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Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

Karrot vs OfferUp Buy & Sell Marketplace

Karrot 4.7★ · Free + IAP 65
Winner OfferUp Buy & Sell Marketplace
OfferUp Buy & Sell Marketplace 4.8★ · Free + IAP 75

OfferUp is the better choice for most users due to its significantly larger user base and higher transaction volume, despite its issues with ads and scammers.

Full reviews: Karrot · OfferUp Buy & Sell Marketplace

OfferUp boasts a massive user base, leading to more successful sales, but users frequently complain about excessive ads and an increase in scammers. Karrot offers a simpler, more community-focused experience with fewer ads, but struggles with low traffic and limited reach in many areas.

Head to head

User Base & Traffic edge: OfferUp Buy & Sell MarketplaceR7R9R11R85
Karrot Karrot users frequently report low traffic and difficulty selling items, with some selling only two items in months compared to dozens on other platforms R9R11. The app's neighborhood restrictions also limit reach for buyers and sellers R7.
OfferUp Buy & Sell Marketplace OfferUp has a large user base, with many reporting successful sales, including large items like cars, within days R97R105. However, some users still complain about low traffic and difficulty finding buyers R85.
Ease of Use & Features edge: KarrotR2R14R22R27
Karrot Karrot is praised for being easy to use, simple, and organized for posting and selling items R2R14R22. Users appreciate features like easy photo uploads, AI assistance, and a 'Boost' feature R27.
OfferUp Buy & Sell Marketplace OfferUp is generally considered easy to use for buying and selling . However, recent updates have introduced layout changes that some users dislike, making it harder to view listings .
Scammers & Reliability tieR1R3R13R15
Karrot Karrot users report encountering scammers selling defective electronics R1. There are also complaints about bad customer service, including suspending innocent people and not addressing negative experiences with rude sellers R3R13R15.
OfferUp Buy & Sell Marketplace OfferUp has significant issues with scammers and fraudulent users, with many listings being misleading or from bots R66R73R88. Users also report accounts being deactivated for no clear reason .
User Experience & Community edge: KarrotR4R15R19R30
Karrot Karrot fosters a positive community feel, with users meeting nice, honest, and respectful people for transactions R4R19R30. However, some users have encountered rude individuals R15. The app also provides safety guidelines .
OfferUp Buy & Sell Marketplace OfferUp users frequently complain about flakey people, rude individuals, and a general decline in the quality of interactions . Despite this, some users still report positive interactions with sellers .
Notifications & Ads edge: KarrotR5R61R63R70
Karrot Karrot users complain about receiving too many promotional alerts for the app itself, beyond just buying and selling notifications R5.
OfferUp Buy & Sell Marketplace OfferUp is heavily criticized for an excessive number of ads, including pop-ups, video ads, and auto-playing audio ads, which interrupt usage, slow down the app, and lead to accidental clicks R61R63R70R75. Users also report issues with unwanted notifications despite adjusting settings R63.
Pick Karrot if

You prioritize a simpler, less ad-filled experience and are in an area with active Karrot users, or if you value a strong community feel.

Pick OfferUp Buy & Sell Marketplace if

You need access to a much larger buyer and seller base to increase your chances of selling items quickly, and you are willing to tolerate frequent ads and potential scam attempts.

Evidence note: OfferUp has a significantly larger number of reviews, which provides a broader perspective on its strengths and weaknesses. Karrot's smaller review pool means some dimensions, like customer service, have fewer supporting references.

Frequently asked

Which app has more buyers and sellers?
OfferUp generally has more buyers and sellers, leading to quicker sales for many users, especially for larger items like cars R97R105, whereas Karrot users often report low traffic and difficulty selling items R9R11.
Which app has fewer ads?
Karrot has fewer ads and promotional alerts, though some users find its internal app promotions excessive R5, while OfferUp is heavily criticized for an overwhelming number of intrusive ads, including pop-ups and auto-playing videos R61R75R81.
Is OfferUp or Karrot better for avoiding scammers?
Both apps have issues with scammers; Karrot users report encountering individuals selling defective electronics R1, while OfferUp is widely reported to be flooded with scammers, bots, and misleading listings R66R73R88.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R7] Karrot 1/5 · US Make the app with no restrictions: The app is okay but make it without limits on posting and no neighborhood restrictions. If there’s an item in busan and I live in Seoul I want to be able to buy the item. These restrictions make it worse for item purchases. Also change it to unlimited posting no limits.
  2. [R9] Karrot 1/5 · US No traffic, no results: I’ve been using this app for MONTHS and sold I think 2 items? I’ve sold THIRTY TWO items on Marketplace. Same items, same descriptions, same prices put up on both. NO inquiries, NO messages or offers about them on Karrot, sell just fine on MP. This app sucks.
  3. [R11] Karrot 2/5 · US Market place is better: Nobody really uses this app at least not in my area i do better on market place
  4. [R85] OfferUp Buy & Sell Marketplace 1/5 · US It’s not a great app anymore for selling and buying: Since I used the app I was enjoying it. But now Tried to sell things but now you barely get any buyers. You are lucky even if you find one buyer in a month. It’s useless now Monty
  5. [R2] Karrot 5/5 · US I love Karrot: Karrot is great and so easy to post an item and fast to sell thank you Karrot I love it
  6. [R14] Karrot 5/5 · US Premium adds: I love Carrot. I downloaded this app a year ago. Only now I finally started using it. it really works perfect and easy to use.
  7. [R22] Karrot 5/5 · US Decent app: I’ve been using this app for a short time. Decent app for selling items. System is simple to use and great for communication with buyers.
  8. [R27] Karrot 5/5 · US Love Karrot: This APP is so much better and more advanced than FB Marketplace. Easy to upload photos and ai does the rest for you. Editing is a breeze and I love the Boost feature. A+ app!
  9. [R1] Karrot 1/5 · US Scammers: This app is full of people selling defective electronics without disclosing that information. Do your due diligence before buying anything.
  10. [R3] Karrot 1/5 · US Bad customer service: Bad customer service
  11. [R13] Karrot 1/5 · US Bad customer service: Suspending innocent people And letting abusive people in platform
  12. [R15] Karrot 1/5 · US Very unpleasant experience with seller: I have to give this app 1 star because of a very unpleasant experience with a seller. I went to buy an item, but the seller spoke loudly and rudely, telling me to leave the store. I wrote a negative review, but it didn't show up, and I reported it, but I received no response from 당근 (Karrot). I hope all users, including foreigners, are treated fairly. · translated
  13. [R4] Karrot 5/5 · US Ray-ban eye glasses: People always say there no Angel walking on earth. Well l met an Angel on West 28 street. She didn’t share her name but we met to exchange money for eye glasses. This Angel didn’t share her name but she shared her kindness and instead of taken the agreed price for her and her partner Ray-ban prescription eyeglasses. She said Merry Christmas. I thought l would have to wait for
  14. [R19] Karrot 5/5 · US Honest: Nice Personality
  15. [R30] Karrot 5/5 · US Perfect Gentleman: Honest and Cool , trustworthy and kind.
  16. [R5] Karrot 2/5 · US Too many alerts!: I agreed to alerts for my buying and selling, but at this moment I have 10 alerts just promoting the use of the app. So, HEY! This isn’t the only app I have nor the only thing I need to respond to every day. Give it a rest.
  17. [R61] OfferUp Buy & Sell Marketplace 1/5 · US Horrible app: Do not use offer up. Spent $2 on a 24 hour promotion on my listing to try and sell fast and the literally showed it to no one in that time. Waste of time and money
  18. [R63] OfferUp Buy & Sell Marketplace 3/5 · US As years went by: I used to love offer up now it has become a money grabbing app with spam. Not only that I turned all of my notifications for alerts except messages and they still harass me with other none relevant stuff I don’t want to turn phone notifications off because I wouldn’t get any messages….all in all offer up degraded rather than upgraded
  19. [R70] OfferUp Buy & Sell Marketplace 1/5 · US Would not recommend: Takes your money offering a “free trial” and would not reimburse. Made no sale. Little to no views.
  20. [R97] OfferUp Buy & Sell Marketplace 5/5 · US Perfect app for large item: I sold my car within 3 days and now hopefully I can sell my mattress
  21. [R105] OfferUp Buy & Sell Marketplace 5/5 · US 2012 CHALLENGER $5,555: IM SELLING MY CAR, ITS GOING WELL.
  22. [R75] OfferUp Buy & Sell Marketplace 3/5 · US Ads: Too many Ad pop-ups and very interruptive to the app.
  23. [R81] OfferUp Buy & Sell Marketplace 3/5 · US Click Bait: Besides the annoying video ads for cheap Chinese junk, the search engine is pretty much worthless. You have to pay for a full subscription if you wanna knock out the video ads. Heaven forbid if you tap on one of the ads, because you literally have to close the app and start all over again
  24. [R66] OfferUp Buy & Sell Marketplace 3/5 · US Spam and scammers: This app used to be very good. Now is full of spammers and scammers. Why is the OfferUp management doesn’t crack on this and make it the good place used to be to buy and sell items ?
  25. [R73] OfferUp Buy & Sell Marketplace 1/5 · US Scammers and misleading listings galore: The app is totally useless and went down the drain. It’s flooded with scammers and misleading posts for services making it impossible to use now.
  26. [R88] OfferUp Buy & Sell Marketplace 1/5 · US Too many scammers: This app used to be wonderful when it first started now it’s nothing but a bunch of scammers and I don’t know how they’re gonna get a hold of what’s happening on this app. I listed something. It hasn’t even been a whole 24 hours and I’ve been contacted by nothing but scammers trying to scam me from Zelle and Cash app no real buyers

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store