Each reselling platform attracts a different crowd. Poshmark is where fashion-conscious women browse during their lunch break. eBay is the massive marketplace where collectors search for exactly what they want. Depop is the quick-sale app where price matters most. Depop is the curated vintage shop where your photos better look good.
The real question is which platforms make sense for your inventory, your time, and how you want to run your business. No single marketplace works best for everything.
A vintage Levi's jacket might sell in hours on Depop but sit for months on eBay. That Nike running shirt could move twice as fast on Depop compared to Poshmark. Designer handbags? Totally different calculation.
This guide covers all four major platforms with actual numbers and honest trade-offs. You'll learn where to list what, and why.
The Case for Multi-Platform Selling
Most successful resellers use multiple marketplaces. There's a good reason for that.
Each platform has its own buyer pool. Poshmark skews toward women 25-45 who love fashion. Depop attracts Gen Z looking for unique vintage pieces. eBay has everyone from bargain hunters to serious collectors. Depop pulls a broad mix seeking deals on everyday items.
Listing on multiple platforms means you reach different people with different shopping habits and price expectations. That vintage band tee might find its buyer on Depop while the same listing sits untouched on Poshmark.
Sellers who list on 3+ platforms report 40-60% higher sales than single-platform sellers with similar inventory. The extra work pays off, but managing it efficiently matters.
Multi-platform selling has real challenges though: inventory management, different listing requirements, multiple shipping processes, and the mental drain of switching between apps. We'll cover strategies for handling this later.
Poshmark Deep Dive
Poshmark launched in 2011 as a social shopping platform for fashion. Picture Instagram crossed with eBay, complete with parties, sharing, and community features built into everything.
Fee Structure
Poshmark takes a flat 20% commission on sales over $15 and $2.95 on sales under $15. No listing fees, no extra payment processing fees. Simple math, even if the number stings.
That 20% is the highest among major platforms. On a $100 sale, Poshmark keeps $20. eBay would take roughly $13-15, and Depop/Depop around $10. Over a year of selling, that difference compounds into serious money.
Ideal Categories
- Women's clothing and accessories (this is Poshmark's wheelhouse)
- Designer and contemporary brands (Tory Burch, Coach, Kate Spade)
- Athletic and athleisure (Lululemon sells extremely well here)
- Mid-range fashion brands (Madewell, Anthropologie, J.Crew)
- Shoes, handbags, and jewelry
Who Buys on Poshmark
Poshmark's core demographic is women aged 25-45 with disposable income who enjoy shopping but want deals on brands they recognize. They know retail prices and expect 40-60% off original MSRP.
Buyers here are more patient and engaged. They'll follow your closet, like items, wait for offers, and ask questions. The social nature creates relationships that lead to repeat customers.
Unique Features
Posh Parties are themed virtual shopping events where you share listings to targeted audiences. A "Best in Shoes" party puts your heels in front of actual shoe shoppers. Strategic party sharing drives real traffic.
The offer system lets buyers submit offers and sellers send "Offer to Likers" discounts. This creates a negotiation culture where most items sell for 10-30% below listing price. Plan your pricing around that.
Shipping is simple: Poshmark provides a prepaid label for $7.67 (up to 5 lbs) regardless of where you're shipping within the US. No calculating costs, no surprises.
Poshmark Pros and Cons
- Pro: Strong community and repeat buyers
- Pro: Simplified shipping with prepaid labels
- Pro: No upfront listing fees
- Pro: Excellent for women's fashion and accessories
- Con: Highest commission at 20%
- Con: Requires active engagement (sharing, parties) to stay visible
- Con: Buyers expect negotiation and discounts
- Con: Limited categories outside fashion
eBay Deep Dive
eBay needs no introduction. The original online marketplace evolved from auction-only chaos into a legitimate retail platform with 182 million active buyers worldwide. It's the most established player with the broadest reach.
Fee Structure
eBay's fees are more complicated. The final value fee runs 13.25% for most clothing categories, though it can range from 12% to 15% depending on item type and your seller status. Add payment processing (around 2.9% + $0.30 via eBay's managed payments) and you're looking at roughly 13-15% total on most sales.
You get 250 free listings per month. Beyond that, it's $0.35 per listing. Store subscriptions ($4.95-$299.95/month) give you more free listings and lower final value fees. Worth considering once you're listing 100+ items monthly.
Ideal Categories
- Men's clothing (eBay has the strongest male buyer base)
- Vintage and rare items (collectors live on eBay)
- Shoes, especially sneakers and boots
- Electronics, home goods, and non-fashion items
- High-value designer pieces (authentication program helps)
- Bulk lots and wholesale quantities
Who Buys on eBay
eBay attracts everyone from deal-seekers to serious collectors. The demographic is broader and slightly older than other platforms. More men, more international buyers, more variety in what they're searching for.
Buyers here often know exactly what they want. They search by brand, size, and condition rather than browsing. Good SEO in your titles and item specifics matters more than social engagement.
Unique Features
Auctions vs. Buy It Now gives you pricing flexibility. Most resellers use Buy It Now for predictable income, but auctions still work for rare or hard-to-price items where you want the market to decide.
Global Shipping Program opens your listings to international buyers without the hassle of customs forms. eBay handles the international portion. You just ship to a US facility.
Promoted listings let you pay for visibility (1-20% of sale price if the item sells). The ROI varies wildly depending on competition in your niche.
eBay Pros and Cons
- Pro: Massive buyer pool (182M+ active buyers)
- Pro: Lower fees than Poshmark (13-15% vs 20%)
- Pro: Best platform for men's clothing and non-fashion
- Pro: International selling capabilities
- Pro: Flexibility with auctions and fixed pricing
- Con: More complex fee structure
- Con: Seller competition is fierce
- Con: You handle shipping yourself (more work)
- Con: Return policy tends to favor buyers
Depop Deep Dive
Depop launched in Japan in 2013 and hit the US market in 2014. It positions itself as the simple marketplace where you list anything, price it, and ship it. The platform handles 350,000+ listings daily across all categories.
Fee Structure
Depop charges a flat 10% selling fee plus 2.9% + $0.50 payment processing. That works out to roughly 13% total, though on items under $15, the flat $0.50 hits harder percentage-wise.
No listing fees. No monthly subscriptions. You only pay when something sells. This makes Depop good for testing prices and listing slower-moving inventory.
Ideal Categories
- Everyday mall brands (Gap, Old Navy, Target brands)
- Kids' and baby clothing
- Home goods, decor, and kitchen items
- Electronics and gaming
- Books, toys, and general merchandise
- Lower-priced items where Poshmark's 20% hurts
Who Buys on Depop
Depop buyers want deals on everyday items. They're less brand-focused than Poshmark shoppers and more price-sensitive. The typical buyer is searching for something specific at the lowest price, not browsing for fashion inspiration.
Transactions move faster with less back-and-forth. Buyers expect good value and won't pay fashion-platform premiums for common items.
Unique Features
Smart pricing suggests competitive prices based on similar sold items. It helps calibrate your expectations, especially for categories you don't know well.
Shipping is flexible: use Depop labels (calculated by weight) or ship on your own. Prepaid label options start around $4.99 for light items, making it cheaper than Poshmark for smaller shipments.
The interface is intentionally minimal. You can list in minutes. This simplicity attracts casual sellers but means less customization for power users.
Depop Pros and Cons
- Pro: Lower fees than Poshmark (roughly 13% vs 20%)
- Pro: Simple, fast listing process
- Pro: Works for any category, not just fashion
- Pro: Cheaper shipping for lighter items
- Pro: No ongoing engagement required
- Con: Less brand-focused buyers (harder to sell premium items)
- Con: More competition from casual sellers
- Con: Lower average sale prices
- Con: Less community engagement (no parties, less sharing culture)
Depop Deep Dive
Depop launched in 2011 but really gained US traction around 2019-2020. It's like Instagram meets a thrift store, with heavy emphasis on aesthetics, sustainability messaging, and Gen Z energy.
Fee Structure
Depop takes a flat 10% selling fee plus payment processing (around 3.3% in the US via Depop Payments). Total is roughly 13%, similar to Depop. No listing fees, no subscriptions.
The fee structure is simple, but Depop buyers often expect lower prices. That vintage band tee might sell for $35 on Depop versus $50 on eBay. Lower fees don't always mean more profit.
Ideal Categories
- Vintage clothing (1980s-2000s especially)
- Streetwear and hype brands (Supreme, Stussy, vintage Nike)
- Unique and one-of-a-kind pieces
- Y2K and retro aesthetics
- Handmade and upcycled fashion
- Trendy pieces that photograph well
Who Buys on Depop
Depop's audience is young. Over 90% of users are under 26. They're sustainability-conscious, trend-aware, and visually driven. They scroll Depop like Instagram, stopping on photos that catch their eye.
These buyers value uniqueness over brand names. A no-name vintage jacket with the right vibe outsells a boring designer piece. They're building a look, not collecting labels.
Unique Features
The social feed works like Instagram. Your shop has followers, listings appear in feeds, and visual appeal determines engagement. Good photography is essential here.
Depop leans hard into sustainability messaging. Buyers feel good about secondhand shopping, and sellers who embrace the eco-friendly angle often see better engagement.
The platform has a strong UK presence, so international sales happen naturally. US sellers often find UK buyers and vice versa.
Depop Pros and Cons
- Pro: Best platform for vintage and unique items
- Pro: Lower fees than Poshmark
- Pro: Engaged, passionate buyer community
- Pro: Great for building a brand/aesthetic
- Pro: International reach without extra work
- Con: Very young demographic (not ideal for all inventory)
- Con: Requires strong visual presentation
- Con: Lower price points expected
- Con: Algorithm favors active, aesthetically consistent sellers
- Con: Less suited for mainstream mall brands
Head-to-Head Comparison
Here are all four platforms compared on the metrics that actually matter.
Fee Comparison
On a $50 sale, here's what each platform keeps: Depop and Depop take roughly $6.50 each (about 13%). eBay takes $7-8 depending on category and payment processing. Poshmark takes $10 flat. On a $100 sale, that gap grows: Depop/Depop around $13, eBay around $14-15, Poshmark $20.
For sellers doing $1,000/month in sales, the fee difference between Poshmark and Depop is roughly $70/month or $840/year. That matters.
Audience Comparison
- Poshmark: Women 25-45, fashion-focused, brand-aware, expects deals
- eBay: Broadest demographic, strong male presence, collectors, international
- Depop: Deal-seekers across demographics, everyday items, price-sensitive
- Depop: Gen Z (90% under 26), vintage lovers, trend-focused, visually driven
Shipping Comparison
Poshmark uses a flat $7.67 prepaid label up to 5 lbs. Easy, but you pay the same whether shipping a scarf or a winter coat.
Depop offers weight-based prepaid labels starting around $4.99 for items under 1 lb. Better for lighter items, but more work estimating weights.
eBay and Depop let you handle shipping yourself or use their calculated rates. More control, potentially lower costs, but more complexity.
Seller Tools
Poshmark has the strongest community features: parties, sharing, offer tools. But "winning" at Poshmark means more work. The algorithm rewards active engagement.
eBay has the most powerful backend: detailed analytics, promoted listings, bulk editing, store customization. It's built for serious sellers but overwhelming for beginners.
Depop and Depop keep it simple. List, price, ship. Less powerful, but less demanding.
What Sells Best Where
Here's where to list specific inventory types based on platform strengths.
Designer and Luxury Items
Start with Poshmark for recognizable designer brands like Coach, Kate Spade, and Tory Burch. The audience knows these brands and pays fair prices. For high-end luxury (Chanel, Hermes, Louis Vuitton), eBay's authentication program adds buyer confidence.
Mall Brands and Basics
Depop beats Poshmark for Gap, Old Navy, and Target brands. The lower fees matter when you're selling $15 items, and Depop buyers expect less negotiation. Poshmark's 20% on a $15 sale leaves you with $12. Depop's 13% leaves you with $13.
Vintage Clothing
Depop first for anything 1990s-2000s with unique character. Cross-list to eBay for pre-1990s vintage where collectors search for specific items. Poshmark's vintage audience exists but is smaller.
Athletic and Activewear
Poshmark dominates athleisure, especially Lululemon. Women shopping for workout clothes check Poshmark first. eBay works for men's athletic wear and performance gear.
Men's Clothing
eBay is the clear leader for men's fashion. Poshmark has grown its men's section but still skews heavily female. Depop works for basics. Depop works for streetwear and vintage men's.
Accessories and Jewelry
Poshmark for fashion jewelry and brand-name accessories. eBay for fine jewelry, watches, and collectible accessories. Depop for quirky vintage pieces that photograph well.
Platform Selection by Seller Type
New Sellers
Start with one platform. Poshmark is forgiving for beginners with its simplified shipping and engaged community. Depop works if you have diverse inventory beyond fashion. Either will teach you the basics without being overwhelming.
Wait until you're comfortable managing 50+ listings before adding a second platform. Trying to learn four platforms at once leads to mistakes and burnout.
Fashion-Focused Sellers
Use Poshmark as your home base with Depop for vintage and trendy pieces. Cross-list to eBay for items that sit too long or don't fit the Poshmark demographic. This three-platform approach covers most fashion inventory without getting too complicated.
General Resellers
eBay and Depop give you the broadest category coverage. List fashion on both, add Poshmark specifically for women's brands, and Depop for vintage. You're managing four platforms, but your inventory gets maximum exposure.
High-Volume Sellers
All four platforms with cross-listing software (more on this below). At high volume, the extra sales from multi-platform exposure justify the management overhead. You're running a real business, and businesses don't limit their distribution channels.
Managing Multiple Platforms Efficiently
Multi-platform selling sounds good until you're juggling four apps, duplicate listings, and inventory confusion. Here's how to make it work.
Cross-Listing Tools
Tools like Vendoo, List Perfectly, and Crosslist let you create one listing and push it to multiple platforms. Most cost $20-50/month depending on features. The time saved pays for itself quickly if you're listing 50+ items monthly.
These tools also help with inventory sync. When an item sells on Poshmark, it automatically delists from Depop and eBay. No more overselling or explaining to frustrated buyers why their item is gone.
Inventory Sync Matters
The worst scenario: you sell the same vintage jacket on both Poshmark and eBay within an hour. Now you cancel one order, damage your seller metrics, and disappoint a buyer.
Good cross-listing tools handle this automatically. If you manage manually, check all platforms immediately after every sale. Set phone notifications for each app and treat inventory updates as urgent.
Time Management
Batch your work by platform. Monday might be Poshmark sharing day. Tuesday you optimize eBay listings. This reduces context-switching and helps you stay focused.
Or batch by task: list new inventory everywhere on Monday, respond to all messages across platforms in the evening, ship everything together in the morning. Find what rhythm fits your schedule.
Platform-Specific Optimization
Each platform rewards different behaviors. Poshmark wants engagement: share daily, attend parties. eBay cares about SEO and item specifics. Depop rewards consistent aesthetics and frequent posting. Depop just wants competitive prices.
Spend your optimization time proportionally. If 60% of your sales come from Poshmark, that's where most of your engagement time should go.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which platform has the lowest fees?
Depop and Depop both charge around 10% plus payment processing, working out to roughly 13% total. eBay is similar at 13-15% depending on category. Poshmark is the most expensive at 20% for sales over $15.
Can I list the same item on all four platforms?
Yes. Many sellers do exactly this. Just make sure to immediately delist from other platforms when something sells. Cross-listing tools can automate this.
Which platform sells items fastest?
Depends what you're selling. Poshmark moves Lululemon quickly. Depop sells vintage fast. eBay has the volume for niche items. There's no universal answer. Test your inventory and track results.
Do I need to adjust prices across platforms?
Often yes. A $40 Poshmark price might need to be $35 on Depop to compete, while the same item could command $50 on eBay if it's a men's item with less competition. Research comparable sales on each platform.
Is it worth selling on all four platforms?
For high-volume sellers, usually yes. For casual sellers, probably not. Start with 1-2 platforms and add more only when you're consistently listing 100+ items and have systems to manage everything.
Which platform is best for beginners?
Poshmark has the gentlest learning curve with simplified shipping and an engaged community. Depop is nearly as easy and more flexible on categories. Either works well for getting started.
How do I decide where to list something?
Think about your buyer. Who wants this item? Young and trendy = Depop. Woman seeking designer deal = Poshmark. Everyday item at good price = Depop. Niche/collectible/men's = eBay. When in doubt, list everywhere.
Making Your Platform Decision
There's no single best platform. Only the best platform for your specific inventory, audience, and goals. A vintage seller and a mall-brand flipper need completely different strategies.
Start where your inventory fits best. Get comfortable with one platform before expanding. When you go multi-platform, invest in tools that reduce the management burden.
The resellers who succeed long-term are strategic about where each item gets the best exposure for the least effort. Your inventory deserves to be seen by the right buyers, wherever they happen to be shopping.