Livestream Shopping App Whatnot Surges With $1B Revenue and 20M New Users

WHO:

Entrepreneur - Whatnot is a livestream shopping app that allows users to bid on various items.

Techmeme - Whatnot has added 20 million accounts in 2025.

WHAT:

Entrepreneur - Whatnot generated $1 billion in revenue last year.

Techmeme - Whatnot facilitated the sale of approximately $8 billion in goods.

Techmeme - Whatnot is projected to exceed $1 billion in revenue in 2026.

Entrepreneur - Users describe the app as addictive, likening it to an illegal lottery.

WHERE:

Entrepreneur - Whatnot operates in the realm of online auctions, allowing users to bid on items like trading cards, sneakers, and secondhand fashion.

WHEN:

Techmeme - The addition of 20 million accounts occurred in 2025.

Techmeme - Whatnot is set to achieve over $1 billion in revenue in 2026.

WHY:

Techmeme - The fast-moving auctions and 'breaks' on Whatnot attract users looking to purchase prized items.

HOW:

Entrepreneur - Whatnot conducts live auctions where users can bid on various products in real-time.

(UPDATED August 5, 2026 18:32 UTC)

Whatnot, a livestream shopping app that allows users to bid on items in real-time, has gained immense popularity, adding 20 million accounts in 2025 and generating $1 billion in revenue last year. The platform, which facilitates the sale of approximately $8 billion in goods, is projected to exceed $1 billion in revenue again in 2026, as users find the fast-paced auctions addictive, often comparing them to an illegal lottery. Operating in the online auction space, Whatnot features a variety of products, including trading cards, sneakers, and secondhand fashion, attracting a growing number of eager bidders.