Freegle vs Nextdoor
Nextdoor is a neighbourhood social network, the place for local notices, recommendations and the occasional heated thread about parking. It has a “For Sale & Free” section where people give things away or sell them.
Which should you use?
If you’re already on Nextdoor and something free pops up nearby, grab it, that’s reuse and we’re glad of it. But giving things away is a small bolt-on to a social network there. On Freegle it’s the only thing we do, and you don’t have to join the local chatter to take part.
What’s a bit different about Freegle
Reuse is a side feature for them. Nextdoor is a social network first, with giving and selling bolted on. Freegle exists for one reason, keeping usable things out of the bin, and that’s all it does.
Nextdoor leans on knowing your name and address, and that sounds reassuring until you notice it doesn’t actually stop anyone dodgy, it just knows where they live. Our trust comes from local volunteers who moderate posts and sort out problems, which is a different, and we’d argue more useful, kind of safe.
You don’t have to sign up to the neighbourhood to take part. Freegle is just about the giving and getting, so you’re not opting into local politics and notifications to rehome a bookcase.
In short
| Freegle | Nextdoor | |
|---|---|---|
| What it’s for | Free reuse only | A neighbourhood social network |
| Reuse is | The whole thing | One feature among many |
| Trust comes from | Volunteer moderation | Name and address verification |
| Behind it | A reuse charity | An ad-funded social network |
Questions people ask
Do I need a Nextdoor account to use Freegle?
No, they’re completely separate. Freegle works on the web, by email or via our app.
Isn’t Nextdoor safer because it checks your address?
It knows who you are, which isn’t quite the same as keeping you safe. Freegle relies on volunteers actively moderating, which tends to catch the actual problems.
Is Freegle just for my street?
No. Your post starts nearby and spreads outwards along the roads, so it isn’t boxed into one neighbourhood.
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.