Source-backed analysis14
Review basis
Research-based review: the AppDuo Editorial Team compiled it from official pages, documentation, app stores, press and user feedback, without hands-on testing. Every claim links to a source with the date it was checked.
14 reference sourcesInformation updated Nov 10, 2026
How we review
Mercari Review
Japan-born second-hand marketplace: free listing, 10% seller fee, 3.6% buyer fee
By AppDuo Editorial Team · Updated
- Web
- iOS
- Android
On this page
Decide at a glance
Our verdict
Mercari suits people in the US who want to sell collectibles, electronics and used fashion, or hunt for cheaper goods, with payment held until delivery. The trade-off is fees on both sides and sharply split ratings: 4.8/5 on the App Store, 3.0/5 on Google Play and 1.2/5 on Trustpilot.
Best for: US sellers of collectibles, trading cards, electronics and used clothing
Skip it if: Sellers who want to keep the full sale amount with no fees
Pros
- Listing is always free; direct deposit withdrawals cost nothing
- Payment is held until delivery, with 72 hours to report items not as described
- Prepaid USPS, UPS and FedEx labels, which Mercari says average 53% savings versus carrier retail rates
Cons
- Sellers pay 10% and buyers 3.6%, both calculated on item price plus shipping
- Trustpilot 1.2/5 (20,542 reviews) and Google Play 3.0/5, with complaints about counterfeits, refunds and support
All pros and cons · Who is it for?
Pros
- 4.8/5 on the App Store from about 2 million ratings
Cons
- Only 72 hours after delivery to report a problem
Best for
- Buyers who want to haggle and use built-in prepaid shipping labels
Skip it if
- Buyers who need guaranteed authenticity and quick dispute handling
Problems it solves
Experience & key features
What Mercari is
Mercari is a consumer-to-consumer marketplace run by Japan's Mercari, Inc. According to Wikipedia, the company was founded in February 2013, the app launched in Japan in July 2013 and in the US in September 2014. The company's site says it uses a payment deposit system and AI fraud monitoring to make transactions safer.
How it works
Sellers list items, use tools such as Promote or Offer to Likers, then print prepaid USPS, UPS or FedEx labels. Buyers can make offers and bundle items into one package. Mercari holds the payment until delivery and the buyer's rating; if the buyer does not rate within 72 hours of confirmed delivery, the order completes automatically and funds go to the seller. From 19 October 2026, Mercari raised many prepaid shipping rates, according to Value Added Resource.
Fees and value
The official fees page says listing is always free, sellers pay 10% and buyers pay a 3.6% Buyer Protection fee, both on the item price plus buyer-paid shipping. Mercari changed its fee structure in March 2024; per Value Added Resource, it moved back to a split between buyers and sellers from 6 January 2025 because the earlier structure was not helping sellers sell more. Direct deposit is free and Instant Pay costs $3 per transfer.
More analysis
User ratings and trade-offs
Ratings are sharply split: App Store 4.8/5 (about 2 million ratings), Google Play 3.0/5 (620K reviews), Trustpilot 1.2/5 (20,542 reviews). Trustpilot's summary points to complaints about low-quality or counterfeit goods, difficulty getting refunds and hard-to-reach support. These sources capture different user groups, so treat them as reference points, not a verdict.
Versus alternatives
In June 2026 Mercari launched a standalone Mercari Global app in the US that lets buyers shop Japanese Mercari listings, separate from the US marketplace. For general resale, people can compare eBay, Vinted, Poshmark or Depop on fees, core categories and buyer protection terms.
Screenshots
Plans & pricing
Prices last verified Nov 10, 2026
Người bán / Seller
BusinessFree
Per Mercari's US fees page, listing is always free. When an item sells, the seller pays a 10% selling fee on the item price plus buyer-paid shipping. Direct deposit withdrawals are $0; Instant Pay costs $3 per cash-out, up to $600 per month.
Người mua / Buyer
PersonalFree
Buyers pay the item price, shipping and a 3.6% Buyer Protection fee on the item price plus buyer-paid shipping. From 6 January 2025 the fees page lists no separate payment processing fee on new or updated listings.
- Free plan limits
- Free to join, browse and list; fees apply only when an item sells or a service such as Instant Pay is used.
- Free trial
- No free trial
Cancellation & refunds
Mercari holds payment until the item is delivered and the buyer rates the order. If an item is not as described, the buyer has 72 hours after confirmed delivery to report it; once approved, Mercari provides a free return label and the item must ship back within 3 days. The Buyer Protection fee may not be refunded depending on the reason for the return.
Privacy
Mercari, Inc.'s Privacy Policy says it collects registration and transaction data, messages between users, device and location data, and may request a social security number, tax ID or date of birth for identity verification. Data may be combined with Google Analytics, used for interest-based advertising and shared with service providers in the US and abroad. Under-18s may not use the service. The policy describes access requests and an opt-out from targeted advertising; the latest change was announced on 18 August 2025. On Google Play the developer declares the app may collect and share location, personal info and other categories, encrypts data in transit and accepts deletion requests.
Mercari alternatives
7.0/10Vinted
European second-hand marketplace: no seller fees, buyers pay a platform fee
6.9/10Depop
Gen Z marketplace for secondhand, vintage and streetwear fashion
Frequently asked questions
What are Mercari's selling fees?
Per Mercari's US fees page, listing is free and the seller pays 10% of the item price plus buyer-paid shipping when it sells. Buyers pay a separate 3.6% Buyer Protection fee.
Does Mercari protect buyers?
Yes. Mercari holds payment until delivery. If an item is not as described, the buyer has 72 hours after delivery to report it and gets a full refund for eligible claims.
Can sellers cash out quickly?
Direct deposit is free, once per day, typically processed within about 5 business days. Instant Pay costs $3 per cash-out, up to $600 per month, and can take up to about 30 minutes.
Can I use Mercari outside the US?
Wikipedia lists Japan, Taiwan, the UK and the US as service areas. Mercari US is a domestic marketplace for people 18+ in the US; its Google Play description mentions shopping items directly from Mercari Japan, and since June 2026 US buyers also have the separate Mercari Global app for that. Check delivery coverage for your region before using it.
Review evidence & sources14
Scores
- Ease of use
- 7.5
- Features
- 7.0
- Value for money
- 6.5
- Performance
- 6.0
- Support
- 5.0
- Privacy & security
- 5.5
Why this score
Quick listing, prepaid labels and an Offer feature for haggling. The 4.8/5 App Store rating suggests the app is generally easy to use, though Google Play sits at 3.0/5. The interface is English-only.
Why this score
Offers Promote, Offer to Likers, Instant Pay, authenticated luxury listings and a separate Mercari Global app for Japan listings. Comparable in scope to other large resale marketplaces, with no clear standout in the sources read.
Why this score
Listing is free, but 10% plus 3.6% in total is higher than peers that charge sellers nothing. Fees also apply to shipping, so high-shipping orders cost more.
Why this score
Operates at large scale (2 million App Store ratings), but Trustpilot reviewers report delays, lost packages and wrong items. Google Play at 3.0/5 suggests a weaker Android experience than iOS.
Why this score
Mercari offers 24/7 email support through the app and website, and phone support Monday to Friday, 8am–6pm PST, excluding holidays. Trustpilot's summary says many reviewers find support repetitive and hard to reach, with refunds denied; the 72-hour window also makes disputes harder.
Why this score
The policy documents interest-based advertising, Google Analytics combination and sharing with providers abroad, but also offers access rights, a targeted-ad opt-out and encryption in transit per the Google Play declaration.
What users say
- App Store (US)4.8/5 · 2,000,000
- Google Play (US)3.0/5 · 620,000
- Trustpilot (Mercari U.S.)1.2/5 · 20,542
Sources
- Vendor-providedMercari, Inc. corporate siteNov 10, 2026
- Vendor-providedMercari Help Center: Fees on MercariNov 10, 2026
- Vendor-providedMercari Help Center: Shipping change announcementsNov 10, 2026
- Vendor-providedMercari Help Center: Buyer ProtectionNov 10, 2026
- Vendor-providedMercari Privacy PolicyNov 10, 2026
- Vendor-providedMercari Help Center: Privacy Policy update (2025-08-18)Nov 10, 2026
- Vendor-providedMercari press: US launch (2014)Nov 10, 2026
- storeApp Store listing (US)Nov 10, 2026
- storeGoogle Play listingNov 10, 2026
- review-siteTrustpilot (Mercari U.S.)Nov 10, 2026
- Community-reportedWikipedia: MercariNov 10, 2026
- pressValue Added Resource: Mercari fee changes (2024-12-09)Nov 10, 2026
- pressValue Added Resource: Mercari shipping rates (2026-09-17)Nov 10, 2026
- pressValue Added Resource: Mercari Global app in the US (2026-06-20)Nov 10, 2026
Specs & compatibility
- Developer
- Mercari, Inc.
- Headquarters
- Japan
- Launched
- 2013
- Category
- Shopping
Capabilities
- Mobile app
Platforms
- Web
- iOS
- Android
Interface languages
- English
Integrations
- USPS
- UPS
- FedEx
Support
- Help center
- Phone
Change history
- Price.Mercari applies new prepaid USPS, UPS and FedEx label rates, with many Best Rate options increasing.
- Feature.Mercari launches the Mercari Global app in the US, giving buyers access to items listed on Mercari and Mercari Shops in Japan.
- Update.Mercari US announces an updated Privacy Policy with added context on data collected and how it is used and shared.
Full change history (7)
- Price.Mercari US announces a split fee structure, a 10% seller fee and 3.6% buyer fee, effective 6 January 2025.
- Company.Mercari raises USD 75M in a Series D round to fund expansion in the US and UK.
- Launch.Mercari launches in the United States.
- Launch.The Mercari app launches on iOS and Android in Japan.
About the author
Reviews & comments
Written by readers with a verified email address.
No reviews yet. Have you used Mercari? Share your real experience.
Reader reviews are counted separately and do not affect the Editorial Team’s score.
No comments yet. Be the first to share your experience.
Comments are readers’ opinions, not content from the AppDuo Editorial Team.