Best Apps for Selling Your Stuff (Online & Locally)

Need some extra cash? When you’re low on funds, selling your stuff is one way to make money fast. We’re not saying you need to sell family heirlooms, but some items around your home might be worth a few bucks to the right buyer.

We’ve rounded up the best apps to sell your stuff right from your iOS or Android device. We have the best apps to sell stuff, from general online marketplaces to those with more specific focuses, such as fashion.

How We Chose These Selling Apps

We chose our favorite selling apps based on how easy they were to use, fees, payout options and what types of items each platform works best for.

Our criteria included:

• How many people it can reach, from local-only apps to global marketplaces
• Fees such as listing costs, selling commissions and payment processing
• Best use cases like clothing, electronics, furniture or general items
• Seller protections, safety tools and payment handling

We chose these criteria because they fit more of what an everyday seller is looking for, rather than a professional reseller.

These apps let you sell a broad range of items to large audiences, making them strong starting points for most people. Facebook Marketplace is an ideal option if you’re selling furniture or household items because you’ll find a local buyer. Sites like eBay are better for smaller items that you may want to ship outside your area. OfferUp, Craigslist and Nextdoor-style platforms also are great for local transactions, but they tend to have smaller user bases.

Best Apps for Specific Item Types

Some selling apps are more effective for certain types of items. When you think of Etsy, you think of homemade crafts, right? When you want furniture, you think of Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist so you can arrange a pickup. Picking the right niche app site when you’re selling stuff online can increase your chances of a sale. 

Here are good options based on what you’re selling:

• Clothing & Accessories: Poshmark focuses on fashion and includes built-in shipping labels and social features.
• Electronics & Media: Decluttr provides instant price quotes and free shipping labels.
• Handmade & Vintage Items: Etsy works best for handmade goods, vintage finds and unique items.
• Furniture & Large Items: OfferUp and Chairish are better suited for bulky items that sell locally.

Local vs. Nationwide Selling — Which Is Best for You?

Choosing between local and nationwide selling depends on how quickly you want cash and what you’re selling.

Local selling apps are usually best for large or fragile items, items that aren’t selling for as much and stuff you want to sell quickly. Nationwide platforms reach a much larger pool of buyers, and if the item is worth more and can easily be shipped, it could be worth the effort.

Local selling: 

• Pros: Faster sales, no shipping
• Cons: Smaller audience

Nationwide/international:

• Pros: Bigger reach, higher prices possible
• Cons: Fees and shipping effort

How to Sell Your Stuff Fast (Tips & Tricks)

It’s rarely as simple as creating a listing and watching offers for cash roll in. Think of what you like to see in a listing if you’re a buyer. Are you jumping at the chance to buy a set of bar stools where the photo is so bad you can barely tell what color they are? Probably not. Here are other tips to help your listings stand out:

• Take multiple, well-lit photos from different angles
• Descriptions should have clear titles, brand names and other key details
• Check similar listings to see what type of pricing would be competitive (don’t over or under value the item)
• Respond quickly to messages and offers
• Offer flexible pickup or simple shipping options

Even something as small as cleaning the item can make a big difference. Leaving a layer of dust on furniture or washable stains on clothing won’t help your sale. 

How Selling Apps Work — Fees, Shipping & Safety

Fees and shipping make a big difference when it comes to which app to pick. Fees can eat into your profits, and some items may not be worth the effort it takes to ship. Plus, no one likes being surprised with fees or rules they didn’t know about. Here’s how popular apps work when it comes to the selling process. 

Facebook Marketplace: Details steps and answers FAQs here.

eBay: Talks about fees and how to make better listings here.

OfferUp: Find out about selling with OfferUp here.

Craigslist: Has a step-by-step guide here.   

Just keep in mind that some apps and sites have different fees depending on the type of listing. If you branch outside of the typical selling apps, make sure you know what you’re signing up for before you start packing up your collection of vintage teacups. 

It’s also imperative to follow any safety guidelines. This doesn’t just apply to in-person meet ups (though there is definitely a safety risk there) but also for scams and buying items that could have things like unwanted pests. If anything looks suspicious about the items or the seller, don’t buy it and report it. 

Selling Apps FAQs

Finding the Right App for What You’re Selling

The best app to sell your stuff depends on what you’re selling, how fast you want cash, and whether you prefer local buyers or want a larger reach.

Local apps are often best for speed and simplicity. You can just message someone with a meetup time and place and get paid. Online platforms that ship offer a broader reach for smaller items. But you don’t have to limit yourself to one option. Many sellers use more than one app to balance convenience and earning potential.