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Craigslist is currently the most popular online site for the buying and selling of used items. At any given time, there are thousands of listings for just about everything you can imagine on the platform.
There are even occasional listings for some really bizarre things. Just a few oddball items that have been listed for sale on the site over the years include:
- Used caskets
- A collection of fingernailclippings
- The flu
- A potato cannon
- A body dumping site
- Bigfoot
- A collection of belly buttonlint
- A human-sized hamster wheel
- A “ferocious attack kitten”
Craigslist isn’t just for buying and selling products. Many now use the platform for landing jobs, finding love connections, and for locating things they are seeking. For many, Craigslist is a one-stop-shop for many of the things they are looking for.
The greatest attraction to Craigslist for many is the lack of fees. It doesn’t cost anything to either list or buy products on the platform. It’s completely free to use. It’s also very convenient with many different regions covered.
Did you realize that Craigslist is not the only game in town when it comes to buying and selling? There are many other online classifieds you can check out. Some of these sites like Craigslist are quite good. If you want to increase the number of eyeballs that see your listings, you might want to consider placing them on multiple platforms at once.
Let’s take a look now at the 20 best sites like Craigslist for buying and selling. Perhaps one of these is an ideal Craigslist replacement for your needs.
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1. Facebook Marketplace
Facebook now has so many users that it could easily be its own country. Doesn’t it make sense then to consider using Facebook Marketplace for your buying and selling needs?
Facebook Marketplace is very easy to use and intuitive. Searching for items or categories is very easy, and sorting through the listings is also a breeze because the platform includes a thumbnail image with each listing.
Searching Facebook Marketplace listings is a great way to find homes to buy or rent, used vehicles, electronics, hobby items, and many other things. The platform is free to use, but you do need to be at least 18 years old to create listings.
2. Local Facebook Groups
Another way you can use Facebook to find things to buy or list items to sell is to join a local Facebook group. Facebook groups are a great way to connect with people who have similar interests, and many communities now have groups just for buying and selling products.
It’s definitely possible to find some great deals in Facebook groups, but these groups do have one big downside you should be aware of. To view all of the latest listings, you do need to scroll through everything. This can be a little tedious.
Another thing about Facebook groups that may not appeal to everyone is that you do need to join them to access the listings. And depending on who is approving the requests to join, there may be some who are not accepted.
3. OfferUp
OfferUp is another popular site where you can buy and sell items. Among the many Craigslist alternatives, this is one of the best, and it is used by millions. OfferUp is available as an app for your smartphone. You can also browse listings on your laptop or tablet.
Through OfferUp, you can easily browse deals on vehicles, electronics, furniture, and other items located in your community. Once you’ve found something you’re interested in, you can message sellers through the platform to negotiate a price and arrange a meeting place to complete the transaction.
One thing about OfferUp that I really like is the platform gives you the ability to check out people’s profiles before you do business with them. You can see their ratings, badges, and even view their transaction histories. This helps you decide whether you want to do business with a particular seller. It also helps you avoid some sellers when you see red flags.
Website: OfferUp
4. Letgo
In many ways, Letgo is very similar to OfferUp. It has a simple interface that makes it easy to browse listings, and it’s completely free to use. It doesn’t cost anything to either list or sell items.
Like other alternatives to Craigslist, this one also gives you the option of using an app for your smartphone or viewing listings on your laptop or tablet. You can sort listings by date, price, or by items that are closest to you.
Letgo claims that its app has been downloaded over 100 million times and that it has hundreds of millions of listings. This is a good indication that the site is active and your listings have a good chance of being seen by potential buyers. It also means there will be plenty of items to browse if you are shopping.
Website: Letgo
5. Oodle
In many ways, Oodle is very similar to Craigslist. Both sites have very plain interfaces, and Oodle also claims to have millions of visitors each month. Like Craigslist, Oodle also has many different categories and items.
One thing that Oodle does differently than Craigslist, however, is that it acts as an aggregator for listings from various sites. Just a few sites that it pulls from include eBay, For Rent, Boat Trader, and local newspaper and website listings.
Website: Oodle
6. Close5
Close5 is an online classifieds platform that is owned by eBay. It is completely free to use. There are no fees to either list or buy products.
At this time, Close5 is only available as an app that you can download for your smartphone. This is something that I don’t like since I prefer to browse listings on my computer to make them easier to see.
Close5 claims that all users are verified as real through their Facebook profiles. I’ll let you decide whether this is a good thing or not. All messaging is done securely through the platform. Also, it’s possible to list items without writing a description – just a photo and title is all you need.
Website: Close5
7. Locanto
Locanto specializes in being a local marketplace where you can find many things you may need or want, like a babysitter, for instance. The site is also great for finding a used car, a new home, finding various service providers, and for many other things.
It’s completely free to post ads on the site. In fact, ads on the website are designed to look very similar to ads in your local newspaper, except that your ads can potentially reach many more people. When creating a listing on Locanto, you also have the option to include pictures and even a link to your website.
Website: Locanto
8. Penny Saver
You’ve probably heard of the Penny Saver before. That’s because it used to be available in print format. The popular classifieds periodical is now available online.
Although you do need to register for an account with the site before you can create a listing, it doesn’t cost anything to list items for sale on the platform. The company states that it’s necessary to register in case they need to communicate with you.
The Penny Saver states that over 11 million people in the United States use the website each week, which is substantial. When searching for items, you enter the item you are looking for, your city or zip code, and then select how far from your location you would like to search.
Website: Penny Saver
9. Trovit
Trovit is an interesting online classifieds website because it mainly focuses on homes, cars, and jobs. It isn’t the type of site where you can list a little of everything.
Another interesting thing about Trovit is that you can’t create listings directly on the site. That’s because Trovit operates as an aggregator of listings from other websites. If you are searching for homes in your area, for instance, it will pull listings from several sources that are local to you.
Website: Trovit
10. Gumtree
Among the many sites like Craigslist, Gumtree is very popular. The website is very easy and intuitive to use and many different categories are available. You can view listings on your laptop or tablet, and an app is also available to download for your smartphone.
Although Gumtree is available in many different countries, it is currently the number one classifieds site in the UK. The website states that it screens all ads to make sure listings are accurate and that best practices are observed.
Website: Grumtree
11. AdLandPro
Yet another Craigslist replacement is AdLandPro, a classifieds site that is completely free to use. AdLandPro has been around since 1998. As far as the internet goes, that’s a really long time.
Although it doesn’t cost anything to list items for sale on this site, premium features are available if you want to increase the number of people who see your listing. If you do decide to purchase one or more premium listing features, you will be charged in Canadian dollars since the company is located in Canada.
If you are using the free version of AdLandPro, you can place up to 20 listings, which remain active for four weeks before they are removed from the site’s database.
Website: AdLandPro
12. USA Today Classifieds
Nearly everyone has heard of USA Today, but did you know the famous publication also has a classifieds section on its website? USA Today Classifieds has many different categories to either browse or post items for sale. USA Today reaches 123 million readers a month, making it one of the most widely-viewed websites on this list.
The one negative about listing on this site is that it is not free to use. And it’s not cheap, either. Still, it’s definitely worth considering placing an add on this site if you have a big-ticket item you want to sell and you want as many eyeballs on your listing as possible.
Website: USA Today Classifieds
13. Recycler
The Recycler has a long history as a print publication, and it’s now available online. One of the great things about this site is that you can either search for products in your community, or you can search throughout the country. The site also states that it “carefully screens” its listings, although they don’t elaborate on exactly what they screen for.
The Recycler states that it reaches up to 18 million shoppers each month, which is substantial. Many different product categories are available. To sell items on the Recycler, you will need to create an account.
Website: Recycler
14. Classified Ads
Classified Ads is an online site with many different categories. It’s completely free to use, whether you are listing or buying products. It’s also free to contact sellers. Based in Seattle, the site claims to reach five million people per month.
Classified Ads is very nicely organized, which makes it very easy to search for the things you are looking for. One thing I didn’t like about this site is the number of ads on the platform. The site is ad-supported and ads are everywhere, which makes it difficult to view.
Website: Classified Ads
15. Geebo
Headquartered in Virginia, Geebo states that it is more than another online regional classifieds site. Rather, it’s a community “where neighbors help neighbors” – at least that’s what they claim. To facilitate this collaboration, Geebo has open forums that visitors can use to ask questions and get answers on various issues.
A selling point for Geebo is that it manually reviews every post that is submitted. Many different categories are available, and the site is completely free to use.
Website: Geebo
16. Bookoo
This site is a little different. Bookoo states that it was “made by yard sale fans for yard sale fans.” Essentially, it was created to be a way for people in various communities to find great bargains without having to run from sale to sale browsing products in person. The website is visually appealing and easy to navigate.
Bookoo is free to use, and you do have to create an account to list items for sale. They do have a paid version available, however, called an “unlimited account,” which offers additional features like bold titles, longer descriptions, additional pictures, and other things to improve the visibility of your listings.
Website: Bookoo
17. Ads Globe
Ads Globe is another online classifieds site for buying and selling items. The main selling point for this site is that instead of being a regional site where you can target people in your local community, listings are seen by people all around the world (hence the name).
It’s free to post on Ads Globe, and there are no restrictions on how many listings you can create. The site is intuitive and easy to navigate, and many different categories are available.
Website: Ads Globe
18. Kijiji
Kijiji is an online classifieds site that is just for Canadians. The site has been around since 2005. The site claims to be the largest classifieds site in the country with millions of listings.
According to Kijiji, two new ads are posted on the site every second. That’s a lot of activity, and it’s certainly worth checking this site out if you are a Canadian.
Kijiji is free to use if you sign up for a basic account. However, paid options are available to improve the visibility of your listings.
Website: Kijiji
19. Yakaz
Yakaz is a little different from the other classifieds sites on this list. It’s a site that specializes in job listings. Since Craigslist has a section on jobs, it makes sense to include Yakaz in this list.
I wasn’t able to detect any way to post to Yakaz. The website appears to aggregate listings from across the web. This makes it a handy way to browse listings from various sites to save time.
Website: Yakaz
20. Borro
Borro is very different from the other classifieds sites in this list. I decided to include it because some may be interested in selling their stuff to raise some quick money for something.
Borro is basically a digital pawnshop. They only accept certain categories of products, however. The Borro website states that they currently accept luxury cars, luxury watches, fine jewelry and diamonds, designer handbags and accessories, gold and other precious metals, and other auction quality items. They do provide a phone number you can call to see if they will accept something you own that is not on the list.
Website: Borro
Online Buying and Selling Safety Tips
You can never be too careful in the world we live in, and if you are buying or selling products online, it’s vitally important that you take some steps to protect yourself. Here are a few safety tips to consider when making transactions:
1. Always Meet at a Public Place
Wheneveryou meet people you don’t know, it’s always best to do it at a publicplace where there will be plenty of people around. Parking lots ofbig box stores are popular options.
2. Bring a Friend
It’s always a good idea to bring a friend with you when meeting people to complete online transactions. This doesn’t guarantee that something won’t happen, of course, but people are less likely to try something if they have more than one person to deal with.
3. Tell Someone Where You Are Going
In addition to bringing a friend with you, be sure to tell another person where you are going and what you are doing. Also, let that person know when to expect you back.
4. Only Exchange Money and Products in Person
Never wire money or send money online. If you do, the person receiving the money could take the money and disappear without giving you the product you are buying.
Sell Your Stuff Today
Did you realize there were so many sites like Craigslist to choose from? Since most of these sites are free, you may decide to list items you are selling on several of these sites at once to increase the number of people who view them. Just be sure to remove all of your listings for a product when it sells.
The days of having to purchase print classifieds to browse items for sale are thankfully over. Thanks to the internet, it has never been easier to buy or sell products.
