OfferUp is a free, mobile-friendly online marketplace that connects buyers and sellers locally across the United States. It is a platform that is highly peer-to-peer in nature, with buyers purchasing directly from sellers.
Sellers post their ads for free on OfferUp. Although, if sellers want their listing to be more visible to potential buyers, they pay a fee.
If a seller is satisfied with the buyer’s response, they proceed with the transaction by setting up a meeting time and place.
Before users can begin posting items for sale on OfferUp, they need to create a free account. Once they create an account, posting items for sale takes only a few minutes. Users receive alerts when a potential buyer responds to an item’s listing.
Buyers can browse all the local listings and search by location, category, or other specifications. From their dashboard, they can contact sellers directly through the messaging service provided by the app.
OfferUp is one of the most popular customer-to-customer marketplaces in the United States, with over 90 million app downloads.
This classified app is also easy to use and has various products like clothing, furniture, shoes, power tools, appliances, etc.
However, users have complained about glitches on the mobile app. Another prominent issue for several users is their products not being listed despite following the instructions to the letter. And since customer support is non-existent, you’re left high and dry.
Several alternatives exist to OfferUp, and I have put together a list of some of the best.
Let’s get started.
Best OfferUp Alternatives
1. Craigslist
Craigslist is the ‘original online classifieds site’ and one of the best OfferUp alternatives.
Craigslist is a website that lets users post ads for jobs, housing rentals, personal ads, community forums, and much more.
Since its launch in 1995 as a website run by Craig Newmark in San Francisco, it has expanded to hundreds of cities worldwide. It has sections for jobs, housing rentals, and ‘for sale’ posts in various categories like cars & vehicles, services & employment, gigs & services, dating & relationships, and more.
According to Similarweb ranking, it is one of the world’s most popular free classified ad websites. Unlike OfferUp, it does not have a mobile app. Other apps allow users to access Craigslist from their mobile devices.
For instance, cPro is one of the top Craigslist apps, providing several features for finding items on Craigslist and managing listings.
With over 50 billion page views per month, it has more than 60 million active monthly users in the United States alone. As a result, almost anything is possible to find on Craigslist.
This website has several features, including letting users upload up to eight photos per ad. The site also allows you to hide listings from the search results, which you can restore if desired, and hide posts you flagged.
In contrast to similar platforms like OfferUp, Craigslist allows you to list items for sale or to search for things you want to buy without creating an account.
And although Craigslist is generally free, the platform charges $5 for car and truck listings. This move ensures scammers don’t flood the site with fake ads.
2. Marketplace
Marketplace is another good OfferUp alternative that allows buyers to purchase low-cost items from local sellers.
The Marketplace app provides a seamless user experience with its simple interface and features for buying and selling items nearby or across the country.
Users can buy and sell new and gently used items such as clothing, electronics, furniture, sporting goods, and more from trusted people in their neighborhood.
The app supports buying and selling various products in several categories like home & garden, clothing & accessories, health & beauty, baby & kids toys & games, sports & outdoor gear, and more.
You must create an account to use this classified ads platform, similar to OfferUp. Then, you can post ads and browse through the listings posted by other users in your area.
The app or website allows the platform to access your location to find nearby users selling stuff. It also has a live chat feature that makes it easy for buyers and sellers to communicate with each other and finalize a deal.
3. Facebook Marketplace
In 2016, Facebook launched Facebook Marketplace for people to discover, buy, and sell products locally.
Facebook Marketplace is an app that allows you to find or sell items for a fair price on Facebook using your phone or computer. It is easy to buy and sell in your community, with millions of people using Facebook daily worldwide.
You can buy and sell various items like cars & vehicles, clothes & accessories, electronics & gadgets, collectibles & memorabilia, etc.
However, according to the Facebook Marketplace guidelines, you cannot sell things like animals, alcohol, adult products or services, event tickets, tobacco products, unsafe supplements, healthcare items like first-aid kits and thermometers, weapons, or explosives.
In addition, Facebook Marketplace prohibits before and after photos of products. For instance, a product depicting weight loss because such images could be derogatory or encourage unhealthy practices.
Facebook Marketplace also differs from OfferUp because it is not restricted only to local sales but allows you to sell and ship to buyers internationally.
You must have a Facebook account to buy and sell using the platform.
4. eBay
Speaking of marketplaces that allow international transactions between buyer and seller, eBay is another option you should consider.
eBay allows local and long-distance sales between buyers and sellers worldwide – something you cannot find in OfferUp.
You can use eBay to buy and sell various products like cars & vehicles, fashion & accessories, sporting goods & hobby equipment, musical instruments & gear, baby & kids products & toys, and more from trusted sellers.
You can also search by keyword to look for specific items. You can post an ad for free on the website or download the app to post ads from your phone on the go.
You can buy items worth $5,000 or less without an account. To bid on an auction item, you need an eBay account.
You can list brand-new or used items and only pay a final fee if the item sells. eBay also puts several policies in place to protect buyers, which is why it’s such a popular shopping site.
For instance, eBay will take action against a buyer who exhibits abusive behavior and remove negative and neutral feedback and open cases from service metrics.
The service generally charges 10-15% of the item’s final value once it sells. After the first 250 listings per month, each additional listing costs $0.35.
And when you need to ship items, eBay also offers shipping services and supplies for a fee. You can also choose to ship with a carrier of your choice or self-ship.
5. Mercari
While OfferUp sees value buyers and sellers meeting up to finalize transactions, Mercari sees it as a hassle. One of the selling points of this service is to save time when selling or buying locally.
Mercari is the biggest eCommerce app in Japan and is hugely popular. However, this service was expanded to the United Kingdom and the United States.
Mercari Marketplace is the main product of the service, and like OfferUp, users can upload pictures of their items for sale. The platform collects a 2.9% commission from sales.
The platform allows users to ship items anonymously from local convenience stores via a partnership with FedEx, USP, and USPS.
So, list your item on Mercari Local. Once the item sells, they will inquire about your availability. After the driver picks it up, you get paid. No need for meetups, and you get paid via the app.
The caveat is that the delivery fee will cost the buyer at least $7.99. People who don’t want to pay this fee may consider sticking with OfferUp or a similar service.
Mercari also allows you to sell items internationally via a proxy service – another advantage it has over OfferUp.
With Mercari, you can pay in four installments for items if they meet certain conditions. For buyers, this can be nice. However, I’m not sure how many sellers would feel the same – having to pay 25% upfront isn’t ideal for many small businesses or individuals looking to earn extra cash.
Mercari is available on Android and iOS smartphones and tablet devices.
6. VarageSale
From dressers to rugs, grills, welcome signs, European fans, and more, VarageSale offers a way to declutter your home by quickly selling unwanted possessions online!
This service is similar to OfferUp in that it’s a free online marketplace that allows users to meet up with buyers to sell their unwanted stuff.
It is also available in the United States and some Canadian cities. Users can transact on the go using their smartphones or tablets to sell used items directly from their pockets.
The first step is to enter your location and join a community. A community will typically be where you live or have recently moved.
Next, you need to get verified by connecting your Facebook account. After an admin has verified you (usually within a day or two), you can post items for sale.
Many other apps like VarageSale verify users, but it is reassuring that this platform describes the process.
VarageSale also has an in-app payment feature that allows users to make purchases quickly without leaving the app.
According to Vox.com, VarageSale does not charge sellers or buyers for this feature, so it covers the 2% to 3% transaction fee charged by its payments partner, Stripe – a move that aims to make the service more attractive to users and encourage more transactions on the platform.
7. StockX
StockX is similar to OfferUp because it is a marketplace for consumer-to-consumer transactions. But StockX focuses primarily on clothing – precisely the resale of sneakers. However, you can buy or sell other things on StockX, such as streetwear, handbags, trading cards, and electronics.
Although StockX is a peer-to-peer service like OfferUp, buyers and sellers do not need to meet up to facilitate a transaction. The service handles shipping and branding.
To sell on StockX, you must create an account or sign in with Google or other supported account providers.
Next, you list your item, place an ‘Ask or Sell Now’ price, ship your product to StockX within two business days, and after authentication, you get paid.
Authentication means your stock is verified for authenticity via a StockX in-house authenticators team. All items bought or sold on this platform must be deadstock, which the company defines as brand-new merchandise.
For buyers, after finding a product you like, you can pay for it immediately at the lowest cost. The second option is to submit a bid and wait for one of the many sellers with the same product to accept your offer.
You must link a payment method (PayPal or a credit/debit card) when placing a bid on StockX. Only when your offer is accepted will you be charged. The purpose is to eliminate meaningless bids made by trolls from the marketplace.
On StockX, the more items you sell, the lower the transaction fee you pay. So, this service may not be ideal for people who sell only a few goods a month or year—the costs will outweigh their benefits. You can read more about their rates here.
You can also use StockX on the go since it is available as an app on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
8. Poshmark
Poshmark is a fashion-focused online marketplace that allows its users to sell and buy used clothes and accessories directly from their smartphones.
Like OfferUp, sellers need to take clear photographs of their products, describe the item’s condition in detail, and set their prices. There are no in-person meetups between buyers and sellers.
When you make a sale on Poshmark, you will receive a pre-paid, pre-addressed label ready to be put on the box.
Once your sale has been packaged, you can drop it off at a USPS mailbox or even have it picked up for free from your home.
Poshmark ensures that all transactions are safe by enabling payment to be done via the app, and only when the buyer receives the item is money released to the seller.
Poshmark has a little more to it than just selling clothes. You can join Posh Parties (an in-app virtual buying and selling event), create a wishlist, and shop like a fashionista.
Poshmark community also lets you follow, interact, and shop from your favorite sellers, as well as shop for your favorite products.
The community is also an opportunity for you to set up your brand and sell your designs.
To sell your stuff on Poshmark, you need to sign up for an account and then download the app on your smartphone to start listing your items for sale.
9. Swappa
If you need to buy gently used tech, Swappa is your best bet. This user-to-user marketplace has an almost perfect 4.8 rating on Trustpilot and is a worthy OfferUp alternative.
Do you need to find great deals? Or maybe you just need to make extra cash – Swappa lets you sell and buy tech stuff with another person.
Swappa has a strict no junk policy and only allows the sale of high-quality products and electronics in good condition.
As a seller on Swappa, you need to sign up with an email and password.
Next, provide some information regarding the device, and set your price after uploading a few pictures.
After, a team assesses your device to ensure the details are correct and that it is in working order before listing it for sale on the site.
One significant benefit of using Swappa as a seller is that you don’t pay a commission fee when your item sells – unlike platforms like OfferUp. The buyer covers your fee.
Buyers can search for any electronic item they want by category or manually. Once they find what they are looking for, they can click the “Buy Now” button and follow the instructions on how to proceed with their purchase.
Swappa uses PayPal for secure transactions and to protect buyers and sellers.
10. Etsy
Etsy is one of the world’s most popular online markets for handmade and vintage goods.
With more than seven million active sellers, this platform is a great place to get unique items and gifts from independent creators worldwide.
Etsy also has more than 96 million active buyers who visit the site regularly to find unique products made with lots of love and passion.
Therefore, you should consider using Etsy as an alternative to OfferUp if you want to sell homemade goods such as soaps, candles, clothing, jewelry, and more.
You can also find vintage collectibles such as old books, records, coins, stamps, and other memorabilia on Etsy—all in one place. However, for an item to qualify as vintage, it must be at least 20 years old.
You can start selling on Etsy by creating an account and setting up a shop to display your items in an organized manner. You will need to upload pictures that describe your product in more detail and offer shipping options to customers depending on their location.
There is a $0.20 listing fee per item and a 5% transaction fee when the item sells. Adding shipping, personalization, and gift wrapping when purchasing the item will be 5% of the listing price.
As a buyer, you can browse through different shops and buy products from your favorite sellers on the platform.
Your purchases will be delivered to your doorstep in as little as a week—all at no extra cost! You can also pay for your order via credit card, debit card, PayPal, Apple Pay, and Google Pay.
11. Geebo
Geebo is a popular online classifieds site that is an alternative to Craigslist that offers users the opportunity to buy and sell locally—with no fees involved!
The site is user-friendly and easy to navigate, with tons of listings for different products and services.
Similar to OfferUp, this service is available only in the United States, and sellers and buyers arrange a meeting to conclude transactions.
You can list your products for free on Geebo. Simply post an ad detailing the type of item you are offering and the price you want for it.
Over the years, Geebo has done a lot to curb scams and other fraudulent activities online. The Geebo team proactively screens and evaluates each post before approving it.
This prevents people from being scammed and ensures the site is used correctly.
12. Listia
With Listia, there is no cash involved —only credits! Listia is a marketplace where users can trade credits for items they want or need.
Users are given credits when they upload products or complete tasks on the site, including creating an account, signing up daily, and rating or reviewing products posted on the site.
By continuously updating your profile and listing more products, you can earn credits at a faster rate.
Listia also lets you earn extra credits by letting the site feature you as a top trader or by referring friends to the site.
To get started, you must create a free user account and list your product or service for sale or trade.
Once someone buys from you, similar to OfferUp, you can set up a meeting for the person to receive the product you listed. Then you can use your credits to shop for items you want.
The mobile app can create auctions and sell items in a snap. Upload a photo, add some details, and post it immediately to Listia.
When you install the Listia app, you can see what nearby users are trading, purchasing, and bidding on things you desire. You will also be notified if you are outbid or the selected item ends.
Final Word
Any online transaction, consumer-to-consumer or business-to-consumer, needs to be fast and safe. That’s why the best OfferUp alternative for me is Mercari.
This online marketplace allows peer-to-peer transactions, but it saves the users the hassle of meeting up to collect or drop off items. In addition, Mercari has built-in security measures to ensure the safety and privacy of its users.
Another key benefit of this platform is that it supports international transactions. I have purchased multiple items from European sellers with no problems at all.
However, the online C2C marketplace you choose will depend on your needs. For instance, if you want to buy gently used tech products, Swappa is ideal. StockX will be a better choice if you are into sneakers and streetwear.
Scott L. Macarthur is a marketing consultant and an online author. He is mostly engaged in providing his expertise to startups and SMBs. He is also an author on TheNextWeb.