Switch bag rental starts from $59 a month, but is it worth it? I’ve been a paying JoinSwitch member for over a year and have rented designer bags and jewelry from Chanel, Dior, Van Cleef & Arpels and more. As someone who owns lots of designer bags myself, I use designer purse and jewelry rental sites to try styles before buying, borrow statement pieces I wouldn’t necessarily purchase and switch up my accessories for travel, events and content. In this honest JoinSwitch review, I’m sharing how this designer bag rental membership works, current pricing, the Chanel and Dior bags I’ve rented, shipping and availability, the pros and cons I’ve experienced firsthand, and how it compares to Vivrelle. I’ll also share my Switch code and whether I think this designer purse rental membership is actually worth paying for.
I pay for my Switch membership myselfgiving me a genuine perspective on whether renting makes sense alongside owning. I’ve also been a Vivrelle member which means my comparison between the two services comes from direct personal experience of both. This article contains affiliate links, which don’t affect my opinion or the price you pay.
Switch purse rental membership options | Use code DawesEve22J when you join for $50 purchase credit.
1 Select piece at a time + $180/year purchase credit
Select+ includes
1 Select + 3 Core pieces at a time
Swaps
Unlimited
How long can you keep it?
As long as you want
Shipping
Free 2-Day FedEx shipping both ways
My Switch code
DawesEve22J for $50 purchase credit
These are JoinSwitch’s yearly membership rates, which save 25% compared with paying monthly. Core 1 is the cheapest option at the equivalent of $59 per month, while the higher tiers let you borrow more pieces or access the more premium Select collection.
Join Switch review: Switch bag rental membership plans and pricing
JoinSwitch divides its designer bag and jewelry rental collection into Core and Select pieces. Their Switch Core bags and jewelry have an average retail value of $1,000, versus Switch Select pieces, which have an average retail value of $4,000. Select is where you’ll find many of the higher-value luxury pieces, including lots of the Chanel bags I tend to rent.
There are currently four Switch bag rental membership options when paying yearly:
Core 1: $708/year ($59/month) – Borrow 1 Core piece at a time.
Core 3: $1,512/year ($126/month) –- Borrow up to 3 Core pieces at a time.
Select: $1,968/year ($164/month) – Borrow 1 Select piece at a time and get $180/year in purchase credit.
Select+: $3,048/year ($254/month) – Borrow 1 Select piece plus 3 Core pieces at a time.
The best value is to choose one of their annual rather than monthly plans, as paying yearly saves 25%. If you’re considering Select, you also get $180 in annual purchase credit, which you can put toward buying an eligible piece you fall in love with.
Designer Switch bag rental (Join Switch)
Your membership determines which designer bags and jewelry you can borrow, so I recommend looking through the current Switch inventory before deciding which tier makes the most sense for you. Personally, access to the Select collection matters because that’s where I’ve found many of the Chanel bags I want to rent.
One of my favorite things about Switch bag rental is that you’re not limited to one swap per month. You can return your current piece and borrow another available one as often as you want. You can also keep something for as long as you want if you’re not ready to swap it.
Don’t forget to use Join Switch code DawesEve22J when you sign up for $50 purchase credit.
Switch bag rental vs Vivrelle: What’s the difference?
I’ve paid for and used both Switch and Vivrelle, and the biggest difference for me is how frequently you can change your designer bag rental. Switch lets you swap pieces as often as you want, whereas Vivrelle works around a monthly rental cycle. That’s one of the main reasons I’ve historically used Switch more heavily: I like changing bags frequently for different outfits, trips, events and shoots.
Availability matters too. I’ve had periods where my Vivrelle wishlist had very little available, although since rejoining I’ve found availability much better and the bags I’ve received have been as pictured and described. You can read my full updated Vivrelle review here.
There are other differences in pricing, membership tiers, shipping and perks, so rather than duplicating the entire comparison here, I’ve broken everything down in my Vivrelle vs Switch comparison, including my firsthand experience using both designer bag rental services. Use my code EVEDAWES for your 1st month Vivrelle membership for free if you decide to go with that designer bag rental option.
Use Join Switch code DawesEve22J at checkout for $50 purchase credit.
Switch bag rental vs the different designer purse rental companies membership plans and pricing
Vivrelle has 3 tiers and 4 membership options and their prices have gone up dramatically over the last few years. When I first borrowed from them a few years back prices ranged from $45-309 per month. Vivrelle prices are now $139-339. You can use our Vivrelle code EVEDAWES for 1 month free membership.
Switch AKA JoinSwitch has 2 tiers and 4 plans to choose from that range from $59-254.
Bag Borrow & Steal has no memberships, you pay as you go and pricing varies from bag to bag. However, I found Bag Borrow & Steal to be the most expensive way to rent a bag e.g. The Row Margaux 15 bag is $550 a month and the Saint Laurent Icare maxi Shopping Tote $450 a month.
With all 3 companies, you can keep the item as long as you want BUT with Vivrelle you can’t switch them like you can with Switch, you have to keep it for the whole month. With Bag Borrow & Steal, you can rent as many bags as you want for a minimum of a month with the option to pay to keep it longer. Vivrelle has a minimum 3 month commitment, Join Switch and Bag Borrow & Steal you can cancel anytime.
They all give you the option to purchase any of your rentals and have standard wear and tear coverage.
Use Switch code DawesEve22J when you join Switch for $50 purchase credit.
My Switch bag rental review: Pros and cons
I love designer bag rentals but there are a few pros and cons to be aware of:
Pros
Join Switch does have an extensive selection of handbags, jewelry and brands but see the cons below.
Fast customer service replies (usually within a hour during business hours).
Free 2-Day FedEx shipping both ways on your Switch bag rentals and jewelry.
No surprises, you pick your pieces.
Coverage for minor wear and tear.
Membership pricing is very competitive to their competitors.
Ability to swap items more than once a month so you can switch it up as often as you want.
Early access to their sample sales where you can save up to 90%.
Try before you buy. One of the biggest benefits for me is being able to actually live with a designer bag before deciding whether I want to buy it. I’ve rented pieces I thought I wanted, only to discover that the size or style didn’t work for me as well as I’d expected.
Join Switch purse rental
Cons
Limited availability of both Core and Select pieces so sometimes you feel like you have to settle when it’s time to rent a purse or designer jewelry vs getting what you really want. Which means you might have to keep your Switch membership for a while to get what you really want (6 of my 172 favorites are currently available).
Overpriced items to purchase. See below.
Ambiguous condition descriptions. The condition of each item isn’t listed, it’s the same description for all of them.
You can’t use your purchase credit for making purchases in their sample sale.
One thing I think is both a pro and con is that there’s currently a waitlist for Switch Select tier. The pro being that it stops that level from being oversubscribed making it easier to find available pieces. The con being that you have to wait to have Select membership by joining the waitlist. Thankfully, I didn’t have to wait long as I’ve had membership with them in the past.
Use Switch code DawesEve22J when you join for $50 purchase credit.
What condition are Switch bag rental bags in?
Condition has varied across the designer bags I’ve rented. Some of my Dior rentals looked practically brand new, while a vintage red Chanel flap had noticeable marks inside and out, and another Chanel bag arrived with a grubby fabric strap. One thing I don’t love about Switch is that individual listings don’t give particularly detailed condition descriptions. Because of that, I look closely at the listing photos before choosing a rental, particularly with vintage bags and delicate leathers like lambskin. I also recommend photographing or videoing your designer bag rental when it arrives, especially if you notice any existing marks or wear, so you have your own record of its condition.
The images are a good indicator of the condition of our handbags. Some of our bags are in new or like-new condition while our vintage bags show more apparent signs of wear. While we periodically take images to show the updated condition of our bags, they may vary slightly from the images. Each and every bag is rigorously cleaned between wears. JoinSwitch
How fast is Switch bag rental shipping?
JoinSwitch offers free 2-Day FedEx shipping both ways. In my experience, however, it’s worth factoring weekends into your timing. I ordered one rental on a Thursday, it shipped Friday and didn’t arrive until Tuesday morning. So bare that in mind when you go to rent a purse if you’re renting for a special event or planning on swapping more than once a month because you can’t order your next piece until Switch has received and checked your return back in.
If I need a particular bag for an event or trip, I now leave myself extra time rather than assuming “2-Day shipping” means I’ll have it exactly two days after ordering.
There’s nothing like unboxing a new bag!
Dior designer bag rental: Lady Dior and Saddle bags I’ve rented
I was really impressed with the condition my Lady Dior bag and small saddle bag arrived in, they looked brand new, there wasn’t one mark on them. Renting gave me the chance to try the micro bag and realize they’re great to rent but I wouldn’t buy this size, as they’re so very cute but so very impractical! Same with the small saddle bag. Cute, but I prefer the larger size with the shoulder strap.
Chanel Switch bag rental review: The bags I’ve rented
Chanel is one of the main reasons I use Switch bag rental. I own Chanel bags myself, but renting gives me the freedom to experiment with different sizes, colors and styles without committing thousands of dollars to each one. The first Chanel flap bag I rented, the leather was in great condition but the material strap was very grubby and unfortunately it’s not removable.
It’s such a pretty color but not one that I’d buy, making it perfect for renting to go with specific outfits or for something colorful for the Spring and Summer.
Chanel Sunset on The Seas flap bag
The vintage red Chanel flap bag had lots of marks on both the interior and exterior but I feel like they don’t really notice and lambskin is notoriously hard to keep pristine to be fair.
Use Switch code DawesEve22J at checkout for $50 purchase credit.
Another Chanel bag rental. Hey, when you’re going to do a designer bag rental, go big or go home. The Chanel 19 bag isn’t something I’d buy as it’s too slouchy for my aesthetic but it was such a practical bag to rent for everyday as it even fit my tripod! I rented it for a YouTube event to be on brand color wise. There’s quite a few different color Chanel 19 bags available from Join Switch bag rental is red’s not for you.
This Chanel red and white chevron flap bag was in great condition and perfect for an evening bag. It was a little limiting with what I could style it with. But that’s why rentals are great! I like borrowing pieces I wouldn’t get enough wear out of to warrant buying them, but are fun to use to go with specific outfits or occasions.
This pink Chanel flap bag was my most recent Join Switch bag rentals and one of my favorites so far as I probably wear pink more than any other color.
JoinSwitch isn’t just a designer bag rental site. Your membership can also give you access to designer jewelry, which I’ve found particularly useful for trying pieces I’m considering buying. I tend to rent bags more than jewelry, but I have rented both Mel Harper and Van Cleef & Arpels from them. The 5 carat earrings were stunning and I loved the Van Cleef ring. I’m also so glad I rented the Van Cleef Sweet Alhambra necklace and earrings to try them before buying, as it made me realize they’re too small for me to want to buy them, and that I prefer the Vintage Alhambra size.
I’ll keep updating this as I rent more purses and jewelry from them but my first year with them has been really good.
Why I love renting from Switch: Designer bag rentals made easy!
Is designer bag rental worth it vs buying?
Whether renting or buying makes more sense depends on the bag. I own lots of designer bags and still rent because, for me, the two serve completely different purposes. I tend to buy classic bags I know I’ll wear repeatedly and rent pieces that are more trend-led, colorful, tiny, occasion-specific or simply something I want to try before committing thousands of dollars to.
My Dior rentals are a perfect example. I loved carrying the micro Lady Dior and small Saddle Bag, but actually using them confirmed that they’re too small for me to want to buy. The same happened when I rented the Van Cleef Sweet Alhambra necklace and earrings. Trying them for longer than a few minutes in a boutique made me realize I prefer the larger Vintage Alhambra size.
Renting also makes sense to me for statement pieces. A Chanel bag in a bright seasonal color might be perfect for a vacation, event or a few specific outfits without necessarily being something I’d want to own for years. For classic designer bags I know I’ll use constantly, I still prefer owning them. For experimenting with different brands, styles, sizes and colors, designer bag rental has saved me from making some very expensive purchasing mistakes.
Switch bag rental FAQ
Is JoinSwitch worth it?
Yes – if you want access to designer bags and jewelry without the commitment of ownership and you swap regularly. The value is strongest if you use the unlimited swap feature that JoinSwitch offers over competitors like Vivrelle – being able to switch pieces as often as you want rather than being locked into one piece per month cycle is JoinSwitch’s biggest differentiator. Use code DawesEve22J for $50 purchase credit when you join.
How much does Switch bag rental cost?
Switch bag rental currently starts at the equivalent of $59 per month with annual Core 1 billing ($708/year). Higher annual tiers are Core 3 at $126/month, Select at $164/month and Select+ at $254/month.
What designers does JoinSwitch carry?
JoinSwitch carries designer handbags and jewelry from brands including Chanel, Dior, Louis Vuitton, Hermes, Gucci, Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta, Fendi, Van Cleef and Arpels and more. Core tier focuses on pieces up to $1,000 retail value and Select tier includes higher value and more exclusive pieces.
Both are excellent services with similar brand selections. The key differences are that JoinSwitch allows unlimited swaps so you can rotate as often as you want, while Vivrelle locks you into one piece per monthly cycle. Vivrelle offers more member perks including retail discounts, stylist appointments and member pricing toward purchasing pieces. JoinSwitch starts at a lower price point. I have active memberships with both.
Can you cancel JoinSwitch anytime?
Yes, JoinSwitch has no minimum commitment and you can cancel anytime. This is an advantage over Vivrelle which has a 3 month minimum membership commitment.
What is the Join Switch code?
Use code DawesEve22J when you sign up for JoinSwitch for $50 purchase credit toward any item in their closet.
How often can you swap bags with Switch?
Join Switch offers unlimited swaps. Sometimes I’ll swap once a week after I’ve used it for an event or shoot, other times I’ll keep a bag or piece of jewelry for over a month if I love it.
Are designer bag rental memberships worth it?
Join Switch bag rental has been the perfect designer bag rental solution for me and I love always having a new bag or luxury accessory to change up my outfit and keep things fresh. Who doesn’t love unboxing a new bag every couple of weeks. Plus it’s great for always creating new content with. I love that I can rent everything from Celine to Chanel, Dior and Loewe.
In fact, I’ve loved my Join Switch membership so much, I swapped from their monthly plan to their annual membership plan which saved me 25% and scored me additional purchase credit.
Switch rental promo code: My Join Switch code
My Join Switch code is DawesEve22J which gives you $50 purchase credit when you sign up. If you’re searching for a Switch rental promo code or JoinSwitch influencer code, that’s the code I currently use and share with my readers.
Can you buy your Switch bag or jewelry rental?
Yes, some Switch bag rental pieces are available to purchase if you fall in love with what you’re renting. This is another reason I like designer rental for trying before buying, although I always compare the member purchase price with current retail and resale prices before purchasing.
Purchasing items from Join Switch is limited as you have to have an active membership and can only purchase items you are currently renting. I also feel like their member purchase prices are way too high and you’re better buying from places like Fashionphile or getting them brand new.
Take their Van Cleef earrings for example which they say have a Retail Value of $4200 and the Member Price to purchase is $4150. The exact same pair is $4150 brand new from Van Cleef & Arpels! Why would I buy used earrings from JoinSwitch for the same price as I can get them brand new? Unless you’re using your purchase credit to be able to reduce the price. I can understand why they do that though, as it offsets all of the purchase credits people use so they’re not practically giving them away.
So for me it’s definitely a better place to rent a purse than to buy. Please, do your research on pricing before hitting the purchase button on your Join Switch purse rental!
What’s on my Switch designer bag rental wishlist?
Let’s just say I have a long designer purse rental favorites list (over 160 items) but this is my top 30, some of which I’m tempted to buy but I like that I can try them first. Because some bags and jewelry I’ve bought before that I loved in the store just didn’t suit my frame wearing them or never got used. You can also see how much you’d actually use it and how many of your outfits it goes with to make sure it’s a good investment for you.
How to get the most from your Switch bag rental membership
Because it’s a popular site and they only have so many items, it’s always good to have lots of items on your favorite list. It makes it easier to find items and also have a better chance of them being available when it comes to choosing your next Join Switch purse rental.
If you love something, definitely sign up for back in stock notifications so that you have a better shot of being able to rent it next.
Time swaps around trips and events. Have a look at your calendar and see what you have scheduled, what you’re planning on wearing and think about which bag rental would go with those looks. So that you get the most use out of whichever bag or jewelry you borrow.
Use the availability filter on JoinSwitch website to see what’s available vs checked out. Especially if you’re ready to rent and want it now. I find having a mix of back in stock notifications set and using the available now filter gives me the best shot of being able to find something.
Check availability before upgrading. If you’re considering a more expensive membership specifically for Chanel or another designer, browse what’s actually available first.
Rent the risky purchases. I get the most value from renting colors, sizes and trend-led bags I’m curious about but not convinced I’d want to own.
Is Switch bag rental worth it? My honest verdict
For me, Switch bag rental is worth it because I actually use the ability to swap frequently. I like being able to rent Chanel, Dior and other designer bags for different outfits and trips, test pieces before buying and experiment with styles I wouldn’t necessarily spend thousands of dollars to own.
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Eve Dawes is a fashion and lifestyle editor and founder of Glamour and Gains, the number one luxury fashion and lifestyle magazine in Las Vegas. With over 15 years of industry experience spanning professional performance, fashion styling, beauty formulation and fitness, Eve brings a level of genuine expertise to her content that goes well beyond standard publishing.
Beauty and skincare expertise:
Eve's beauty device coverage is backed by direct brand access that most independent reviewers don't have. She has had one-on-one training with Melanie Simon, founder of ZIIP Halo, giving her a deeper technical understanding of microcurrent and nanocurrent technology than any spec sheet can provide. She has had in-person education with CurrentBody directly and attended an exclusive Zoom masterclass with Dr Jason Diamond on the launch of his Metacine Eyelift. She is also the founder of Dawes Custom Cosmetics, a triple award-winning cruelty-free luxury cosmetics line - winning Best Custom-Blended Cosmetics Business USA and the LUX Customer Service Excellence Award Las Vegas, which gives her professional beauty formulation training that informs every product review she writes. Every recommendation on this site is based on genuine long-term personal testing, before and after photos included.
Fashion and styling credentials:
Originally from England, Eve trained as a ballerina at Central School of Ballet and London Studio Centre before touring internationally as a professional dancer with the Vienna Festival Ballet, in musicals, on TV, in music videos, theatres, casinos and cruise lines, and in films including Burlesque and Burt Wonderstone. This performance background gave her a unique eye for style, fit and how clothing moves on the body - which underpins everything she writes about fashion. She has collaborated with Revolve, Faviana, and designer Debbie Carroll, and has over 50 designer bags in her personal collection, making her designer handbag and luxury fashion coverage genuinely authoritative rather than aspirational.
Fitness and wellness credentials:
Eve is a NASM and REPS certified Personal Trainer, Sports Massage Therapist, Yoga and Spin instructor, a graduate of Premier International London, and a WBFF Professional Athlete who won her Pro card competing at the highest level of women's fitness competition. She is also Mrs. England World 2020 and Mrs. Nevada United States 2017, placing Top 15 at Mrs. United States, and was awarded the Nevada Community Service Award for two consecutive years. She studied the Art of Rhetoric and Persuasive Speech at Harvard.
Press and media:
Eve has been featured in Vogue, Rolling Stone, LA Times, Modern Luxury Magazine, Huffington Post, Oxygen Magazine, Iron Man Magazine, Strong Magazine, Fit and Firm Magazine, E!, BodyBuilding.com and Beast Games, among others. She has appeared in commercials, music videos and films, and previously worked as a content creator for Google Web Stories and is a Mediavine publisher.
What you'll find on Glamour and Gains:
Glamour and Gains is a luxury fashion and lifestyle magazine covering beauty devices and skincare, designer bags, travel and wellness - all through the lens of someone who has worn, tested and lived with everything she recommends. Nothing on this site is written from a press release.
