The classified apps have changed the local commerce and eliminated the traditional barriers where newspaper listings and garage sales were used to bring buyers and sellers together. Buy-and-sell marketplaces offer instant connectivity, secure transactions, and a seamless user experience, which has made the buying and selling of secondhand items more accessible than ever.
The Letgo app has changed the way individuals buy and sell, with more than 100 million downloads and 20 million monthly active users. The number of people in the U.S. who buy secondhand products has increased to 61% of the American population, leading to the expansion of the peer-to-peer purchasing trend.
The second-hand market is thriving in 2025, and the market of online classifieds in the world will hit $741.47 billion by 2032. The local marketplace is booming with 500,000 new items posted every day and such innovative features as AI personalization or AR visualization of the products. This expansion is a golden opportunity for any entrepreneur who may wish to come up with classified apps and exploit this growing market.
Overview Of The Letgo App
Letgo is an app that is primarily used for local transactions of second-hand items. It works like a neighborhood flea market but in the digital world. People are able to post their stuff at no cost just by snapping a photo and writing a few lines, and others can see what's for sale in their area. In essence, Letgo combined its services with OfferUp in 2020.
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How Does A Buy And Sell App Like Letgo Function?
The table below shows how the Letgo clone app works for both sellers and buyers. Let's know about them:
| Action | For Sellers | For Buyers |
| Getting Started | The seller will have the freedom to produce their listing easily through the app by uploading an image of the product, a title, a description, and the price of the product. | The buyers are able to register on the application and search for the desired product. They can narrow down their search to the place, type, and cost. |
| Visibility & Discovery | If a seller wants, they can pay a certain amount to "bump up" their listing so that it will be at the top of search results for some time. | Applying the search filter will allow buyers to get the exact item they want to search for. |
| Communication | Reply to the questions via the in-app chat, talk over the price, and confirm the details with the buyers who are interested. | Communication via the in-app chat will allow buyers to ask questions and make offers to the sellers. |
| Setting Up the Meetup | The sellers may agree with the buyer on the time and the place of meeting at a social place. | Buyers are able to negotiate with the vendor on where and when they can make the purchase. |
| Completing the Deal | The seller can meet the buyer face to face, and the buyer can give the amount for the product. | The buyer can meet with the seller to receive the product and deliver the payment to them in person. |
Top Benefits That An App Like Letgo Offers
Let's now have a look at what kind of benefits the Letgo clone, or Dubizzle clone, offers to its users:
1. User-friendly and modern interface
The application is planned with simple and convenient use by any user regardless of the age group, since the layout is not overloaded with elements and is easily navigated.
2. Free to use
The selling is a free option, so it is a cost-effective method for the user to earn additional income, and the seller is able to retain 100% of their profit.
3. Local focus
The hyper-local attention of this app relies on geotagging to match buyers and sellers in the local area, which can help create a community and sense of trust.
4. Fast and simple listing process
It is possible to list the product within seconds. One can capture a picture of an item, give it a description and price, and post it within minutes.
5. AI-powered assistance
The application will enable sellers by automatically sorting products and proposing prices according to pictures, which is time-saving and minimizes the guesswork involved in pricing.
6. Trust-building features
Letgo clone has integrated such characteristics as rating of the user after the transactions, which will assist in establishing a sense of accountability and confidence between the local buyers and sellers.
7. Versatile marketplace
The visitors may sell and purchase a broad range of goods, including daily items as well as more significant goods such as automobiles, and the services are also sellable.
Must-Have Features For A Peer-to-Peer Selling App like Letgo
Listed below are the top features for the Letgo clone app that businesses can integrate into their app to facilitate different panels:
Seller Panel
1. Listing management
Sellers are able to open, edit, and delete listings of items or services using the app. Therefore, it is a process of listing new products or editing old ones, capturing photos (mostly via the in-app camera), and determining the cost of the item.
2. In-app chat
The in-app chat is an avenue where buyers and sellers can communicate, ask questions, and negotiate deals without exposing their personal contacts.
3. Negotiation
The app is empowered with the process of negotiation, and the buyers are only allowed to make an offer, and the sellers are allowed to accept, reject, or counter the offer.
4. User profile
The sellers are free to do whatever they want with their profile, a space where they can promote their products and build a good name for themselves.
5. "Bump up" feature
Sellers can make their listing more visible by spending a little to place their advertisement temporarily at the top of the search results.
6. Listing performance
The sellers have the opportunity to know, that is, by the number of views on their items, what kind of goods are more attractive to people.
7. Advanced analytics
The sellers get access to the necessary data and insights in order to fully comprehend the market trends and to be able to devise their selling strategies more effectively.
8. Image recognition
An AI-powered image recognition feature makes it easy for the sellers to create a listing of the product they want to sell.
9. Location-based search
Letgo clone supports local trades, which is very helpful because it enables people to see what is near them to buy or sell.
Buyer Panel
1. Location-based search
It shows products depending on the user's current location or a selected area and allows changing the location.
2. Advanced filters
Buyers can limit the results by choosing criteria such as price, category, and distance.
3. AI-driven image recognition
The feature that supports the identification and categorization of the goods in the photo, thus, the way of searching is becoming quicker and more user-friendly.
4. In-app chat
The feature facilitates buyers to send direct and safe messages to the sellers, enquire about the products, and negotiate the details with them directly.
5. User profiles
The feature of a buyer to access a seller's profile and see the feedback or the reviews the latter may have gotten.
6. Saved searches
An option enabling the user to store his/her search query and therefore visit more new listings that match their saved searches.
7. Push notifications
They inform buyers about newly listed items that meet their saved searches, or about a new message.
8. Ratings and reviews
A feature that allows buyers to rate sellers after a transaction is completed, and thus, it contributes to social trust building within the community.
9. Secure chat
A secure means of communication that may also include the provision of the identity of the users.
10. In-app wallet
Using the in-app wallet feature, the buyers can easily do transactions and pay for the product they bought.
Admin Panel
1. User management
Admin can access full user details and carry out user management operations such as suspending and verifying users.
2. Ad/listing moderation
Using this feature, the admin can choose to support, dismiss, or take down those adverts and content that are insulting or aggressive.
3. Category management
The category management feature allows admins to create new product categories and subcategories, turn them on/off, and manage them.
4. User verification
Admin can oversee the user authentication verification, KYC, or OTP processes by using the user verification feature.
5. Order tracking
Admin can keep a track of the entire order flow from the initial booking to the moment of payment.
6. Withdrawal requests
Using the withdrawal request feature, the admin can facilitate and keep track of withdrawal requests from sellers.
7. Payment tracking
The payment tracking feature allows the admin to monitor the complete financial record of the business with the assistance of the set payment and commission options.
8. Dashboard analytics
This feature allows the admin to look at the main key figures, such as ads, user statistics, and turnover, by means of visualization tools.
9. Revenue tracking
Admin can keep a close eye on the inflows of funds resulting from ads, commissions, and in-app purchases.
10. Performance analysis
Using the performance analysis feature, the admin can gather and evaluate data on app usage, user behaviour, and market trends.
11. Security
Admin can use this feature to implement security strategies, cope with spam issues, and be in charge of the fraud report management.
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AI-Driven Functionalities For A Letgo Clone App
One of the significant uses of AI in the re-sell platforms like OpenSooq clone or Letgo clone, is to create a great user experience through fast and easy item selling. The major AI-powered features of the Letgo clone are:
1. Image Recognition and Automatic Categorization
Letgo clone leverages image recognition technology to enable the app to automatically identify the items that appear in a picture a seller uploads. It automatically sorts the items according to the provided categories in the store (premium/resale, electronics, furniture, etc.).
2. Automatic Title Generation
After product visual identification, the use of AI also facilitates the automated production of relevant product sale descriptions.
3. Fraud Detection
The Letgo clone app's fraud detection AI feature uses robust algorithms that enhance security and help in detecting fraudulent activities, making the platform safer for its users.
4. Personalization
The Letgo clone personalizes the experience of the user by studying their behavior. It offers them an automated recommendation system for efficient searches and local ads based on user location and past searching habits.
Steps To Build A Letgo-Like Marketplace App
For the scalable and robust Letgo clone app development, the following stages need to be followed:
| Stages | What Happens | Key Activities |
| Planning and Market Research | Understand the market and plan the project | ➤Research the competitors and find out what makes your app different. ➤Think of the ways in which the app will generate revenue. ➤Establish budget, schedule, and personnel needs.
|
| UI/UX Design | Design how the app looks and works | ➤Make an easy workflow and demos. ➤Create a simple and attractive interface. |
| Development | Build a buy & sell marketplace app | Choose a process from a custom-based or white-label solution. ➤A custom-based solution is developed from scratch and requires more time and development cost.
➤A white-label solution is a ready-made solution that needs less time to launch and is cost-effective. Businesses can rebrand it as needed.
|
| Testing and Quality Assurance | Check that everything works properly | ➤Check all functionality and remove bugs. ➤Make sure that the application is working on phones and other devices. |
| Deployment and Launch | Release the app to users | ➤Launch the application in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store. |
| Post-Launch Support and Maintenance | Keep the app running smoothly | ➤Fix any bugs after the launch of the app and give technical assistance. ➤Include new features and improvements according to the user feedback. |
Best Monetization Ideas For Letgo-Like Marketplace App
There are several sources that can help businesses earn money through the Letgo clone app:
1. Freemium Model
The freemium model gives the users of the Letgo clone app permission to use the bare minimum features at no cost, and it is easy to get a very large number of users on board.
2. Paid Features
It is also possible to sell other high-value features, like being able to post an unlimited number of listings or view listing statistics.
3. Pro Plan (Subscription Model)
This is a commercial subscription that is directed to car dealers. It offers additional services such as feed integration and buyer callback, which assist dealers in generating more leads.
4. Featured Listings
Sellers will be charged a short-term fee to have their listing at the top of the search results on a temporary basis, e.g., seven days.
5. Display Advertising
It will display banners, advertising companies in the app, which generate revenue when users click them.
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Wrapping Up!
Investing in a buy-and-sell marketplace platform like Letgo or Craigslist is a good choice for businesses and startups considering the resale sector. This sector has huge potential, and through apps like Letgo, businesses can provide their customers with a platform that offers speed, reliability, and convenience.
With the expertise of Hyperlocal Cloud, your journey to develop a buy and sell app like Letgo will be seamless. We have helped several businesses to launch an app that has gained success in the competitive market. If you want to develop a buy-and-sell marketplace like Letgo, the initial development cost is $6,000. The final development cost depends on factors such as the app's complexity, advanced features, and other factors. Reach out to us today to discuss your requirements!
