The world of online reselling is booming, offering a powerful way to declutter your closet, start a side hustle, or even build a full-time business. Two of the biggest names in the game are Depop and eBay. While both are marketplaces for buying and selling, they cater to different audiences and offer vastly different experiences. So, when it comes to selling on depop vs ebay, which platform is the right choice for your items and your selling style?
This comprehensive guide will break down the ebay vs depop debate. We’ll explore the unique features, target audiences, fee structures, and the pros and cons of each platform to help you decide: is it better to sell on ebay or depop for your specific needs?
Table of Contents
- What is eBay? An E-commerce Giant
- What is Depop? The Social Marketplace
- Head-to-Head: A Direct Comparison
- Pros and Cons of Selling on eBay
- Pros and Cons of Selling on Depop
- The Verdict: Which is Better, Depop or eBay?
- Frequently Asked Questions
What is eBay? An E-commerce Giant
Founded in 1995, eBay is one of the original pioneers of e-commerce. It has evolved into a massive global marketplace connecting millions of sellers and buyers in over 190 markets. With approximately 134 million active buyers worldwide and billions of live listings, its scale is unparalleled.
eBay’s philosophy is empowering its customers. The platform offers sellers a way to grow a business with a low barrier to entry, stating, "We never compete with our sellers. We win when our sellers succeed." This ethos is backed by powerful technology and a suite of tools designed to help you manage inventory, track sales, and build your brand.
You can sell almost anything on eBay, from homemade goods to brand-new products and pre-owned items. Its vast categories span from fashion and electronics to collectibles, auto parts, and industrial equipment. This makes ebay depop a common comparison, but eBay’s scope is far broader.
How Selling on eBay Works
- Account Setup: To start, you create a seller account, which involves a verification process where you link a checking account for payouts.
- Creating a Listing: You can list items using AI-powered tools that help with descriptions and pricing based on recent sales of similar items. You’ll add a standout title, high-quality photos, and select a purchase format—either a classic Auction or a fixed-price Buy It Now listing.
- Shipping: eBay provides shipping recommendations and allows you to print discounted labels directly on the platform. You can also offer local pickup for buyers in your area. For global sales, the eBay International Shipping program simplifies the process by letting you ship to a domestic hub, after which eBay handles all customs and international logistics.
- Getting Paid: Once a buyer’s payment is confirmed, payouts are sent directly to your bank account, typically within 1-3 business days after initiation.
- Seller Tools: For those looking to grow, the Seller Hub is a free, centralized dashboard to manage your business. You can track performance, manage listings and orders, and access powerful marketing and advertising tools. For even more benefits like lower fees and a customizable storefront, you can subscribe to an eBay Store.
What is Depop? The Social Marketplace
So, what is depop? Launched in 2011, Depop is a fashion-focused, mobile-first marketplace that blends e-commerce with the feel of a social media platform. Its aesthetic and user experience are often compared to Instagram, emphasizing visuals, personal style, and community interaction. The platform’s primary audience is Gen Z and millennials, making it a hotspot for vintage clothing, streetwear, Y2K fashion, and unique, one-of-a-kind pieces. Many people wonder, is depop like ebay? In function, yes, but in culture and user base, it’s quite different.
For those considering the platform, questions like "is selling on depop worth it?" and "is depop safe?" are common. The platform has a robust user base and has become a go-to for fashion resellers. How does depop work? Sellers create a "shop" that functions like a social media profile, where they list items with photos (often modeled), descriptions, and hashtags. Buyers can follow shops, "like" items, and message sellers directly to ask questions or negotiate prices.
How Does Selling on Depop Work?
- Set Up Your Shop: You download the app and create a profile, linking your bank account or PayPal for payments.
- List Your Item: Listing is done through the app. You take up to four photos and one video, write a description, add relevant hashtags, and set your price. The visual presentation is key.
- The Sale: When an item sells, you’ll receive a notification. You’re then responsible for packing and shipping the item to the buyer. Depop offers integrated shipping options, or you can handle it yourself.
- Getting Paid: How does depop payments work? Through Depop Payments, sellers receive money directly into their bank account after a sale is made, though the payout timing can vary.
Many potential sellers read depop reviews to gauge its effectiveness. The consensus is that it’s a fantastic platform for specific fashion niches, but success often depends on curating a strong aesthetic and actively engaging with the community.
Head-to-Head: A Direct Comparison
To truly understand the difference between depop and ebay, let’s compare them across key areas for sellers.
| Feature | eBay | Depop |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Audience | Broad and diverse; all ages and interests. Strong base for collectors, hobbyists, and bargain hunters. | Primarily Gen Z and millennials (under 30). Fashion-forward, trend-conscious, and seeking unique or vintage styles. |
| Best-Selling Items | Virtually everything: electronics, collectibles, auto parts, new & used clothing, home goods, etc. | Vintage and secondhand clothing, streetwear, designer items, handmade jewelry, and Y2K aesthetic fashion. What sells best on depop 2025 will likely continue this trend. |
| User Interface | Traditional e-commerce website and app. Robust, data-driven, and feature-rich with tools like Seller Hub. | Mobile-first, social media-style interface. Visually driven, with "likes," comments, and follower counts. |
| Listing Style | More formal. Focus on clear, well-lit product photos (white backgrounds are encouraged), detailed specs, and accurate descriptions. | Casual and aesthetic-focused. Modeled photos, creative flat lays, and styled shots perform well. Hashtags are crucial for discovery. |
| Selling Formats | Auction-style and fixed-price (Buy It Now). Allows for Best Offer negotiations on fixed-price listings. | Fixed-price only. Buyers can message sellers to negotiate, but there is no formal offer system built into the listing itself. |
| Seller & Buyer Protection | eBay Money Back Guarantee is very robust, protecting buyers if an item doesn’t arrive or isn’t as described. Seller Protections are in place to safeguard against fraudulent claims and abusive buyers. | Depop Protection offers similar coverage for buyers and sellers through its dispute resolution process, provided transactions occur within the app. Some sellers ask, "is ebay safer than depop?" Both have strong systems, but eBay’s has been established for much longer. |
| International Reach | Massive. Sellers can easily reach buyers in over 190 countries, especially with the streamlined eBay International Shipping program. | Primarily focused on the US, UK, and Australia, though international shipping is possible. It’s generally less seamless for sellers than eBay’s global programs. |
eBay vs Depop Fees: A Closer Look
Understanding the cost is crucial. So, does ebay or depop take more money? It depends on the item’s final sale price and category.
-
eBay Fees:
- Insertion Fee: You get up to 250 free listings per month. After that, it’s typically $0.35 per listing.
- Final Value Fee: Generally 10-15% of the total sale amount (including shipping and sales tax). This percentage can be lower in certain categories, especially for sellers with an eBay Store subscription. For example, athletic shoes over $150 have an 8% fee, and handbags over $2,000 have a 9% fee for Starter Store subscribers.
-
Depop Fees:
- Commission Fee: Depop charges a flat 10% fee on the total transaction amount (including shipping).
- Transaction Fee: A payment processing fee is also applied by Depop Payments or PayPal. This varies by region but is typically around 2.9% + $0.30 in the US.
When comparing depop fees vs ebay, Depop’s structure is simpler, but eBay’s can be cheaper for certain high-value items or for sellers with a Store subscription. For most standard clothing sales, the depop vs ebay fees are quite competitive.
Pros and Cons of Selling on eBay
Pros of Selling on eBay
- Massive Audience: Access to 134 million buyers globally means more potential eyes on your items.
- Sell Anything: You’re not limited to fashion. You can sell electronics, collectibles, home goods, and almost anything else.
- Powerful Seller Tools: Seller Hub provides unparalleled data, insights, and management tools to help you optimize your business and grow.
- Flexible Selling Formats: The choice between Auction and Buy It Now gives you control over your sales strategy. Auctions can create bidding wars and drive up prices for in-demand items.
- Robust Global Shipping Program: The eBay International Shipping program makes selling overseas incredibly simple and protects you from many of the risks.
- Strong Seller Protections: eBay has well-defined policies to protect sellers from things like false "item not as described" claims and abusive buyers.
Cons of Selling on eBay
- Complex Fee Structure: While often competitive, eBay’s fees can be confusing with different percentages for various categories and tiers.
- Higher Competition: With billions of listings, it can be harder to stand out from the crowd without using promotional tools.
- Less "Community" Feel: While there are seller forums, the platform is more transactional and less focused on social interaction and brand building than Depop.
Pros and Cons of Selling on Depop
Pros of Selling on Depop
- Targeted, Engaged Audience: If you’re selling vintage or trendy fashion, your items are in front of the exact people who want to buy them. Is depop good for selling clothes? Absolutely, it’s what it was built for.
- Simple and Visual: The app is intuitive and easy to use. The social, visual format allows for creative brand expression.
- Community and Engagement: Building a following can lead to repeat customers. The platform encourages interaction, which can foster loyalty.
- Straightforward Fees: The 10% commission plus payment processing fee is easy to understand and calculate.
Cons of Selling on Depop
- Niche Market: If your items don’t fit the vintage, streetwear, or trendy aesthetic, they may not sell well.
- Requires Active Engagement: Success often requires being active on the app—refreshing listings, responding to messages quickly, and engaging with followers. It’s less of a "set it and forget it" platform.
- Seller-Managed Shipping: While Depop offers label integration, sellers are generally more involved in the shipping process, especially for international orders.
- Potential for Scams: Like any platform, users ask, "can you get scammed on depop?" While Depop Protection exists, sellers should always keep transactions within the app to remain protected.
The Verdict: Which is Better, Depop or eBay?
So, after all this, should i sell on ebay or depop? The best platform for you depends entirely on what you’re selling and who you’re selling to.
You should sell on eBay if:
- You sell a wide variety of items beyond just fashion.
- You want to reach the largest possible global audience.
- You want access to powerful, data-driven tools to scale your business.
- You have rare or collectible items that would benefit from an auction format.
- You prefer a more straightforward, transactional selling process.
You should sell on Depop if:
- You specialize in vintage clothing, streetwear, Y2K fashion, or unique, trendy styles.
- Your target audience is Gen Z and young millennials.
- You enjoy the social, community-driven aspect of selling and want to build a brand.
- You prefer a simple, mobile-first app experience.
- Your photography and styling skills are strong.
Ultimately, the debate of ebay or depop doesn’t have to be an either/or choice. Many successful resellers use both platforms, cross-listing items to maximize their reach and leveraging the unique strengths of each marketplace.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Depop a legit site?
Yes, Depop is a legitimate and popular online marketplace with millions of users worldwide. It has a buyer and seller protection policy in place to help resolve disputes. Many sellers build successful businesses on the platform, and reading a depop review or two from trusted sources like depop trustpilot can offer more user insights.
Does Depop or eBay have higher fees?
This is a key question in the depop vs ebay comparison. It depends. Depop’s fees are a flat 10% plus a payment processing fee. eBay’s fees range from around 8% to 15% depending on the category and your Store level. For many clothing items, the fees are comparable, but for higher-priced items or items in categories with lower fees on eBay, eBay can be cheaper.
Is Depop better than eBay for clothes?
It depends on the type of clothes. Is depop better than ebay for clothes that are vintage, trendy, or appeal to a younger audience? Generally, yes. For designer brands, everyday wear, or plus-size clothing that appeals to a broader demographic, eBay’s massive audience might be more effective. The question of do clothes sell better on ebay or depop is all about matching the garment to the right audience.
What does Depop charge to sell?
What does depop take from sales is a common query. Depop charges a 10% commission on the total sale price (including shipping) plus a standard transaction fee for payment processing (e.g., ~2.9% + $0.30 in the US). Many wonder, does depop have seller fees besides this? No, there are no listing fees or subscription fees.
Is it better to sell on eBay or Depop for a beginner?
For a beginner focused solely on trendy fashion and comfortable with a social media-style interface, Depop can be very straightforward. For a beginner wanting to sell a variety of items and learn the fundamentals of e-commerce with powerful tools at their disposal, eBay is an excellent choice. Both platforms have resources to help new sellers get started. Some community discussions on selling on ebay vs depop reddit can offer peer perspectives.
