Beyond eBay and Etsy: 12 Online Flea Markets You’ve Never Heard Of
Where can you find antique Pez dispensers, hot vintage heels and (finally!) the perfect lamp to match your weirdly patterned bedspread — all for sale for just a few bucks? Or better yet, where can you sell them to make some extra cash?
We’ll give you a hint: It’s not Walmart. At least, not our Walmart. (And if yours fits the bill… would you let us know where you live?)
No, it’s your favorite online flea market.
A New Way to Browse: Online Flea Markets
The flea market used to be a weekly event in the neighborhood, a place to browse goods you may have never thought you wanted (and certainly never thought you needed) and come home with bags worth of items for your house.
But we now live in a different world, where most things can be ordered up with the click of a finger, including, yes, the flea market. With online flea market shopping, you have the option to browse from a variety of choices in a much more diversified way than you ever would in your past life, limited by your geographic opportunities. The ultimate problem with the Internet is always where exactly to start—but don’t worry, on that, we’ve got your back.
Make Money outside of Online Flea Markets
Online flea markets are a great way to sell your stuff and make some quick money. Looking for more ways to make quick cash? We’ve got some ideas for you. From sharing your honest opinions to testing out apps, these are some of our favorite ways.
| Offer | What You Can Earn | What You Have to Do | Take Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| InboxDollars | $225/month | Complete short surveys | |
| FreeCash | $1,000/month | Simple online tasks | |
| GoBranded | Up to $140/month | Share your honest opinion | |
| Kashkick | $1,000/month | Try out apps | |
| Solitaire Cash | Up to $83 per win | Compete against other players |
The Obvious Online Flea Markets
Of course, there are a few online flea markets that are almost certainly industry giants you’ve already heard about.
- Amazon: A once humble bookselling website, Amazon has become an online marketplace so powerful that its astronomic growth sent its founder, Jeff Bezos, into space. Vendors big and small can sell new and used products on the site and they can appear on your doorstep in as little as one day through Amazon Prime.
- Craigslist: Known for sending shivers down the spines of journalists due to upending newspaper revenues, the online classifieds site is an easy way to pawn off your tchotchkes to neighbors, find some hidden treasures yourself — and so much more. It’s all anonymous, though. So give out your personal deets sparingly, and always meet in a safe, public space!
- eBay: This classic buy-and-sell site has been around for more than a quarter century. Although it bills itself primarily as an online auction site, it operates like most online flea market sites. Many of its listings are available for immediate sale — and it seems you can find, or sell, just about anything you might desire.
- Etsy: Sort of like eBay’s quiet, artsy little sister, Etsy specializes in handmade goodies, but it’s also a treasure trove for lovers of all things vintage. In fact, it has a whole category devoted to vintage items, and it’s well-organized enough that you can dive into niches as specific as bolo ties, fedoras and marbles.
- OfferUp: In 2011, new fathers Arean van Veelen and Nick Huzar ended up with a bunch of extra stuff they didn’t need. They saw an opportunity and co-founded the company (with accompanying smartphone app). OfferUp claims to be the easiest and most dependable mobile marketplace in the U.S.
- Facebook Marketplace: Compared to the rest of the sites on this list, Facebook Marketplace is relatively new. Launched in 2016, the online marketplace feature is built into regular Facebook, and you can buy or sell all kinds of stuff on Marketplace, including cars and campers. You can even find rental properties. Marketplace is locally focused, but it also allows for shipping if that’s your preference
12 Online Flea Markets You Might Not Have Heard of Yet
OK, we covered our basic-online-flea-market bases, so now it’s time to move on to the weird and wonderful ones. Half the fun of a traditional flea market is stumbling upon offbeat items and great deals you you will likely never find elsewhere.
To replicate real flea market experience virtually, we checked out a variety of smaller online flea markets and compared inventory, prices and user experience to help you find the best deals at the digital folding table.
Here’s what we discovered.
1. Flea Market Bay
Fleamarketbay.com at a Glance
Pros
- Easy to use and navigate
- Has smartphone apps on both Iphone and Android
- Haggle-friendly
Cons
- Bare-bones user experience
- A number of categories that can be overwhelming
- Very little information on sellers
- Listings often just include a brief title and description
Flea Market Bay may not be the most aesthetically appealing online flea market, but what it lacks in beauty, it makes up for in simplicity, despite its pared-down and slightly dated interface. Luckily, it’s not at all difficult to use.
The site has dozens of categories to browse, from fruits and vegetables to women’s accessories, but the bulk of the listings are focused on electronics, clothes or accessories. Like many small online flea markets, it lacks the thousands — or even millions — of listings from some of the better-known online marketplaces.
Still, it’s fun to browse when you’re trying to get a quick flea-market fix online.
Similar to Craigslist, Flea Market Bay-bay simply connects you with sellers. You’ll have to speak directly with the seller to determine the specifics.No transactions take place on the site, so haggle away!
2. Bonanza
Bonanza at a Glance
Pros
- Sleek interface
- Fun and quirky inventory
- Active community forum and blog, which helps you think of ideas of how to use certain items
- Encouragers sellers to find repeat customers
- Vendor reviews listed out clearly and frequently
Cons
- Eclectic collection that may not fit into your everyday needs
- No bidding, unless seller indicates that they accept offers
Although Bonanza seeks to be the best eBay alternative, it doesn’t offer bidding or bartering options, unless the seller explicitly indicates that they are allowed.
It does, however, list categories for everything from home goods to collectibles, including coins and paper money and entertainment memorabilia.And there’s also a wonderful category called “Everything Else,” with subsections like “Metaphysical” (which features abundance and “Banish all misfortune” spells) and “Weird Stuff” (We found a real jumbo moose poop necklace—that’s its listed name.)
There’s even a “Vintage” section under fashion so you can easily shop for a previous era’s duds that could now be treasures
3. Nextdoor
Nextdoor at a Glance
Pros
- Verified locals only
- Lots of easy-to-use filters to help you find the best bargains
- Frequent listings for free stuff
Cons
- Lengthy sign-up process
- Refers to a very specific geographic area
- Not used exclusively for selling
- All purchases made offline
Technically, Nextdoor is a social media site for your community. And it takes that seriously. You actually need to input a valid address, which you will have to verify, to join your community group. This means that the users you interact with on Nextdoor are usually in your immediate geographic vicinity.
Once you’re in, you can do all sorts of stuff. Gossip. Post community PSAs. Discover local events. (Our former photo director used Nextdoor to save money by polling neighbors for recommendations and hunting for deals from local businesses!)
Another great feature? “For Sale and Free,” Nextdoor’s very own local buy-and-sell section. You can browse listings to find deals across all kinds of categories, including completely free items (these will go fastest). Toys, games, furniture, vehicles, free stuff, and much more! Its nifty filters make finding exactly what you want a breeze.
The 5 Dumbest Things We Keep Spending Too Much Money On
You’ve done what you can to cut back your spending. You brew coffee at home, you don’t walk into Target and you refuse to order avocado toast. (Can you sense my millennial sarcasm there?)
But no matter how cognizant you are of your spending habits, you’re still stuck with those inescapable monthly bills.
You know which ones we’re talking about: rent, utilities, cell phone bill, insurance, groceries…
Ready to stop paying them? Follow these moves…
4. Mercari
Mercari at a Glance
Pros
- Seller protection and shipping label sent to you
- Easy to review sellers
- Tons of listings and categories, including tools and books
- Negotiating and offers accepted
- Very polished site and app
Cons
- No niche — inventory fairly bland
- Emphasis on clothes and accessories
Mercari touts a user-friendly experience whether you’re browsing on its websites or scrolling through listings with the smartphone app.
There are tons of freshly listed items across a host of different categories. Shippinghipping allows you to tap into a massive selection of goods.
What’s great about Mercari is how easy it makes reviewing the seller. Click the seller’s name and, boom, you can see more details about them and quickly check out any reviews. Mercari also handles payments. So don’t worry about forking over cash to strangers in person!
5. The Internet Antique Shop (TIAS)
Internet Antique Shop at a Glance
Pros
- Inventory chock full of antique goodies
- Simple browsing
- Replicates the wonder of sifting through a quiet antique market
- Highly specific categories like Art Nouveau and vintage electronics
- Still active after 25 years
Cons
- Some listings contain little information
- Dated site
- Items themselves are highly specific and meant more for collectors than everyday use
Founded in 1995, The Internet Antique Shop (TIAS) is a bit of an antique itself. While it never took off quite like its buy-and-sell siblings eBay or Craigslist, TIAS has carved out a remarkable niche for all things antique.
The site looks a bit dated. But, hey, it sells antiques. Maybe that’s an intentional part of its charm? It still functions just fine. The category’s sidebar makes browsing simple. And, before you click, it shows how many listings are in any given category — a feature other virtual online flea markets could learn from.
This site is truly a gem. It’s one online flea market you don’t want to overlook. With subcategories like vintage sewing tools and breweriana (read: old signage, steins and more from classic breweries), TIAS really makes it feel like you’re about to stumble upon unique treasures with each click. The only downside is that this is obviously a site for specialty items—you won’t be able to sell your old sneakers or houseware here, unless it’s particularly noteworthy.
6. Swappa
Swappa at a Glance
Pros
- Listings are reviewed for quality assurance
- Low seller fees
Cons
- Listings only active for 10 days
- Largely electronics
When Swappa was founded in 2010 by techie, Ben Edwards, it was a trusted place to sell and purchase mobile devices and, more than a decade later, that trust lives on. With excellent reviews on Trustpilot and over 100 million in 2021 seller proceeds, Swappa is not only a place for mobile devices, but has also expanded to include sneakers, drones, cameras, watches and more.
Want a computer for your trail bike? Check Swappa. Need a home camera system? Swappa has you covered. We even found a two-way radio for sale. We’re not saying that Swappa mimics the joy of browsing through random tech at Radio Shack, but we’re not not saying it either. But Swappa is relatively limited in its merchandise, so this is the right place to sell your old tech and likely only that.
7. Everything But the House
Everything But the House at a Glance
Pros
- Easy site to navigate
- Mobile app
- Customer service number listed
Cons
- High shipping prices
- Watch for fakes claiming to be authentic
If you seek the rare and wonderful, Everything But the House might have just what you’re looking for. It’s not the most robust site on the list, but maybe that’s on purpose. Launched by estate sale and antique enthusiasts in 2008, the original focus was on virtual estate sales. Now, the site has grown to include consignment items as well as estate sales.
Most of the uncommon pieces are legit, but beware the suspicious seller with fake goods. Also, if what you want to buy is near you and you can pick it up, you’ll avoid the steep shipping fees.
8. 5miles
5miles at a Glance
Pros
- Offers bidding
- Every item is vetted
- Geared towards buyers in your area
Cons
- Clunky website
- Only available in larger cities
Founded in 2014, 5 miles is similar to Nextdoor because the focus is on local buying and selling. A unique feature of 5 miles is comparatively robust options for pro sellers, which means you might find more high quality and vintage items.
The site (and app) promotes safety and security in transactions. Created by Lucas Lu who earned a Ph.D. in physics and has a professional background in e-commerce at Alibaba and Light in the Box, the look and feel of the site is more similar to Etsy than Craigslist, though it is still not particularly clean. Like Nextdoor, it is also location-based, so if you’re looking for items that are geographically near you, this is a safe bet.
9. Poshmark
Poshmark at a Glance
Pros
- Established and trusted
- App integrates social media elements
- Clean user experience
Cons
- Known for pricey items
- Mostly geared towards clothing
- Slow shipping
Poshmark isn’t just for buying and selling used clothes. The platform hosts sellers of kids toys, home goods, electronics and even pet accessories.
If you’re looking for an online shopping destination that includes brand names for less, sustainable buying, and a social media experience in one, Poshmark could become your go-to.
With Posh Stories,sellers can craft videos to describe and promote their listing, which gives you a better idea of what you’re purchasing. If you’re selling clothes and users can see you actually wearing the item, it helps to make the pieces seem more appealing.
We talked to one user who had success selling high-ticket clothing. The user said, “If you have some gently used, brand name items sitting around, you can get more for them on Poshmark than on other sites.” But if you’re wanting to sell used items lying around your house, this may not be the best option.
Can You Survive 10 Days of Budgeting?
If you need to wrangle your budget, it may be time to consider a savings challenge. Our 10-Day Savings Challenge will teach you how to make your money work for you with a high-yield savings account, stop overpaying on Amazon, earn money for trying out apps or watching movie previews and more.
10. Ruby Lane
Ruby Lane at a Glance
Pros
- Unique vintage selections
- Long history
- Quality control
Cons
- $45 maintenance fee per month for sellers and tiered service fees on a portion of the sale
With daily and weekly arrivals, a newsletter, and seemingly endless scrolling for one-of-a-kind items, we could easily get addicted to Ruby Lane. Yet the items tend to be relatively specialty, like an antique lone star quilt or vintage mid-century jewelry.
Buyers and sellers can feel secure with the site’s long history in e-commerce. Founded in 1998, the shop pre-screens items and has a Secret Shopper program with which buying experiences are checked for quality.
Oh, the weird and wonderful things you’ll find — and sell — for less.
11. Goodwill
Goodwill at a Glance
Pros
- Established company
- Community impact
Cons
- Expensive shipping
Goodwill Industries offers two ways to shop online — shopgoodwill.com and goodwillfinds.com. Auction-based site shopgoodwill.com has been around since 1999, but the new option goodwillfinds.com launched in late 2022. With about 100,000 items listed on the site at time of launch, you’ll be sure to discover both the unusual and the everyday things you need and want. the launch, you’ll be sure to discover both the unusual and everyday items you need and want.
As the first online flea market to be started and run by a non-profit, buying from Goodwill means you’re doing good things with your online shopping habit. Your online purchase helps keep stuff out of landfills.
12. VarageSale
VarageSale at a Glance
Pros
- Location based communities
- Unique items
Cons
- Lower satisfaction rating
Created by a mom who worked with her programmer husband to make a better way to buy and sell online, this site is one of the closest we’ve seen to replicating the garage sale experience. And what is a garage sale, really, but a mini, personalized flea market?
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Online Flea Markets
Here’s everything else you should know about online flea markets.
Generally speaking, yes, online flea markets are safe. As with any online purchase, guard your personal information. If you need to make a transaction, be sure the website is encrypted. Encryption sounds fancy, but it’s actually pretty easy to confirm. You can check by looking at the address bar of your browser. You should see “https” before the website’s name. The letter “s” in https means the website is secure. Many small or old websites ignore this crucial security feature.
Exercise good judgment, just as if you’re at a real flea market. Verifying sellers and vendors is a tough nut to crack for almost all online shops — even major corporations like Amazon. As best as possible, try to check who’s selling the item on any given listing before you make your purchase. Some sites make it easier, through reviews, to see if you’re dealing with a trusted seller. For sites that are locally-focused, the sellers are likely nearby. But that still requires vigilance.
Almost every flea market website mentioned in this article allows everyday sellers and established vendors to sign up and start selling. Depending on the online store, it could be as easy as creating a listing and publishing it for the world to see. Other sites are more selective, and the sign-up process might require you to provide lots of personal information to verify your identity or location. Shipping is something you should definitely factor in when you get started: some sites allow it — and may even cover the shipping costs, while some are only for local sales.
You may notice that Srchie and Vflea are included in just about every “top online flea market” article. (They were even included in older versions of this article.) However, the beloved websites and their social media accounts have been abandoned since 2016/2017. RIP Srchie and Vflea. We’ll never forget all your great deals.
Adam Hardy and Veronica Matthews are Penny Hoarder contributors. Deputy editor Tiffany Wendeln-Connors and freelance writer Jamie Cattanach contributed to this post.
