Gumtree.com.au is Australia’s closest match to Craigslist — a free, category-based classifieds site for jobs, housing, cars, and household goods. But it isn’t the only option, and it isn’t always the best one. Facebook Marketplace wins for hyper-local pickup deals, eBay adds buyer protection for higher-value items, and 2026 brought two new fee shake-ups for clothing sellers: Vinted’s July launch in Australia and Depop cutting its selling fees in response. This guide compares all five, with real fees, safety tips, and which one fits your situation.
Table of Contents
What Is Gumtree, and Why Do Australians Call It “The Craigslist of Australia”?
Gumtree is a free, category-based classifieds site — the same basic model as Craigslist, and by far Australia’s most-visited site of this kind (SimilarWeb traffic data, June 2026). Gumtree the platform started in London in 2000, but Gumtree Australia didn’t launch until 2007, after eBay acquired the brand in 2005 and used it to expand overseas. It’s since changed hands again — The Market Herald bought Gumtree Australia in August 2022 for roughly A$86.7 million — but the free-listing model hasn’t changed.
Unlike Facebook Marketplace or Vinted, Gumtree covers far more than just goods: jobs, real estate, services, and community notices sit alongside cars, furniture, and electronics, which is the main reason it earns the “Australian Craigslist” comparison. Posting is free in most categories, and the search filters by location, category, and price make it straightforward to narrow results to your city or suburb. It’s also a solid option for travellers — if you’re backpacking around Australia and need to offload camping gear or a bike before you fly out, a free Gumtree listing with local pickup is usually faster than shipping it home.
Is Facebook Marketplace Better Than Gumtree for Local Deals?
For hyper-local pickup deals, yes — Facebook Marketplace is usually faster than Gumtree because it’s built around your existing Facebook profile and location, so buyers can see mutual friends and message you instantly through Messenger. It’s free to list and browse, and it’s the strongest option for giveaways, furniture you need gone by the weekend, or anything where you’d rather deal with someone nearby than post it and wait.
Sydney also has several active suburb-based “buy, swap and sell” groups on Facebook that run alongside Marketplace itself — search Facebook Groups for your suburb name plus “buy swap sell” to find the ones active in your area, since membership and activity levels change over time. The trade-off versus Gumtree: Marketplace has no built-in payment or buyer-protection system, so cash-on-pickup in a public place is still the safest way to complete a deal.
eBay Australia: Best When You Want Buyer Protection and a Wider Reach
eBay Australia is the right choice once an item is worth enough that you want more protection than a stranger paying cash in a car park. It ships nationwide (and internationally, if you allow it), settles payment before the buyer receives the item, and covers both sides with eBay Money Back Guarantee if something goes wrong. The trade-off is fees: eBay charges sellers a final value fee on most categories, so it suits items where the extra reach and protection are worth losing a few percent off the sale price — electronics, collectibles, car parts, anything you’d rather not hand over in person.
What Changed in 2026: Vinted’s Australian Launch and Depop’s Fee Cut
If you’re selling clothes, shoes, or accessories, 2026 is the first year Gumtree and Facebook Marketplace aren’t the obvious default. Vinted — Europe’s largest second-hand fashion marketplace — launched in Australia on 1 July 2026, backed by a three-year exclusive delivery partnership with Australia Post. Vinted’s model flips the usual fee structure: it’s free for sellers to list and sell (no commission), and instead charges buyers a small “buyer protection” fee at checkout, which covers refunds if an item doesn’t match its description. Australia Post’s own 2026 eCommerce Report — released alongside the partnership — found 46% of Australians already buy second-hand items annually, with the local recommerce market projected to reach roughly US$6.75 billion by 2029, which is the demand Vinted is chasing.
Depop, the other major fashion-resale app active in Australia, responded to Vinted’s arrival by dropping its standard seller commission in 2026 — sellers still cover payment processing costs, but the platform’s own cut is gone. Between the two, Vinted currently has the lower total cost for sellers since it charges no commission and no processing fee directly to the seller, while Depop’s processing fee still applies even with the commission removed. Both are worth comparing against Gumtree or Marketplace for clothing specifically — for electronics, furniture, or cars, they’re not relevant at all, since neither supports those categories.
Cash Converters: When You Want Money Today, Not a Buyer Eventually
Cash Converters is a different category of option entirely: a national second-hand retail chain with both physical stores and an online marketplace, buying goods outright for cash on the spot rather than listing them and waiting for a buyer. It’s the fastest way to turn an item into money — useful if you need cash today rather than whenever a Gumtree or Marketplace buyer shows interest — but you’ll get a lower price than a private sale, since the store needs margin to resell the item itself.
Which Online Marketplace Should You Actually Use?
| Platform | Best for | Seller cost | Buyer protection |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gumtree | Jobs, housing, cars, general goods | Free to list in most categories | None built in — meet safely, pay on pickup |
| Facebook Marketplace | Local pickup, giveaways, furniture | Free | None built in — meet safely, pay on pickup |
| eBay Australia | Higher-value items, nationwide shipping | Final value fee per sale | eBay Money Back Guarantee |
| Vinted | Clothing, shoes, accessories | Free (no seller commission) | Buyer-paid protection fee |
| Depop | Clothing, shoes, accessories | Payment processing fee only | Standard payment-provider dispute cover |
| Cash Converters | Instant cash, no waiting for a buyer | Store buys at a discount to resale value | Not applicable — outright sale |
How Do You Avoid Scams When Buying or Selling Online in Australia?
Classifieds sites are a common target for scammers because there’s no platform-wide payment protection on Gumtree or Facebook Marketplace. The ACCC’s Scamwatch recommends a few habits that cut most of the risk:
- Meet in a public place for cash sales, and bring someone with you if possible — many local police stations have a designated “safe exchange zone” for this.
- Never pay a deposit or “holding fee” to secure an item you haven’t seen in person — this is one of the most common Gumtree and Marketplace scam patterns.
- Be wary of buyers who overpay and ask for a refund of the difference; the original payment is usually reversed or fraudulent after you’ve already sent money back.
- Use a platform’s built-in messaging rather than moving to text or email straight away, so there’s a record if something goes wrong.
- For anything shipped rather than picked up in person, prefer a platform with buyer protection (eBay, Vinted) over a direct bank transfer to a stranger.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gumtree free to use in Australia?
Yes — browsing and listing are free in most categories on Gumtree Australia. Some categories, like certain business or trade listings, may carry optional paid promotion, but a standard personal listing costs nothing to post.
Is Vinted or Depop better for selling clothes in Australia?
Vinted currently has the lower cost for sellers, since it charges no seller commission and no processing fee directly to the seller — the buyer covers a protection fee instead. Depop dropped its own commission in 2026 too, but sellers still absorb a payment processing fee, so Vinted is marginally cheaper if cost is your only factor. Which app sells your specific items faster will depend on which one has the bigger active audience for your style and size — it’s worth listing on both and comparing.
Is Facebook Marketplace safe to use?
It’s reasonably safe for local, in-person, cash transactions, but it has no built-in buyer or seller protection — Facebook doesn’t process the payment or guarantee the item. Meet in a public place, inspect the item before paying, and treat any request to pay a deposit before you’ve seen the item in person as a red flag.
What’s the Australian equivalent of Craigslist for jobs or housing?
Gumtree is the closest match here too — it runs dedicated jobs and real estate/housing categories alongside its general classifieds, which most of the newer marketplaces (Vinted, Depop, Facebook Marketplace) don’t cover at all.
Looking to buy or sell something specific? Our guide on what’s legal to buy and sell in Australia covers the rules around counterfeit and restricted goods before you list anything. And if you’re shopping in person while you’re in the city, see our complete Sydney shopping guide for markets, outlets, and where locals actually buy.
Sources: Gumtree company history (Wikipedia), SimilarWeb Australia traffic rankings (June 2026), Australia Post’s Vinted delivery partnership (FreightWaves), Vinted Australia launch campaign details (Mi3), Depop Australia fee-change reporting (Broadsheet, 2026), ACCC Scamwatch online marketplace scam guidance.
Last updated 23 July 2026 — added Vinted’s July 2026 Australian launch, Depop’s 2026 fee change, a full platform comparison table, and current scam-avoidance guidance from Scamwatch.
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