Craigslist
Long-running local classifieds site for things for sale, housing, jobs, services and community posts.
Updated · AppBreakup editorial · Web, iOS, Android
Is Craigslist free?
Free plan, plus paid plans
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About Craigslist
Craigslist is the plain, text-heavy classifieds site that runs separate local boards for hundreds of cities across the US, Canada and the rest of the world. Each board has the same sections: items for sale, housing and rentals, jobs, gigs, services, community notices and discussion forums. Buyers browse or search without an account, and sellers post a listing and arrange the deal directly, usually meeting in person and paying in cash. There are no ratings, built-in payments or shipping, which keeps it simple but puts more of the safety burden on users. Most posts are free; Craigslist charges small fees for some categories in some areas, such as job ads, dealer listings, vehicles sold by owner in the US and apartment rentals in a few big cities. It works in any browser, and there is an official app for iOS and Android.
Best for: Locals selling bulky items, finding rentals or hiring for gigs without fees or accounts.
Craigslist pricing (checked Nov 8, 2026)
Each line is quoted from Craigslist's own site, with the page it came from.
| Plan or term | What it says | Checked | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Job ad fee | $10-75 in the US and parts of Canada | Nov 8, 2026 | craigslist.org |
| Vehicle by owner fee | $5 in the US | Nov 8, 2026 | craigslist.org |
| Gigs fee | $3-10 in the US and selected Canadian areas | Nov 8, 2026 | craigslist.org |
Pros and cons
What works
- Most posts are free and browsing needs no account
- Covers housing, jobs, gigs and services as well as items for sale
- Local boards in hundreds of cities around the world
- Fast, lightweight pages that work on old devices
Why people leave
- No user ratings, built-in payments or buyer protection
- Scams are common enough that the site keeps a dedicated warning page
- Fees now apply to jobs, vehicles by owner and several other US categories
- Dated interface with basic search and photo handling
Craigslist vs OfferUp, eBay and Gumtree
From each app's listing and the prices verified on its own site. A dash means we haven't verified it yet.
| Attribute | Craigslist | OfferUp | eBay | Gumtree |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan + paid | Free plan + paid | Free plan + paid | Free plan + paid |
| Verified price | — | — | — | — |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | No | No | No | No |
| Self-hostable | No | No | No | No |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android | Web, iOS, Android | Web, iOS, Android | Web, iOS, Android |
Full Craigslist vs OfferUp comparisonFull Craigslist vs eBay comparisonFull Craigslist vs Gumtree comparison
Top Craigslist alternatives
See all 5- 1
OfferUp68.8US local marketplace with user profiles, ratings and in-app chat, so buyers can vet sellers before meeting.
- 2
eBay62.6Adds shipping, auctions and seller protections, so items reach buyers far beyond your own city.
- 3
Gumtree59.4The UK's go-to classifieds site, covering the same mix of goods, jobs, property and services.
- 4
Nextdoor50.0Neighbourhood-only feed with verified addresses, handy for selling or giving away items to people nearby.
- 5
Quikr42.3The closest equivalent for local classifieds, jobs and rentals in India.
Why people left Craigslist
In reviewers' own words, from reviews of the apps they moved to. These are their opinions, not ours.
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Craigslist: common questions
What is Craigslist?
Craigslist: Long-running local classifieds site for things for sale, housing, jobs, services and community posts. Best for locals selling bulky items, finding rentals or hiring for gigs without fees or accounts. Available for Web, iOS and Android.
Is Craigslist free?
Craigslist has a free plan and paid plans.
How much does Craigslist cost?
Craigslist is free with paid plans. Job ad fee: $10-75 in the US and parts of Canada; Vehicle by owner fee: $5 in the US; Gigs fee: $3-10 in the US and selected Canadian areas. Checked on Craigslist's own site, November 2026.
Is Craigslist open source?
No, Craigslist is not open source.
What platforms does Craigslist run on?
Craigslist is available for Web, iOS and Android.
What are the best alternatives to Craigslist?
The highest-ranked Craigslist alternatives right now are OfferUp, eBay and Gumtree. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.
Craigslist vs OfferUp: what's the difference?
Both Craigslist and OfferUp are free with paid plans. Both run on Web, iOS and Android.