Score Designer Brands for $3?! Inside the Addictive Whatnot App Everyone’s Talking About
Wondering “what is the whatnot app”?
Love scoring amazing deals and hunting for hidden gems? Then you’ve got to try the Whatnot app! Our team is hooked, bidding on everything from rare collectibles to top brands like Kate Spade, Madewell, and much more, starting at under $3!
What is the Whatnot app?
Whatnot is a live‑stream shopping marketplace for iOS or Android, where sellers host real-time video auctions or flash sales, and buyers can bid, buy instantly, interact via chat, and join communities around shared interests like trading cards, sneakers, collectibles, fashion, plants, and more.
📲 Here’s how it works…
On Whatnot, sellers host livestream shows where they showcase each item in real time. Buyers can jump in, place bids with a tap, or use the “Buy Now” option for fixed prices. Shipping is simple too, with flat-rate options starting at $8 for up to 5 lbs.
Even when sellers aren’t live, their items stay available in their storefronts or the general marketplace for browsing and buying. Whatnot also features special events called “Breaks,” where sellers open packs like trading cards, live, and buyers purchase spots for a chance to score rare pulls. It’s a big hit among collectors!
Is the Whatnot app legit/safe?
Yes, Whatnot is completely legit. Although it may be new/niche, since 2024, it has had over $3 billion in livestream sales, backed by $265 million in funding at a nearly $5 billion valuation – and growing!
Plus, not only does Whatnot require seller approval/applications, but there are built-in trust tools for authentication, fraud prevention, and community trust too! Check out its 4.1-star rating from 2,422 on TrustPilot!
✅ Pros:
- Fun, social, and engaging shopping
- Score name brands (even luxury items) at low prices
- Great for hobby‑focused communities and rare finds
- Secure payments and seller-side shipping tools
❌ Cons:
- Smaller audience compared to giants like eBay
- Live‑first format may not suit everyone
- Seller fees typically 8% plus ~2.9% + $0.30 per transaction, with lower rates in specific categories
Our team is loving the Whatnot app, but be forewarned – it’s very addictive, and the deals are never-ending!
They do do a ton of giveaways. I won a brand new Nike hoodie the other day. But some of the deals are insane. They do live speed auctions for everything under the sun, and they usually start at $1. It’s like a hotspot for the people who buy the pallets from all the big retailers like Amazon, Target, and Zappos.
I got my son a bunch of brand-new clothes and shoes from Target, and everything was $3 or less. Like new lululemon leggings for my daughter, we’re $2. They do flat rate shipping, so everything up to 5lbs is usually around $8, but it tracks by weight, so you can really maximize it. You can get some amazing deals. And if you like thrift shopping, they also have tons of resellers for that, too! – Nicole, Hip Sidekick
Officially obsessed with Whatnot and all the deals I have scored. From Tory Butch sandals for $20 and lots of new Anthro clothing for under $10, it’s truly amazing. Almost a little addicting, but so fun. My advice is to join the app and search for the brands and items you love. It’s not just clothing but also home items and people sharing thrift store finds and vintage jewelry and pottery. There are so many resellers and things to shop at deep discounts. I bought Pura refills for just $3 – $4 each.
I personally love the resellers that sell from pallets of Nordstrom clothing returns and overstock. It’s easy to follow and bookmark the sellers you love so you”ll get a notification when their next livestream “show” starts. Also be sure to enter the free giveaways – I’ve won twice! – Lina, Hip Sidekick
I have not used it, BUT my teenager uses it all the time. He’s a gamer, and a lot of the gamers he follows on social media do giveaways, or he likes to randomly do the auctions and has gotten quite a few cheap Pokémon cards/Funko pops. He’s always randomly getting something in the mail! – Liz, Hip Sidekick
Are there other auction apps like Whatnot?
If you love the thrill (& the hot deals) of a live auction platform, other platforms include CommentSold and Popshop Live; however, both have lower ratings than Whatnot.
What sets Whatnot apart is the mashup of entertainment, commerce, and social features that makes shopping FUN again! If you’re gonna do your nightly scroll anyway, you might as well save while you do!
I love that shirt with the big flower on it- please tell me how to purchase it
Hey Tracy! I did check with Lina and it is a boutique brand – Olinhali. POL is another similar looking brand to look out for similar to this top. What not is very much like thrifting and can be hard to get exact links for items. Hope this is helpful! 💕
I hope WhatNot makes some improvements, currently in November 2025 the platform has a bad rap for people constantly selling fakes. Even people you think are safe to buy from (in my case, a person who was in the auction industry for 20 years was selling unauthenticated Cartier and Hermes. Someone, undoubtedly, who knows better.) You may get a designer piece at $3 but this feeds in to the problem of people wanting designer for less and hence perpetuating fakes, counterfeits and the designers’ loss of profit and production while continually filling our landfills with cheap junk. And, for sellers who get caught, it’s up to 10 years behind bars.
WhatNot is designed to be addicting something I have yet to see on other selling platforms.
Bid responsibly, most people with addictive personalities or a penchant for gambling can bankrupt themselves fast thinking they will be able to sell everything at a big profit. There’s a reason why people are selling on WhatNot and not elsewhere.
Be careful.