Vinted vs eBay: which is better for selling in the UK?
Vinted and eBay are the two biggest places to sell secondhand in the UK, and they suit different things. Here's how they compare, and how to decide where each item goes.
The short answer
- Vinted is best for clothes, shoes, accessories, kids' stuff and small homeware. It's simple, and sellers pay no selling fee.
- eBay is best for tech, collectables, car parts, branded items people search for by model, and anything you want to auction.
- Plenty of sellers use both, and list the same item on each until it sells.
Fees
Vinted: private sellers pay no selling fee. The buyer pays the Vinted fee on top of your price.
eBay: private UK sellers no longer pay a final value fee on most items. Business sellers do pay fees, and some categories and optional extras (like promoted listings) cost money. Check eBay's current fee page for your category.
For working out what you'll actually keep, try the profit calculator.
Postage
Vinted handles postage for you: the buyer pays, Vinted generates a prepaid label, and you drop the parcel off. You never set a postage price.
eBay leaves it to you: you choose the service and price, or offer free postage built into the price, and you can offer collection. More control, more decisions.
Who buys where
Vinted buyers are mostly browsing clothes and lifestyle items on their phones, looking for a bargain, and often send offers or buy bundles.
eBay buyers often search for something specific, like a model number, a part or a particular edition, and are more used to paying a fair price for it. eBay also reaches buyers outside the UK if you choose to post abroad.
What sells best where
| Item | Usually better on |
|---|---|
| High street clothes, kids' clothes, bundles | Vinted |
| Trainers and shoes | Both: everyday pairs on Vinted, collectable pairs on eBay |
| Designer and premium outdoor brands | Both |
| Phones, consoles, gadgets | eBay |
| Books, games, DVDs | eBay (bundles also do well on Vinted) |
| Collectables, vintage tech, car parts | eBay |
| Rare items where you want bidding | eBay (auctions) |
Getting paid and returns
Vinted: the money goes into your Vinted balance once the buyer confirms the item is fine (or after a short window if they don't), and you can transfer it to your bank. Buyers can report an item that's not as described.
eBay: payouts go to your bank account on a schedule. You set your own returns policy, but buyers are still protected if an item doesn't match the listing.
On both, honest descriptions and clear photos of any flaws are the best protection against disputes.
Listing on both
Cross-listing the same item on Vinted and eBay gets it in front of more buyers. The one rule: when it sells on one, remove it from the other straight away, so you never sell the same thing twice. The listing itself needs to be different on each, because buyers search differently: a plain "brand, item, colour, size" title on Vinted, and a keyword-packed title of up to 80 characters on eBay.
One photo, a listing for both
Snap a photo once and Snappy writes a Vinted listing and an eBay listing, each in the style that app's buyers search for.
Try Snappy free → 3 free listings · no card neededFAQ
Vinted, for most everyday and high street clothes. It's built for clothes and sellers pay no selling fee. Premium brands and collectable items can do well on both.
Private UK sellers no longer pay a final value fee on most items. Business sellers pay fees, and some categories and optional extras cost money. Check eBay's fee page for your category.
Yes. Just remove it from the other site as soon as it sells, so you never sell it twice.
Vinted is usually simpler: no postage prices to set and prepaid labels. eBay gives you more control, including auctions.