The RealReal vs ThredUp:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, The RealReal had more branded searches than ThredUp among second hand marketplaces worldwide. The RealReal had about 1 million branded searches, while ThredUp had 823,000. The RealReal made up 0.99% of all second hand marketplace searches we track, and ThredUp accounted for 0.79%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about second hand marketplaces, The RealReal appeared in three of the four answers and ThredUp in two. The RealReal was mentioned before ThredUp in two out of three answers that named either.
Who do people search for more?
The RealReal, about 24% more searches than ThredUp
Who does AI mention more?
The RealReal, mentioned in 3 of 4 answers, ThredUp in 2
Who does AI recommend more?
The RealReal, named ahead of ThredUp in 2 of 3 answers
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Top second hand marketplaces in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and one Google AI Overview, The RealReal was mentioned in three out of four: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in the Google AI Overview. ThredUp was mentioned in two out of four: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in the Google AI Overview. The RealReal was listed before ThredUp in two out of three answers that named either.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
eBay4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
Mercari4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
Poshmark4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
Depop3 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers- The RealReal3 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
OfferUp3 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
ThredUp2 of 4Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
Vinted0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
See every answer about second hand marketplaces
4 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which second hand marketplace should I use?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best second hand marketplaces?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best second hand marketplace for selling pre loved clothes?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“second hand marketplaces”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“sell used clothes”
Google showed no AI Overview for this search.
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 19, 2026.
Is The RealReal or ThredUp more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for The RealReal and ThredUp by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all eight second hand marketplaces we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for The RealReal, ThredUp. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | eBay | Vinted | Depop | Mercari | Poshmark | The RealReal | OfferUp | ThredUp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 58.3% | 31.9% | 2.4% | 2.4% | 1.9% | 1% | 1% | 1% |
| Nov 2025 | 63.1% | 28.2% | 2.1% | 2.1% | 1.7% | 0.92% | 0.93% | 0.93% |
| Dec 2025 | 66.6% | 24.4% | 2.2% | 2.2% | 1.8% | 1% | 0.98% | 0.81% |
| Jan 2026 | 66% | 24.2% | 2.2% | 2.2% | 2.2% | 1.2% | 0.97% | 1.2% |
| Feb 2026 | 61.5% | 27.5% | 2.5% | 2.5% | 2.5% | 1.1% | 1.1% | 1.3% |
| Mar 2026 | 62.1% | 27.8% | 2.5% | 2.5% | 2% | 0.9% | 1.1% | 1.1% |
| Apr 2026 | 58.5% | 32% | 2.4% | 2.4% | 1.9% | 1% | 0.87% | 1.1% |
| May 2026 | 58.4% | 31.9% | 2.4% | 2.4% | 1.9% | 1.1% | 0.86% | 1.1% |
| Jun 2026 | 58.3% | 31.9% | 2.9% | 2.3% | 1.9% | 1% | 0.86% | 0.86% |
| Jul 2026 | 61.4% | 27.5% | 3.7% | 2.5% | 2% | 1.1% | 0.91% | 0.91% |
| Aug 2026 | 57.5% | 31.4% | 3.5% | 2.3% | 2.3% | 1.1% | 0.85% | 1% |
| Sep 2026 | 53.7% | 35.9% | 3.9% | 2.2% | 1.8% | 0.99% | 0.79% | 0.79% |
How has the The RealReal and ThredUp comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- The lead changed hands 3 times in the 12 months ending September 2026: The RealReal took it in December 2025, ThredUp took it in January 2026, The RealReal took it in May 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, The RealReal’s share of searches among second hand marketplaces worldwide moved from 1% to 0.99%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 988K to 1M.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, ThredUp’s share of searches among second hand marketplaces worldwide moved from 1% to 0.79%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 1M to 823K.
How did search popularity change for second hand marketplaces worldwide in September 2026?
1 change
In September 2026, ThredUp fell from 7th to 8th among second hand marketplaces worldwide.
How are branded searches counted?
3 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using The RealReal’s and ThredUp’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
The RealReal
2 branded search terms
- the realreal
- therealreal
ThredUp
1 branded search term
- thredup
Other head-to-heads among second hand marketplaces
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