15 alternatives to eBay in the UK with costs, pros and cons

Take a look at the top alternatives to eBay for affordable online shopping, from unique items to local deals and eco-friendly options.

Tired of eBay? It’s not the only auction or marketplace out there.

There’s a whole world of shopping beyond eBay, whether it’s unique handmade items, trendy fashion, or local bargains.

You can easily find exactly what you’re looking for or sell your stuff without the eBay hustle.

These alternatives offer great choices and easy experiences.

Alternatives to eBay in the UK

Each of these platforms works in slightly different ways. Below are more details, including the costs and pros and cons of using each one.

Depending on what you are planning to flog, whether you are selling your second-hand stuff or you are buying and selling for profit, here are what the sites are best for:

• Gumtree: Best for local classifieds, including jobs, rentals, and second-hand items.
• Preloved: Ideal for buying and selling second-hand items, focusing on a community feel.
• Facebook Marketplace: Great for local buying and selling within your social network.
• Depop: Best for vintage and unique fashion items, especially for a younger audience.
• Vinted: Suitable for buying, selling, or swapping second-hand clothing and accessories.
• Etsy: Perfect for handmade, custom, and unique items, as well as vintage goods.
• Shpock: A boot-sale app ideal for local deals and various items.
• eBid: A good alternative to eBay for auctioning items, with lower fees.
• Fruugo: A marketplace with international shipping for a wide range of products.
• OnBuy: UK-based general marketplace offering competitive prices.
• Not On The High Street: Specialises in unique, often personalised gifts from small businesses.
• Amazon UK: Excellent for a vast range of new and used products, with reliable delivery.
• Music Magpie: Best for selling and buying refurbished electronics and media.
• Ziffit: Ideal for easily selling books, DVDs, CDs, and games online.
• WeBuyBooks: Good for selling books, as well as CDs, DVDs, and games for quick cash.

Gumtree – the local hero

• Cost: Free to use, but some ads can be paid for better visibility.
• Pros: Local deals, often with no delivery costs, plus a wide range of items.
• Cons: Less protection compared to some other platforms – always meet in safe places.
• Estimated monthly traffic: Approximately 46.1 thousand visits

Gumtree is a bit like a massive online car boot sale.

You can find loads of things from furniture to toys, often really close to where you live.

Because it’s local, you can often pick up your goodies without paying for delivery!

Preloved – treasure trove for second-hand finds

• Cost: Free membership is available, but paid memberships offer more benefits.
• Pros: Great for second-hand items, no auction stress, and environmentally friendly.
• Cons: Less variety compared to larger platforms with a slower selling process.
• Estimated monthly traffic: Approximately 2.7 million visits​

Preloved is all about rehoming items, from bikes to bookshelves.

There are no auction wars here – just straightforward buying and selling.

It’s a fab way to find something unique at a reasonable price.

Facebook Marketplace – social media meets shopping

• Cost: Free to use.
• Pros: Easy to use, can check seller’s profiles and local deals.
• Cons: Can have safety concerns, and the quality of items varies greatly.
• Estimated monthly traffic: Approximate traffic – unknown, but the site/app gets around 22 BILLION visits each month!

Facebook isn’t just for chatting with friends. Their Marketplace feature is brilliant for finding deals near you.

You can even set up alerts for specific items you’re hunting for.

You can also check out the seller’s profile to feel more secure.

Find more places where you can sell stuff online for free.

Shpock – boot sale app for your phone

• Cost: Free, but there are fees for extra features like ad promotions.
• Pros: User-friendly app, is good for local deals, and easy to negotiate prices.
• Cons: Buyer and seller protection isn’t as strong, and some users report spam.
• Estimated monthly traffic: Approximately 1.6 million visits​

Shpock is like having a boot sale on your phone.

It’s super easy to use, and you can search for bargains in your area.

You can haggle with sellers and find some real gems at pocket-friendly prices.

Etsy – unique, handmade treasures

• Cost: Prices vary as items are unique but are generally higher due to craftsmanship.
• Pros: Unique, handmade items, supports small businesses, and great for gifts.
• Cons: More expensive, so not suitable for everyday items or bulk buys.
• Estimated monthly traffic: Approximately 131.9 thousand visits

Etsy is the place for handmade and unique items.

It’s perfect for gifts or something special for your home.

Supporting small businesses and crafters is also a great way to shop smartly.

Amazon – the everything store

• Cost: Free to browse and buy; selling involves fees.
• Pros: Huge selection, reliable delivery, and good customer protection.
• Cons: Can be overwhelming due to size, but competitive pricing for sellers.
• Estimated monthly traffic: Approximately 416.2 million visits.

I’m not sure Amazon needs too much of an introduction unless you’ve been hiding under a rock.

It’s a global online marketplace with a vast range of new and used products. We’re even selling our book, Make Every Penny Count, there.

eBid – the auction alternative

• Cost: Free to buy; selling has lower fees than eBay, with optional paid memberships for more features.
• Pros: Cheaper for sellers and a less crowded market.
• Cons: Smaller audience and less variety compared to eBay.
• Estimated monthly traffic: Approximately 460 thousand visits.

If you’re already used to eBay’s auction-style format, eBid will be the next best thing.

eBid stands out with its significantly lower fees, making it a more cost-effective option for both buyers and sellers.

It offers a wide collection of items across various categories, similar to eBay, providing a comprehensive marketplace experience.

Depop – vintage fashion

• Cost: Free to use, but there are transaction and payment processing fees.
• Pros: Great for unique clothing finds with a strong community vibe.
• Cons: It mainly focuses on fashion with a younger user base.
• Estimated monthly traffic: Approximately 14.6 million visits.

Depop is a fashion-forward, social shopping platform that caters especially to a younger, trend-conscious audience.

You can buy, sell, and explore unique fashion pieces ranging from vintage to contemporary streetwear.

Vinted – clothes swap and shop

• Cost: Free to use; sellers don’t pay fees, but buyers pay a small buyer protection fee.
• Pros: No selling fees, easy to use, good for clothes and accessories.
• Cons: Limited to clothing and accessories, but the quality varies.
• Estimated monthly traffic: Approximately 14.2 million visits

Vinted is an online marketplace focusing on second-hand clothing, accessories, and beauty products.

With features like easy listing, a broad audience reach, and no selling fees, Vinted is a great option for anyone looking to declutter their closets or find unique fashion items at affordable prices.

Fruugo – global shopping

• Cost: Free to buy; selling involves commission fees.
• Pros: Wide range of products with international shipping.
• Cons: Less well-known; varied seller standards.
• Estimated monthly traffic: Approximately 2.7 million visits

Fruugo is a global marketplace focusing on a wide range of products.

OnBuy – fastest growing marketplace

• Cost: Free to buy; selling involves fees.
• Pros: UK-focused, competitive prices and growing platform.
• Cons: Less recognition compared to giants like Amazon and eBay.
• Estimated monthly traffic: Approximately 5.1 million visits

A UK-based marketplace offering a wide range of products, OnBuy sells items from electronics to home goods.

It has competitive pricing, often offering better deals than other larger platforms.

The site gives a fair and transparent selling environment for its sellers.

Not On The High Street – personalised gifts

• Cost: Prices are often higher due to the uniqueness and quality of items.
• Pros: Supports small businesses; unique, quality items; great for gifts.
• Cons: More expensive; not for everyday or bulk shopping.
• Estimated monthly traffic: Approximately 8.6 million visits.

Not On The High Street specialises in unique, often handmade gifts and items from small businesses.

It’s perfect if you’re looking for something different or special that you can’t find in regular shops.

The website is easy to use, so finding that perfect gift is simple and fun!

Music Magpie – tech and media reselling

• Cost: Free to use
• Pros: Offers a convenient way to sell used items; provides environmentally friendly shopping options.
• Cons: Prices offered for items might be lower than selling directly to buyers; limited to certain types of products.
• Estimated Monthly Traffic: 1.4 million visits​​.

Music Magpie is a platform for selling and buying refurbished electronics, including phones, tech, games, and more.

It’s really easy to use – you just scan your items to sell them, and they’ll tell you how much they’re worth. It’s great for making some extra money from stuff you don’t need anymore.

Plus, if you want to buy, you can find good deals on pre-owned tech and entertainment items.

Ziffit – quick and easy media selling

• Cost: Free to use
• Pros: Simple process to sell unwanted items; free postage for sending items.
• Cons: It may not offer the best prices for all items; the range of accepted items can be limited.
• Estimated monthly traffic: 188.7 thousand visits​​.

Ziffit is an online service for selling books, DVDs, CDs, and games, offering an easy decluttering solution.

Just enter the barcode or scan your items, and they’ll give you a price instantly.

They even offer free postage, so sending your stuff off is super easy.

WeBuyBooks – hassle-free book sales

• Cost: Free to use
• Pros: It offers an easy and fast way to earn cash from unwanted items; it is a user-friendly website.
• Cons: Some items may have low valuation and require a minimum value for selling.
• Estimated Monthly Traffic: 199.5 thousand visits​​.

WeBuyBooks is a platform specialising in purchasing books, CDs, DVDs, and games from individuals.

Shein Exchange – just for Shein clothes

• Cost: 5% of sale price
• Pros: Placing a listing is easy and fast, and users are just Shein customers, so they are happy with the quality of the products.
• Cons: You can only buy and sell items from Shein.
• Estimated Monthly Traffic: 22.1 million users, with 77% using the app

Shein Exchange is new to the UK, but will likely become popular very fast.

(Estimated monthly traffic from analysis from Similarweb.)

FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions about alternatives to eBay in the UK:

Are these alternatives generally cheaper than eBay?

It varies by platform and item, but many alternatives like Gumtree and Preloved can offer lower prices, especially for used or local items.

Is it safe to buy from these alternatives?

These platforms are generally safe, but it’s important to exercise caution, especially on peer-to-peer platforms. Always read reviews, check seller ratings, and follow each platform’s safety guidelines.

Do these platforms offer buyer protection?

Buyer protection policies vary. Platforms like Etsy and OnBuy offer strong buyer protection, while peer-to-peer platforms like Gumtree may offer less formal protection.

Can I sell items on these platforms?

Yes, most of these platforms allow users to sell items. Each platform has its own listing process and fees.

Are there any environmentally friendly shopping options?

If you are selling second-hand items, you’re already being eco-friendly.

However, platforms like Preloved and Vinted generally promote the reuse of items, which is environmentally friendly.