Selling your clothes online is now a well-known way of making a little extra cash while doing your bit for the planet, and Vinted has quickly become the go-to place to do it. But as demand for selling on Vinted continues to grow, the platform has become increasingly saturated, meaning your items are now competing with millions of others for a potential buyer.
But we're here to show you another way. Vinted isn't the only place where you can quickly sell clothes online and make a little extra cash.
In this blog we're going to show you seven lesser known alternatives to Vinted that you can rely on for your next wardrobe clear out. If you're looking for a Vinted alternative for buying second hand clothes online instead of selling, take a read over this blog instead.
Why should we sell our unwanted clothes online?
By extending the life of a clothing item by just nine months, you can reduce the carbon, energy and water footprint of that item by up to 20%. Through selling your clothes online you’re making your unwanted clothes available for someone else to wear which in turn reduces the need for new clothing production. Plus, depending on which method of selling your clothes online you choose, you may make a little extra cash too, which you can then spend on more second hand clothing!
Alternatives to Vinted No.1: Sunshine Thrift
Best known for: Convenience, quickly getting rid of lots of items, friendly service
One of the reasons many people move away from Vinted for selling their clothes online is the extra time, hassle and inconvenience that comes with it, and that's where Sunshine Thrift steps in.
Through their Get Rid service, you can trade in your unwanted clothes in exchange for a choice of three payment methods. No listing, no rude buyers and no waiting for your items to sell. Within 72 hours of your items arriving with Sunshine Thrift, which is completely free by the way, you'll be paid.
The catch? They don't accept absolutely everything. Instead, they have a set of guidelines that your items must meet to be accepted through Get Rid, including being in excellent condition with no visible signs of previous wear.
Get paid in 72 hours with Sunshine Thrift
Alternatives to Vinted No.2: Zara Pre-owned
Best known for: Simplicity, professional-looking listings, Zara specialists
The lesser-known side hustle from Zara is its circular fashion programme, Zara Pre-Owned. Through Zara Pre-Owned you can sell your unwanted Zara clothing completely free of charge. That's right, there are zero selling fees.
You have control over the description and photos on your listing, although these do need to be approved by the Zara team. Once your item sells, Zara sends you a postage label to attach to your parcel and off it goes. Through Zara Pre-Owned they also offer repairs for your Zara clothing if it needs a little extra love, helping you keep it in circulation for even longer. The catch? Your item must be from Zara and in wearable condition.
Alternatives to Vinted No.3: Etsy
Best known for: Vintage clothing, higher price points, specialist buyers
If you didn't already know, Etsy is a great place to sell all things vintage, including clothing, footwear and accessories. If you have pieces in your wardrobe that are over 20 years old and you want to put them in front of buyers who genuinely appreciate vintage fashion, Etsy is well worth trying. Despite the common misconception, you don't need to be a registered business to sell on Etsy. The catch? Your items must be genuine vintage and there are selling fees of approximately 6.5%, plus a £0.15 listing fee.
Alternatives to Vinted No.4: SweetPeaPreloved
Best known for: Quality brands, choice of selling options, personal service
If you're looking to clear out your wardrobe while supporting a small business at the same time, then SweetPeaPreloved is well worth considering. Known for their huge selection of second hand women's clothing, footwear and accessories, they also buy your unwanted items and find them a new home.
You can choose between selling your items for an agreed price or using their consignment service, where you'll receive 50% of the final sale price. Even better, if you're simply looking for an easy and quick way to clear out your wardrobe without the hassle, they also accept donations. The catch? As with other smaller non-marketplace platforms, your items must meet their condition and brand standards.
Alternatives to Vinted No.5: Thrift+
Best known for: Accepting a wide range of brands, men's and women's clothing, easy wardrobe clear-outs
Thrift+ believes in keeping your unwanted clothes in circulation rather than sending them for recycling. That's why they've created a quick and easy way to clear out your wardrobe. Simply order a bag online for £1.50 (although they sometimes run offers where this fee is waived), fill it with your unwanted clothes and send it back.
They then sort through your items, photograph and price them before adding them to their website, with your approval first. The catch? When your items sell, there are fees to pay: 90% on items that sell for £4.99 or less, 80% on items sold between £5 and £49.99, and 60% on items sold for over £50.
Alternatives to Vinted No.6: eBay
Best known for: Lower buyer protection fees, human customer service, the OG marketplace
Whilst you may be looking for an alternative to Vinted because you want to move away from the online marketplace format, hear us out on this one. eBay is the original marketplace. Over the years it has built a reputable and professional platform that has outlived many competitors who have come and gone.
In the past, private sellers may have been put off by eBay's listing and selling fees. However, in recent years eBay has removed selling fees for private sellers (excluding vehicles) and instead passed the cost on to buyers, just like Vinted. The difference is that eBay's buyer protection fee is generally lower than Vinted's, particularly on higher-priced items, making it an attractive option for buyers.
The catch? The platform is slightly more involved than Vinted, but it's worth taking the time to set up your account properly, especially if you're selling higher-value clothing.
Alternatives to Vinted No.7: Facebook Marketplace
Best known for: Free selling, local buyers, bulk selling
Again, another marketplace. But if you have a large quantity of clothing that you want gone in a flash, simply list it as one large bundle on Facebook Marketplace. No photographing dozens of individual items, no trips to the Post Office every day, just your wardrobe cleared out quickly. Plus, it's completely free to buy and sell. Better still, the buyer can collect directly from your home, meaning you don't even have to leave the house to make a bit of extra cash using this method.
This is something we're seeing more and more people do as clothing consumption continues to increase and Vinted becomes more difficult for sellers. The catch? It isn't ideal for selling individual items unless they're high value and in demand. It's also worth remembering that Facebook Marketplace in the UK only facilitates local collection rather than shipping, so your ideal buyer will need to be within a reasonable distance.
Final Thoughts
Whilst Vinted continues to grow across the UK and the rest of the world as the easy way to sell clothes online, there are plenty of alternative methods that may be better suited to the items you want to get rid of.
Speaking from our own experience, once you've decided you no longer want a particular item in your wardrobe, you usually want it gone quickly. With that in mind, our recommendation is to use a mix of the platforms above, depending on how many items you have and what you're selling.
It may take slightly more effort, but it could be the difference between selling your unwanted clothes quickly for a fair price or holding onto them for months without creating any extra cash or wardrobe space.
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