How to build an app like Vinted
The short answer
- An app like Vinted lets people sell used items from their phone: take photos, list, ship, and get paid once the buyer has the item.
- Recommended stack: an Expo app, Supabase for listings, photos and search, and Stripe Connect to hold the payment and pay the seller.
- The hardest parts are payments with buyer protection and shipping, plus the rules that apply to marketplaces in the EU.
What an app like Vinted does at its core
Sellers take a few photos, pick a category, size, brand and condition, set a price and publish. Buyers browse and filter, message the seller, and buy in the app. The money is held until the buyer confirms the item arrived as described, then the seller is paid.
Shipping is built in: the buyer picks a delivery option, the seller gets a label, and both can track the parcel. Reviews after each sale build trust between strangers.
MVP features and what comes later
An MVP (minimum viable product) is the smallest version that real users can use and pay for. It tests the idea before you build everything.
In your first version
- List an item with photos, category, size, condition and price
- Browse, search and filter
- Favourites
- Chat between buyer and seller
- Buy in the app with the payment held until delivery
- Seller enters a tracking number, buyer confirms receipt
- Reviews after a sale
- Report items and users, plus an admin view
Later
- Shipping labels and tracking from carriers
- Offers and price negotiation
- Bundles from one seller
- Promoted listings
- Recommendations
- A wallet balance for sellers
- Web version for browsing
The recommended stack
This is the blueprint a developer would start from, using the same building blocks as the live builder. It matches the Native Mobile App result of the quiz.
CLIENT
iOS + Android
Expo
CORE
Database + API
Supabase
PAYMENTS
Stripe Connect
PHOTOS
Supabase Storage
NOTIFICATIONS
Expo Notifications
- Recommended
- Native Mobile App
- Payments
- Held until delivery
- Pieces
- 5 building blocks
Why each layer
- ClientExpo app
Selling starts with the phone camera, and buyers come back through push notifications about messages and price drops. One Expo app covers iOS and Android.
- CoreSupabase
Listings, orders, chats and reviews are related data in Postgres. Postgres full-text search with filters for category, size and price is enough for a first version.
- PaymentsStripe Connect
Second-hand items are physical goods, so Apple's in-app purchase doesn't apply (guideline 3.1.3(e)). Stripe Connect lets the platform take the payment, keep a fee and pay the seller after delivery.
- PhotosSupabase Storage
Compress photos on the phone before upload, then serve resized versions through the storage CDN, so browsing stays fast on mobile data.
- NotificationsExpo Notifications
"Your item sold", "new message" and "parcel delivered" are the moments that keep a marketplace moving.
The hardest parts of an app like Vinted, and how to solve them
1. Listing in under a minute
If listing is slow, nobody sells. Let sellers take several photos in a row, compress them on the phone, upload in the background and fill the form meanwhile. Good category and size pickers matter more than they look.
2. Payment held until delivery
Buyer protection means the platform holds the money until the buyer confirms the item, or until a time limit passes. Stripe Connect supports collecting the payment on the platform and transferring the seller's share later. Disputes and refunds need clear rules and an admin view.
3. Shipping
Labels and tracking from carriers come through shipping APIs, often via a shipping service that bundles several carriers. For a first version, the seller can ship themselves and enter a tracking number, and the buyer confirms receipt.
4. Search and filters
Buyers filter by category, size, brand, condition and price, and expect results in a blink. Postgres with the right indexes handles this for a start. A dedicated search engine is a later step once you have many listings.
5. Trust, safety and marketplace rules
Reviews after each sale, reporting, blocking and a list of banned items are the basics, and Apple's guideline 1.2 requires reporting and blocking for user-generated content. Warn people when someone asks to pay outside the app, a common scam.
In the EU, marketplaces have extra duties, for example reporting seller income to tax authorities under the DAC7 directive and trader rules under the Digital Services Act. Talk to a lawyer or tax adviser before launch.
What you can leave out of the MVP
- Integrated shipping labels: start with tracking numbers
- Offers and bundles
- Promoted listings
- Recommendations: newest first with good filters
- A seller wallet: pay out directly through Stripe
What it costs
This page gives no price on purpose: the cost depends on your scope and your developer's rate. The App Cost Calculator turns the MVP features above into an hour range, and you add your rate.
Add "Connection to one external tool" for a shipping service once you integrate labels.
Sources for the platform rules and tools mentioned on this page:
Frequently asked questions
How does buyer protection work technically?
The buyer pays the platform, the platform holds the money, and the seller's share is transferred after the buyer confirms delivery or a time limit passes. Stripe Connect supports this pattern.
Can I use Apple's in-app purchase for a marketplace?
No. Second-hand items are physical goods, and Apple's guideline 3.1.3(e) says those must use other payment methods, such as card payments or Apple Pay.
Do I need shipping labels in my first version?
No. Sellers can ship themselves and add a tracking number. Integrated labels through a shipping service can follow once you have steady sales.
Are there legal rules for marketplaces in the EU?
Yes. Platforms have duties such as reporting seller income under the DAC7 directive and rules under the Digital Services Act. Get legal and tax advice before you launch.
Related
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