Selling on Depop vs. eBay

Selling on Depop vs. eBay: Pros, Cons, and Which Is Best for You?

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Deciding where to sell your pre-loved clothes and unique finds can be a challenge. Two of the biggest names in the online resale market are Depop and eBay, but they cater to vastly different audiences and operate in unique ways. Choosing the right platform can be the difference between a quick sale and a listing that gathers digital dust.

So, when it comes to the great depop vs ebay debate, which one is right for your side hustle? As a Depop expert, I’ll guide you through a detailed comparison of selling on depop vs ebay, covering everything from fees and audience to shipping and overall vibe. By the end, you’ll know exactly where to list your items for the best results.

Table of Contents

What Is Depop?

First, what is depop? Founded in 2011, Depop is a community-powered, circular fashion marketplace with a mission to make secondhand second nature. It functions like a social media app, blending an Instagram-style visual feed with an e-commerce platform. With over 43.5 million registered users, it’s a vibrant hub where people can buy, sell, and discover unique, affordable secondhand fashion.

The platform is particularly popular with a younger, style-conscious audience who are looking for vintage finds, streetwear, Y2K aesthetics, and items from cult brands. Depop’s focus is squarely on fashion, encouraging users to explore their personal style and participate in a more sustainable clothing cycle. Many depop seller reviews highlight the strong sense of community and the ease of listing items directly from your phone.

What Is eBay?

eBay is one of the original online marketplaces, launched in 1995. It’s a global e-commerce giant where you can buy and sell almost anything, from collectibles and electronics to vehicles and, of course, clothing. Unlike Depop’s niche focus, eBay caters to a massive, diverse audience of all ages.

Its selling model is famous for the auction-style listing, where buyers bid on an item, but sellers can also list products with a fixed "Buy It Now" price. For sellers, eBay offers a powerful platform with a global reach, but its interface and fee structure can be more complex than newer, more specialized apps.

Depop vs. eBay: A Head-to-Head Comparison

Let’s break down the key difference between depop and ebay to help you decide which platform aligns with your goals.

Target Audience & Niche

  • Depop: The audience is predominantly Gen Z and younger millennials. They are trend-aware and actively searching for specific aesthetics like Y2K, vintage, streetwear, and unique, one-of-a-kind pieces. If you’re selling items that fit these categories, you’re likely to find an eager audience. This answers the question of is depop or ebay better for selling clothes—if they’re trendy clothes, Depop often has the edge.
  • eBay: The audience is vast and varied, spanning all age groups and interests. While you can sell clothes, you’re competing with a much broader range of products. eBay is excellent for designer brands, rare collectibles, practical clothing, and items that appeal to a wider, less trend-focused demographic.

Seller Fees

This is one of the most critical factors for any seller. Does depop or ebay have higher fees? The answer has recently changed.

  • Depop: As of 2024, Depop has eliminated its 10% selling fee for sellers in the UK and US. This is a massive advantage. However, sellers are still responsible for payment processing fees and optional boosting fees.

    • Payment Processing Fee: Charged on the total transaction amount (item price + shipping).

      • In the US: 3.3% + $0.45
      • In the UK: 2.9% + £0.30
    • Boosting Fee: An optional 8% fee to increase your listing’s visibility in search results. You only pay this if the item sells through a click on the boosted tile.
  • eBay: eBay’s fee structure is more complex. It typically includes:

    • Insertion Fee: You get a certain number of free listings per month, but you may have to pay a small fee for each additional listing.
    • Final Value Fee: This is the main fee, calculated as a percentage of the total sale price (including shipping). For clothing, this is often around 12.9% + $0.30, but it can vary by category.
    • Optional Listing Upgrades: Fees for features like adding a subtitle or scheduling a listing.

The bottom line on depop fees vs ebay is that for most UK and US fashion sellers, Depop is now the cheaper platform due to the removal of its primary selling fee.

Listing Process

  • Depop: The listing process is designed to be fast, mobile-friendly, and intuitive. It uses an AI-powered system that can help generate descriptions and details from your photos, making it quick to get items live. You can add up to four photos and one video.
  • eBay: Listing on eBay is a more detailed process. There are many more fields and specifics to fill out, from item specifics like material and pattern to various shipping options. While this can be time-consuming, it also allows for more detailed, searchable listings that can attract serious buyers looking for specific attributes.

Shipping

  • Depop: The platform aims to simplify shipping. How does depop shipping work? Sellers can use "Depop Shipping," a service where the buyer pays for a prepaid, tracked shipping label (fulfilled by partners like USPS in the US and Evri in the UK). You receive a QR code or a printable label, making the process hassle-free. This directly answers who pays for shipping on depop: the buyer does, unless the seller chooses to offer free shipping. Sellers can also arrange their own shipping.
  • eBay: Shipping is more flexible but requires more management from the seller. You can set your own shipping rates, offer various services (economy, standard, expedited), use eBay’s calculated shipping tool, or offer local pickup. The responsibility is on you to accurately weigh your item and select the right service.

Platform Vibe & User Interaction

  • Depop: It’s a social marketplace. Buyers "like" items, follow shops, and message sellers to ask questions or negotiate. The platform encourages this interaction with built-in "Make Offer" and "Send Offer" features. Building a brand and a following is a key part of success.
  • eBay: The platform is more transactional. While buyers can message sellers, the interaction is typically focused on specific questions about an item rather than building a social connection. The auction format creates a competitive bidding environment, which is a different kind of user interaction altogether.

The Pros and Cons of Selling on Depop

Based on depop reviews and platform features, here’s a clear breakdown.

Pros:

  • ✅ No Selling Fees (UK/US): The biggest advantage is keeping more of your profit.
  • ✅ Niche, Engaged Audience: Perfect for vintage, streetwear, and trendy fashion. Buyers are actively looking for unique items.
  • ✅ Simple Listing Process: The AI-powered, mobile-first interface makes listing items quick and easy.
  • ✅ Social & Community-Focused: You can build a brand and a loyal following, which can lead to repeat customers.
  • ✅ Streamlined Shipping: "Depop Shipping" simplifies the process, with buyers covering the cost of a tracked label.

Cons:

  • ❌ Limited Audience: If your items aren’t trendy or vintage, they may not perform as well. Not ideal for general goods.
  • ❌ Negotiation is Expected: The "offer" culture means you may frequently sell items for less than the list price.
  • ❌ Competition in Popular Niches: Popular styles like Y2K fashion are highly competitive.

The Pros and Cons of Selling on eBay

Here’s how the e-commerce giant stacks up.

Pros:

  • ✅ Massive Global Audience: Unparalleled reach to buyers all over the world for almost any type of product.
  • ✅ Sell Almost Anything: You aren’t limited to fashion; electronics, collectibles, and household goods sell well.
  • ✅ Auction Format: Can drive up the price for in-demand or rare items.
  • ✅ Detailed Listings: The ability to add extensive item specifics can help serious buyers find exactly what they’re looking for.

Cons:

  • ❌ Higher Fees: The combination of insertion fees and final value fees can take a significant chunk of your profit. The ebay vs depop fees comparison clearly favors Depop for UK/US sellers.
  • ❌ Complex Interface: The listing process and seller dashboard can be overwhelming for beginners.
  • ❌ Less Community Vibe: The platform is highly transactional, making it harder to build a personal brand.
  • ❌ Shipping Management: You have more control, but also more responsibility for calculating costs and managing options.

The Verdict: Is It Better to Sell on eBay or Depop?

So, after comparing depop or ebay, which platform should you choose? The best choice depends entirely on what you’re selling and who you’re selling to.

➡️ Choose Depop if:

  • You sell trendy, vintage, Y2K, or unique fashion items.
  • Your target audience is Gen Z or young millennials.
  • You want a simple, mobile-first listing process.
  • You prefer a social, community-driven platform where you can build a brand.
  • You are in the UK or US and want to avoid high selling fees.

➡️ Choose eBay if:

  • You sell a wide variety of items, not just fashion.
  • You want to reach the largest possible global audience.
  • You have rare, collectible, or high-demand items that would benefit from an auction.
  • You are comfortable with a more traditional, detailed e-commerce interface and managing your own shipping logistics.

Many successful resellers use both platforms, cross-listing items to maximize their reach. The clear winner for selling on ebay vs depop for fashion is often Depop, especially for those just starting out.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Depop legit?
Yes, Depop is a completely legitimate and popular online marketplace. With millions of users and a parent company in Etsy, it’s a well-established platform. When you look at any depop review, you’ll find it’s a trusted space for circular fashion. Like any online marketplace, users should follow safety guidelines, but the platform itself is secure.

Is Depop safe?
Yes, is depop safe is a common question. Depop offers "Depop Protection" for both buyers and sellers for eligible transactions that occur within the app using the "BUY" button. This covers issues like items not arriving or being significantly not as described. To stay safe, always keep communication and payments inside the Depop app.

can you get scammed on depop?
While Depop has safety measures in place, can you get scammed on depop is a valid concern for any online platform. Scams typically happen when users agree to communicate or transact outside of the app. By staying on the platform and using the official "BUY" button, you are covered by Depop Protection, which significantly minimizes your risk.

How does depop work?
How does depop work is simple: it’s a social shopping app. Sellers list items by taking photos, writing a description, and setting a price. Buyers can browse their feed, search for specific items, like posts, and follow their favorite shops. When a buyer wants an item, they purchase it through the app using Depop Payments. The seller then ships the item to the buyer. It’s a straightforward process designed to be easy, which many depop reviews praise.

What is Depop and how does it work?
Depop is a fashion resale marketplace focused on unique and secondhand clothing, with a social media-like feel. Sellers create listings from their phones, and buyers discover items through a visual feed or by searching. The entire transaction, from payment to shipping label generation, is handled within the app to ensure user protection.

Do clothes sell better on eBay or Depop?
It depends on the clothes. Trendy, vintage, streetwear, and unique styles generally sell better on Depop because the audience is specifically looking for them. Designer brands, basics, or more generic clothing might do better on eBay due to its larger, more diverse audience. So, the answer to do clothes sell better on ebay or depop really comes down to style.

Is Depop better than eBay?
The question of whether is depop better than ebay is subjective. For selling fashionable, secondhand clothing to a younger audience with lower fees (in the US/UK), Depop is often better. For selling a wider variety of goods to a massive global audience, eBay is superior. Neither is universally "better"—they just serve different purposes. The ebay depop choice is personal.

How does depop payments work?
How does depop payments work is a key question for new sellers. It is Depop’s integrated payment system that allows sellers to accept a variety of payment methods, including credit/debit cards, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. When a sale is made, the money (minus fees) goes into your "Depop Balance." From there, it is automatically paid out to your connected bank account after the item is delivered.

What sells best on Depop 2025?
Looking ahead, what sells best on depop 2025 will likely continue to be vintage clothing (from the 70s, 80s, 90s, and 2000s), streetwear brands, unique handmade or upcycled items, and designer pieces. Authenticity and personal style are key, so items that help buyers create a unique look will always be in demand.

Is selling on Depop worth it?
For many, the answer to is selling on depop worth it is a resounding yes. With no selling fees in the US/UK, a simple listing process, and a targeted audience of eager fashion buyers, it’s an excellent platform to clear out your closet and make extra cash. The success seen in many selling on depop reviews confirms its potential.

Which is better depop or vinted?
This is another common comparison. Depop has a more curated, style-focused vibe and higher earning potential on trendy items. Vinted is known for having no seller fees at all (the buyer pays a protection fee) and is popular for everyday brands and bargain hunting. Depop is generally better for building a brand, while Vinted is great for quickly clearing out everyday clothes.

Which is better depop or poshmark?
Poshmark has a strong community aspect with "Posh Parties" and a focus on US and Canadian brands. Its fees are a flat 20% on sales over $15. Depop is more global, has a younger audience, and is now cheaper for sellers in the UK/US. The choice often comes down to brand focus and audience preference.