Vinted is one of those apps that feels like it quietly snuck into everyone’s phone. Maybe you’ve used it to clear out a pile of unworn clothes, or maybe you’ve scrolled through and thought, “This is way cheaper than buying new.”
At first glance, though, the model seems almost too good to be true: you sell an item, keep all the money, and don’t get hit with seller fees. Compared with eBay or Depop, it feels like Vinted is playing a different game. Which naturally leads to the question: if sellers don’t pay, how on earth does Vinted stay afloat?
The truth is that Vinted’s business model is both simple and clever. It flips the script by keeping sellers happy and shifting the monetisation onto buyers and optional extras. Here’s how it works.
1. Buyer Protection Fees: The Big One
Every single purchase on Vinted comes with a mandatory Buyer Protection Fee. It’s usually a small percentage of the item price plus a flat fee — often around £0.70–£0.90 plus 5%.
That might sound minor, but across millions of transactions, it adds up fast. And it’s not just a “hidden tax.” Buyers actually get something in return:
- Secure payments handled by Vinted’s system instead of risky peer-to-peer transfers.
- Refund rights if the item never shows up or isn’t as described.
- Access to customer support if a dispute arises.
It’s basically peace of mind. People are more likely to buy when they know there’s a safety net. Vinted knows this — and it’s why this fee is the backbone of the company’s revenue.
2. Optional Boosts for Sellers: Visibility as a Service
While sellers aren’t charged by default, they’re not immune to temptation. If you’ve ever listed something and watched it sink to page 10 of the feed, you’ll know why.
Vinted offers two paid options:
- Item Bump: Pay a small fee to push your item back to the top of search results. Useful for quick sales or items stuck without views.
- Wardrobe Spotlight: Promote all your listings at once so your entire profile gets more eyeballs.
This is the classic freemium play: the core service is free, but sellers with a sense of urgency (or a big wardrobe to shift) are likely to pay for an edge.
3. Shipping Partnerships: The Quiet Earner
Here’s one most people don’t notice. Vinted has deals with logistics companies. When a buyer selects shipping, they pay for a label that Vinted generates instantly.
The company benefits in two ways:
- Convenience keeps users loyal. You don’t need to queue at the post office; you just print the label and drop the parcel.
- Bulk rates generate margin. Vinted negotiates discounted shipping with carriers, but charges users the standard rate. That difference is revenue.
It’s not the flashiest income stream, but at scale it’s significant.
4. Advertising & Data: The Next Frontier
At the moment, Vinted doesn’t flood the app with ads (thankfully). But with a user base of over 80 million members worldwide (as of 2023), the potential is obvious.
Future revenue could come from:
- Brand partnerships with fashion companies looking to tap into the secondhand trend.
- Targeted advertising aimed at highly engaged users who log in daily.
- Market insights sold to retailers who want to understand secondhand demand patterns.
It’s early days, but Vinted’s growth trajectory suggests these streams will expand.
Why the Model Works (and Where It’s Fragile)
Vinted’s genius lies in trust. Sellers feel valued because they’re not paying commissions. Buyers feel protected because their purchases are backed by the platform. That creates a community dynamic that fuels growth.
But there are cracks. Buyer fees can feel disproportionate for cheap items (paying £2.50 in fees for a £4 t-shirt stings). Shipping isn’t always seamless across borders. And if Vinted leans too hard into ads, it risks losing the clean, minimalist feel that users love.
Still, the model has propelled the company into unicorn territory. In 2021, Vinted was valued at €3.5 billion after raising €250 million in funding — proof that investors see long-term sustainability here.
The Bigger Picture
The timing works in Vinted’s favour. The global secondhand apparel market is projected to double to $350 billion by 2027 (source: ThredUp Resale Report). Shoppers are increasingly climate-conscious and wallet-conscious. Fast fashion isn’t dying, but the appetite for alternatives is growing fast.
So when someone asks you how Vinted makes money, the answer isn’t mysterious at all: buyers pay for peace of mind, sellers pay for visibility, and shipping partnerships grease the wheels. Everything else — from ads to analytics — is just the next evolution.