Best apps to sell used stuff online

The Best Apps to Sell Used Stuff


After graduating from business school, I moved a total of five times within six months before landing my first job post-graduate school. Moving frequently helped me get rid of things I hoard but don’t really use or need. Although it was a little too much for me, I became quite efficient in selling my used stuff online and living out of 2 or 3 suitcases. I’ve rented rooms, sublet my apartments, sold mattresses and comforters, clothes and shoes, cooking utensils, and almost everything that couldn’t fit in a suitcase, all through apps. There are a number of mobile apps that help users sell used stuff online. Decluttering has never been so profitable and easy.

What are the best apps to sell stuff online in 2020?

Here are my top picks for the best apps to sell used stuff online.

1. OfferUp

OfferUp is a mobile marketplace which was founded in 2011 as a competitor to Craigslist. It differentiated itself with its mobile app and allows users to upload pictures of the stuff they sell and also rate buyers and sellers. OfferUp is frequently named one of the best places to sell used stuff because the user interface is visually appealing and easy to use. The app is intuitive and supports large pictures optimized for smartphones and supports infinite scroll, making it easy to browse items for sale.

Key Features:

  • Selling – You can list items for sale. For each item you list, you can view item performance across weeks and mark items as sold.
  • Buying – You can browse items for sale as well as search for items and contact sellers to buy them. You can filter items by price or pickup or shipping and mark items as favorite and share listings.
  • Location based browsing – This feature allows you to browse items being sold closest to you and also search for items nationwide.
  • Instant messaging – You can instantly message sellers and negotiate the price, time and location to meet them.
  • User Profile – This allows you to set your profile and view other people’s profiles including ratings, response times and the authenticity of their profile.
  • User Ratings – This feature allows you to rate your sellers and buyers giving users an idea of their past transaction history.
  • TruYou – This feature allows you to confirm your identity with an ID, Facebook profile, email and phone number, increasing the authenticity of the profile.
  • Shipping – You can shop for items that have shipping availability and get them delivered to your doorstep.
  • Sell faster – This feature lets you promote your listing. You can choose to promote for 1 day, 3 days or use the Promote Plus for more than 3 days.

Pricing: OfferUp is free to download and use. The 1-day promotion is priced at $2.99, the 3-day promotion is priced at $7.99 and the Promote Plus is priced at $19.99 per month after a free 3-day trial period.

Platforms: OfferUp is available for the web, iPhone and iPad and for Android devices.

2. Letgo

Letgo is another popular mobile marketplace, which is used for buying and selling used goods. It was launched in 2015 as a competition to the traditional online marketplaces such as eBay and Craigslist and has more than 100 million downloads. OfferUp announce that it would be acquiring in March 2020.

The Best Apps to Sell Used Stuff Online

Key Features:

  • Selling – Sellers can list items for sale and view statistics such as how many people viewed your item as well as the number of people that marked them as favorite. You can also mark items as sold once they are no longer available for sale.
  • Buying – Buyers can browse items for sale as well as search for items and contact sellers to buy them. You can filter and sort items based on different criteria, as well as mark items as favorites and share listings.
  • Location based browsing – The goods are displayed based on the geolocation of the buyers. You can also search for items in locations that are farther from you.
  • In app chat – This feature allows sellers and buyers to contact each other and negotiate the price and set up a time and location to meet.
  • User Profile – This feature enables you to set up your profile and a short note about yourself. You can view other people’s profiles, past items sold, ratings and the authenticity of their profile.
  • User Reviews – This feature allows you to review sellers and buyers and transactions.
  • Verification – This feature allows you to improve your verification score. You can also send them a verification request to other users to verify their profile.
  • Bumping – You can purchase a 1-day, 3-day or 7-day bump to boost your item to the top of users’ feed for the number of days you choose to purchase.

Pricing: Letgo is free to download and use. The 1-day bump is $2.99, the 3-day bump is $5.99 and you can purchase the 7-day bump for $11.99.

Platforms: Letgo is available for the Web, iPhone and iPad and for Android devices.

3. 5miles

5 miles was started in 2014, as a mobile marketplace to buy or sell from people locally. It was started with the goal of providing a easy to use platform free from spam, and make it simple for users to buy or sell. The app has more than 14 million users and is growing rapidly.

The Best Apps to Sell Used Stuff Online

Key Features:

  • Selling – Listing items for sale is very easy. You just have to upload a photograph of your item and select the category, write a short description and condition of the item, list a price and post it. You can list items for sale. For each item you list, you can view statistics such as how many people viewed your item as well as the number of people that marked them as favorite. You can also mark items as sold once they are no longer available for sale.
  • Buying – You can browse items for sale as well as search for items and contact sellers to buy them. You can filter and sort items based on different criteria, as well as mark items as favorites and share listings.
  • Location based browsing – The items listed for sale are displayed in the order of the location closest to the buyer. You can also search for items in locations that are farther from you.
  • In app chat – This feature allows sellers and buyers to contact each other and negotiate the price and set up a time and location to meet.
  • User Profile – You can set up your profile with your name and photo. You can also set up Shop details, including the name and description of your shop. This feature allows you to verify your identity using email and Facebook, which will get displayed on your profile. While buying items, you can view the profile of the seller, their ratings, their listings and items already sold by them.
  • User Reviews – This feature allows you to review sellers and buyers and transactions.
  • Featured listings – You can purchase featured 3-day, 7-day or 30-day listings to boost your item to the top of users’ feed for the number of days you choose to purchase.
  • Dash – This feature allows you to bid on items that are auctioned.

Pricing: 5miles is free to download and use. The 3-day featured listing is $3.99, the 7-day featured listing is $5.99 and you can purchase the 30-day featured listing subscription for $29.99.

Platforms: 5miles is available for the Web, iPhone and iPad and for Android devices.

4. ThredUp

ThredUp, which was started in 2009 is an online thrift store where you can buy and sell high-quality secondhand clothes and accessories in your favorite brands. It is a B2C (business to customer) marketplace, which means ThredUp acts as a middleman between the buyer and seller.

The Best Apps to Sell Used Stuff Online

Key Features:

  • Selling – To sell items all you have to do is order a clean out kit and fill it up with high quality items from any brand and drop it off at FedEx or USPS. ThredUp takes care of inspecting, professionally photographing, listing with detailed product descriptions and shipping your items with proper packaging. You will get paid for items when they sell. ThredUp accepts items that have no signs of wear and damage or alterations. You can opt to have these items returned to you for a fee or opt to donate the items which are not accepted.
  • Buying – You can browse clothes or accessories in different categories for sale or choose from brands. All you have to do is select the size and checkout. You can also mark items as favorites.

Pricing: Thredup is free to download and use.

Platforms: ThredUp is available for the Web, iPhone and iPad and for Android devices.

5. Poshmark

Poshmark founded in 2011, is another marketplace where you can buy and sell new or used clothing, shoes, and accessories.

The Best Apps to Sell Used Stuff Online

Key Features:

  • Selling – Listing an item is fairly simple. All you have to do is click a picture of the item and select the category, quantity, size, original price and listing price. Poshmark provides sellers with a prepaid shipping through the Poshmark app.
  • Buying – You can browse through the listings, mark them as favorite or select a listing, enter the payment method and checkout. On completion of the purchase, the seller has seven days to package and ship the item. The shipping is paid for by the buyer.

Pricing: Poshmark is free to download and use.

Platforms: Poshmark is available for the Web, iPhone and iPad and for Android devices.


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