11 Craigslist Alternatives to Buy and Sell Used Items

Craigslist is a popular website to buy and sell items locally. If you’ve ever tried to declutter or purchase a used item, you’ve likely utilized sites like Craigslist.

While Craigslist is one of the best resources to sell your stuff online and locally, other sites might be better suited to your needs. If you are looking for buying and selling apps, here are some of the top Craigslist alternatives to consider.

Best Sites Like Craigslist

You may decide to use additional apps to reach more potential buyers. Or you may be looking for the best deal on an item you’d like to purchase. These alternatives to Craigslist may make the buying and selling process easier.

1. Facebook Marketplace

While most people think of Facebook as a social media platform, it’s one of the best Craigslist alternatives.

Since many people use Facebook, the Marketplace can be a terrific option to sell your unwanted items. This can be the case in small towns where there isn’t a local Craigslist board.

Facebook Marketplace can be best for selling these items:

• Electronics
• Furniture
• Fitness equipment
• Collectibles
• Video games
• Vehicles

You can list or buy items on Facebook Marketplace for free. If you are a member of a group, you can post your items in that group. Before posting, make sure the group allows you to use their platform to sell your things.

You can get to the Marketplace feature in one of three ways:

• Click on the “Marketplace” link found in the menu of your mobile device
• Use the “Marketplace” link on the left side navigation on your Facebook homepage if you on a laptop or desktop computer
• Click on the “Marketplace” tab at the top of your Facebook homepage if you are using a laptop or desktop computer

Once you list your item on Facebook Marketplace, you can share it on your profile. If you want to buy an item from Marketplace, you can search for that item specifically or browse for categories in your area.

For example, if you want a motorcycle, you can search ‘motorcycle’ in the Marketplace. Or, if you want to buy a car for under $5,000, then you can use the car category and set up your budget.

It’s also possible to ship items that you sell. There are selling fees of five percent ($0.40 minimum) on items you ship. These fees don’t apply to in-person sales.

*Related: Do you need to sell used electronics and can’t get a good rate locally? You can compare 40+ buyback companies at SellCell to get the top price available. Compare quotes at SellCell to see how much you can get.*

Best for: Facebook Marketplace is best for selling bulky and small items. Posting in a local buy and sell group can also make it easier if you want to sell items quickly.

2. OfferUp

OfferUp is different from other classified ads websites because you can ship your items if you have a buyer willing to pay shipping costs. You can sell or buy items locally through the platform, but it’s nice to have the option to sell to people outside your city.

Another reason OfferUp is one of the most popular alternatives to Craigslist is its security benefits. All users create a free account and communicate inside the OfferUp app.

While you must create an account, OfferUp isn’t a social media network. People who are hesitant to use Facebook may prefer OfferUp.

Similar to Craigslist, you can buy or sell just about anything. Want to sell your car? Easy. Need some gently used shoes for your child’s soccer practice? Done.

OfferUp can be best for selling or buying these items:

• Antiques
• Clothing
• Furniture
• Vehicles

*Related: Want to sell your car via private party? Read our guide on how to sell a car on Craigslist to learn how to get top dollar.*

You can list items for free. There are no hidden fees or costs with selling your items online. OfferUp claims you can list your items in 30 seconds or less.

It’s free to sell items locally. Sellers pay a 12.90 percent service fee ($1.99 minimum) for items that require shipping. The buyer pays shipping fees.

Best for: OfferUp is best for buying or selling items locally in small and large towns. People who don’t use Facebook may like OfferUp.

3. Swappa

Swappa makes it possible to sell tech items locally in large cities across the United States. However, you can also buy and sell online across the country.

You can buy or sell these tech items using Swappa:

• Smartphones
• Laptops
• Tablets
• Watches
• Video games
• Cameras

All items must be fully functional and not have cracks or chipped glass. Being able to buy like-new items helps save money and avoid scams.

When selling on Swappa, you can get an instant price quote. It’s free to list items and the buyer pays all service fees for local and online sales. The seller still pays the PayPal fee (approximately three percent) and shipping costs.

Swappa is one of the best places to sell used phones because there are no selling fees. You also don’t have to meet with the buyer, making the process extra convenient.

If you use Swappa to buy used tech, the service fee is based on the sales price. The fee is between $0 and $250. This can be cheaper than buying a new phone.

Best for: Swappa is a good solution for selling used phones and tech gadgets for more than trade-in value.

4. Oodle

Oodle is one of the largest classified ads websites that offers you a chance to buy and sell items locally. Founded in 2004 with QVC as their parent company, Oodle offers free ads like Craigslist.

The site may not be the prettiest option out there, but it provides categories that other sites don’t. These include:

• Merchandise
• Vacation rentals
• Office rentals
• Pets (including horses and livestock)
• Services
• Tickets to events in your area

If you find yourself running online searches for “ways to sell used appliances for cash near me,” Oodle is a terrific option.

You can try using Oodle if you need to sell an item that’s harder to sell online (like a ticket to a baseball game). It’s possible to find items that are difficult to find on other sites, like event space.

While Oodle is legit, do your research before meeting up with anyone or buying an item that should be checked out by a professional (like a car). Also, don’t fall for the age-old scam of wiring money to anyone or vice versa.

To prevent seller fraud, Oodle requires a Facebook account to post items for sale.

Best for: Oodle is best for buying or selling uniques items like vehicles, vacation rentals, and pets. It’s also possible to find merchandise like jewelry and electronics.

5. Geebo

Geebo is one of the best sites similar to Craigslist. First, their safety priorities are top-notch. For example, they personally review all submitted ads for signs of fraud or deception.

This means you don’t have to be wary of scams or people who aren’t legit.

Most Geebo ads are for the following items:

• Appliances
• Apartments
• Jobs
• Construction and farm equipment
• Real estate

While you won’t find ads for animals or firearms (they ban the option to list those), you can find countless other things to buy. Geebo is a great platform to use if you’re asking, “what are the best places to sell video games for cash near me?”

If you need a job, Geebo has an expansive jobs listing section.

Geebo is not available in all areas. The platform only operates in the United States and is available in most larger cities. The Geebo site serves 100 different communities, so make sure to look for yours before listing items.

Best for: Geebo classifieds are best for finding apartments, real estate, and special machinery. Those wanting a new job may find a new opportunity. You might also find smaller merchandise in select cities.

6. Close5

Not a fan of Craigslist? You can try Close5 as an alternative. It works similarly in the sense that you can buy and sell locally. The app is backed by eBay.

Unlike other websites like Craigslist, Close5 is only available in a handful of larger cities. These include:

• Boston
• Las Vegas
• Los Angeles
• New York
• Phoenix
• San Diego
• San Francisco
• Washington D.C.

With over 130,000 active users, you’re bound to find items to buy and you can sell your unwanted items easily. You can list items for free.

Some Craigslist alternatives show long-distance listings. These make buying used items frustrating. Fortunately, Close5 only lists items nearby to prevent scams.

Close5 is available as an app on iPhones and Android phones. The app has features like profile sign-in and in-app messaging to keep contact information private.

Consider using Close5 for these items:

• Clothing
• Shoes
• Electronics

If you’re looking for legitimate auction sites like eBay, Close5 is worth a look.

Best for: Close5 can make it easier to buy or sell used items locally using a phone app. It’s best for small merchandise and bulky items that require local pickup.

7. Locanto

Live outside of the United States? That’s not a problem if you use Locanto. With over 60 countries available, you’ll likely find what you’re looking for regardless of where you live.

Here are a few countries Locanto serves:

• Ecuador
• Panama
• Thailand
• India
• China
• Canada

Locanto is also available in select cities across the United States. Some of the cities include Chicago, Dallas, Houston, New York, and Phoenix.

Consider using Locanto for these items:

• Baby items
• Electronics
• Fashion and beauty
• Furniture
• Music, movies, and books
• Vehicles

It’s easy to place an ad on Locanto. You can list an item plus add a link to your website or another shopping page along with product photos. Linking is a unique feature that other sites like Craigslist do not offer.

Another great perk is that you can modify your search. You can choose what you want to buy, put in your location, and set parameters for how far you want to travel. Sorting by price is also an option.

Along with selling and buying stuff, you can find job postings, services, and even classes or tickets to events in your local community.

Best for: Locanto is a good option for selling baby items, adult clothing, and electronics. Readers who live outside the United States can use Locanto.

8. ClassifiedAds.com

ClassifiedAds.com is one of the largest free classified sites to find almost any item. It’s possible to search for items by city or zip code. Larger cities may have more listings.

Some of the unique items available on this site include:

• Apartment and homes for rent
• Appliances
• Electronics
• Jobs
• Pets
• Services
• Vehicles

The site displays long-distance listings in the same search as local items. Not having to browse the boards for different cities can help you save time searching for the items you need.

Best for: ClassifiedAds.com can be best for finding pets and real estate. Services and jobs can also be worth pursuing.

9. Bookoo

Bookoo emphasizes safety for buyers and sellers. It also prioritizes building a local community. App users can “friend” other users and communicate in-app.

Similar to other websites like Craigslist, you can list anything you want for free.

Bookoo is excellent if you’re looking to get rid of items, not just sell them. They have a “free stuff” section that you can use. This is helpful if you have items that didn’t sell during a garage sale or if you want to declutter your house.

There is also the ability to barter items if you don’t want to pay cash.

Using Bookoo is easy. Simply list items and let someone pick them up.

Items you can sell on Bookoo include:

• Vehicles and vehicle parts
• Toys
• Housing (like renting out a room)
• Electronics

You can only sell items locally on Bookoo. If you’re looking for Craigslist alternatives and want to list items for free, Bookoo is a great option.

Best for: Bookoo makes it easy to buy, sell, or trade used items safely. It’s great if you want to get rid of things as opposed to selling them. People with multiple items to sell might benefit from Bookoo’s ability to list up to ten items for free at a time.

10. Recycler

Recycler is one of the oldest websites to sell stuff locally. This platform is available in large cities such as Atlanta, Los Angeles, Miami, and San Diego.

This website specializes in these items:

• Vehicles
• Pets
• Sports equipment
• Furniture
• Building material

Other selling websites can be better for buying or selling small items like electronics, clothing, and jewelry. That said, small merchandise is available in the various cities that Recycler supports.

*Related: Need a cheap place to make copies? Read our guide on the cheapest places to make copies near me to find the best options to save money.*

Sellers can list ads for free and include a picture as well as a brief item description. Potential buyers can contact sellers with their name and contact information.

There isn’t a mobile app, making Recycler harder to use than other sites like Craigslist.

Best for: Recycler can be one of the best selling websites in Southern California. Vehicles, pets, and sports equipment can be the top items to buy or sell on Recycler. People who prefer websites to apps could benefit from using Recycler.

11. Freecycle

Freecycle only offers free items. The site can have more listings than the free section on other buy and sell apps.

It’s possible to find small and large items that people no longer want but don’t want to throw into a landfill. You can also request items that are not currently available on Freecycle.

Some of the items available on Freecycle include:

• Clothing
• Home decorations
• Small appliances
• Books
• Moving boxes

Since every Freecycle listing is free, the selection may not be as good as websites that allow sellers to charge for their items. But it’s a good idea to check the free listings first to potentially save money.

Best for: Freecycle is useful for finding free items. It can also be beneficial for people who just want to get rid of their stuff quickly without turning a profit.

Bottom Line

There are many sites like Craigslist that you can use to buy and sell your stuff online as well as locally. While these sites all have something to offer, you can test them all (for free) to see which site you prefer.

Do your best to avoid scams and practice safety when meeting individuals to exchange items. It’s best to deal with cash only and not share personal financial information.

Whether you’re in the United States or a different country, you’re bound to find a site that can help you get rid of items or purchase what you need.

 

What are some other sites you’ve used to buy and sell items? How often do you declutter your house and get rid of unwanted items? What tips do you follow to sell your stuff?