Long gone are the days of hosting garage sales; posting signs all over the neighborhood before sitting under the hot sun for hours… only to have no one show up. Luckily, you no longer have to do the walk of shame to the charity donation box, arms full of clothes that you could have sold for some much-needed extra cash. Thanks to the world wide web, buying and selling your gently used things has never been easier.
There are a number of online marketplace websites out there, but today we’ll be focusing on two of the most popular reselling platforms, Mercari and Poshmark.
Although these platforms have similar uses, there are some major differences that you should know before you start snapping photos of those Coach bags you have been meaning to get rid of.
You could place your items on sale on either marketplace. Many sellers list to both marketplaces automatically by using a crosslisting app
However, carefully considering whether to sell on Mercari vs Poshmark is better than doing no prior research. Zero research would leave you at a disadvantage, and could potentially earn far less than what the things you want to sell are worth.
Platform focus, customer base, fees and commission, privacy, and protection — these are all things you need to be aware of before posting your items for sale online.
Here is everything you need to know when making a decision between Mercari vs Poshmark to help you figure out which resale platform will best suit your needs.
What is Mercari?
As you may have already guessed, Mercari is an e-commerce platform and online marketplace that allows users to buy and sell items of all types. Buyers and sellers can post their items, “like” and save items that they’re interested in buying, offer discounts to potential customers, and message one another to ask questions about the item, shipping, pricing, and more.
Accounts for both buyers and sellers are simple and free to create, and sellers can post their items for free — though the platform does take a commission fee after it is sold.
The company first began in Japan in 2013, but has since expanded operations and now has teams across the world. Currently, the Mercari website and its accompanying app boast over 50 million downloads in the United States alone, with more than 350,000 new items being listed every day.
What is Poshmark?
Like Mercari, Poshmark is an e-commerce platform where buyers and sellers across the world can come together. However, Poshmark sets itself apart from other resale websites because it touts itself as a social marketplace. Instead of simply selling items, users can interact with one another in ways that are more similar to social media websites like Facebook or Instagram; posting photos, following one another, and sharing new listings to their news feed for other users to see.
Currently, Poshmark boasts more than 80 million users on the platform, making it one of the largest person-to-person marketplaces online.
Mercari vs Poshmark: Who uses the platform?
Unlike e-commerce behemoths like Amazon, resale platforms typically have more niche audiences. These audiences may be a result of the way the platform is designed — some cater to specific industries — or as a mere coincidence. Either way, knowing your audience is the most valuable thing you can do as a business owner, even if you are just selling some of your old things online. Here is how the user base differs between Mercari vs Poshmark and what items are popular on each platform.
Mercari does not pigeonhole itself by catering to a specific audience, as the site has subcategories for nearly every type of item. However, Mercari has become a haven for collectors. The platform hosts large numbers of collectibles of all types: video games, figures, limited edition knick-knacks, you name it. That being said, you can sell more conventional items (such as clothing and accessories) on the app and still turn a healthy profit.
On the other hand, Poshmark is your one-stop shop for all things fashion. The largest categories on Poshmark are women’s clothing and accessories, but there are also subcategories for electronics, pets, wellness, and more. Additionally, Poshmark hosts a bustling luxury market, available for those who are looking to buy high-end goods, such as designer purses or watches. Many of these luxury items are authenticated by Poshmark and have heightened protections for buyers and sellers, making Poshmark a great option for those who are looking to buy and sell luxury items without the use of a middleman.
Mercari vs Poshmark: Fees/Shipping
Unlike holding a garage sale, resale sites Poshmark and Mercari have fees associated with using their services. This is because of the features they offer — buyer/seller protection, rating systems, and shipping systems. Without these features, selling your goods online would be much riskier.
Fees (which can be hefty) should always be considered when deciding between Mercari vs Poshmark, but there is good news! Some platforms charge sellers just to use their site, but listing items on Mercari or Poshmark is totally free. Here is where the other fees come in:
- Mercari Commission and Shipping Fees
Mercari does not cost a thing until after you make a sale. The platform charges a 10% commission fee on every item sold and an additional 2.9% and $0.30 for every sale, based on the price of the item that was sold. While this sounds confusing, these fees are deducted from the profit you make from an item, removing the guesswork for sellers. So, if you sell an item on Mercari for $20, you would earn roughly $17 after the platform’s fees are deducted. This is why you should always make sure to adjust your prices accordingly — some sellers may list an item they want to sell for $20 at an adjusted $23 so that their profit reflects the value of their item after Mercari’s fees are deducted.
When it comes to payment, you can either opt for direct deposit or InstantPay with Mercari. The platform charges a $2 fee for every direct deposit under $10, while using InstantPay incurs a flat fee of $2 for all deposits. Make sure you enter your bank details correctly if you choose direct deposit — the platform charges an extra $2 if the deposit can’t reach your account, but your profit will be returned to your Mercari account.
Mercari offers sliding shipping rates depending on package weight with USPS, FedEx, and UPS, giving sellers a lot of choice. These rates start at $3.72 for a 0.25lbs package, $27.40 for a 10lbs package, and so on. The platform also offers Mercari Pack and Ship through UPS, where sellers can pay an additional fee to have UPS professionals pack, label, and ship your items for you. As a seller on Mercari, you can pay for shipping yourself and offer “free shipping” to entice buyers, or have buyers pay for shipping.
You can find a comprehensive list for all Mercari-related fees here.
You can learn more about mercari fees in our mercari fees guide or by using our mercari fee calculator.
- Poshmark Commission and Shipping Fees
Poshmark’s fees are more straightforward. For items that are sold for $15 or less, Poshmark takes a flat commission fee of $2.95, making it easy to adjust your prices accordingly. For items sold for more than $15, the platform takes a commission rate of 20%. Though it is a steeper fee than Mercari, it is an unchanging rate that is easy to account for when pricing items.
On the bright side, Poshmark does not charge you when withdrawing your funds from your account or directly depositing them to your bank. However, if you use PayPal or another similar platform, there may be additional fees incurred from that third party.
Poshmark does not offer as many shipping options as Mercari, only shipping through USPS, but their pricing is more straightforward. Poshmark charges buyers (not sellers) $7.67 for shipping all items under 5lbs. However, if the item is above 5lbs, sellers must purchase an additional upgraded shipping label, starting at $4.50 for 6lbs all the way up to $22.50 for 10lbs. Poshmark’s upgraded shipping costs can be found here.
You can learn more about fees on the platform in our poshmark fees guide or by using our poshmark fee calculator.
Mercari vs Poshmark: Other Important Features
We know that customer bases and shipping fees are not the only deciding factors when choosing whether to list your items on Mercari vs Poshmark. This is why we put Poshmark and Mercari head-to-head, comparing their competing aspects, and decided which platform we think “won” that round.
| Feature | Mercari | Poshmark | Winner |
| User Interface/Home Page | Easily navigable for buyers and sellers. Cultivated list of items based on a buyer’s previous activity. It is generally very accurate, showing items buyers may enjoy based on their search history, not just items they have specifically searched for. | “Social marketplace” clogs home page feeds with listings from other accounts users follow. There are some recommendations offered based on the user’s previous searches, but overall, it is disorganized and largely ignored by casual buyers. | Mercari |
| Advertising and Listing Exposure | Mercari has limited advertising options, so sellers have to work hard to make their listings perfect. Listings can appear on the home page, though, so buyers can find items without having to search for them. However, Mercari does have a smaller user base compared to Poshmark. | Poshmark offers sellers a number of ways to advertise and boost their listing exposure due to their social marketplace approach, such as sharing your own listings or partnering with another seller and sharing each other’s listings. However, Poshmark recommends that sellers share their listings 3 to 4 times a day to a day for maximum exposure, which can be time consuming if you have a large number of items listed. | Poshmark |
| Shipping | Four different types of shipping options gives sellers the freedom of choice and sellers can choose whether to charge buyers for shipping or pay for it themselves. However, shipping can be more expensive depending on the courier. | Limited shipping options with lower costs, paid by the buyer. However, if the package weighs more than 5lbs, sellers must pay the difference. | Tie: Poshmark has cheaper shipping costs, but Mercari gives sellers more options. |
| Seller Protection | Covers up to $200 for sellers on all packages sent using Mercari Now or Mercari prepaid shipping. | Full coverage for all items for all items with a Poshmark-provided shipping label and scanned into the USPS tracking system. Additionally, all items sold for over $400 require a signature upon delivery for an extra security measure. | Poshmark |
| Buying and Selling Locally | When a local buyer purchases an item, sellers can “ship” their item via Uber for $7.99 (this cost can be paid by the buyer or seller). The item could potentially be delivered the same day it is purchased, without the need for buyers and sellers to meet in person. | Buyers can filter search results by location, and sellers can “support” local boutiques or individuals by liking and sharing their items. However, all sold Poshmark listings must be shipped by USPS to be eligible for seller protection. |
Mercari |
Mercari vs Poshmark: Which is best for you?
Starting your journey as a seller online can be nerve-wracking, especially considering just how many marketplace options there are! Both Mercari and Poshmark have their benefits, which unfortunately makes it difficult to choose between them. However, your decision will largely depend on what you are selling.
If you are looking to sell your old jeans, dresses, accessories, or luxury purses — Poshmark is your best bet, without a doubt.
However, if you are selling any type of collectible, video game accessories, or another niche item, Mercari is the place you should be.
If you are feeling ambitious, you can also use both! Many sellers cross-list their items on both Mercari and Poshmark to increase exposure and boost their chances of selling the item. If you choose this route, just make sure you don’t accidentally sell the same item twice!
Fortunately selling an item twice is not something you have to worry about with a crosslisting app!
Top Sellers on both marketplaces make use of our crosslisting app to automatically list their inventory to other platforms quickly. You can crosslist your entire inventory in no time by trying out our tool for free.
Learn more about crosslisting in our crosslisting guide