7 Best Apps Like Shein To Consider For 2024

Shein was declared 2022’s largest fashion retailer, the latest stop of its global domination tour. Founded in 2008 in China, the brand specializes in stylish and affordable clothing, with prices that sometimes almost seem too good to be true.

If you’re eager to find other apps like Shein to further your clothing monopoly, you’re in luck. Keep reading to discover similar platforms to rake in that cash.

An Overview of Shein

Since taking the fashion world by storm in the late 2000s, Shein has become one of the most prominent names in the style game. Let’s review its strengths and shortcomings.

Where Does Shein Excel?

Shein’s biggest claim to fame is its affordable fashion. Items exist in all styles without costing a fortune. Unlike other retailers, which offer steep sales only during some times of the year, the costs are always affordable on Shein.

The Shein Marketplace allows you to sell third-party goods and more than women’s clothing. You can also make extra money on beauty and health items, home and living products, electronics, shoes, tools, toys, home appliances, and kids’ items.

Where Does Shein Fall Short?

Though Shein is legit, and its name has risen to meteoric levels, the brand has undergone its fair share of scrutiny. The shop has been accused of using unethical practices and furthering fast fashion, which degrades the fashion market as a whole.

Our Top Picks

1. eBay
2. Depop
3. thredUp
4. Vestiaire Collective
5. Poshmark
6. Rebag
7. Mercari

The Best Shein Alternatives at a Glance

If you only have a few minutes to check out our Shein alternatives, here’s all the info you need to know.

What Is the Best Alternative to Shein?

The best alternative to Shein is eBay, an online marketplace with a reputation dating back decades. You can sell whatever you need on eBay’s online store, and since you set the prices, you can ensure a fair value. You can also sell used items, which some apps like Shein frown upon.  

Who Is Shein’s Biggest Competitor?

Shein has several big competitors, including Depop, thredUP, and the aforementioned eBay. Each has a vast marketplace of options that extend beyond the latest trends, so you can sell more than women’s clothing, increasing your earnings.

The Best Shein Alternatives in 2023

Shein has many staunch competitors that offer more profitable selling opportunities. Below, you’ll learn why they threaten Shein’s market and why you should consider them as you start your retail business.

1. eBay (Best Overall)

• Summary: eBay has survived multiple decades (and centuries) of shopping habits to give sellers like you an outlet to make money from trendy clothing and so much more.
• Good: You can set your own prices and list an increasing number of items a month.
• Bad: People may buy duplicate items at a lower price.
• When to Choose This Shein Alternative: If you want to set your own prices rather than have a website tell you what your items are worth, use eBay.

eBay is an e-commerce platform for buying and selling every item under the sun. You can offload your cheap clothing or venture outside the fashion industry and sell appliances, memorabilia, shoes, electronics, auto parts, toys, art, sporting goods, beauty and health items, jewelry, baby items, and pet supplies.  

Why Is This a Great Option?

You have plenty of flexibility when selling on eBay. You can post your listing with a fixed price or start a live bid. Using the Buy It Now option allows someone interested in bidding to scoop the items without having to engage in a bidding war.

While eBay recommends costs to keep your prices in line with consumer expectations, you get to pick the final price at the end of the day.

Drawbacks to eBay

eBay is a popular–even overcrowded–online marketplace, with more than 18 billion sellers. Your items must be unique to attract an audience but not so niche that no one thinks to search for them.

You also need to set a fair price, as no one will spend hundreds or thousands more on items with an inflated value, especially fast fashion clothing.

2. Depop

• Summary: Depop is an app and website for selling women’s and men’s wear, especially fashionable clothing.
• Good: Selling on Depop is easy, motivating you to empty your closet.
• Bad: You have to use this site as a social media platform to attract business.
• When to Choose This Shein Alternative: Pick Depop as a Shein alternative if you’re seeking an online marketplace with a better reputation.

Popping up online in 2011, Depop is an e-commerce app and website based in London. It only took several years for Depop to rise to prominence, becoming one of the most popular platforms of its kind. It specializes in men’s and women’s fashion like Shein, but not necessarily cheap clothing.

Why Is This a Great Option?

Depop is lauded for its easy, straightforward seller experience. The user interface is easily navigable, the fees are inexpensive, and you can promote your online storefront to a worldwide audience.

Although it’s mostly known for reselling clothing, you can list other items on Depop, from shoes to CDs. You can also receive easy payments through PayPal.

Drawbacks to Depop

Although Depop isn’t technically a social media site, it tows the line. The layout will remind you of Instagram, and you must be as connected and engaged as on any other social platform to sell. If you slack on your activity, your items might languish.

3. thredUp

• Summary: The consignment shop thredUp is one of the top online stores for selling clothes and more.  
• Good: You can offload up to 30 pounds of items at a time on this platform.
• Bad: thredUP is picky about which clothes it accepts.
• When to Choose This Shein Alternative: If you have designer duds and other fashion-label items you don’t use, try thredUp instead of Shein.

Established in 2009, thredUp is an online consignment brand. Although they’re known to sell clothing, that’s only scratching the surface. This platform sells kids’ goods, maternity wear, handbags, and shoes. You can even sell your designer goods for reasonable prices.

Why Is This a Great Option?

Where else can you sell around 30 pounds of items at once? thredUp will send you a Clean Out Kit. Fill it up, send it to thredUp, and make money. When you’ve cashed out, you can get your hands on another Clean Out Kit, filling it with maxi dresses, beauty products, graphic T-shirts, and other items.

Drawbacks to thredUp

thredUp is incredibly picky about the items it accepts. The clothing and items should be in “excellent condition” with no signs of wear, even in hidden areas. You should also sell items from brands and designers thredUp’s audiences use.

The site changes what it wants according to season and user demand, and selling other items might lead to rejection.

4. Vestiaire Collective

• Summary: The company once known as Tradesy is alive and kicking with an app and website.
• Good: Luxury fashion lives on this platform, giving you the option to sell yours when you no longer want it.
• Bad: No cheap clothing is allowed here, as this online boutique has a high-end reputation.
• When to Choose This Shein Alternative: If you buy the latest trends (but not fast fashion) and are eager to sell them, Vestiaire Collective is a smart choice.

Tradesy.com was one of the top apps like Shein, but it was later bought out and rebranded as the Vestiaire Collective. The crux of the site changed, as Vestiaire is an online marketplace for buying and selling designer goods second-hand. Besides fashion, you can also sell jewelry, watches, children’s items, handbags, and vintage items.

Why Is This a Great Option?

Many of the marketplaces on this list cater toward cheap clothes, but not the Vestiaire Collective. The clothing selection and other items available on this site are anything but fast fashion, and people clamber for it. Vestiaire has over 10 million users, exposing your products to a vast audience.

Drawbacks to Vestiaire Collective

The user interface could be better, and the customer service isn’t as helpful as you might expect when trying to fuel the site by providing items. Users have complained about the lack of buyer protections compared to other Shein alternatives. Considering the high price of the items you sell here, you might want more guarantees on your clothes.

5. Poshmark

• Summary: One of the longest-running and most popular eCommerce sites, Poshmark lets you sell items from clothes to home decor.
• Good: Poshmark attracts a large audience, with more than 80 million buyers and sellers and over 200 million items.
• Bad: It can be difficult to stand out amongst all that competition.
• When to Choose This Shein Alternative: Pick Poshmark over Shein for selling designer goods. It’s also great for offloading your home items and kids’ clothes.

Poshmark is an online marketplace that experienced a meteoric rise to fame. Its bread and butter is clothing for affordable prices, but keen sellers can also make cash from their electronics, home goods, and more.

Your fashion needn’t be used to sell it. You could always sell used through Poshmark.

Why Is This a Great Option?

Taking a page from eBay’s book, Poshmark has a haggling component built in. Buyers can purchase your item at the price you list it (and yes, you get to select the cost), or they can make an offer on your item.

You don’t have to accept drastically low offers. You could make a counteroffer to get closer to the desired price. Poshmark will even send you a prepaid shipping label, saving you money and time.  

Drawbacks to Poshmark

Lowball offers will come through all the time because the platform is popular for haggling. More so, Poshmark has a huge user base, and with millions upon millions of listings to sift through, it takes a lot for your items to stand out.

You might sell items for more affordable prices, but that undercuts your profit.

6. Rebag

• Summary: The consignment experience gets dressed up on Rebag, a luxury resale site.
• Good: Rebag offers sellers quick payments, fixed commissions, pre-approved payments, and more.
• Bad: Trading is available, so it can be hard to get buyers to agree to your asking price.
• When to Choose This Shein Alternative: Rebag is another excellent alternative if you prefer a diverse range of high-end styles over fast fashion.

When it began in 2014, Rebag was a brick-and-mortar store in New York. As its profile grew, so did its presence, with Rebag eventually popping up online. It’s one of the top shopping apps for buying and selling luxury goods today, including apparel, shoes, jewelry, watches, accessories, and handbags.

Why Is This a Great Option?

Rebag will help you find the best value for your item by appraising it after learning about its history and seeing photos. You can also take advantage of many payment options, especially with the introduction of the buyout.

You can receive upfront quotes, quick or pre-approved payments, and fixed commissions.

Drawbacks to Rebag

You must pay a commission rate that is sometimes higher than other peer-to-peer marketplaces. Haggle culture is also alive and well on Rebag, or users will try to get you to trade, making it harder to sell your items at their preferred value, even luxury goods.

7. Mercari

• Summary: This online marketplace helps you declutter by selling items of all categories.
• Good: Mercari has eBay vibes, making it an appealing platform. Become a Pro Seller for even better features.
• Bad: The shipping protection doesn’t extend beyond $200.
• When to Choose This Shein Alternative: Mercari has the marketplace size and reputation to provide a great resource for selling items over Shein.

The eCommerce marketplace Mercari was born in Japan in 2013. It’s one of the biggest marketplaces in that country and has global appeal, broadening its horizons as it expanded worldwide. The selection of items you can sell on this platform runs the gamut, similar to eBay’s large categorization.

Why Is This a Great Option?

Mercari makes it easy to begin selling immediately. If you like the experience enough, you might strive to become a Pro Seller, where you can gain free promotion on Mercari’s third-party ad channels. You also get your own badge, a Mercari partnership, and tools like detailed analytics and inventory management.

Drawbacks to Mercari

Mercari only accepts Pro Sellers on a rolling basis, with a waitlist sellers can sign up for in the meantime. That can leave you in the lurch. Additionally, its seller protections only apply to items up to $200, so it’s risky to sell more expensive items on this platform.

Even More Options to Check Out

As you seek to expand your fashion options further in the clothing marketplace, consider these apps like Shein to explore.

Swap.com

Mail in your clothing for young women, men, and children to Swap.com and wait for your money.

Yes, it’s that easy, considering Swap will list your items, upload photos, and set up the pricing. You have to pay a $4.95 processing charge, but your commission rate is 70 percent if your items are valued at more than $8 and 15 percent for lower-cost items.

Some sellers love the hands-off approach to Swap, as it’s passive income at its finest. Others might take umbrage with the fact that Swap.com sets prices for you. Buyers might get an affordable price tag, but you could want more money than you earn.

Plato’s Closet

You should consider exploring shopping apps like Plato’s Closet if the Shein reselling model isn’t your style. Plato’s Closet has nearly any type of fashion, from T-shirts to jeans, bodysuits, dresses, sweatshirts, skirts, and sweaters from brands like Adidas, Coach, BDG, Converse, H&M, Forever 21, and Gymshark.

Plato’s Closet is picky about what it accepts, preferring items from its extensive list of brands. You might have a hard time selling some of your fast fashion pieces here.

Related: How to sell to Plato's Closet

The RealReal

The luxury consignment shop The RealReal should be on your radar as you explore apps like Shein. The site has a solid reputation and promises to help you sell your high-end goods fast, from fashion to handbags.

However, the commission structure is worth paying attention to. The rate can be between 40 and 85 percent, and with a staggered commission schedule, it can take a while to see the full value of your item, even if you sell it fast.

Wrapping Up

Shein has become one of the most prominent fast fashion brands for its accessible website design, variety of styles, consistent new arrivals, and low prices. Although the retailer offers trendy pieces in its new collections, the clothes are not good quality and will fall apart sooner or later.

eBay is the top platform for selling your goods. Whether you have a closet full of fast fashion or designer items, you can set your price, accept bids and offers, and build your seller reputation on eBay.

Poshmark, Depop, and Rebag are also excellent options, although not all specialize in inexpensive clothing.

Did you find your new favorite alternative to Shein on this list? Which do you want to explore first? Let us know in the comments below, and please like and share if you enjoyed this article.