Top 10 Buy and Sell Apps in 2026 and how to Build a Marketplace App?

In the last five years, the number of mobile users around the world has increased to a great extent. As a result, people are now trading goods online and even building businesses through buy and sell apps. 

So, if you are building a marketplace or launching a product on an e-commerce platform, you need to know where attention is going in 2026. 

Let’s talk numbers for a second. Mobile commerce is expected to hit $2.9 trillion by the end of 2025. And over 72% of all eCommerce sales are now happening on smartphones. 

But it’s not just the volume that’s changing, it’s how users behave. They’re quicker. They expect cleaner UI, faster checkouts, smarter recommendations, and safer transactions. If online selling apps don’t deliver, they’re deleted in seconds.

This blog presents you with a curated list of top 10 buy and sell apps that are taking the lead in this shift. We will identify why these online selling apps have been able to facilitate users to purchase and sell multiple products and services. 

Let’s dive in.

10 Best Apps for Online Selling in 2026

Here is the list of top buying and selling apps that users love:  

1. Amazon 
2. Facebook Marketplace
3. OXL 
4. Ebay 
5. Letgo 
6. OfferUp
7. Mercari
8. Craigslist
9. Vinted
10. Thredup 

Going ahead, let’s unfold each and understand what makes these apps sell things locally more demanding. 

10 Buy and Sell Apps to Help Users Shop Online with Ease

In this section, we’ll discuss the list and descriptions of the top online buying and selling apps ruling the marketplace landscape. If you want to expand your sales into other areas of the world or you want to try out new buy and sell apps, here are some to consider.

1: Amazon 

 

• Platforms: Web, iOS, Android
• Ratings: App Store: 4.7 / Google Play: 4.4
• Founding Year: 1994
• Headquarters: Seattle, Washington, USA

The Amazon Marketplace is in first place on our list of free apps for buying and selling due to various reasons. It is a global e-commerce platform that allows third-party sellers to sell new or used products directly to customers with a nominal item charge. 

Amazon Marketplace has more than 1.9 million active sellers. Astonishingly, the platform sells 4,000 products per minute. It operates in 18+ countries and reaches more than 300 million customers.

Best For: As a seller, you can quickly scale your business by leveraging Amazon’s reputation and its built-in Prime customer base. It is one of the most popular buy and sell apps.

• Categories: Amazon supports a broad range of categories (Books, Apparel, Electronics, Grocery, Toys, Media, Beauty products, among others). 
• Fees: Amazon charges either a $0.99/item fee or $39.99/month. Sellers also pay referral fees, which are 6–15% depending on the category.
• Creating a Listing: Sellers create listings by entering a product identifier, description, images, and pricing, etc.

2: Facebook Marketplace

• Platforms: Web, iOS, Android 
• Ratings: App Store: 4.3 / Google Play: 4.1
• Founding Year: 2016 (Marketplace launch)
• Headquarters: Menlo Park, California, USA

Facebook Marketplace allows users to buy and sell new or used goods within the Facebook network. As of 2025, Facebook Marketplace has more than 1.1 billion users in 70 countries. This makes it one of the largest online apps for buying and selling globally. 

Businesses can feature retail inventory or use paid ads to increase visibility. Moreover, listings from other platforms like eBay can also appear on FB Marketplace. This allows sellers to gain even more exposure without additional listing fees.

Best For: Facebook Marketplace is one of the best apps to sell things locally. It’s ideal for in-person sales without platform fees or complex logistics.

• Categories: You can list goods from furniture and clothes to electronics, vehicles, and home goods (across 18 main categories).
• Fees: You can list for free, and if you ship an order, you pay 5% of the sale price (or $0.40 if under $8).
• Creating a Listing: Start by uploading photos, adding a title, price, description, and choosing pickup or shipping. You can also tag items or specify a condition to make your listing more searchable.

3: OXL 

• Platforms: Web, iOS, Android
• Ratings: App Store: 4.3 / Google Play: 4.1
• Founding Year: 2006
• Headquarters: Amsterdam, Netherlands

OLX, also called Online eXchange, is the best app to sell things locally, where users can buy and sell automobiles, real estate, household items, jobs, and other services. This leading buy and sell app operates in 30+ countries and features 20+ brands. Its dominant presence in India and Brazil has created well connected online community. In fact, in India, OLX has over 33 million monthly active users who post 100,000+ ads daily, with over 650,000 images uploaded every day.

Best for: It’s ideal if you’re looking for low-cost listings without managing complex logistics. OLX excels in local and emerging-market classified buy and sell apps.

• Categories: The seller can list electronics, fashion, furniture, vehicles, real estate, jobs, and even pets. OLX spans both C2C and B2C categories depending on your region.
• Fees: A seller can create basic listings for free. But if you want more visibility, you can pay for premium features like “Featured Ad” or “Boost Top Ads.
• Shipping: OLX offers door-to-door shipping delivery service. Remember, shipping fees are calculated based on weight and distance.

4: eBay 

• Platforms: Web, iOS, Android
• Ratings: App Store: 4.8 / Google Play: 4.5
• Founding Year: 1995
• Headquarters: San Jose, California, USA

eBay is one of the top 5 buy and sell apps, connecting buyers and sellers in almost every country. The company was founded in 1995 and is based in San Jose, California. It offers auction-style and fixed-price sales for nearly any item permitted by law. 

As of Q1 2025, eBay has approximately 134 million active buyers and 20 million sellers, with roughly 2.3 billion active listings in various categories. This includes electronics, fashion, collectibles, and other used goods.

Best For: You should consider eBay if you want flexibility with auction or fixed-price listings and developing a brand with international reach.

• Categories: One can list electronics, collectible items, fashion, books, vehicles, and specialty goods. 
• Fees: You can list up to 250 items per month for free; then the cost is $0.35 for each listing. When something sells, eBay charges a final value fee (normally 2.5% – 15%, + $0.30 – $0.40 per order).

5: Letgo 

• Platforms: Web, iOS, Android
• Ratings: App Store: 4.4 / Google Play: 4.3
• Founding Year: 2015
• Headquarters: Barcelona, Spain

Letgo, established in 2015, is a top online buying and selling app that mostly serves the second-hand goods market. On the platform, users can buy and sell electronics, furniture, clothing, and cars locally. 

The platform has proven exceptionally successful, garnering over 100 million downloads and hosting more than 400 million listings worldwide. It is on our list of free apps for buying and selling because Letgo makes secondhand buying easy and fun.

Best For: You can use Letgo to post secondhand items quickly and sell locally without hassle.

• Fees: It is free to advertise items on Letgo. However, you can purchase a “Bump” for about $1.99 per day to feature your listings. 
• Creating a Listing: Open the Letgo app, upload high-quality photos, write a description, set pricing, and select your shipping preferences.

6: OfferUp

• Platforms: Web, iOS, Android
• Ratings: App Store: 4.7 / Google Play: 4.3
• Founding Year: 2011
• Headquarters: Bellevue, Washington, USA

OfferUp is one of the best buy and sell apps that kicked off in 2011, making it easy for people to buy and sell used items locally across the United States. By 2021, it had attracted over 20 million active users and facilitated more than $14 billion in transactions. 

The platform is all about fostering a trustworthy community. It features more than 1400 community meetup spots that come with a handy messaging system to make transactions smoother.

OfferUp generates roughly $89.4 million in annual revenue as of mid-2025. Its revenue streams include:

• Transaction Fees: When items are shipped, OfferUp charges sellers a service fee ranging from about 12.9% to 15.4% of the sale price plus payment processing fees. 
• Promoted Listings: Promotion prices range from around $1.99 to $9.99, with subscription options at about $19.99/month.
• Verified Merchant Program: Professional and high-volume sellers pay subscription fees (starting around $49.99/month).

7: Mercari

• Platforms: Web, iOS, Android
• Ratings: App Store: 4.8 / Google Play: 4.6
• Founding Year: 2013
• Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan

Mercari, Inc. is a Japanese tech company known for a consumer-to-consumer online app for buying and selling. This platform allows users to effortlessly buy and sell both new and used items. 

Since its launch in 2013, Mercari has blossomed into a significant player, boasting over 20 million active users each month. The platform makes great use of AI to enhance the user experience. For instance, AI helps sellers to create listings in just about 15 seconds by automatically generating titles and descriptions from their photos.

• Categories: Popular categories include Clothing & Accessories, Electronics, Sports & Outdoor Gear, Books & Media, Kids’ Items, Hobbies & Crafts, and Shoes. 
• Creating a Listing: Sellers create listings by uploading photos, adding a title, description, price, and selecting a category.
• Fees: Mercari charges a selling fee (typically around 10% of the sale price). There is no fee for creating a listing.

8: Craigslist

• Platforms: Web 
• Ratings: App Store: 2.5 / Google Play: 2.4
• Founding Year: 1995
• Headquarters: San Francisco, California, USA

Craigslist is a privately owned American company that found its spot in our list of top 10 buy and sell apps. It covers a wide range of categories, such as jobs, housing, items for sale, services, community events, gigs, resumes, and forums. By 2023, the platform had grown from its roots in the San Francisco Bay Area to over 700 cities across 70 countries. Interestingly, around 90% of its traffic comes from the United States.

Craigslist holds the title of the 16th most-visited website worldwide in 2023. With over 80 million classified ads posted, it covers a wide range of categories that are incredibly useful for market research.

Categories:

• Jobs
• Housing
• For Sale (items like furniture, electronics)
• Services (e.g., cleaning, tutoring)
• Community (events, activities)
• Gigs (short-term jobs)
• Resumes

Creating a Listing:

• Select the appropriate category and location
• Write a clear title and detailed description
• Upload photos 
• Provide contact information 
• Review and publish your post

Fees:

• Most listings are free (e.g., housing, for-sale items)
• Paid categories include job postings in some cities, brokered apartment rentals, and certain services

9: Vinted

• Platforms: Web, iOS, Android
• Ratings: App Store: 4.8 / Google Play: 4.6
• Founding Year: 2008
• Headquarters: Vilnius, Lithuania

Vinted, which started in Lithuania, is an online marketplace where people can buy, sell, and swap both new and used clothing, shoes, and accessories. Launched in 2008, it has rapidly become the largest consumer-to-consumer second-hand fashion platform in Europe. Being one of the top buying and selling apps, Vinted operates across 21 countries and boasts over 100 million registered users as of 2024.

• Best For: If you’re looking to sell secondhand fashion, Vinted is a fantastic option that spans Europe, the UK, and the US. It’s particularly great if you want to avoid selling fees and have complete control over your pricing and listings.
• Fees: You can keep 100% of your selling price. Buyers cover a buyer protection fee (usually ~5% + €0.70 or equivalent) and pay for shipping.
• Pros: There are optional features like Item Bump or Wardrobe Spotlight that can enhance your visibility for a small fee.

10: Thredup 

• Pricing: Commission model
• Platforms: Web, iOS, Android
• Ratings: App Store: 4.7 / Google Play: 4.5
• Founding Year: 2009
• Headquarters: Oakland, California, USA

ThredUp stands out as the largest online consignment and resale platform for secondhand clothing, all while championing sustainable fashion. Since its inception in 2009, it has created a vibrant marketplace where people can buy and sell clothing, shoes, and accessories. Thredup primarily caters to women and kids.

Categories:

• Clothing for women, men, and kids
• Shoes, handbags, and accessories
• Maternity wear
• Designer brands and everyday fashion

Creating a Listing:

• Sell by sending items through a Clean Out Kit or direct drop-off
• ThredUp does the listing process for you after they receive your items

Fees:

• No upfront listing fees
• ThredUp takes a commission that varies based on the selling price (generally 5% to 30%)

Also Read: How to Boost Ecommerce Sales in 2025: Top 12 Ecommerce Web Development Strategies

10 Best Buying and Selling Apps for Easy Profits (2026): Comprehensive Table

Here is the table summarizing the list of the top 10 reselling apps of 2025:

Why Are Businesses Investing In The Buying and Selling Apps?

As we all know, there are different ecommerce models that a business can leverage to connect buyers and sellers, which eventually boost revenue. Here are some of the benefits of running buy and sell apps.

1: Market Demand

Needless to say, consumer preferences have changed dramatically over the last few years. Now, shoppers place a significant value on convenience, and buying and selling apps provide that. According to eMarketer, mobile commerce is expected to reach $5.4 trillion in 2025, so there’s no slowing down of the trend. 

2: Monetization Opportunity

Apps to sell stuff online offer multiple revenue streams, like: 

• Transaction fees
• Premium listings
• Ssubscriptions
• Advertising
• In-app purchases

One app can generate recurring revenue, which serves as a compelling opportunity as companies look for ways to grow.

3: Competitive Advantage

The best app to sell things locally with advanced features like AI can put a business above its competition. Companies that take the leap and embrace mobile apps will have an opportunity to control loyal customers before others in their industry take the plunge.

4: Data Insights

Online reselling apps provide rich data about user preferences, buying habits, and patterns of transactions. Businesses can utilize this information to understand exactly what customers want and how they approach online shopping. 

In fact, decisions based on data have a real impact on profit and, at the end of the day, offer great satisfaction to the customers.

5: Increased Sales

There is a great benefit to buying and selling apps because it opens up new revenue streams. If you put high-end features in your app, it can help promote fast purchasing behavior. Big brands like Amazon and OXL use various tools to boost conversion and repeat sales.

Going to the next section, let’s see some of the most important features of popular buy and sell apps.

Also Read: How is Digital Transformation in Ecommerce Changing Business?

Must-Have Features of a Buy and Sell App for 2026

The following are the important features to include in your customer-oriented apps to sell stuff online. It’s time to take advantage of the latest tech solutions to improve your online business.

• Listing Management

If a user finds the listing process too lengthy, they will just leave. Sellers need to be able to take a picture, add a few details, set a price, and be done. They should be allowed to edit or delete a listing easily. 

• User Registration

Your selling apps and websites must offer users either a simple sign-up process with a phone number, email, or social media login. If it takes longer than a minute to sign up, you’re already losing users.

• In-app Messaging

You can integrate the chat feature into your app. The buying and selling must have the option to also send pictures or voice notes, making it so much easier to close the deal.

• User Verification

A fast verification with a phone number or ID is a great way to build that trust. When users know that the person on the other side is a real person, both parties are more likely to complete the final transaction. 

• Secure Transactions

Top buying and selling apps use a payment system that protects buyers and sellers. Needless to say, options like escrow payments, where the money is held until the item gets delivered, are highly effective.

• Wishlist

Sometimes users see something they want but aren’t ready to buy. A wishlist lets them save it for later, and many will come back to purchase when the timing is right.

• Notifications

Let buyers know when a saved item drops in price. Tell sellers when they have a new message. The key is sending updates that matter, not spam.

• Payment Gateway Integration

Free apps for buying and selling must have options for users like cards, UPI, and wallets. If payments are smooth, the user will be confident and return with repeat purchases.

• Delivery Options

Give users options when it comes to network delivery. This might be integrated courier services or allow users to set a time to collect their products from your storefront. Noted that user convenience is everything.

• Social Media Sharing

If users trust you, they’ll love to share a good find. Surely you can include a “share” button on your listing where users can share on pages like Instagram, Facebook, or WhatsApp. Every time a user shares is more buyers see your app without having to spend a rupee on marketing.

Also Read: eCommerce App Development in 2024: Steps, Cost, Tech Stack

How to Build a Buy and Sell App for Used Items: Key Steps 

Here are the steps that help you build a buying and selling app without breaking the bank. Let’s start: 

Step 1: Define app type and monetization model

You can start with two simple questions:

• What type of app are you creating? Is it a general marketplace like OLX? A niche marketplace for fashion, like Vinted? Or something hyperlocal? 
• How will it generate revenue? Will you charge listing fees? Take a cut from every transaction? 

Getting this sorted out for apps to sell stuff online is important because everything else will depend on it.

Step 2: Discovery phase

At this stage, you learn what the users really want, who your competitors are, and what gap you are attempting to fill. A solid discovery phase brings you and your mobile app development company on the same page.

Step 3: Establish key features

The most vital aspects are the features like product listing, chat, payments, reviews, and a search function. Don’t put yourself in a position of developing a buying ans selling application that has 50 features from the start. 

Your app needs to focus on the essentials before adding advanced functionality after users become familiar with your app. 

Step 4: UI/UX Design and prototyping

A poor UI UX design makes the app unappealing. Simple as that. Focus on clean design, fast load speeds, and simple user experience. Your app developers will help you build a clickable prototype. Ask people to test it so that you can fix what feels wrong. 

Step 5: Decide on the tech stack

What are you building on? Well, that all depends on your budget, team, and length of time. You should consult with your developers before getting too set on this. A bad choice in this area can hurt you down the road. Here is the technology stack that is required to build a buy and sell app like Amazon: 

Step 6: Choose the right development company

You should look for a team that has experience in building marketplace apps. Start by reviewing their previous work. A good team will help you realize your plan while keeping your budget and timeline in mind. 

Step 7: App Development 

This is where code intersects with your vision. Here at Apptunix, we follow the Agile development methodology. This helps both the client and our team to keep the process transparent. We take your feedback at every stage and move forward after your approval. 

Step 8: Testing and QA

Good testing highlights where the user might get stuck or confused. Your app development team will conduct thorough testing to look for any malfunctions and abnormalities. Remember, if you roll out your app without conducting testing and quality assurance, it can backfire badly. 

Step 9: Launch and Update 

Launching does not mean that you are done. Your version 1 is out in the world. Watch how people use it. Listen to their complaints. Push updates. Fix things quickly. That is what apps do; they go from absolutely raw to reliable.

Apptunix: Your Trusted Partner for Building Top Buy and Sell Apps

We hope that our list of top 10 buying and selling apps helped you understand the complexity and features of each platform. As we all know, every platform is different, and you need a dynamic mobile app development company to build the most amazing one. This is where Apptunix comes into play. 

We boast 12+ years of experience in developing the most robust platform based on your vision and requirements. Our team of 250+ professionals is well-versed in the latest technologies to integrate the latest tools into your app. 

We have a diverse portfolio and experience in working with multiple clients around the world by overcoming time zone and communication challenges. You can rest assured about the timeline and budget. We deliver what we promise.

So, what’s next? 

You can reach out to us and discuss your project requirements. We offer a free one-hour discovery session to understand what you need. Schedule a Call today!