Selling on camera to a live room against quiet listings that buyers find later: Whatnot and Vinted compared on fees, stock, time and postage.
The short answer
Choose Vinted if you are clearing a wardrobe or reselling clothes at your own pace with no selling fee. Choose Whatnot if you have a steady supply of cards, collectables or vintage and enjoy running a show.
Whatnot
WhatnotVinted
VintedSide by side
How they compare on packing and posting.
- How a sale happens
- WhatnotLive, during a show, mostly through quick auctions.
- VintedA buyer finds your listing and buys or makes an offer.
- Seller fees
- WhatnotWhatnot takes fees on each sale; see its seller fees help page for current rates.
- VintedNo selling fee for private sellers; buyers pay a Buyer Protection fee.
- Getting started
- WhatnotApply to sell first; many get access straight away.
- VintedDownload the app and list.
- Time per sale
- WhatnotLow per item once live, but a show takes hours including prep.
- VintedPhotos and a listing for each item, then a wait.
- Best stock
- WhatnotCards, sealed product, collectables and curated vintage.
- VintedEveryday clothing, shoes, accessories and kids’ items.
- Postage
- WhatnotWhatnot provides UK shipping labels for sold orders.
- VintedBuyer picks and pays for delivery; some carriers use a QR code with no label to print.
- Kit you need
- WhatnotPhone mount, light and ideally a mic before the first show.
- VintedA phone and a plain wall to photograph against.
- Shifting a lot of stock fast
- WhatnotDozens of lots in an evening show.
- VintedItems sell one by one over days or weeks.
| Whatnot · 1 | Vinted · 4 | |
|---|---|---|
| How a sale happens | Live, during a show, mostly through quick auctions. | A buyer finds your listing and buys or makes an offer. |
| Seller fees | Whatnot takes fees on each sale; see its seller fees help page for current rates. | No selling fee for private sellers; buyers pay a Buyer Protection fee. |
| Getting started | Apply to sell first; many get access straight away. | Download the app and list. |
| Time per sale | Low per item once live, but a show takes hours including prep. | Photos and a listing for each item, then a wait. |
| Best stock | Cards, sealed product, collectables and curated vintage. | Everyday clothing, shoes, accessories and kids’ items. |
| Postage | Whatnot provides UK shipping labels for sold orders. | Buyer picks and pays for delivery; some carriers use a QR code with no label to print. |
| Kit you need | Phone mount, light and ideally a mic before the first show. | A phone and a plain wall to photograph against. |
| Shifting a lot of stock fast | Dozens of lots in an evening show. | Items sell one by one over days or weeks. |
Choose Whatnot if
- You sell cards, collectables or sealed product that people bid on.
- You are comfortable talking on camera for an hour or more.
- You buy in bulk and need to move many low-value lots quickly.
- You want regular buyers who come back for each show.
Choose Vinted if
- You are clearing your own wardrobe or a few bags of clothes.
- You would rather list in spare moments than run a show.
- You want to keep the full sale price with no selling fee.
- You do not want to buy lights or mounts before your first sale.
The guide
Each step in the order you'll need it.
Money in and money out
Vinted charges private sellers no selling fee. The buyer pays a Buyer Protection fee and the postage on top of your price, so the price you set is the money you get.
Whatnot takes its fees from the seller on each sale. Rates differ by category and change over time, so read Whatnot’s seller fees page before you price your first show.
Your evening, side by side
A Vinted evening means photographing and listing ten items, answering a few offers and packing yesterday’s sales. Nothing happens live, so you can stop at any point.
A Whatnot evening is a scheduled show: set up the light and phone, run the auctions for an hour or two, then pack every order the next morning. If you miss the slot, your buyers watch other shows.
Packing and posting
Vinted parcels are mostly single garments in a mailing bag. Many go via a QR code at a drop-off shop or locker, so a label printer is optional.
Whatnot shows can leave you with 30 or 40 orders at once. A thermal printer and a packing line pay for themselves fast. Check Whatnot’s UK shipping help for the services it offers.
Kit for this step
Using both
You can run both: a weekly Whatnot show for the best vintage, and Vinted for the everyday pieces that never get a bid.
Keep one stock list across the two. A coat that sells in a show has to come off Vinted the same night, or you end up refunding a buyer.
Questions
Is Whatnot or Vinted better for selling clothes in the UK?
Vinted for everyday clothing and wardrobe clear-outs. Whatnot suits curated vintage and branded pieces you can talk about on camera.
Does Vinted charge sellers fees?
Private sellers on Vinted UK pay no selling fee. Buyers pay a Buyer Protection fee at checkout. Vinted’s help page on selling for free has the details.
How much does Whatnot charge sellers?
Whatnot takes fees on each sale. Rates vary by category, so check Whatnot’s current seller fees help page.
Can anyone sell on Whatnot?
You apply to sell first. Many sellers get access straight away and some go through a review.
Do I need a label printer for either?
Not to start. Many Vinted carriers use QR drop-off, and Whatnot labels print on a home printer. A thermal printer helps once a Whatnot show brings dozens of orders.
Can I sell the same items on both?
Yes, as long as you remove a Vinted listing the moment the item sells in a show. Crosslisting tools or a simple stock list help.
