The 9 Best Online Second Hand & Thrift Stores For Current & Vintage Clothing
We’ve all been there – scrolling through clothing items online or sifting through sale racks in-store. While the deals are tempting, they’re also contributing to the demand for new clothing items and supporting the fashion industry, which is one of the most damaging to our environment. Each year, we throw away about $500 billion in clothing. Meanwhile, clothing production has increased while garment lifetime usage has declined by 36%.
Why shop secondhand? Read is fast fashion really that bad.
We have more clothing than ever and much of it is going to your local second hand store or online thrift store. Rather than supporting the production of new products, try shopping at a thrift or vintage clothing store – and take a look at some of our other sustainable shopping tips before you head out to the store or click buy. Here’s your guide to the best places to shop second hand online.
Choosing the Best Online Thrift Store
There are tons of options to purchase second hand clothing online. Each caters to different needs – whether you want modern name-brand fashion or unique vintage finds, there’s an option out there to suit your style. Plus, most online thrift stores (other than luxury-focused sites) allow you to bid or make offers, so you’re likely to get a great deal.
No matter what online thrift store you choose, applying filters and narrowing your search will always give you the best experience. Just like at a brick-and-mortar second hand store, you might get a little overwhelmed when sifting through all the options. It’s best to have a general idea of what you’re shopping for, whether it’s a handbag or jeans. The more detailed you can be, the better luck you’ll have, so try searching for brands, colors, and cuts that you know you like.
Online Thrift Stores at a Glance
| Store | Best for | Price | Shop by |
|---|---|---|---|
| ThredUp | Everyday & mid-range brands | $ | Web & app |
| Poshmark | Mid-tier brands, social shopping | $–$$ | Web & app |
| Mercari | Mall brands, local pickup | $ | Web & app |
| Patagonia Worn Wear | Outdoor & activewear | $$ | Web |
| Depop | Streetwear & Gen-Z vintage | $–$$ | Web & app |
| Etsy | Curated vintage | $–$$$ | Web & app |
| eBay | Rare finds & auctions | $–$$$ | Web & app |
| The RealReal | Authenticated luxury | $$$ | Web & app |
| Vestiaire Collective | Global designer resale | $$$ | Web & app |
1. Best Online Thrift Stores for Casual Clothing
ThredUp
ThredUp is one of the largest online thrift stores in the world, processing millions of secondhand items every year, it’s the closest thing to walking into a giant physical thrift store online. You’ll find everyday and mid-range brands like Gap, Madewell, Anthropologie, and Lululemon at deep discounts, all inspected and photographed by ThredUp before they’re listed. Powerful filters for size, brand, color, and condition make the enormous inventory easy to navigate, which makes it a great starting point if you’re new to online thrifting.
Poshmark
Poshmark is like a combination of a thrift store and social media site. It allows you to shop via app or web browser and attend Posh parties, which are essentially virtual shopping parties, though you can ignore this feature and shop however you like. The site offers all things clothing, home decor, and beauty products, but it’s best known for mid-tier brands, like Vince, Lululemon, Anthropologie, and J. Crew.
Mercari
Mercari is a second hand store marketplace where you can buy and sell clothing. Whether you choose to scroll the website or shop using the app, Mercari offers everything from clothing to home decor. It’s well known for offering recognizeable brands, like Free People, Madewell, American Eagle, Loft, and more. Although it does have some designer goods, it’s best for shopping mall brands. Mercari also recently launched Mercari Local. This function allows you to shop local items only, which are then delivered to you via Uber, with no meet-up needed.
Patagonia Worn Wear
If you’re on the market for some athletic or outdoor gear, Patagonia Worn Wear is a great option. The site is owned and run by Patagonia, so it only sells Patagonia clothing. People trade in their worn goods at a Patagonia store, and Patagonia determines if they’re still in good enough condition to be sold. If they are, they clean the item and sell it on the website at a discount. If the items aren’t in great condition, Patagonia recycles them, so they never enter a landfill. I’ve also found success for mens clothing at all of these stores.
2. Best Online Vintage Clothing Store Options
Depop
Depop is an online thrift store marketplace, where people can buy and sell their clothing. It’s best known for offering quirky, alternative, and trendy streetwear vintage styles. You can choose to shop Depop via its website or app. It has a very similar layout to Instagram, which makes it fun to scroll through and shop around like you would on any other shopping website.
Etsy
Etsy is chock full of small businesses to choose from, and its vintage clothing selection is extensive. There are both newer vintage sellers with lower price points and experienced sellers that have a higher price point but provide more rare finds and history on each piece. Regardless of what era of vintage you’re looking for, you can likely find it on Etsy. Check out Nellie Baker Vintage and Girl Sells Vintage for lower price point vintage of the 1950s – 1990s. If you’re looking for pieces that are a bit more rare and high-end, consider Maeven Vintage and Persephone Vintage.
eBay
eBay is one of the oldest marketplaces online, and it’s also a great vintage clothing store. When shopping for vintage clothing, the filters are your friend. You can start by searching something like, “vintage hat,” and then narrow down your search by category, size, price, and more. You’ll also want to make sure you select “used” for the condition, to ensure you’re getting true vintage. eBay has a ton of product, so the more descriptive and specific you can get, the more successful your search will be.
It’s important to note, though, that some sellers specialize in vintage clothing, so you’ll likely pay a higher markup than if you found the same item in a thrift store. On the other hand, you might be able to find some vintage deals from sellers who aren’t as well versed in vintage clothing, which means you can get a better price than you would at a more curated vintage store.
3. The Best Online Thrift Store Options for Designer Clothes
The RealReal
There are a lot of online luxury resellers, but The RealReal is one of the oldest and most trustworthy, with over a decade in business. The site offers high-end handbags, clothing, and jewelry from designer brands like Prada, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, and more. Before listing an item for sale, The RealReal does an intensive authentication process, so you know you’re getting the real thing. These items are more on the expensive side, but still a good price considering the original price tag.
Vestiaire Collective
Vestiaire Collective is a global designer resale marketplace, and the natural home for luxury shoppers now that Tradesy has merged into it. You can buy and sell pre-owned designer handbags, clothing, and accessories from thousands of brands, with an in-house authentication option that physically inspects higher-value items before they reach you. It’s especially strong for European and hard-to-find designer pieces, and its direct-shipping option lets you skip authentication for a lower price when you’re comfortable doing so.
Why Shop Vintage and Second Hand?
We’re creating new fashion items at a faster rate than ever and using them for a shorter amount of time before throwing them away. This is largely thanks to the rise of fast fashion, which tends to prioritize low costs over using good quality fabrics and ethical labor practices. When you choose to purchase these fast fashion items, you’re creating demand for more fast fashion.
We’ve all been there – in need of a new coat or mindlessly shopping out of boredom. There’s no need to feel bad. Instead, consider shopping at an online thrift store or a second hand store next time. You’ll find that these stores carry tons of like-new (or even brand new) items. You’ll pay less than you would have when buying new, and you won’t be creating demand for new products. It’s a win-win! When you do buy new, our guide to eco-friendly clothing brands and the breakdown of natural vs. synthetic fabrics can help you choose pieces that actually last.
Online Thrift Stores: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best online thrift store?
For most shoppers, ThredUp and Poshmark are the best all-around online thrift stores. ThredUp for the sheer volume of everyday and mid-range brands, and Poshmark for popular mid-tier labels and a social, offer-friendly buying experience. For luxury, The RealReal and Vestiaire Collective lead on authentication.
Are online thrift stores cheaper than buying new?
Yes. Secondhand clothing is typically sold at a significant discount to retail, and many sites like Poshmark, Mercari, and eBay let you make offers or bid, so you can often pay well below the listed price. Luxury resale sites still cost more in absolute terms but are far cheaper than buying the same designer pieces new.
What is the best site for secondhand designer clothes?
The RealReal and Vestiaire Collective are the two best sites for authenticated secondhand designer clothing and handbags. Both physically inspect and authenticate higher-value items, which protects you from counterfeits when buying luxury resale online.
Which online thrift store is best for vintage clothing?
Depop, Etsy, and eBay are the strongest choices for vintage. Depop leans toward trendy streetwear and Gen-Z styles, Etsy is full of curated vintage sellers across every era, and eBay is unmatched for rare finds when you use specific search filters.
Is online thrifting safe?
Online thrifting is generally safe when you stick to established marketplaces with buyer protection, check seller ratings and reviews, read item descriptions and measurements carefully, and pay through the platform rather than off-site. Luxury sites add authentication to further reduce the risk of counterfeits.
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Sources & Further Reading
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