Are you looking for a platform similar to OfferUp? If you’re trying to find something different, you can find many other options to buy and sell a wide range of items. Read on for the best apps like OfferUp.
OfferUp is an online platform where you can buy and sell new or secondhand items to local customers. It has improved drastically after merging with LetGo in 2020. OfferUp bought LetGo and added its most used features in its app to give its users a much better experience.
The marketplace is currently available only to buyers and sellers who are US residents. The products can be shipped to any US region except for Alaska, Arkansas, and Hawaii.
While OfferUp may be one of the most popular and top-selling online marketplaces for posting and browsing listings, there are competitive sites that offer cheaper or even free buy-and-sell alternative services.
Consider these platforms when thinking about what best suits you to make money online.
15 Best Apps Like OfferUp
1. Craigslist
Craigslist was established in 1995 by Jim Buckmaster. It is an American website that is not only restricted to buying and selling items; it has multiple sections, such as housing, odd jobs, sales, services, wanted items, discussion forums, and resumes.
While there are many alternatives to Craigslist, it’s still one of the major platforms out there.
The website operates in over 70 countries and gets over a billion views monthly.
Pros:
- Available in more than 10 languages
- Easy selling of items with high value
- No listing or selling charges in a lot of markets
Cons:
- Low reliability
- Non-professional buyers
Unique Features:
- Allows you to post anonymously without verification
- Provide multiple sections
- Discussion board to meet people with similar interests
2. eBay
eBay is a multinational e-commerce buying and selling platform that provides business-to-consumer (B2C) and business-to-business (B2B) sales options. eBay operates in more than 30 countries, with over 168 million people buying and selling on eBay.
Pros:
- A high number of active users
- High chances of customer retention
- A wide variety of new products and used items can be bought and sold
Cons:
- Strict rules and policies (i.e., return policy, refunds, customer service, etc.)
- Low-profit margin
- High competition
Unique Features:
- Social buttons allow you to share the listings with friends on social media with a single click.
- eBay’s advanced search lets you search more efficiently.
- eBay catalog allows you to instantly review the product or service.
- eBay Bucks are an in-store currency that helps you get back some of your money for every purchase.
- Bill Me Later is another unique feature that works like an in-store credit card.
3. Poshmark
Poshmark is the best platform for buying and selling goods, particularly fashion items. You can choose from more than 6,000 listed brands in this fashion niche.
All the brands under similar categories are put under one section to make searching easy.
Pros:
- Good customer support
- Variety of brands
Cons:
- Takes a 20% commission for sold items worth $15 or more
Unique Features:
- Before listing your items, Poshmark has customization tools that are easy to use for the seller and helpful to the buyer.
- Once you make a successful sale, Poshmark will send you a pre-addressed and prepaid label that you can put on your package/box, which you can later drop off at a UPS mailbox.
4. Etsy
Etsy is popular for selling handmade items and craft supplies. It has more than 65 million listings live on its website.
Etsy requires you to choose between a free account or an Etsy Plus account, which is $10 monthly.
Pros:
- Offers built-in analytics
Cons:
- High transaction fees
Unique Features:
- Etsy Plus account offers web address discounts and shop customization options.
- It allows you to add a short video of your item.
5. Mercari
Mercari is an e-commerce platform where you can sell almost any used product.
It asks for a 10% commission from the sellers and an additional 2.9% plus $0.50 per sale as a payment processing fee.
Pros:
- Free item listing
- More flexibility in shipping options based on the seller’s preference or type of items
Cons:
- High commission charges and payment processing fees on every sale
- Short 3-day return window for returns and refunds
Unique Features:
- If you do not want to meet the buyer for security reasons, you can use Mercari’s pick-and-drop service, Mercari Local.
- Fewer restrictions on the types of items you can sell compared to eBay and other platforms.
6. Olx
Olx is one of the largest companies that provide an online marketplace based on location. It allows you to buy or sell locally, advertise your new or used goods, and browse through the ads of things for sale.
Olx is a South African company currently available in 45 countries. In the US, the company’s services are branded under Offerup. It has more than 100 million users all over the globe.
Pros:
- C2C market leader
- More control over the buyer and seller
- Good global presence
- Free to use
Cons:
- No quality assurance
- Fake advertisements from sellers can occur
Unique Features:
- Simple to use interface
- Option to feature your ad
- Multiple ways to access the platform
7. VarageSale
If you want to declutter your home, run a garage sale and sell your items online, VarageSale is the right platform for you. The website requires you to link your official Facebook account to verify yourself as a legit buyer or seller.
Pros:
- Simple and convenient user interface (UI)
- Free of fraud and scams
Cons:
- You can’t join if you are outside your specified local community marketplace
Unique Features:
- Inspection of goods before listing
- Transactions are made only with people in your community and immediate areas
8. Shpock
Shpock is an e-commerce platform where you can buy and sell online anything from low-value items such as DVDs and shoes to high-value items such as cars and other electronics. They operate in multiple EU countries but are most efficient in the UK.
At Shpock, you can pick up a bargain or a rare find or sell your antiques or gadgets.
Pros:
- Wide range of products
- Free for sellers
Cons:
- Many ads
- Difficult navigation
- Buyers are charged a buying fee
Unique Features:
- Premium membership allows free listing and removal of ads.
9. Close5
Close5 allows you to find goods within a few miles of your current location. It also shows the items recently sold near your location.
Pros:
- Get your desired product without traveling long distances
- Well-designed, easy to navigate, and a breeze to set up through email or Facebook/Meta account
Cons:
- Geographical restriction in the search area near you with a maximum radius of 50 miles
- No options to sign up with other social media accounts like Google + or Twitter
Unique Features:
- It allows you to set any target location and see listings related to your desired product near that area.
- Instead of exchanging contact information, buyers and sellers can communicate through in-app private chat after a sale is agreed upon, thus, providing an added layer of privacy and security.
10. TradeMade
TradeMade is quite different from other buying and selling apps. It allows you to get your desired product or service in exchange for an offer from your side.
For example, if you want to buy a specific phone, you can exchange your laptop or any other product or service on the platform.
Pros:
- Easy item listing
- You can trade your items for something else you need
Cons:
- Poor sales
- Takes time to find the right person to trade
Unique Features
- After every successful trade, you will get a carbon badge that tells you how much carbon you saved by trading instead of buying.
11. Depop
Depop became live in 2011, and most of the platform’s 30 million users are under 26.
The platform is mostly used for the selling of used clothes.
Pros:
- Uses PayPal for transactions
- Good security
Cons:
- High commission (10%)
- No option to deliver the item yourself
Unique Features:
- Option for the seller to choose if they or the buyer would pay for the delivery of the item
12. Swappa
Another resale site like the apps listed above, Swappa is more focused on enabling buyers to purchase recycled mobiles and other tech devices, such as gaming systems, tablets, and laptops, directly from other buyers.
There are no seller fees, and you can withdraw your payment instantly, even before the buyer gets the product.
Pros:
- No seller fees
- Fast payment withdrawal for sellers, even before the buyer pays
Cons:
- Listing is only for 10 days, with extensions for 7 days and a maximum of 60 days, so users need to manually extend the listing time.
- Listings are not automatically uploaded as they need to be checked by the Swappa staff, who will approve your listing.
Unique Features:
- The app provides seller protection by only shipping out items after buyers have paid.
- It has a comparative price catalog for mobiles and other items to help sellers decide on an asking price.
13. Oodle
Oodle, the second-largest online classifieds service in the US, is a perfect alternative to OfferUp. It allows you to list and buy items based on your target location.
Items of all categories can be bought or sold on this platform.
Pros:
- Sellers can post free ads for their items
- Wide variety of listing categories: 500,000 items daily
Cons:
- No shipping options are available
- Buyer complaints and negative reviews due to the prevalence of seller scams, which Oodle has been addressing
Unique Features:
- Option to add a live link back to the seller’s website after upgrading from Oodle’s free advertising feature
14. Listia
Listia is an online marketplace where you can trade unwanted clutter for more useful items. Buyers and sellers in this marketplace use points instead of money.
By listing an item, you get free points you can accumulate and use to bid for the items you want.
Pros:
- Free shipping to buyers
- A wide variety of free items
Cons:
- Difficult to get credits
- Hidden costs include Paypal Verification fees, shipping costs for bidders, auction listing fees, and other costs that may be in the fine print
Unique Features:
- 100% guaranteed protection for buyers and sellers with Listia Assurance
15. Facebook Marketplace
Facebook Marketplace went live in 2016 for people who want to sell products online for free without commission fees. Here, you can post anything you want and connect with buyers worldwide.
Pros:
- Completely free to use
- Simple user interface, especially for long-time Facebook users
Cons:
- Low reliability
- No fraud protection or Facebook buyer guarantees
Unique Features:
- Allows buyers to check seller credibility through an existing Facebook profile
- Facebook Messenger provides a quick way to communicate
How Does OfferUp Work?
For Sellers
Most people are currently using OfferUp for selling online. The process is quite simple; you need to snap an attractive photo of your used item and upload it with relevant details and a competitive price.
For Buyers
There are more than 20 million active users on the platform, so if you want to buy something or sell products through OfferUp, plenty of opportunities are available.
How OfferUp Makes Money
While OfferUp offers free listing for sellers, it charges a 12.9% service fee for every completed transaction with a minimum fee of $1.99. It also earns money through its Verified Dealer program for car sales, paid seller listings, and delivery fees.
Tips for Using Apps Like OfferUp
Apps like OfferUp are the best for quick buying and selling of items.
Here are some of the best tips you can follow to ensure that you choose the right platform:
- Make sure that the app offers good protection against fraud and fake ads.
- Look for the lowest commission rates.
- The app should offer you more control over transactions.
- The option for communicating with the buyer should be there.
- The app should have a good number of active users.
- Always check for delivery options.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) – Apps Like OfferUp
Which App Is Better: OfferUp or Craigslist?
OfferUp is the better platform if you are a regular seller who wants to retain their customers in the long term. However, you can also use Craigslist to sell your item quickly.
Which Is the Best App for Buying and Selling?
You can choose any of the following 3 best apps for buying and selling:
- eBay
- OfferUp
- Craigslist
What Is the Easiest App to Sell?
Facebook Marketplace is the easiest app to sell on.
What Is the Safest App for Buyers?
OfferUp is believed to be the safest app for buyers because of its rules and policies against fraud.
Conclusion – Apps Like OfferUp
After reading the list, you are now knowledgeable about OfferUp alternatives to decide on the best platform suitable for your needs and preference.
Take a pick now and start turning your saleable products into cash or finding that rare item you’ve been looking for.
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Marjolein is a financial consultant who has built over €4,000 monthly passive income and saves over 70% of her income. Read Radicals’ inspiring story, from stuck in the 9-to-5 to loving life. Feel free to send Radical a message at the bottom of this page