ThredUp
Perhaps the most well-known online thrift store, ThredUp was founded in Cambridge, Mass. in 2009 and has since grown to service the entire country in both the collection and retailing of secondhand clothes. I own several items from the site, much of which is designer professional wear I wouldn’t have otherwise been able to afford in my college days.
When selling or donating to ThredUp, the company sends over a bag for you to fill up at your home. If the clothes are deemed trendy and high-quality, they will be styled, photographed and sold by the site with anywhere from a 5 to 80 percent commission to the donor.
Shop ThredUp
ShopGoodwill
The online counterpart of the thrift store chain operates somewhat like eBay, where items are listed and prospective buyers are able to place bids on them, after which the bidders will have 10 days to close the sale before bidding begins again.
The deals you can find online are great for far more than just clothing, as a quick look through their current stock showed me they have a wide range of instruments, decor, books, shoes and more available. The options and pricing may not be as diverse or competitively priced as items in brick-and-mortar Goodwill stores, but the convenience of online shopping more than makes up for this.
Visit ShopGoodwill
Poshmark
Poshmark operates like any other online retailer when it comes to purchasing: Just add an item you like to your cart and check out. This site also happens to be one of the best options for sellers.
When a sale is made, the company provides sellers with pre-paid, pre-addressed labels that simply need to be printed out and stuck to a box, then dropped off at the nearest post office or arranged to be picked up. This takes all the logistical burden off of the seller (and also helps to protect buyers’ privacy).
Poshmark was founded in 2011 and quickly gained popularity, with many users building a network of followers from their Facebook friend lists and close contacts. Due to the massive traffic on the site (50 million users!) sellers have a better-than-usual shot at reselling their used and upcycled items.
Browse Poshmark
(P.S. If you love Poshmark, you'll also love Mercari!)
Swap.com
Take swapmeets online with swap.com! Similarly to ThredUp, swap.com operates by collecting clothes from sellers then photographing, pricing and listing them on their platform. It’s a great way for people cleaning out their closets to make a little extra cash, as well as an amazing option for a person looking to change up their look both sustainably and affordably. You can find high-quality and even designer items on swap.com all, at a deeply discounted rate.
Browse Swap.com
TheRealReal
If you’re looking for luxury items on a thrift store budget, TheRealReal is the site for you. This online consignment store has high standards for the products they’ll take on, so shoppers know that what they’re buying is the real deal. Their online aisles include everything from shoes and bags to workwear and evening gowns. While this site can be pricier than others featured on this list, you’re still getting an incredible discount on the retail price of many designer items.
Shop TheRealReal