used electronics want some reassurance the thing works, and bulky furniture rarely makes sense to ship. That points to a different set of apps than clothing does.
- eBay, for reach and buyer trust on electronics. Its return policies and seller ratings carry weight with anyone spending $100-plus on a used phone or laptop.
- Facebook Marketplace, the default for local, bulky items like furniture, a desktop, or a TV. Zero platform fees, and the buyer can test it before paying.
- Mercari, a middle ground for smaller electronics: a flat 10% fee, no listing fee, and a simpler app than running an eBay store.
Meeting a local buyer safely
Selling in person skips app fees but adds a different kind of risk. A few basics help:
- Meet in a public, well-lit place, ideally during the day. Some police stations offer their parking lot as a designated exchange spot.
- Bring someone along, or tell someone where you’re going.
- Confirm payment landed before handing over the item. Taking a payment app instead of cash? Our payment app mistakes and scams guide covers the fake “sent” screenshots common in these deals.
- Trust your gut. If a buyer pushes to change the spot last minute, it’s fine to cancel.
When resale income triggers a 1099-K
Selling your own used stuff for less than you paid for it usually isn’t taxable, since there’s no profit. But once a payment app or marketplace processes enough money through your account in a year, it has to report the total to the IRS on a Form 1099-K, whether or not you owe anything on it.
For 2026, that threshold sits at $20,000 in payments and more than 200 transactions, a level Congress restored after the IRS had planned to phase it down toward $600. A 1099-K doesn’t automatically mean you owe tax; it means the IRS has a copy of the number, and you may need to show some or all of it was personal items sold at a loss. Keeping basic records helps if you’re a frequent seller. See our 1099-K rules for payment apps guide for the fuller breakdown on Venmo, Cash App, and PayPal.
A few things to decide before you list
- Match the app to the item. Clothes do best on Depop, Vinted, or Poshmark. Electronics do better on eBay. Furniture belongs on Facebook Marketplace.
- Cross-post when it’s free to do so. Listing the same sweater on two or three apps costs nothing until it sells.
- Work backward from your payout, not your price. Check the fee page first, then price around what you actually want to keep.
- If this becomes a regular habit rather than a one-time declutter, weigh the real time it takes against other options in our side hustles worth your time guide.
This article is for general information and isn’t tax, legal, or financial advice. Fee structures change and can vary by category or promotion, so confirm current rates directly on each platform before you list, and talk to a tax professional about how resale income applies to your own situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the cheapest app to sell used stuff on in 2026?
Vinted and Depop charge sellers the least. Vinted has no seller fee, and Depop’s U.S. commission is 0%, though a small payment processing charge still applies. Facebook Marketplace is free too, but only for local, in-person sales.
Is Facebook Marketplace really free to sell on?
For local pickup, yes. Ship through Facebook’s own checkout instead, and a 10% fee (minimum $0.80) applies.
What’s a good alternative to Poshmark if the fees feel too high?
Depop and Vinted both charge less than Poshmark’s 20% commission. The trade-off: you’ll likely handle your own photos and shipping labels, since Poshmark’s higher fee bundles that in.
Where can I sell something and get paid quickly?
Local meetups pay fastest, since the exchange happens on the spot. Mercari and Depop typically pay out to a linked bank account within a few business days.
How do I start selling clothes online for the first time?
Pick one app based on what you’re selling (Depop or Vinted for everyday clothes, Poshmark for handled shipping), take clear photos in natural light, price a little below similar sold listings, and describe flaws honestly. Starting on one app is easier than juggling four.
Do I have to pay taxes on money from selling my own stuff?
Generally not, if you’re selling personal items for less than you paid. It’s different if you’re regularly buying items to resell for profit, which the IRS treats more like a small business. Either way, you may still get a 1099-K once your account crosses $20,000 and 200 transactions in a year, but the form alone doesn’t determine what you owe.
