Getting started on Vinted is straightforward once you know what to expect. The app walks you through the basics, but there are a few things worth knowing before you begin - especially if you want to set yourself up properly for selling rather than just browsing.
This guide covers everything from downloading the app to getting your account ready to make your first sale.
Step 1: Download the Vinted App
Vinted is primarily an app-based platform. While there is a desktop website, the app is where you'll do most things - listing items, managing messages, printing labels, and processing orders.
Download the Vinted app from:
- iPhone - the App Store (search "Vinted")
- Android - Google Play (search "Vinted")
The app is free to download. Make sure you're downloading the official Vinted app - check that the developer is "Vinted" and that the app has a significant number of reviews to confirm it's legitimate.
Step 2: Create Your Account
Once the app is installed, open it and tap Register or Sign Up. You have four options for how to create your account.
Sign Up with Email
This is the most straightforward option. Enter your email address, create a password, and you're in. Vinted will send a verification email - click the link in that email to confirm your address.
Sign Up with Facebook
Tap Continue with Facebook and you'll be taken through Facebook's login flow. Vinted will pull your basic profile information from Facebook to set up your account. You'll still be able to choose your own username.
Sign Up with Google
Tap Continue with Google, select the Google account you want to use, and approve the permissions. As with Facebook, this streamlines the setup process.
Sign Up with Apple
On iPhone, you can use Sign in with Apple. This lets you sign in without giving Vinted your real email address if you prefer - Apple creates a relay address that forwards to your actual email. Useful if you're privacy-conscious.
Which should you choose? For most people, email or Google is fine. Using Facebook or Apple works too, but if you ever lose access to those accounts, recovering your Vinted account becomes more complicated. Using a dedicated email address gives you the most straightforward account recovery options.
Step 3: Choose Your Username
Your username is how other Vinted users will know you. It appears on all your listings, in your reviews, and in messages. A few things to consider when choosing.
Be professional without being stuffy. Something like "london_closet_clear" or "sophies_wardrobe" works well. Avoid usernames with lots of numbers or random characters - they look less trustworthy to buyers.
Make it memorable. You want people to be able to find you again if they had a good experience.
Keep it neutral. Avoid anything that ties you to a specific age or life stage - your circumstances change, your username doesn't have to.
Don't use your full real name. A first name or nickname is fine, but your full name is more personal information than most sellers need to share publicly.
You can change your username later if you decide you don't like it, but your reviews and history stay with your account regardless.
Step 4: Add a Profile Photo
Vinted strongly encourages you to add a profile photo, and for good reason - buyers are more likely to trust and purchase from sellers who have a real photo rather than a blank avatar.
Your photo doesn't have to be a formal headshot. A clear, well-lit photo of your face is all you need. Avoid group photos (buyers want to know who they're dealing with) and avoid photos where your face is obscured.
If you're not comfortable using your own photo, a clear photo of something related to your selling style can work - though a real face photo does convert better in my experience.
Step 5: Complete Your Profile
Take a few minutes to fill in your profile properly. This includes:
Your profile description - A short bio helps buyers understand who you are and what you sell. Something like "Clearing out my wardrobe - lots of good quality women's clothing, mostly size 12-14" tells buyers exactly what to expect. Keep it brief and genuine.
Your city - Adding your general location (just city level - not your address) helps local buyers and makes your profile feel more real.
Your measurements - If you're selling clothing, adding your measurements helps buyers assess fit, which reduces disputes and returns.
Step 6: Add Your Payment Method
To receive money from sales, you need to add a payment method. Vinted pays sellers either directly to a bank account or to PayPal.
Adding a Bank Account
- Go to your profile
- Tap Wallet or Balance
- Select Add bank account
- Enter your sort code and account number
Your bank account details are used for withdrawals of your Vinted balance. Funds from sales sit in your Vinted wallet until you manually withdraw them.
Adding PayPal
Some sellers prefer PayPal as an alternative. You can link your PayPal account through the same wallet section of the app. Withdrawals go to your PayPal balance.
Which is better? Bank account is simpler and avoids PayPal's own fees. Most sellers use direct bank transfer.
Step 7: Verify Your Identity
For selling, Vinted may ask you to verify your identity. This is part of their compliance requirements and has become more common as regulations around online marketplaces have tightened.
Verification typically involves:
- Uploading a photo of your ID (passport, driving licence, or national identity card)
- Sometimes a selfie to match against the ID
- Confirming your date of birth
This process is handled through a secure third-party verification service. It's standard practice for financial platforms and nothing to be concerned about.
You may not be asked to verify immediately when you sign up - for some accounts it's triggered when you reach a certain level of sales or request your first withdrawal. Either way, it's worth completing promptly when requested as your payouts may be held until verification is complete.
Step 8: Set Up Your Postage Preferences
Before you start listing, it's worth understanding how postage works on Vinted and setting up your preferences.
Vinted offers integrated postage labels through their carrier partners - in the UK, this includes Evri, Royal Mail, InPost, and CollectPlus. When a buyer purchases an item, they pay for postage as part of the transaction (buyers cover postage on Vinted), and you receive a pre-paid label to print or download.
In your settings, you can select which carriers you're willing to use. Most sellers leave all options enabled to give buyers flexibility, but if you don't have easy access to a particular carrier's drop-off points you can deselect it.
You can also set up your listing preferences and notification settings at this stage, though these are easy to adjust later.
Step 9: Understand the Difference Between Buyer and Seller Setup
One thing worth clarifying: anyone can browse and buy on Vinted immediately after signing up. The additional setup steps (payment method, identity verification) are specifically relevant if you want to sell.
As a buyer, Vinted's buyer protection fee is added automatically at checkout - you don't need to set anything up beyond having a payment method to purchase with (credit card, debit card, PayPal, or Apple/Google Pay).
As a seller, you need the payment setup and potentially identity verification to actually receive your money. Sort this out before you list rather than after - it avoids the frustrating situation of making a sale and then not being able to access your funds.
Tips for Getting Your Account Off to a Good Start
Once your account is set up, a few things will help you get traction faster.
List your first items quickly. A profile with listings looks active and trustworthy. Even five or ten well-photographed items makes a big difference compared to a blank profile.
Read your first few reviews. Positive reviews from early buyers build the social proof that makes future buyers more confident. Be responsive, pack items carefully, and post promptly to build that initial reputation.
Check out what similar items sell for. Before pricing your first listings, browse similar items to get a feel for market rates. Pricing well from the start saves you having to drop prices later.
Enable notifications. Vinted moves fast. Buyers message about items and move on quickly if they don't hear back. Keeping notifications on means you can respond promptly and not miss sales.
Setting up properly from the beginning makes everything easier. Take the extra ten minutes to complete your profile, add your payment details, and understand the postage options - it pays off in smoother transactions and fewer headaches down the line.
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