Thrift Store vs Charity Shop: Same Thing? US, UK and Canada
Thrift store vs charity shop, in one line: they're mostly the same thing with different accents. In the UK, "charity shop" means a secondhand store run to raise money for a charity. In the US and Canada, "thrift store" covers any secondhand store, whether it's run by a charity like Goodwill or by a for-profit business. Same racks, same hunt, different names.
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Thrift store vs charity shop in one line
- Charity shop (UK): donated goods, sold to raise money for a specific charity. Usually volunteer-staffed.
- Thrift store (US and Canada): a store selling secondhand goods. Could be run by a charity, a nonprofit, or a company.
So every UK charity shop is basically a thrift store, but not every thrift store is a charity shop.
What each term means in the US, UK and Canada
| Term | Where you'll hear it | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Charity shop | UK, Ireland | Secondhand shop raising money for a charity |
| Thrift store / thrift shop | US, Canada | Any secondhand store |
| Op shop | Australia, New Zealand | "Opportunity shop," same as a charity shop |
| Consignment store | Everywhere | Sells items on behalf of owners, who get a cut |
| Vintage shop | Everywhere | Curated older clothes, usually priced higher |
| Flea market | US, Canada (UK: car boot sale, sort of) | Many sellers, stalls, haggling |
In the UK
You'll mostly say "charity shop." Big names include Oxfam, British Heart Foundation, Cancer Research UK, Barnardo's and local hospice shops. "Thrifting" has caught on in the UK too, mostly thanks to TikTok and YouTube.
Charity shop haul meaning: a video or post showing everything someone bought on a charity shop trip. The UK version of a "thrift haul."
In the US
"Thrift store" or "thrift shop" is the default. "Going thrifting" is a whole hobby.
In Canada
Canadians mostly say "thrift store" like the US, though you'll also see "charity shop" used for smaller church and hospital auxiliary shops. So if you're searching charity shop Canada, try "thrift store near me" too.
Goodwill, Value Village and chain thrift stores
Thrift store vs Goodwill
Is Goodwill a thrift store? Yes. Goodwill is a nonprofit organization, and its stores are thrift stores. Proceeds support its job training and employment programs. So "thrift store vs Goodwill" isn't really a versus, Goodwill is one kind of thrift store.
Value Village vs Goodwill
Value Village (part of the Savers group, common in Canada and parts of the US) is a for-profit thrift chain. It buys donated goods from nonprofit partners and resells them. Goodwill is a nonprofit running its own stores. Shopping at both is still secondhand; the difference is where the money goes.
Other chains
Salvation Army runs thrift stores in the US, Canada and the UK. Plenty of independent thrift stores and church shops exist too, and they're often where the cheapest finds hide.
Consignment and vintage shops
Thrift store vs consignment
Consignment store meaning: you bring in clothes, the shop sells them, and you get a share of the price when they sell. Stock is picked, so there's less digging and higher prices. Great for brand names in great condition.
Thrift store vs boutique
A boutique sells new clothes, usually curated and more expensive. Some "resale boutiques" are really consignment. Check the tags.
Vintage vs thrift
Vintage shops pick older (often 20+ years) pieces and price them for rarity. Thrift stores price mostly by type, not rarity. That's why people dig through thrift stores hoping to find vintage.
Thrift store vs flea market, antique store and pawn shop
- Flea market: lots of independent sellers, haggling expected, clothes mixed with everything.
- Antique store: older items, mostly furniture and decor, and higher prices.
- Pawn shop: lends money against items and sells unclaimed ones. Mostly electronics, jewelry and tools, rarely clothes.
Where the best clothes are
Honestly? It depends on what "best" means to you.
- Cheapest: independent thrift stores, church shops, charity shops in smaller towns.
- Best brands, least digging: consignment and resale shops.
- Rare and vintage: vintage shops (you pay for the curation) or lucky thrift days.
- Biggest range: large chain thrift stores like Goodwill or Value Village.
- From your couch: apps. See our Vinted vs Depop breakdown.
Charity shops tips UK people swear by:
- Visit shops in wealthier areas for designer donations (not guaranteed, but often mentioned).
- Go often, stock changes constantly.
- Check men's knitwear for oversized jumpers (UK) / sweaters (US).
- Look for 100% wool, cotton and linen labels.
- Try things on. Sizes vary wildly across decades.
Shopping secondhand without overbuying
Here's the trap. Thrifting feels guilt-free because it's cheap and secondhand. So a £4 (or $6) top becomes five tops. Then the closet overflows with things you bought because they were a "good deal."
How to thrift without overbuying:
- Go with a list. Max three real gaps.
- Use the three-outfit rule. Only buy if it works with three things you already own.
- Try the one-lap rule. Carry things for one full lap of the shop, then put back anything you're not excited about.
- Set a cash budget.
- One in, one out. Bring a bag of donations every time you go.
The honest problem: you can't remember which gaps are real. You feel like you need a black top, but you have four you never wear.
WORN is being built to settle that. One photo a day of what you actually wore, in one tap, with no cataloguing your wardrobe first. After a month it shows you the four things you really wear and the twelve you never touch, so your thrift list is based on what you actually do. Start my outfit diary
Doing a full secondhand month? Our Second Hand September ideas plan has a thrifting week built in.
Thrift smarter by knowing what you actually wear
Whatever you call it, thrift store vs charity shop doesn't change the golden rule: buy what you'll actually wear. WORN, a waitlist for a planned outfit diary app, is designed to show you exactly that from one private photo a day. It'll be a single payment with nothing to renew, and your email only gets one message, when it opens.
FAQ
Is a thrift store the same as a charity shop?
Mostly. "Charity shop" is the UK term for a secondhand store raising money for a charity. "Thrift store" is the US and Canadian term for any secondhand store, whether it's run by a charity or a business.
What is the difference between a thrift store and consignment?
Thrift stores sell donated items at low, fixed prices. Consignment stores sell items for their owners and split the price with them, so stock is more curated and prices are higher.
Is Goodwill a thrift store?
Yes. Goodwill is a nonprofit, and its stores are thrift stores. Money from sales supports its job training and employment programs.
What does charity shop haul mean?
It's a video or post showing off everything someone bought on a trip to charity shops. It's the UK version of a "thrift haul."
Are there charity shops in Canada?
Yes, though most Canadians call them thrift stores. Look for Salvation Army, Value Village, church and hospital auxiliary shops, and local independent thrift stores.