Depop vs. Vinted (2024): Features, Fees, Audience, and Selling Experience Compared

In the burgeoning world of online fashion resale, platforms like Depop and Vinted have emerged as dominant players, revolutionizing how consumers buy and sell pre-owned clothing and accessories. This comparative analysis delves into the core functionalities, target audiences, selling processes, fees, shipping options, and overall user experiences of Depop and Vinted. By examining the strengths and weaknesses of each platform, this article aims to provide a comprehensive guide for both sellers and buyers seeking to navigate the dynamic landscape of online fashion resale.

The fashion industry, notorious for its environmental impact, is undergoing a significant transformation. Consumers are increasingly embracing sustainable practices, leading to a surge in the popularity of secondhand clothing. This shift has fueled the growth of online resale platforms, offering a convenient and accessible way to buy and sell pre-loved items. Depop and Vinted, two prominent players in this space, have carved out distinct niches, attracting millions of users worldwide. While both platforms share the common goal of facilitating the exchange of used clothing and accessories, they differ significantly in their approach, target audience, and overall user experience. This article will provide a detailed comparison of Depop and Vinted, highlighting their key features, advantages, and disadvantages to help users make informed decisions about which platform best suits their needs.

1. Target Audience and Platform Aesthetics

Depop:Depop has solidified its brand as a home for Gen Z and young millennial shoppers, boasting a highly visual platform that puts personal style, trends, and vintage flair front and center. Depop’s feed is reminiscent of social media apps like Instagram and TikTok, encouraging users to build visually compelling shops, style their photos creatively, and cultivate a following rooted in culture and community. Young sellers and buyers converge on Depop to find one-of-a-kind pieces, hot trends, or to start micro-businesses built on curation and fashion entrepreneurship. For many, Depop isn’t just a marketplace, but a platform for self-expression and creative branding, aided by user bios, shop updates, and cross-promotion on external social media.

Vinted:Vinted’s audience is broader, spanning age groups and demographics with an emphasis on practicality and affordability. While Vinted enjoys traction among younger shoppers, it also appeals to parents, professionals, and anyone seeking value. The design of Vinted’s platform dials back visual embellishments in favor of a more utilitarian interface. Listings are straightforward, filters are robust, and the flow is geared towards quick selling, decluttering, and cost-conscious purchasing. This approach widens Vinted’s appeal to non-influencers, busy individuals, and those who may be less interested in the performative aspects of fashion resale and more in moving items efficiently.

Key Differences:

· Age: Depop trends younger (16-25 dominant), while Vinted draws a wider spectrum.

· Focus: Depop is trend-oriented and visually creative; Vinted centers on value, practicality, and ease.

· User Goals: Depop sellers often build brands; Vinted users frequently sell to declutter.

2. Selling Process and Listing Features

Depop:Listing on Depop involves a meticulous curation process: sellers select high-quality, styled photos, write detailed descriptions, add hashtags for discoverability (such as #vintage, #Y2K, or #streetwear), and price their items—sometimes with negotiation in mind. Depop’s direct messaging system enables open discussions: buyers can ask for additional photos, negotiate pricing, or bundle items. Shop management tools support repeat engagement, with analytics, shop updates, and follower counts providing insight and feedback. This environment supports community and creativity, but demands time and consistency to build a successful shop.

Vinted:Vinted streamlines the listing process—upload up to 20 photos, fill out standardized description fields (brand, size, color, condition), set a price, and select shipping options. Templates for common items and automatic population of categories make the process even more efficient. Communication is present, but typically limited to offer-making or straightforward queries. Most purchases happen at list price or after a buyer-initiated offer—less time is spent on curation, bundling, or branding. The sales cycle is generally faster, but with less opportunity for sellers to create a differentiated, branded experience.

Key Differences:

· Listing Effort: Depop requires detailed curation and creative input; Vinted emphasizes speed and simplicity.

· Buyer-Seller Communication: Depop is conversational; Vinted is transactional.

· Promotion: Depop relies on social engagement and shop news; Vinted favors robust search filters and low-friction purchasing.

3. Fees and Payment Processing

Depop:Depop charges a flat 10% commission on the total transaction value, including shipping, plus third-party payment processing fees (PayPal or Depop Payments). Payments may be subject to holds pending buyer confirmation or in the event of disputes. While this fee structure funds Depop’s robust feature set and community tools, it does take a larger cut from smaller sales—crucial for sellers pricing at lower cost points. Sellers are responsible for tracking profits and factoring all fees into their pricing strategy.

Vinted:Vinted famously charges no selling fees—sellers receive 100% of their item price and shipping compensation. Instead, buyers pay a modest fee for Buyer Protection at checkout, which covers support, secure payment processing, and refund assurance. This system positions Vinted as the preferred option for those offloading lower-price items and for buyers prioritizing total cost. Sellers only give up a cut if they choose to promote their listings through paid boosts—otherwise, their proceeds are unencumbered by platform commissions.

Key Differences:

· Depop: 10% selling fee (plus payment fees)

· Vinted: No selling fee (buyer pays a protection fee)

· Promotions: Both offer paid visibility tools (Boosts), but Vinted’s seller side is more hands-off in terms of required fees.

4. Shipping Options and Logistics

Depop:Depop allows sellers to choose between using Depop’s own shipping system (with pre-negotiated labels for USPS, Royal Mail, etc.) or arranging their own shipping independently. This provides flexibility—a seller can optimize for cost, carrier preference, or speed depending on buyer location. Shipping fees can be assigned to the buyer, absorbed by the seller, or negotiated for bundles. Depop’s system supports domestic and international sales, but the onus is on sellers to handle logistics for non-integrated carriers. Tracking is required for buyer protection.

Vinted:Vinted automates shipping: each sale generates a downloadable prepaid label from a range of pre-negotiated partner carriers. The platform prompts the seller to print and affix the label, then drop the package at the chosen drop-off point. Shipping costs are covered by the buyer and calculated at checkout based on item category, dimensions, and delivery speed. International sales work similarly, but are limited by location and carrier availability. This uniform process lowers seller friction—no manual shipping calculations or negotiations are required.

Key Differences:

· Depop: Seller-managed or Depop-managed shipping; more options and responsibility.

· Vinted: Platform-managed, prepaid shipping labels; streamlined but less flexible for advanced sellers.

· International: Both support cross-border sales, with Vinted’s method generally easier for casual sellers.

5. Platform Features and Community

Depop:Depop doubles as a social platform—sellers can post shop updates, followers receive news in-feed, and the layout mirrors social networks. Hashtags, followers, likes, and comments fuel discovery and engagement. Featuring of shops or items in curated editorial collections offers further visibility. Depop also supports connections to Instagram and TikTok, allowing sellers to funnel influence and followers from one platform to another. The sense of community (and competition) is high, but the ecosystem rewards originality and persistence.

Vinted:Vinted departs from overt social features. While users can follow shops, leave reviews, and engage in messaging, the feed and homepage lean heavily on search and automation (e.g., filtered categories, smart suggestions). There are no hashtags, shop bios, or off-site integrations. The user journey is focused on efficiency: list an item, set a price, and get it shipped out. Community feeling is present, but less integral—most buyers and sellers are strangers whose primary commonality is transactional.

Key Differences:

· Social Engagement: Depop is social-first; Vinted is search-first.

· Brand Potential: Depop enables personal branding; Vinted optimizes for simplicity and anonymity.

· Influence: Depop supports influencers and style micro-celebrities; Vinted is designed for the masses.

6. Pros and Cons at a Glance

Depop

· Pros:

· Highly visual, trend-driven, and creative

· Strong community and branding potential

· Flexible shipping and negotiation

· Appeals to Gen Z and fashion-forward audiences

· Good international support

· Cons:

· 10% commission plus processing fees

· Demands time investment for curation and branding

· Competitive; organic visibility can be challenging

· Shipping is more hands-on

Vinted

· Pros:

· No selling fees for sellers

· Simple, standardized, and fast listing process

· Streamlined, automated shipping

· Appeals to value-focused, diverse users

· Efficient for bulk decluttering

· Cons:

· Less potential for shop branding or curation

· Lower average item price

· Social engagement limited

· No off-platform integrations (e.g., Instagram linking)

7. Real-World Examples & Case Studies

Example A: A Trendsetter Succeeds on Depop

A 20-year-old vintage lover leverages Depop’s aesthetics to create editorial-level photos, themes their shop around 90s grunge pieces, and gains a loyal following through both Depop and Instagram cross-promotion. Styling, shop updates, and direct negotiation let them charge higher prices. Despite time spent on content, they consistently generate more per sale than on Vinted.

Example B: A Parent Declutters Easily on Vinted

A busy parent wants to clear out children's outgrown clothing quickly. They snap a few pictures per item, use Vinted’s pre-filled info fields, accept standard shipping, and items are posted in minutes. The lack of branding or engagement is offset by the sheer convenience, no fees, and almost immediate sales for lightly-worn, value-priced goods.

Example C: The International Seller's Perspective

A UK-based seller wishes to reach buyers in the EU. On Vinted, they access a large European base, benefit from currency conversion included in platform pricing, and rely on Vinted's local carrier partnerships for a seamless cross-border experience. On Depop, they can reach international markets but must select and manage carriers, calculate taxes, and handle international disputes more hands-on.

8. Data Snapshot

· Depop: Over 30 million registered users globally in 2024. Highest AOV ($30-40). Most users under 29. 60% of traffic mobile-first. Key markets: US, UK, Australia.

· Vinted: Over 75 million registered users (2024), especially strong in the EU. Lower AOV ($12-25). User base more age-diverse. Lightning-fast list-to-sell times on basic items. Number one C2C fashion app in multiple continental European countries.

9. Table Comparison: Depop vs. Vinted

10. Platform Selection & Strategy Recommendations

For Sellers:

· For trending, unique, or high-ticket items: invest time in Depop, build a shop identity, leverage social visibility.

· For quick turnover of basics and value items: use Vinted’s no-fee, list-and-forget system for speed and efficiency.

· For large closets or professional sellers: consider cross-listing. Tools like List Perfectly can facilitate multi-platform management, capitalizing on each platform's respective buyer demographics.

For Buyers:

· Want unique, style-led pieces and to interact with sellers? Browse Depop, filter for trending hashtags, and follow your favorite shops.

· Looking for bargains, essentials, or bulk bundles with minimal fuss? Search Vinted’s streamlined listings and benefit from fair pricing and buyer protection.

11. Future Trends: The Shape of Resale, 2024 and Beyond

· Sustainability Push: Both platforms benefit from the global pivot towards ethical, circular fashion—expect additional eco features (carbon offset, green packaging options) to emerge.

· Social/Tech Integration: Depop will deepen social and algorithmic content, while Vinted may expand on automation and cross-market shipping efficiency.

· Authentication and Trust: With growth comes risk—look for improved methods to combat counterfeits (AI-powered image checks, verified brands, stricter seller onboarding).

· Expansion: Both likely will add more categories (homewares, kids, beauty) and refine their user experience in line with global expectations.

12. Conclusion: Which Platform Wins?

Depop and Vinted represent two strong but distinct approaches to the online resale economy. Depop rewards creativity, curation, and community, making it the go-to for sellers with ambition to brand, and buyers craving uniqueness. Vinted optimizes for simplicity, speed, and minimal friction, catering to anyone wanting affordability, fast turnover, and fuss-free sales. The best choice depends on your goals: for social engagement and trendsetting branding, Depop is king; for mass-market ease and low overhead, Vinted is hard to beat. Cross-listing, understanding platform policies, and adapting your strategy will maximize your success in 2024 and beyond as the circular fashion revolution continues to accelerate.