Freegle vs Gumtree
Gumtree is a big UK classifieds site, mostly for buying and selling, cars, furniture, flats, jobs, all sorts. It has a freebies section too, where people list things to give away.
Which should you use?
If you’re happy digging through a general classifieds site and keeping your wits about you, Gumtree’s freebies can turn up the odd gem. But free reuse is a small corner of a selling site there. On Freegle it’s the whole point, everything’s free, and we do a lot more to keep the scammers off your back.
What’s a bit different about Freegle
Free is a side-line for them. Gumtree is first and foremost a place to buy and sell, and the freebies sit in one corner of it. Freegle only does free, so you’re not panning for giveaways in a river of paid listings.
Have a look at their own safety pages sometime. They’re thick with warnings about courier scams, fake payment links and the like, because on an open classifieds site you’re largely on your own. We put volunteer moderators and automated checks between you and most of that.
It’s a neighbour, not a transaction. A Freegle item goes to a local who actually wanted it, and often you’ll hear how they got on with it. Gumtree is built around the deal, free or not.
In short
| Freegle | Gumtree | |
|---|---|---|
| What it’s for | Free reuse only | Classifieds: buying, selling, freebies |
| The free bit | The whole site | One category among many |
| Scam protection | Active moderation and checks | Mostly your own lookout |
| Behind it | A reuse charity | A commercial classifieds site |
Questions people ask
Is Freegle like Gumtree’s freebies?
Same idea, giving things away, but on Freegle everything is free and it’s built for reuse, not tucked inside a selling site.
Which is safer?
Freegle, we’d say. We actively moderate; Gumtree leaves most of the caution to you, which is rather why their help pages are full of scam warnings.
Can I sell on Freegle?
No, Freegle is free-only. If you want to sell, that’s what Gumtree’s main site is for.
Got a question we haven’t covered? Have a look at our help section.
Honestly, we just like seeing things reused instead of binned. If the other lot work better for you, grand, use them with our blessing. And if you fancy giving Freegle a go too, come and say hello.