Poshmark vs ThredUp: Which is Better for Sellers in 2026?

February 21, 2026 · 14 min read

Poshmark and ThredUp both let you sell used clothing online, but they work in completely different ways. Poshmark is a peer-to-peer marketplace where you control everything. ThredUp is a consignment service where you ship them a box and they do the rest.

Which one makes you more money? It depends on what you're selling, how much time you have, and whether you want control over your listings. Here's the real comparison.

Quick Comparison

The Fee Difference (This is Huge)

This is where the platforms diverge dramatically. Let's compare what you actually earn on a $50 sale:

The math is clear: Poshmark pays you significantly more per item. ThredUp's payout percentages are much lower, especially on sub-$50 items. You're trading money for convenience.

When Poshmark Wins

You're a Serious Reseller

If reselling is your business (or side hustle), Poshmark is the clear choice. You control pricing, photography, and customer interaction. The 80% payout rate is one of the best in the industry for the audience you get.

You Sell Mid-Range to Premium Brands

Brands like Lululemon, Free People, Anthropologie, and Madewell have dedicated Poshmark buyer bases. These brands sell faster on Poshmark than anywhere else.

You Want to Build a Following

Poshmark has social features — followers, shares, Posh Parties. Active sellers who share their closet 2-3x daily and participate in Posh Parties get significantly more visibility.

You Have Luxury Items

Poshmark's Posh Authenticate service (free for $500+ items) verifies luxury goods, giving buyers confidence and letting you command higher prices.

When ThredUp Wins

You're Cleaning Out Your Closet (Not Running a Business)

If you have a bag of clothes you'd otherwise donate and you want to make something from them, ThredUp is perfect. Zero effort beyond boxing items up.

You Don't Have Time to List

Photographing, listing, sharing, and shipping individual items takes 15-30 minutes per item. If your time is worth more than the extra profit, ThredUp's hands-off model makes sense.

You Have Low-Value Items in Bulk

Items worth $5-15 on Poshmark aren't really worth the effort of listing individually. ThredUp can process these in bulk.

The ThredUp "Rejection" Problem

ThredUp's biggest complaint: they reject a LOT of items. According to seller reports, ThredUp accepts only 40-60% of items in most Clean Out Kits. Rejected items are either recycled or returned to you (for a fee).

Items most likely to be rejected:

• Fast fashion brands (H&M, Zara basics, Forever 21)
• Items with any visible wear, stains, or pilling
• Outdated styles (unless vintage 20+ years)
• Items not on their accepted brands list
• Anything they already have too much of

Poshmark Tips for Maximum Profit

1. Share your closet 3x/day — morning, afternoon, evening. This is the single biggest driver of sales.
2. Send OTL (Offer to Likers) — when someone likes your item, send a 10-20% discount offer within 24 hours
3. Join Posh Parties — share relevant items to party-appropriate categories for exposure
4. Price 20% above your target — buyers WILL offer less. Build in negotiation room
5. Relist stale items after 60 days — fresh listings get priority in search
6. Use all 16 photo slots — more photos = higher conversion rate
7. Cross-list to Mercari — same item, different audience, 10% fees instead of 20%

The Hybrid Strategy (Best of Both)

Smart resellers use BOTH platforms strategically:

• Poshmark: List items worth $25+ individually. Photograph well, price competitively, share daily
• ThredUp: Send items worth under $15 in bulk Clean Out Kits. Better than donating, minimal effort
• Also list on Mercari and eBay: Cross-listing across 3-4 platforms dramatically increases sell-through rate

Revenue Comparison: Real Numbers

Let's say you have 50 items to sell with an average value of $30 each:

Poshmark Route:

• Time investment: ~25 hours (listing, sharing, shipping)
• Expected sell-through: 70% over 90 days = 35 items sold
• Revenue: 35 × $30 × 0.80 = $840
• Hourly rate: $33.60/hr

ThredUp Route:

• Time investment: ~1 hour (box and ship)
• Accepted: 50% = 25 items
• ThredUp prices them at $15-25 each (they price lower than peer-to-peer)
• Revenue: 25 × $20 × 0.35 = $175
• Hourly rate: $175/hr

Plot twist: ThredUp has a higher hourly rate for low effort, but Poshmark generates 4.8x more total revenue. The right choice depends on whether you value total dollars or time efficiency.

The Verdict

Choose Poshmark if: You want to maximize revenue, you enjoy the process, you're building a reselling business, or you have mid-to-high-value items.

Choose ThredUp if: You're doing a one-time closet cleanout, you don't have time to list individually, or your items are mostly low-value basics.

Best strategy: Use both. Poshmark for your good stuff, ThredUp for the rest. Cross-list high-value items on Mercari and eBay too. The more platforms, the faster everything sells.