Are you looking for a way to make some extra cash, or do you have unwanted items you’re hoping to unload? You don’t have to worry about setting up an online storefront or calculating shipping costs if you sell items locally. You also don’t have to hold a traditional yard sale or post classified ads in the local newspaper, since there are plenty of apps to sell stuff within your local market.
Keep reading to learn about 25 of the best-selling apps to make money in your local community.
Our Methodology: The Top Local Selling Apps
The surge in the digital marketplace has made it simpler than ever for individuals and businesses to sell products locally. Whether you’re downsizing your inventory, looking to find local buyers for your products, or even launching a small business, local selling apps provide a platform to do so.
In selecting the top local selling apps suitable for individuals and small businesses looking to sell products in their local area, we’ve considered various factors. Each criterion is rated on a scale from 10 (most essential) to 1 (least essential), ensuring that our recommendations cater to the needs of effective and secure local commerce.
- Ease of Use and User Interface: Importance 10/10
- User-friendly design for listing items and navigating the app.
- Simple and intuitive process for creating and managing listings.
- Clarity in the display of product information and images.
- Local Reach and Audience: Importance 9/10
- Ability of the app to connect sellers with a local audience effectively.
- Popularity and user base within specific local areas.
- Targeted search and filter options for local buyers.
- Security and Trustworthiness: Importance 8/10
- Measures to ensure the safety and security of transactions.
- Verification processes for users to build trust.
- Features to report and handle fraudulent activities.
- Communication and Messaging Features: Importance 7/10
- Efficient in-app messaging system for communication between buyers and sellers.
- Options for real-time chat and negotiation.
- Privacy protection in communication channels.
- Fee Structure and Affordability: Importance 6/10
- Transparency and fairness in any fees or commissions charged.
- Comparison of costs with other local selling platforms.
- Value for money for services provided.
- Payment and Transaction Options: Importance 6/10
- Variety of secure payment options (digital payments, escrow services).
- Clarity on transaction processes and payment timelines.
- Support for cashless and contactless transactions.
- Product Categories and Diversity: Importance 5/10
- Wide range of product categories suitable for different types of sellers.
- Flexibility to list various types of goods, from used items to handmade products.
- Filters and categories to aid in item discovery.
- Customer Support and Resources: Importance 4/10
- Availability of customer support for sellers and buyers.
- Access to resources like guides, FAQs, and tips for selling effectively.
- Community forums or support networks for user interaction and advice.
Our evaluation criteria ensure we recommend the most efficient, secure, and user-friendly local selling apps, facilitating a successful selling experience. This methodology reflects real-world selling challenges and the features that mitigate them, ensuring you’re not just selling but selling smart.
Top Local Selling App Options
Just because you’re selling items online, that doesn’t mean you can’t focus on customers in your local community. You can use some of the most popular selling apps to sell all your old stuff, including everything from cell phones to baby items to cars, to a local interested buyer.
1. Facebook Marketplace
If you already use the Facebook app, then Facebook Marketplace can be an appealing option for selling stuff locally. The free app allows sellers to list products and manage conversations with potential customers. And since Facebook is such a popular platform, there’s huge local reach and trustworthiness. Plus, when a business profile posts items for sale with the Meta Marketplace, users gain access to a unified shopping experience for Facebook, Instagram and Messenger that makes it easier for customers to discover and buy products.
2. eBay App
eBay’s popular eCommerce platform offers a local selling feature and the mobile eBay app, which allows sellers to reach its massive customer base right from their mobile devices to sell items locally. It has a simple user interface and lots of reach and brand trust.
3. Poshmark App
One of the best-selling apps for designer goods, Poshmark includes a feature for local “poshers” to sell new or used clothing, shoes and handbags from each other. It’s known for being easy to use – just take a picture of the item you want to sell, list it on the app along with its price, and wait for a buyer to snatch it up. And if you want to sell something on the platform, here is how to make money on Poshmark.
4. OfferUp App
Since combining with the LetGo marketplace, OfferUp has become one of the most popular selling apps, offering users the chance to sell a huge range of products, from cars to potted plants directly to local customers. Repeat buyers even earn rewards, so the marketplace is made up of users ready to purchase.
5. Decluttr App
Want to sell your stuff but don’t think you have the patients to wait for an interested buyer? The Decluttr app might be your perfect solution. Just post your product for sale on the Decluttr app, where it will be instantly evaluated for a sale. If you go along with the price, Decluttr sends you a free prepaid shipping label to send the product via UPS.
6. Craigslist App
Craiglist remains one of the most popular platforms for selling to local buyers since it’s basically an online classified ads website categorized by cities. Users can either post their items for sale on the main Craigslist website, or they can download a third-party app like CPlus to sell locally from their mobile devices.
7. Nextdoor
Nextdoor is another great app for selling locally. Members use it to sell items within a specific neighborhood or city. Not only is it free to download the Nextdoor app, but there also are no listing and selling fees. Small businesses, however, can pay to advertise items for sale or rent.
8. Tradesy
An easy-to-use app, Tradesy allows fashion lovers to upload a few photos of clothing they no longer want and sell it to other users who can see the items in their own closets. Tradesy then provides sellers with a pre-paid shipping label for a flat fee, so sellers always know what to expect from their transactions.
9. Etsy
One of the best apps to sell handmade and vintage items, Etsy includes a local search feature, so sellers can market their products to nearby customers. Of course, Etsy users also can choose to sell their products around the world to an almost unlimited audience. Be aware that Etsy charges a listing fee whether or not the item sells.
10. Vinted
If you want to start selling clothing and unclutter your closet, Vinted is an app to consider since it’s solely dedicated to the sale of jewelry and second-hand clothes. Users can close sales quickly by posting photos and chatting with potential buyers. It’s free to join, and Vinted charges no listing fees.
11. Depop
Depop users rely on the app to sell clothes, and the community focuses on handmade, creative and vintage items. The Depop app stands apart from many competitors by allowing sellers to showcase their products using video, so they can make even more money selling clothing, accessories and other items.
12. 5miles
Focuses specifically on local selling, the 5miles app uses a phone’s location tracking feature to target the closest potential buyers. Users can sell items in a variety of categories, and they enjoy safety and security features like identity verification. 5miles also features a social element, allowing users to like items for sale and follow their favorite sellers.
13. Wallapop
Branded as a virtual flea market, Wallapop users easily can sell a variety of second-hand goods simply by posting a photo of each item and connecting with buyers. The free Wallapop app appeals to local buyers and sellers since items closest to users are displayed to them first.
More Great Apps to Sell Stuff Locally
Whether you are trying to cash in on big-ticket items or the smallest trinkets, there are plenty of other selling apps to attract potential buyers in your local area. Before you start listing your items for sale in your local marketplace, consider these other apps and the features they offer.
14. SocialSell
Another of the most popular resale apps, SocialSell lets users buy and sell new and used items in a variety of different categories, including clothing, antiques, memorabilia and even automotive. Sellers even can privately chat with potential buyers from within the app.
15. VarageSale
Using VarageSale is like visiting a series of online garage sales, and – much like at a garage sale – they can sell practically anything. Not only is VarageSale one of the best apps to sell locally, but it also includes an identity verification feature to ensure safety when making transactions.
16. Shpock
Shpock provides a mobile platform for buying and selling a variety of used items. Buyers can browse by category or even see items on a map to find the most relevant items nearby. Shpock features free listings and no transaction fees on sales, but sellers can pay to promote their items if they need to close the deal fast.
17. Blinker
Are you hoping to sell your car online to a local buyer? Blinker offers a mobile platform where vehicle sellers can easily snap a photo, list their cars for sale and then directly converse with local buyers. Plus, Blinker is completely free to use.
18. Bag Borrow or Steal
If you want to make quick cash while unloading handbags from designer brands, then consider selling your items on Bag Borrow or Steal. The platform allows users to sell their used handbags to individuals via the website or sell them to the website directly. The store then inspects every bag received to ensure its quality.
19. Tradyo
Featuring both an online and a mobile platform, Tradyo helps users sell their items quickly. Sellers need only to take a few photos of the items for sale, determine their selling price, and write a short description. Then buyers can search for specific items within their ZIP codes to find the most relevant options.
20. Nearme
A mobile classified advertising platform, Nearme lets users sell electronics, furniture, cars and even real estate, as well as a variety of other second-hand items. Nearme users even have the option of placing their items for rent, so they can make money while retaining ownership.
21. Cashify
Those hoping to sell used mobile phones, computers or other electronics should consider the Cashify app, a platform where they quickly can list items and sell them to local buyers. Sellers even are paid instantly if they elect to receive direct deposit.
22. Carousell
A mobile platform designed specifically for person-to-person selling, Carousell lets users post a photo, chat with potential buyers and complete their sales with people in their neighborhoods. The app is designed to bring buyers and sellers together, so it doesn’t process transactions. Instead, buyers pay when they meet to exchange the item, or they can arrange payment via PayPal.
23. Chairish
Another great app for locally selling furniture, Chairish offers a platform where users can list items like vintage and used furniture, art and decor for sale. There are no listing fees, and sellers are promised to keep at least 80% of their profits.
24. Recycler
Yet another popular online selling app, Recycler is a free platform for selling niche items like vehicles, pets, firearms, real estate and furniture. Home to millions of listings, Recycler features listings for both commercial and private sales of goods and services.
25. Instagram
It might not be known primarily as a selling platform, but Instagram is quickly becoming a popular place to sell stuff online. Just take some quality photos of the items you want to sell, write a brief product description, including your price, and use some trending hashtags, such as #forsale, and you’ll soon attract plenty of potential buyers. There aren’t lots of transaction features, but the app has tons of local reach across communities.
Why Should You Sell Items Locally?
Why should you sell items online to local buyers? There are a variety of benefits of using the most popular selling apps to make money locally, including:
Simplicity – Most selling apps are easy to use, and listing items for sale is a simple process.
Profitability – When you sell your stuff online outside of your local market, you have to account for shipping fees, which cuts into your profits.
Variety – There are so many apps available for selling items locally, and sellers have plenty of variety to choose what best suits their needs.
Quick Cash – Selling stuff you already own is a quick way to raise some needed cash in a pinch, especially since selling apps enable you to list your items, make the sale and collect payment quickly.
Sustainability – When you resell items you own, you not only earn money but make the items available for someone else to reuse or recycle, promoting sustainability.
| Benefits | Description |
|---|---|
| Simplicity | Most selling apps offer user-friendly interfaces, making listing items for sale a simple and straightforward process. |
| Profitability | Selling locally eliminates shipping fees, allowing you to retain more profits from the sale of your items. |
| Variety | Numerous selling apps cater to different needs, offering sellers a wide range of options to find the best fit. |
| Quick Cash | Selling items you already own provides a fast way to earn needed cash, with selling apps facilitating swift transactions. |
| Sustainability | Reselling your belongings promotes sustainability by giving others the chance to reuse or recycle the items. |
Enhancing Your Local Selling Strategy with Apps
Leveraging Local Market Trends
Understanding local market trends is crucial for successful selling. Researching what items are popular or in demand in your area can help you target your sales more effectively. Use this knowledge to curate items that are likely to sell quickly and at a better price.
Building a Strong Seller Reputation
Develop a reliable and trustworthy reputation as a seller. Prompt responses, honest communication, and positive interactions with buyers can lead to repeat business and good reviews, which are invaluable on local selling platforms.
Effective Pricing Strategies
Pricing your items competitively yet fairly is key. Consider local buying power and the current market value of similar items. Be open to negotiation, as many local selling apps encourage buyers and sellers to agree on a final price.
Optimizing Your Use of Local Selling Apps
Utilizing App-Specific Features
Each app has unique features that can enhance your selling experience. For instance, some apps might offer promotional tools to boost your listings, or in-app messaging for better communication with buyers. Make full use of these features to increase your sales potential.
Safe and Secure Transactions
Prioritize safety in every transaction. Choose public places for physical exchanges and use secure payment methods recommended by the app. Avoid sharing personal financial information directly with buyers.
Staying Informed and Adaptative
Keep up-to-date with any changes or updates in the app. New features or adjustments in the platform’s policies can affect how you sell and interact with potential buyers. Being adaptable and informed can give you an edge in the local selling market.
Local selling apps offer a dynamic and accessible way to reach potential buyers in your area. By understanding local market trends, building a strong seller reputation, and effectively using app-specific features, you can maximize your success in the local selling space. Remember to always prioritize safety and stay adaptable to changes for a seamless and profitable selling experience.
What Is the Easiest Way to Sell Locally?
Traditionally, local sales occurred at physical locations, including garage sales, flea markets and local consignment shops. Modern sellers, however, can arrange for local sales without ever leaving their homes.
Apps like Facebook, Wallapop and Nearme allow users to list items for sale within their local market and arrange for local pickup with their buyers. Other apps, such as Decluttr, will even provide sellers with a free shipping label so they can expand their reach while avoiding shipping costs.
What Is the Best App to Sell Stuff Locally?
There are many apps available to sell stuff locally, and the list grows longer every day. A few of the best apps to sell stuff to local buyers include Facebook Marketplace, eBay, OfferUp and Poshmark. The app most specifically dedicated to local selling, however, has got to be 5miles, since it uses a phone’s location tracking feature to target the closest potential buyers.
Is It Better to Sell Stuff Online or Locally?
Those hoping to make extra money from selling their stuff might think they have to choose whether to sell online or locally. Instead of pondering whether it’s better to sell stuff online or locally, why not experience the best of both worlds?
Many apps now are available that let users list their products for sale using an online platform, but market their items within their local communities. If you plan to add money to your bank account by selling items you already own, consider using any of the above apps to sell both online and locally.
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This article, "What is the Best Local Selling App?" was first published on Small Business Trends
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