Quite a few apps let you browse and add to the 24/7 virtual garage sale online, but which will work for you? Here, we discuss the pros and cons of the six best online selling apps available for iOS and Android.

Easiest to Use: OfferUp

OfferUp—formerly LetGo—takes a step-by-step approach, moving you through each item. It claims it can help you get an item up for sale in 30 seconds or less.

  • Step-by-step structure is great for newbies.

  • Robust reputation feature.

  • No repercussions for low reputation buyer scores.

  • Requires you to provide precise GPS location.

Download For:

Best for In-Person Sales: 5Miles

Designed for face-to-face sales and interaction, 5miles shows items from only within five miles of a buyer’s location. That 5Miles looks a lot like “Smiles” is a nice touch.

  • Offers Facebook, Twitter, SMS, and email sharing options.

  • List services, garage sales, housing, and employment opportunities.

  • Selects secure places for buyers and sellers to meet.

  • Top sellers ranked by “levels” that indicate trustworthiness.

  • No support for less populated areas.

  • You might not want buyers to know you live within five miles of the dropoff point.

Download For: 

Best Search Tools: VarageSale

VarageSale aims to be a bit less of a free-for-all than many other online markets. Both buyers and sellers must be verified, but it’s completely free.

  • Good search tools help your listing stand out.

  • Fast to upload an item once you’re verified.

  • Uses Facebook to verify identity.

Best for Luxury Items: Shpock

Shpock lists the high end of used items: good stuff, in good condition. The app’s name is short for a “shop in your pocket.”

  • Tone might seem slightly snobby.

  • Tells sellers if you’re close by, making purchases more likely.

  • Quality listings not buried by junk.

  • Free version is ad-supported.

  • Free version limits search rankings and number of photos.

  • Listings through paid versions get higher placement.

Best for Audience Reach: Facebook Marketplace

Facebook is many things. One of those things is a very big yard sale, courtesy of Marketplace in the main Facebook app.

  • Largest audience of any of these apps.

  • Tightly integrated into the main site, so you don’t miss notifications.

  • Facebook privacy policies are a concern for some.

  • You need a Facebook account, and what you sell is tied to your name.

Best for Experienced Sellers: CPlus For Craigslist

The internet’s first classified ad site is still out there and going strong, more than a decade later. It even has an officially licensed app: Cplus.

  • The most accepting and customizable of sales sites.

  • Very clean and easy to use.

  • Local but not too specific.

  • Unrestricted atmosphere can be intimidating for new sellers.

  • Potential problems with scammers and bullies.

Before You Start Selling, a Few Tips

These apps have a similar structure: Upload at least one clear photo of your item, write a description, and give it a price. Here are a few ideas to ease the process and close a sale successfully and safely.

  • Write the specific details of your items on paper or in a note app before you put anything online, anywhere. This can help you highlight your item’s special, unique features.Decide ahead of time how you want buyers to pay for their items and how you want to make the exchange. You might leave an item in a package on the buyer’s porch, meet the buyer at a public place, or ship the item.Be wary of scammers and opportunists. Online opportunists often aggressively underbid for items they know they can turn around for a profit. Some buyers are hagglers; others aren’t above bullying people. If a potential buyer is overly aggressive or behaving in a way that makes you uncomfortable, listen to your gut: Thank them for their time and move on.Never accept a money order. This is a red flag for a ripoff.

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