What’s the German version of Craigslist?

Craigslist is a classifieds website with pages for cities across the world, where people advertise everything from jobs and housing to second-hand furniture, local services and more.

While it remains hugely popular in the United States, Craigslist has never truly taken off in Germany. Although the site technically exists here, it’s largely unused – so if you’re living in Germany, you’ll need to look elsewhere.

The good news is that Germany has several highly developed local platforms that serve many of the same purposes – often in an even more specialised way.

But remember, as with Craigslist it’s important to stay cautious when using classified ads platforms in Germany.

Whenever possible, meet in person to inspect items before paying or using official in-platform payment systems. It’s always a good idea to avoid sending money through unsecured methods such as PayPal “Friends & Family” when dealing with strangers.

One other thing to bear in mind is that most of these sites operate almost exclusively in German. If you don’t speak the language, you’ll probably need a friend who does or a translation tool like DeepL or Google Translate.

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Kleinanzeigen

Kleinanzeigen (formerly eBay Kleinanzeigen) is the closest equivalent to Craigslist in Germany – and by far the most widely used general classifieds platform.

The platform allows users to buy and sell almost anything locally, from furniture and electronics to bikes, cars and jobs. Like Craigslist, it’s built around hyper-local transactions: you can search by postcode (PLZ) and set a radius to find listings near you.

Many deals are still done the traditional way – messaging the seller, meeting in person and paying in cash – though the platform now also offers a secure payment and shipping option.

If you ask people in Germany where to find a second-hand sofa or sell an old phone, Kleinanzeigen will almost certainly be the first answer.

Quoka.de

Quoka is a more traditional classifieds website and one of the longer-running platforms in Germany.

It offers listings across a wide range of categories, including second-hand goods, jobs, services and even pets. While it doesn’t have the same reach as Kleinanzeigen, it still has a solid user base and is a useful alternative if you’re browsing multiple platforms.

nebenan.de

While not a direct replacement for Craigslist, nebenan.de plays an important role in Germany’s local online ecosystem.

Rather than connecting an entire city, it focuses on your immediate neighbourhood. To join, users typically need to verify their address, which creates a more trusted, community-driven environment.

People use nebenan.de for things like giving away unwanted items, borrowing tools, finding local recommendations or organising neighbourhood events. It’s less about buying and selling at scale and more about connecting with the people who live nearby.

Think of it as a mix between Craigslist’s community boards and a neighbourhood network.

READ ALSO: How to buy second-hand and save money in Germany

Specialist sites for clothing, transport and housing

For more specialised needs, Germany also has a range of platforms focused on specific categories such as clothing, vehicles and housing – often offering more tailored features than general classifieds sites.

Vinted

For second-hand clothing and fashion, Vinted is one of the most popular platforms in Germany.

Unlike traditional classifieds, it’s designed specifically for buying and selling clothes and accessories, with built-in shipping and payment systems.

It’s especially popular among younger users and those looking for sustainable alternatives to fast fashion.

Mobile.de

If you’re looking to buy or sell a car, Mobile.de is the leading marketplace in Germany.

The platform focuses exclusively on vehicles, including cars, motorcycles and commercial vehicles. It offers advanced filters that allow users to search by price, mileage, model and location, making it much more specialised than general classifieds sites.

Ridesharing

In Germany, a Mitfahrgelegenheit (“ride opportunity”) refers to traditional, long-distance carpooling rather than commercial services where a driver operates like a taxi for profit.

Kleinanzeigen features a dedicated section for these ride opportunities, functioning like a digital bulletin board where drivers post upcoming weekend trips or travel routes to major events.

Or, for those who prioritize a massive network and high reliability, BlaBlaCar is the undisputed corporate giant of German carpooling.

Smaller alternatives include Fahrgemeinschaft.de and Bessermitfahren.de, both born out of community frustration with the corporate fees charged by their larger competitor.

WG-Gesucht and ImmobilienScout24

WG-Gesucht is Germany’s most popular site for finding shared flats (known as Wohngemeinschaften or simply WGs).

It’s especially popular with students and young professionals looking for rooms in cities like Berlin, Munich or Hamburg.

For full apartments or long-term rentals, ImmobilienScout24 is arguably the country’s leading platform. It offers extensive filters and listings across all major cities and regions.

Together, these two platforms effectively replace Craigslist’s housing section in Germany.

READ ALSO: How long do you need to keep receipts and invoices for in Germany?

On-demand gigs and local help

On Craigslist in the US, the “Gigs” and “Services” sections are often a great way to find temporary work or hire a local helping hand.

In Germany, these casual, on-demand requests have mostly migrated to specialised apps.

TaskRabbit is the place to look in German cities if you want to hire someone to assemble your flat-pack furniture, help you load a moving van, mount a TV or take care of minor repairs.

Zenjob allows people seeking casual work – international students, for example – to view and book single shifts directly from their phone, often with no traditional application process required. Sectors typically include retail, hospitality or warehouse work.