Declutter and Profit: Top Apps to Sell Your Stuff
If you're looking for an easy way to make some extra cash or simply want to embrace a more minimal lifestyle, have you considered doing a closet clean out and selling your stuff on selling apps?
Selling apps are a popular platform for regular people to sell items that no longer have a place in their homes. You can sell everything from electronics and furniture to vintage items on a local selling app.
In this blog post, we'll walk you through how to choose the best apps for selling, how to be successful on selling apps, and how to stay safe and secure. Let's dig in!
Choosing From the Best Apps to Sell Stuff
There’s a myriad of selling apps for you to choose from. Here's how to choose which app to sell your stuff is the best for you.
First, compare selling fees – some apps ask you to pay an insertion fee, and other apps will take a transaction fee of your final sale price because you sold it using the app.
Next, consider shipping costs – some apps will cover the cost of shipping and will print a free shipping label for your parcel. Others, however, require you to print a shipping label and cover any shipping cost.
It's also important to consider how you'll get paid. Will you get paid through a direct deposit or a third-party payment option like PayPal? Make sure you're familiar with this information before you set out to make some extra cash!
Finally, check out app reviews to see what other users are saying.
Best Apps to Sell Stuff
eBay
- Available on iOS, Android, and desktop.
The first selling app on this list needs no introduction. eBay is an American multinational e-commerce company that has been around since 1995. It's one of the best apps to sell your stuff because it's open in more than 190 countries, meaning making a sale will be as easy as pie.
What sets eBay apart from other selling apps is that you can either sell something for a concrete selling price or you can set up an auction, where you decide the lowest price you're willing to accept.
eBay has a fee structure of an insertion fee and a final value fee. If you upload more than 250 listings in a month, you'll have to pay to upload your listing ($0.35 per listing) and then pay a percentage of the selling price after a successful sale.
Poshmark
- Available on iOS, Android, and desktop.
Poshmark is one of the most popular apps for selling new and secondhand fashion, home goods, and electronics. This selling app has over 80 million users, with over 200 million available listings. When you sell something, Poshmark provides a prepaid shipping label ready to be put on the box, making the selling process much easier.
The platform charges you a $2.95 fee when your items sold are less than $15. If the listing price is more than $15, there’s a 20% fee, meaning you get to keep 80% of the profit.
Poshmark hosts many "Posh parties," online shopping events for you and your friends to shop together. There are many party themes, meaning you'll have no problem finding anything you need, from electronics to a lovely handbag!
Facebook Marketplace
- Available on iOS, Android, and desktop.
Facebook Marketplace is a great online marketplace on the Facebook app. It's an easy-to-use app because you can reach potential buyers through direct messages without selling fees.
You can sell stuff locally or find interested buyers from further away, and all you have to do is figure out shipping – if you have to ship the parcel, you'll have to print the shipping labels and then figure out who'll cover the shipping costs – you or the potential buyers.
With Facebook Marketplace, you can sell virtually anything from clothing and home décor to cars and used appliances with free listings. It's up to you how you receive payment, meaning you can receive money straight to your bank account or take cash. You could even exchange it for something!
Etsy
- Available on iOS, Android, and desktop.
Etsy is the best app to sell handmade goodies, such as arts and crafts projects or unique, vintage pieces. It's a global marketplace where you can sell locally and internationally to millions of potential buyers.
The only downside to Etsy is the fees. There's a listing fee, a transaction fee, and a payment processing fee. The listing fee is $0.20. Once an item sells, you have to pay a transaction fee of 6.5% on items sold. If you use Etsy's payment system, you must also pay a small flat fee.
If you enjoy a fun do-it-yourself project and don't want to stuff your house with the things you made, Etsy is one of the best apps to sell your art and make extra money!
Vestiaire Collective
- Available on iOS, Android, and desktop.
Vestiaire Collective is the leading global online marketplace for luxury pre-loved fashion. Their experts will inspect and approve your item, package it, and ship it out. Once your item sells, they'll send you a prepaid shipping label to ship your item.
If you're selling something for $80-$1,300, there’s a selling fee of 15%. On items below $80, there’s a fixed fee of $12. Moreover, there's a payment processing fee of 3%, which covers the external processing costs of the transaction.
For sales under $80, you must pay a flat processing fee of $3.3. Vestiaire Collective is best for more expensive sales, as their system will only approve listing for a minimum of $18.
ThredUP
- Available on iOS, Android, and desktop.
ThredUP is an online consignment and thrift store for all your clothing and accessories needs. They're also strong supporters of sustainability, promoting slow fashion.
This selling app is an excellent option if you have a closet full of stuff you never wear but are too lazy to reorganize. ThreadUP offers a "Closet Clean Out" service, where they send you a big box, you stuff it full of the clothes you don't wear, and then ship it out.
Their workers will inspect the package, take photos, and list them on their website. This means you won't have to deal with the hassle of figuring out the selling process, let alone caring for things like a shipping label. ThredUP will either pay you cash or provide in-store credit to spend!
5miles
- Available on iOS, Android, and desktop.
5miles sells any large and bulky item locally using your phone's location services to connect you with local buyers. You can use the 5miles app to sell anything from clothing and home décor pieces to cars, electronics, and household appliances.
5miles is also free for most sellers because it makes money by charging companies participating in large-scale transactions, like car dealerships. If you want to get rid of something and don't think you'll be able to sell it, 5miles also offers a donation option, where you just give away stuff.
The buyers pay, and money reaches your bank account immediately for local sales, but you'll have to wait for your direct deposit if your item has to be shipped somewhere.
OfferUp
- Available on iOS, Android, and desktop.
OfferUP is a great app that connects you with local buyers so you can sell items locally. OfferUP allows you to sell stuff online with listings for everything from art to electronics. With OfferUp, you're allowed a specific amount of free listings monthly and pay a listing fee if you exceed it.
The number changes depending on the category of the listing. For instance, if you’re listing a car or a truck, you only get one free listing a month. If you’re listing jewelry, you get up to 25 free listings.
You’re also responsible for the final value fee when you ship an item. This is nearly 13% of the final price, with a minimum fee of $1.99. This fee is automatically deducted from the final sale price. If there are no issues with shipping, you can expect payment within five business days.
DeCluttr
- Available on iOS, Android, and desktop.
DeCluttr is the best app for your used electronics. It's a great app to sell and trade used electronics, from iPhones to laptops, smartwatches, and video game consoles.
After you put up a listing, DeCluttr will add a suggested price based on the condition of the thing you're selling. If you're satisfied with their offer, the selling app will send you a prepaid shipping label to send the item to DeCluttr. And if you're not okay with their offer, they'll return your item.
Once Decluttr receives your item, their experts will examine it and pay you. You can get paid through a bank deposit or PayPal. Direct deposit usually takes three business days, and PayPal typically clears in 24 hours.
Tips for Successful Selling
Here's what you should know if you want to make some extra cash when you sell items successfully.
- Upload high-quality photos: the buyer has access to only a few pictures before deciding to buy something, so make sure the images are clear, and the item you're selling is clearly visible.
- Be kind: anyone who has worked in retail or customer service will tell you that kindness can make or break a situation. Be friendly to your potential buyers, answer their questions, and try to respond quickly.
- Be flexible: whether it's related to payment options or delivery of items, it's essential to be flexible when selling something. Offer other payment options apart from a direct deposit and offer to drop off your items if your buyer lives nearby.
- Try a few selling apps: don't pick a single app and stick to it. If you want to maximize your chances of a successful sale, list your items in multiple selling apps, especially if they don't have any listing fees.
Safety and Security When Selling Stuff Online
Staying safe online is essential no matter what you're doing online, and your selling app isn't an exception. Here are a few tips to stay safe on your local selling app.
- Don't offer pick-up at your house. Instead, suggest meeting and giving away the item in a public location, like a shopping mall, a park, or a coffee shop.
- Don't ship out your items until you're sure you'll get paid.
- Don't give away too much personal information up front, including personal or banking details.
Overview of the Best Apps for Selling Your Things
- Best for electronics: Decluttr
- Best for getting rid of clothes in bulk: ThredUp
- Best for luxury items: Vestiaire Collective
- Best for flexible selling: eBay
- Best for furniture: 5miles
- Best for selling items locally: OfferUp
- Best to sell clothes: Poshmark
- Best for handmade and vintage items: Etsy
Other Ways to Get Rid of Unwanted Items
If you're still not convinced that selling stuff online is simple and easy, there are some types of local sales to get rid of unwanted items by selling things in person. Here are a few of them:
- Garage sale: wait for a sunny day, open your front yard to potential buyers, and enjoy the in-person selling process. If you sell something, you'll receive instant pay and won't have to pay any shipping costs.
- Flea market: this seasonal shopping event is an excellent way for local communities to come together and sell items locally without the hassle of shipping fees or service fees. Stay in touch with your community, and take advantage of the next flea market in your town!
- Car boot sale: another great way to sell your pre-loved items in person. Instead of an online marketplace, people gather in a large parking lot, open up their car boots, and display what they're selling there. The buyer pays for the item sold, and everything else is completely free.
Sell Stuff Online Today
Starting your year in a clutter-free home with a full wallet is a surefire way to have a great 2024. Look over the apps on this list, choose the best app, and start selling!
It doesn't matter if it's a local selling app with a service fee or an international app with listing fees and a payment processing fee; there's an app out there for everyone.
And while waiting for those orders to start coming in, why don't you check out Honeygain? It's the first-ever app that'll pay you for simply sharing your unused internet connection! Simply download Honeygain, set up an account, and make even more money while decluttering your home!