Craigslist Clone: Make a Masterstroke Entry Into the Classified Business With an App Like Craigslist or Gumtree

Online classified websites like Craigslist, OLX, Quicker, Gumtree, and so many others to name change our modern life for the better. These are offering a convenient way to people to buy and sell products or services online. Whether you are looking for a second-hand car, property, job, furniture, household items, electronic appliances, and more, classified websites got you covered. 

Classified business seems like a progressive component for many business-minded persons. They are using Craigslist clone script to build their online marketplace like Craigslist for attracting and targeting a larger audience base. As per a report of Straits Research, the classified business marketplace is expected to grow at a CAGR of 9.5% from 2019 to 2026.

In this article, we will discuss a lot of aspects involved in starting a classified business with an app like Craigslist and Gumtree. We will also help dig deep into the features of classified business app clones alongside the cost, business model, revenue model, and how to make a Craigslist clone. But before that, you need to know what Craigslist and Gumtree are and how they work.

>>>Read More: How to Start a Classified Business in India?<<<

Know Classified Platforms: Craigslist and Gumtree

In simple words, classified platforms like Craigslist and Gumtree are websites that allow people to publish their ads to sell their car, mobile phone, home appliances, etc from the comfort of their palm. The user can go for free or paid listing depending on their choice. 

The ads on these websites are divided by categories and classes to simplify the ease of users finding an appropriate product. The most common categories are automobile, mobile, real estate, jobs, and services. 

These websites are well equipped with the user-friendly interface that led these websites to huge success. Both Craigslist and Gumtree have evolved as the widely celebrated online classified business marketplace, thanks to their simplicity and versatility. 

Why Do You Need a Craigslist Clone App for Your Classified Business?

The global market of the classified business is booming with each passing day and generating opportunities for businesses to make a profit. Classified business apps are the hottest trend in the market right now, especially with the dominance of apps like OLX, Quicker, Craigslist, and Gumtree. All of these mobile apps have become the economy of millions of dollars in the shortest time. 

Mobile applications have become the most preferred way for people to buy and sell their new and old products online. Hence, it is essential to invest in developing a Craigslist clone app to ensure the success of your business. 

Essential Features of Craigslist Clone App

The features depend upon the goal of Craigslist clone app development goal. However, some essential features need to be included with your Craigslist clone app to make it functional. Let’s scroll down to see what those features are.

1. Register/Login

This is the first thing users are going to notice about your classified business mobile app. Hence, these features need to be designed delicately. You need to keep the registration process smooth and minimal. Ask the user about the essential information only.

2. Explore Thousands of Ads

Once the user registration process is accomplished, the next thing you need to do is allow people to explore the thousands of ads published on your app. No matter what kind of product they are looking for, you need to provide them with the appropriate one.

On the homepage, you can showcase various deals on automobiles, furniture, property, and so on. Thus, users can purchase suitable products for themselves with less or no hassle. 

3. Improved Search Functionalities

This is the most essential feature that you need to incorporate with your classified business mobile app. This feature will help the users to find the desired product with ease. 

You can include dozens of search filters with your classified business application such as budget, location, brand, year of manufacture, and so on to make the searching more effortless. 

4. In-App Messaging

This feature comes in aid to allow both buyer and seller to communicate with each other directly through your application. Whenever a buyer finds a suitable product for themselves, they can send a message to the client asking for the required information, the seller will receive an instant notification and will be able to reply to the buyer with an answer. Using this feature, buyers and sellers can negotiate on the price, discuss product features, and do a lot of other things. 

5. Social Sharing

These days the importance of social media is not a hidden thing for all of us. Hence, incorporating social sharing features with your classified business mobile application will go a long way to increase the popularity of the application. 

The user will be able to share the different classifieds published on the app with their social community. This feature will enhance the value of your Craigslist clone app.

6. Managing Top Preferences

This feature comes in aid for the users, allowing them to view the ads depending on their preferences. For instance, if you are a user who is interested in buying a car with a budget below 2 lakh, then you can set your preference for catering to your need. Now the application will come into use and display all the cars ranging in your budget. Whenever a new car list on the app matches your preference, the app will send an immediate notification to you. 

7. Multilingual Support

If you are building a classified application for a particular location, then building the application with regional language support is more than enough. However, if you do not know the location, then it would be in your interest to develop an application with multilingual support.  

>>>Do you want See The Demo? Click Here<<<

Understood the Business Model of Craigslist Mobile App

Before setting your online classified business, you need to be well versed with the knowledge of different business models Craigslist and Gumtree rely upon. The following are the four business models of classified business apps. 

1. Niche Classified

This business model would be an ideal option for you if you want to build an app catering to a particular niche i.e. automobile, electronic appliances, fashion, etc. Create a niche-specific website and provide the members of it with monthly or yearly subscription plans. 

2. Fixed Classified

Under this business model, websites like Craigslist, Gumtree, OLX, or Quicker, charge a fixed amount to their users in exchange for their services. Craigslist also offers a few packages to its users to boost user’s ads visibility. The main drawback of this business model is that you can calculate the revenue in advance until the end of the financial year. 

3. Freemium Classified

Under this model, the website doesn’t charge the members. Members can browse or publish ads without paying a single penny. The app will make revenue by showing ads. This feature is highly beneficial in the initial days of your business, as it will attract a larger audience and help you become popular in the market.

4. All-In-One Classified Business Model

If you are not sure which business model to choose from the above-mentioned ones, you can opt for the all-in-one classified business model offered by BR Softech.

Here at BR Softech, we have developed the best-classified ads script that consists of all the above-mentioned three business models. 

How Craigslist Classified Business App Makes Revenue?

Craigslist started as a non-profit organization, but that doesn’t mean that it makes no revenue. It makes revenue using multiple sources. Some of the most popular revenue models of Craigslist are mentioned below. 

1. Featured Ads

This revenue model is introduced by intending sellers to boost the visibility of their ads by highlighting them. Such types of highlighted ads can be placed on the top of the category ads or can be shown on the homepage. 

2. Subscription Fee

This revenue model is intended to charge a fixed fee monthly or yearly to users of the website. You can make different subscription packages allowing the customers to choose the preferred one for themselves.

3. Offering Premium Membership

You can offer the customers the premium membership under which sellers could see the profile of interested buyers, boost ad visibility, ad-free browsing, and so on. 

4. Banner Ads

Once your classified business mobile application or website is well accepted by a wide range of audiences, you will be able to sell space on your website. This space would be used by the advertisers or promoters to promote their products. 

5. Pay Per Post

This is one of the most basic revenue models. It is suitable for occasional advertisers who publish only one or two ads. 

How Much Does it Cost to Develop a Classified App Like Craigslist or Gumtree?

Now, as you have to get familiar with the features, business, and revenue model, it is time to discuss the cost of developing the Craigslist clone app.

But before we provide you with the estimated cost, we would like to draw your attention to factors that influence the cost of Craigslist and Gumtree clone script development. 

• The complexity of app development
• App development platform
• The number of features
• Location of a development company
• Tech Stack 

Depending on the above-mentioned factors, a classified mobile app development company would cost you somewhere around $50,000 to $65,000. Remember the fact that this is just an estimated amount, the actual cost of developing a Craigslist clone app might vary depending on the aforementioned factors.

Finally, How to Make a Craigslist Clone App?

This is the final take on the development of Craigslist of Gumtree clone script development. Here you need to choose a classified mobile app development company that has the expertise to help you meet your business goals fruitfully. 

BR Softech has rich experience in developing classified websites and mobile applications for business-minded people like you. We have a great team of web developers, mobile app developers, quality analysts, and UX/UI who will walk with you in every step of your classified mobile app development. Give us a chance to serve you!