Best Sites and Apps Like OfferUp to Buy and Sell (Offerup Alternatives)

In recent years, selling new and used items online has become even easier than before. Smaller businesses and individuals now have platforms to reach a much wider audience for their products. One of the best-known selling platforms is OfferUp, and they accept a wide variety of things to sell online. 

Some examples of things regularly sold on OfferUp include art, used cars, tickets to a show or game, and much more. These can all be found in locations where you purchase and receive them easily. 

The OfferUp app is free to download and it’s simple to get an account up and running quickly. That being said, OfferUp may not be the best fit for everyone, and it’s good to know there are alternatives. This article will look at some of the best sites like OfferUp.

Best Sites and Apps Like OfferUp

Although there are many OfferUp alternatives, it’s essential to understand that some are preferable if you want a fast cash payment from a local, in-person sale. Other sites and apps will be better if you prefer to deal with buyers and sellers online, or if you want to reach an audience outside of your local area. Another consideration is that certain sites and apps are set up to sell products in a specific niche. These factors need to be considered when you choose a marketplace to sell your items, and we will cover this in more detail below.

1. Facebook Marketplace

One of the best alternatives to OfferUp is the Facebook Marketplace, where you can sell pretty much anything. For many people that want to make an in-person local sale, this is their go-to site.

Creating a listing is free like OfferUp and there are a number of popular selling categories, including apparel, collectibles, electronics, jewelry, home goods, sneakers, tools, toys, and more.

To get the best out of Facebook Marketplace, you need to communicate and negotiate with potential buyers, and this can take time. Once you’ve agreed on the price and the meeting location, you can sell stuff without paying high seller fees. 

If you want to ship items, there are two main options:

1. Use your own shipping method
2. Use a prepaid Facebook Marketplace shipping label

You can offer free shipping to the buyer to entice them to buy items and cover those costs yourself. If you charge shipping fees, these will be clearly displayed in the listing and added to the total purchase price of the item you selling. 

Packing items securely for shipment and providing tracking information is also a great way to boost your credibility as a reputable seller.

2. Craigslist

Craigslist was one of the first online marketplaces for goods and services, and it’s still used to this day. This classified website is easy to use. You’ll create a listing, set a price, take a few pictures, and negotiate a price with local buyers. 

The main advantages are quick sales and cash on delivery. But, some people don’t like to haggle with buyers, and they may struggle to find time for an in-person meet-up.

Craigslist is a reliable alternative to OfferUp, but all meets should take place in very public spaces, and you should take a friend with you for safety. You also need to be cautious of potential scams.

3. eBay

No list of online selling sites would be complete without mentioning eBay. This is still one of the more popular marketplaces where you can sell to active buyers locally or globally.

You can sell anything (almost) on the site, and it’s a helpful resource for niche item collectors to find elusive items.

The main disadvantage to selling with eBay is the prohibitive 12.9% seller fees that are charged in most categories. Some select categories have 5% seller fees, and you can offer free shipping to drive sales. 

That being said, it’s not unusual for a buyer to pay for shipping on eBay and this is something you would need to explore further.

4. Mercari

Mercari is a free-to-download app for online selling, and it’s free to create a listing (no listing fees). Simply write a description, upload some good photos, add an appropriate title, and set the selling price. 

The buyers can then contact you to ask questions and negotiate with you. Some of the popular selling categories are books, clothes, cosmetics, electronics, home goods, toys, and video games.

The Mercari seller fees are lower than those on OfferUp, but you’ll pay a 10% seller fee based on the final selling price. On Mercari, the buyer usually pays the shipping fees, but if you offer free shipping, you can attract more attention.

5. Swappa

Swappa is an excellent platform for people that want to buy and sell used electronics. Popular products on this platform include cameras, wearables, iPads, iPhones, Macbooks, gaming consoles, Amazon and Google Home tech, and more. 

Simply enter the item you want to sell with Swappa, and you get an average market price. Then you can decide if you want to sell on the Swappa marketplace, which incurs a 3% seller fee. Swappa uses PayPal transfers to offer some protection to buyers and sellers.

6. Poshmark

If you plan to sell clothes and fashion accessories, Poshmark is one of the best apps like OfferUp. This reselling platform is designed to sell accessories, designer clothing, shoes, handbags, and more. 

The focus is women’s clothing, but you can also sell kids’ and men’s clothing on Poshmark too. Brand name apparel is by far the best-selling category on the site. 

It’s easy to create a listing, write a good description, take some pictures, upload them, and add an informative title.

The primary way that Poshmark differs from OfferUp is the fee structure. Poshmark charges a seller fee based on the final selling price as follows. A sale under $15 incurs a flat $2.95 fee, and sales over $15 are charged 20% of the final selling price. 

As you can see, this fee structure differs from OfferUp and is more expensive. But, if you have designer fashion items to sell, it will be easier to find a buyer with Poshmark, and you may sell it for more money. As an added incentive, Poshmark offers sellers a free prepaid shipping label.

7. VarageSale 

VarageSale is a virtual garage sale where you can sell your items locally and to a broader pool of potential buyers online. The platform is easy to use. You only need to follow three steps. 

1. Create an account and join your local VarageSale community.
2. Verify your account by connecting it to your Facebook account.
3. List your items and meet with local buyers to complete the sale. 

This marketplace is a great place to sell virtually anything, and the best sellers include clothes, toys, and home goods. At this time, VarageSale doesn’t charge seller fees.

8. 5miles 

5miles is a popular app where people sell to others in their local area. Because this app is location specific, you’ll have a larger pool of potential buyers in a larger town or city. 

With 5miles, you can sell a wide variety of items, including cars, clothes, video games, home goods, used furniture, toys, electronics, and more. The main disadvantage of this selling app is that the pricing structure can be confusing.

As a seller, you will get a certain number of free listings each month in specified categories. After this, a seller will pay $4.99 for each additional listing, and regular listings can cost $1.99 for each week that the listing is active. There are no seller fees, but there is a 4.9% charge when funds are withdrawn to a bank account.

Overall, 5miles is not as good as OfferUp or Facebook Marketplace for local selling. But, if you need to ship an item, 5miles may be more cost-effective and, at the same time, a somewhat limited option because the focus is on local selling.

9. Locanto 

In many ways, Locanto is a classified selling site that works similarly to Craigslist. With Locanto, you can sell pretty much any item to potential buyers in the U.S. and other nations.

It’s free to create a classified listing post. You add your images and then set your price. Locanto is a popular option to sell items quickly, and you don’t pay seller fees, making it an attractive alternative to OfferUp.

10. Bookoo 

Bookoo is a selling site that’s somewhat similar to OfferUp, and you sell your items like you would at a yard sale. With approximately 3 million users, an easy-to-use interface, and a simple item-posting process, Bookoo is an attractive selling option.

Bookoo will only connect sellers with local buyers and there are no shipping options. Every item sold will be delivered in person, and payments can be received in cash. Bookoo is now available in a wide selection of countries, making it a valid choice for digital nomads.

11. Oodle 

Oodle is a large classified website where people buy or sell various items. Some popular categories include cards, dogs, used furniture, musical instruments, jewelry, sporting equipment, video games, and much more. 

When you sell an item with Oodle, you’ll meet the buyer to deliver it and collect the cash. This helps you to avoid those higher online selling fees. All the usual safety precautions should be followed to minimize risk.

12. Geebo 

Geebo is another selling site where users can buy and sell items and post ads for roommates, home rentals, jobs, and more. It’s free to create a listing, and you can find a ready market for most commonly sold items.

One of the main advantages of Geebo is that they have focused on improved security to protect the seller and buyer. There are strict guidelines to follow when you list items on Geebo. If you choose the optional paid Geebo plan, extra features are unlocked to improve your onsite experience.

13. Listia

Listia is a popular free auction website with an interesting reward and payment system. When you create a free listing to sell your stuff, it’s presented in an auction, and potential buyers can bid on it. 

If you sell an item, you’ll earn points that can be redeemed for rewards, such as free gift cards, electronic items, kitchen appliances, and more. This may seem slightly confusing initially, but it’s certainly more interesting than a typical online or local sale. 

If you want a more standard selling experience, you can also set a fixed price with Listia. This is probably the most unique and versatile alternative to OfferUp on our entire list.

Tips for Selling on OfferUp (and Alternatives to OfferUp)

Every selling platform and app on our list can offer a good selling experience if you follow a few simple tips and tricks to boost your chances of securing a sale.

Know How Much Your Items Are Worth

Before you set a price for any item you want to sell, search for it as a buyer to see what the competition is selling it for and you’ll have a good benchmark. There is no need to price your items for sale at a ridiculously low price. But you don’t want to be that one seller with crazy high prices over every similar item on the platform. 

On sites like OfferUp, you may encounter potential buyers that want to haggle over the price. This can be fun, but you should know the lowest price you’re willing to accept in advance, and all negotiations should be calm, firm, and polite. Remember that you don’t have to sell the item quickly unless you are in a real hurry to get cash. But, if you sound desperate to sell, you can expect to get your asking price knocked down fast. 

Take High-Quality Photos

The old adage “A picture is worth a thousand words” is extremely applicable to online selling. You absolutely must take plenty of good pictures to secure that sale.

A high-quality image can inspire confidence in a buyer that you’re not hiding information about the item. This is especially true if you’re not selling locally, where the buyer could inspect the item before they hand over the cash.

As an extra tip, if you sell clothing items, always take a photo of the tag and get someone to model it for you. There’s no need to show the model’s face, but little details like this will make your listing stand out.

Consider the Words and Phrases Buyers Will Be Searching For

When you sell an item, consider the keywords and phrases a potential buyer would use to find the listing. If you’re unsure, look for similar items and copy these words and phrases in your own listings. This will increase the chances of buyers finding your listing when they search.

Write a Detailed Listing

Great pictures can tell a potential buyer a lot about the item you’re selling, but you must also add a detailed description. When you create a detailed and accurate description, you build credibility with potential buyers. 

A good description may even make your listing rank higher on the marketplace search engine. Some key details you should consider include the brand, colors, age, materials, sizes, condition (faulty, poor, good, like new, and brand new,) and if you have a smoke-free or pet-free home. For certain collectible items, you may even need to include the condition of the original packaging too. 

Provide Excellent Customer Service

When you sell online, it’s important to remember that you’ve entered a competitive market. The best way to stand out from other sellers is to adopt a professional approach and offer the best customer service.

If you get a question, answer it quickly to improve the odds of a faster sale. You don’t need to spend much time dealing with lowball offers or silly questions from people that are not serious. But, if you deal with a serious buyer, always respond to messages promptly, pack the item well for shipping, and ship it quickly if the sale is not local.

Final Thoughts on the Best OfferUp Alternatives

We hope you’ve found this list of the best sites like OfferUp helpful. Selling unused items is a tried and tested way to free up cash to use elsewhere. 

This can be a lucrative side gig. It can even become a full-time business if you can source products to sell. 

The variety of online selling options means that you can sell in niche markets for select items to improve your chances of success. So whether you choose to use OfferUp or OfferUp alternatives, you could create a nice side gig or develop a new income stream that can work around your existing time commitments.