Poshmark vs. eBay for Buying & Selling Clothes

Buying and selling secondhand clothes online continues to grow and change how we shop. In 2024, U.S. fashion resale platforms (including Poshmark and eBay) generated approximately $16.8 billion in sales, an increase of 18.5% over 2023 (capitaloneshopping.com). It’s not just female Gen Z shoppers picking up used clothing either; over half of all Americans bought secondhand apparel in 2024. Consumers are drawn to online thrifting for its promise of saving money on clothing purchases, earning money from what they no longer wear, and reducing waste.

Poshmark and eBay are both giants in the online thrifting boom. Each platform has millions of users (Poshmark about 80 million, eBay 159 million, litcommerce.com) and billions of total listings. Beyond the numbers, eBay and Poshmark have very different buying and selling experiences, as well as very different audiences and features. Sometimes it can be hard to know which platform is best for you and your clothing.

In this post, I will compare Poshmark vs. eBay specifically for buying and selling secondhand clothes. Whether you’re a buyer looking for the best deals, or a seller trying to turn a profit on closet clutter, this article has you covered. We’ll dig into the pros and cons to help you build a clear picture of the strengths of each platform. Online thrifting is all about finding what works for you—and I’ll make sure you’re well-equipped to make the most of Poshmark and eBay for your fashion finds and flips.

Poshmark vs. eBay: Overview

eBay is one of the oldest and largest e-commerce platforms, founded 30 years ago and the third-largest e-commerce site behind Amazon and Walmart. It has a huge worldwide audience with an unparalleled selection of items. Unlike Poshmark, eBay isn’t fashion-specific, and it offers both auction and fixed-price listing formats. Its users tend to be older and skew male. While it has a lot of advanced selling tools and customization options, it can also be overwhelming for casual buyers and sellers.

Poshmark is a popular social marketplace that’s primarily focused on fashion and accessories. While it has about half the number of registered users as eBay, those members are more focused on fashion and tend to be younger and skew female. The platform offers a curated, boutique-like experience with a lot of social features and more emphasis on simplicity. Poshmark is also more geared to use on a mobile app, with 95% of transactions happening in its app (zikanalytics.com).

Poshmark vs. eBay: Buying Clothes

When it comes to sheer breadth of items and listings, eBay is hard to match. The selection is enormous, and you’ll find everything from vintage band t-shirts to new-with-tags designer dresses. Its search filters and discovery tools help narrow the selection, and for finding very specific, obscure items, eBay comes out ahead. Poshmark’s selection is more curated, and encourages browsing “closets” and following specific sellers to create more of a boutique shopping experience. For discovering new items and things you might like, Poshmark is the stronger fit. (If you haven’t yet used Poshmark, use code “STRAYCATSTYLE” for $15 off your first purchase on the Canadian store and “STRAYCATSTYLEUS” for $10 off the U.S. store.)

Which platform has better deals? eBay can have more bargain opportunities, especially via auctions and bulk lots. Poshmark prices tend to be higher, but more negotiation is expected, with buyers and sellers often sending offers back and forth before settling on a final price. For bulk quantities and bottom-dollar deals, eBay comes out ahead, but Poshmark sellers have more flexibility and you can build bundles at significantly reduced pricing if you want to put the time and effort in.

Shipping costs on Poshmark are straightforward for both buyers and sellers. They charge a flat rate and it’s easy to bundle items from the same seller to further reduce shipping costs. eBay’s shipping options and costs vary by seller and item. Some sellers may offer free or low-cost shipping, but be wary that shipping times can vary considerably. For buyers, Poshmark means fast shipping at a consistent cost, while eBay gives more options.

When it comes to returns and buyer protections, eBay is generally lower risk from a buyer’s perspective. Most listings allow returns for up to 30 days, and even if something is listed as not allowing returns, eBay’s policy generally means a buyer can get a return or refund by claiming the item wasn’t as described. Poshmark, on the other hand, only allows returns if the item is significantly not as described (e.g. the wrong item was sent, it’s a counterfeit, or there’s undisclosed damage). Fit or a buyer changing their minds are not grounds for a return on Poshmark, so it’s important that buyers do additional due diligence before making a purchase.

Poshmark vs. eBay: Selling Clothes

As a seller, it’s important to understand your audience and list items on the platform that best align with that audience. While eBay’s user base spans all ages, it leans towards older adults and men. Poshmark draws more young female shoppers who more often follow current trends and seek out popular brands. This means that if you mainly sell trendy, fashion-forward clothing for women, Poshmark is likely to have the more receptive audience; if you sell mostly vintage menswear and utilitarian clothes, eBay is probably the better fit.

eBay is a more independent experience, meaning that as a seller you don’t have to worry about sharing, engaging with customers as much, or participating in the community. Poshmark, on the other hand, fosters community. There’s more interaction with buyers, more expectation to participate in social events, and more focus on building a positive “closet” experience. eBay buyers also expect a straightforward, retail-like experience, whereas Poshmark buyers expect more engagement and personalization (like perhaps a thank-you note in the shipping package).

Geography is another important consideration. To even use Poshmark, you must be based in the United States or Canada, and even then, you can only sell to customers in your country. This significantly restricts your market size and opportunities; with eBay you can sell globally. This means that if you have items that are likely of more interest to European buyers and you’re American, eBay is going to be the better platform for selling.

Poshmark’s listing process is streamlined and can be done entirely in the app; it makes it easy for casual sellers to get listings up quickly and easily. eBay’s listing process is more involved and takes more time. (Our list of AI solutions can help list items faster on both platforms.)

When it comes to fees, Poshmark’s are higher but also more straightforward. They charge fixed fees based on the amount of the sale. eBay fees are more variable but harder to calculate, and if you have a lot of listings, you will have to pay insertion fees for your store. (If you want to confirm exact fees and selling prices, make sure to use our resale profit calculator.)

Shipping costs and logistics are far more straightforward on Poshmark, where the platform provides a prepaid label to the seller. It’s as simple as printing the label, sticking it on a package, and dropping it off at a shipping location. eBay requires a lot more involvement. Sellers must choose a shipping method when listing the item, often requiring weighing and measuring the item before it’s listed. Sellers can also absorb shipping costs and offer free shipping, but that means taking on a lot of risk. eBay has the potential to save money for sellers with its flexible options, but it’s also more work and effort.

Return and refund policies are more favorable to sellers on Poshmark. Returns are only allowed for misrepresentation, not fit or a buyer changing their mind, so they are much less common on the platform. eBay is more buyer-friendly, so purchases are normally entitled to free returns within 30 days. There’s a lot less risk and stress for sellers on Poshmark when they make sales.

Conclusion

Poshmark and eBay each have strengths and ideal uses. Poshmark offers a simple, app-driven platform with a younger fashion-forward audience and community vibe, but it takes higher fees and has a smaller base of buyers and sellers. eBay has a global reach and lower fees, but it’s complex and there’s more competition.

If you’re buying and/or selling secondhand clothing only as a casual seller and value ease of use and an engaging experience, Poshmark is the better fit. If you’re a seller who needs maximum exposure, or a buyer looking for a niche item and the absolute best deals on specific things, eBay is the better choice. And, of course, if you’re not based in Canada or the United States, eBay is the obvious option!

Of course, many people in the secondhand apparel market (myself included) make heavy use of both platforms. My own selling is split pretty evenly between Poshmark and eBay, and I typically list the same items on both platforms. As a buyer, I also use both, though I tend to have more success on Poshmark.

What has your experience been with Poshmark vs. eBay? Let us know in the comments!