11 Best websites to sell items online for free in Canada

Ready to clear out your closet or kickstart a side hustle? For Canadians looking to sell online for free, local marketplaces like Kijiji and Facebook Marketplace are your best bet. They connect you with buyers in your community, often without charging any fees for local pickups.

If you're selling more specific items, like fashion or collectibles, niche platforms like Poshmark Canada or Vinted will help you find the right audience. And for those with bigger ambitions, free online stores to sell products like Square let you create your very own branded shop from scratch.

To help you get started, we've put together the ultimate list of the 11 best free selling sites for Canadians and what each one does best. 

Free marketplaces for local and general online selling

If you want to sell things online locally and keep all the profit, these are some of the best online marketplaces to start with. They're perfect for decluttering, testing product ideas, or earning extra cash on the side.

1. Kijiji

Best for: Canadians wanting to sell almost anything, from used furniture and electronics to cars and clothing.

Seller fees: Free for most categories. Some categories, like vehicles and real estate, have listing limits or fees for multiple ads.

How it works: As Canada's most popular classifieds site, Kijiji is the go-to for local selling. Create an account, post an ad with photos, a description, your price, and your general location. Buyers will contact you through the platform's messaging system to ask questions or arrange a meetup.

Pros:

• Massive, active Canadian user base means your items get seen quickly.

• Seller badges for good response times help build trust with potential buyers.

• You can create a business account to customize your profile and build a brand.

Cons:

• Listings can get buried quickly in popular categories unless you pay to promote them.

• Competition is high, so be prepared for some negotiation from buyers.

Tips for selling on Kijiji:

• Use all 10 photo slots to show your item from every angle, highlighting its condition.

• Respond to messages quickly to maintain a good seller rating and earn trust badges.

2. Facebook Marketplace

Best for: Selling secondhand goods like furniture, baby gear, and household items to people in your local area.

Seller fees: Listing items and selling via local pickup is free. If you use Facebook's shipping option, a selling fee applies.

How it works: Inside your Facebook account, navigate to Marketplace and create a public listing. Add photos, a title, a price, and a description. Buyers message you directly through Facebook Messenger to arrange payment and collection.

Pros:

• Huge built-in audience of local buyers.

• Seeing a buyer's public profile can make transactions feel more secure.

• You can post unlimited free listings.

Cons:

• Seller protection is minimal for in-person cash transactions.

• Be prepared for lowball offers and a lot of back-and-forth messaging.

Tips for selling on Facebook Marketplace:

• For safety, always meet buyers in a busy, public place like a coffee shop or a police station's designated exchange zone.

• Maintain a high seller rating by being responsive, punctual, and honest in your descriptions.

3. Nextdoor

Best for: Selling or giving away household items directly to your neighbours. It's a great spot for smaller items, plants, or handmade goods.

Seller fees: Completely free.

How it works: Nextdoor is a social network for neighbourhoods. In the "For Sale & Free" section, you can post items with photos, a description, and a price. Only verified neighbours in your immediate area will see the listing, and they can message you through the app.

Pros:

• You keep 100% of your earnings.

• Transactions are with people in your community, which often feels safer.

• The platform's focus is on neighbours helping neighbours, not commercial sales.

Cons:

• Your audience is much smaller compared to Kijiji or Facebook Marketplace.

• The platform is intended for individuals, so business or frequent resale posts are discouraged.

Tips for selling on Nextdoor:

• If your item isn't selling after a couple of days, use the discount feature. Nextdoor will boost the listing in your neighbours' feeds.

• Once an item is sold, mark it as such to stop receiving inquiries.

4. Craigslist

Best for: Clearing out everyday items, vintage finds, or large objects in major Canadian cities.

Seller fees: Free for most personal listings. Fees may apply for job postings, services, or vehicle sales by dealers.

How it works: Go to the Craigslist website, choose your nearest city, and post a classified ad. You'll need to add a description, price, and contact info. You don't need an account, but you'll have to confirm your post via email.

Pros:

• It's a well-known platform for finding secondhand deals.

• The simple, no-frills interface makes posting quick and easy.

Cons:

• The website’s design is outdated and can be difficult to navigate.

• There's no built-in buyer or seller protection, so you need to be cautious.

Tips for selling on Craigslist:

• Buyers on Craigslist are often looking for a bargain. Price your item slightly higher than your actual desired selling price to leave room for haggling.

• Include keywords like the brand name, model, colour, and condition in your title and description to show up in searches.

Free niche resale marketplaces

While local marketplaces are great, sometimes your items need a more specific audience. These platforms specialize in categories like fashion and unique goods, connecting you with motivated buyers who know exactly what they're looking for.

5. Poshmark Canada

Best for: Selling new or pre-loved brand-name clothing, shoes, and accessories.

Seller fees: Listing is free. For sales under C$20, Poshmark takes a flat fee of C$3.95. For sales of C$20 or more, they take a 20% commission.

How it works: Poshmark is a social marketplace for fashion. Download the app, take photos of your item, and fill out a detailed listing. When you make a sale, Poshmark emails you a prepaid Canada Post shipping label. Just print it, pack your item, and drop it off.

Pros:

• A dedicated community of Canadian fashion lovers looking for specific brands.

• The prepaid shipping label makes the fulfilment process incredibly simple.

• "Posh Parties" (virtual selling events) help your items get discovered.

Cons:

• The commission fees are higher than on many other platforms.

• Success on Poshmark requires social engagement, like sharing your listings and following other users.

Tips for selling on Poshmark Canada:

• Style your items well and take bright, clear photos. Good presentation is key.

• When a user likes several items from your "closet," send them a private offer with a bundle discount to encourage a quick sale.

6. Vinted

Best for: Selling secondhand clothing, shoes, and accessories without paying any seller fees.

Seller fees: Free for sellers. Buyers pay a small "Buyer Protection" fee on their purchases.

How it works: List your items on the Vinted app with photos, a description, and a price. When someone buys your item, they also pay for the shipping. You'll receive a prepaid shipping label to send the order out. As soon as the buyer confirms they've received it and there are no issues, the money is sent to your Vinted Wallet.

Pros:

• You keep 100% of your selling price, which is a huge advantage.

• The prepaid labels and straightforward process make shipping a breeze.

• It has a large, active community of buyers interested in sustainable fashion.

Cons:

• The platform is focused on individuals selling personal items, not commercial businesses.

• There's no option for local pickup – all transactions require shipping.

Tips for selling on Vinted:

• Offer bundle discounts in your profile to motivate shoppers to buy multiple items at once.

• When you lower the price of an item, anyone who has favourited it gets a notification, which can lead to an instant sale.

7. Depop

Best for: Selling vintage, streetwear, and unique one-of-a-kind fashion items to a younger, trend-focused audience.

Seller fees: Listing is free. For Canadian sellers, Depop charges a 10% fee on the total transaction amount (including shipping). There are also standard transaction fees from PayPal or Depop Payments. Sellers in the US and UK now enjoy 0% selling fees, though this hasn't yet expanded to Canada. 

How it works: Depop functions like a mix of Instagram and a marketplace. You set up a shop, post photos of your items with creative descriptions and hashtags, and build a following. Buyers can purchase instantly or message you to make an offer. You handle your own shipping.

Pros:

• A highly engaged community that appreciates unique style and vintage finds.

• You have full control over your shop's branding and aesthetic.

• It's a great platform for building a personal brand as a reseller.

Cons:

• The 10% Depop fee plus payment processing fees can add up for Canadian sellers.

• You're responsible for calculating and arranging your own shipping.

Tips for selling on Depop:

• Use relevant hashtags and detailed descriptions to help buyers find your items. Think like a shopper – what terms would you search for?

• Refresh your listings regularly by editing and saving them. This bumps them to the top of search results.

8. eCrater

Best for: Selling niche items, collectibles, antiques, and vintage t-shirts that might be hard to find elsewhere.

Seller fees: It's free to open a store and list your products. If a sale comes directly through the eCrater marketplace, they take a 2.9% fee. Sales you drive yourself are fee-free.

How it works: With eCrater, you can build a free online storefront and list your products. Those listings also appear in the main eCrater marketplace, giving you two ways to be discovered. You'll need to connect your own payment processor, like PayPal or Stripe.

Pros:

• You get a customizable storefront for free, with no coding required.

• There are no fees on sales you generate through your own marketing efforts.

• Your products can be automatically imported to Google Shopping.

Cons:

• The website templates can look a bit dated.

• Unless you actively promote your store, traffic from the main marketplace can be low.

Tips for selling on eCrater:

• Focus on a specific niche to make your store stand out and become memorable.

• Use your own social media channels to drive traffic directly to your eCrater store and avoid marketplace fees.

Free online store builders

Ready to move beyond marketplaces and build your own brand? These platforms give you the tools to create a professional online shop. You'll have total control over the design, branding, and customer experience, setting you up for long-term success.

Read more: How to start an online store with Printful

9. Square Online

Best for: Small businesses, artists, and side hustlers who need a simple, all-in-one solution to sell online.

Seller fees: The Free plan has no monthly fees. You'll pay a standard transaction fee of 2.8% + C$0.30 for each sale.

How it works: Square is famous for its payment terminals, but Square Online lets you build a full eCommerce website for free. The site builder is easy to use, and it automatically syncs with Square's payment and inventory systems. You can set up options for shipping across Canada or local pickup.

Pros:

• List unlimited products, even on the free plan.

• Accepts credit cards, Apple Pay, and Google Pay right out of the box.

• Includes basic tools for SEO (search engine optimization) and social media integration.

Cons:

• The free plan includes Square branding on your site.

• You can't use a custom domain name (e.g., yourbrand.ca) without upgrading to a paid plan.

Tips for selling on Square Online:

• Want to sell without holding any stock? Connect your Square store to Printful. You can design and sell custom print-on-demand products, and we'll handle the printing and shipping from our Canadian facility.

• Use the built-in integrations to sell your products directly on Facebook and Instagram.

10. Freewebstore

Best for: Entrepreneurs who want a highly customizable online store without paying monthly fees.

Seller fees: The Community Plan is free forever. You'll pay transaction fees based on your chosen payment gateway (e.g., 2% for Stripe in addition to their standard fees).

How it works: Sign up for a free account, and Freewebstore creates a customizable online store for you. Choose a theme, add your products, and connect a payment gateway like PayPal or Stripe. You can manage everything from a central dashboard.

Pros:

• Unlimited products and bandwidth on all plans, including the free one.

• Comes with surprisingly advanced features for a free plan, like an AI support chatbot.

• All themes are mobile-friendly.

Cons:

• The free plan displays Freewebstore ads on your site.

• You're limited to the theme you choose first – you can't switch between them on the free plan.

Tips for selling on Freewebstore:

• Take advantage of unlimited product listings to test out different designs or product variations, especially if you're using Print on Demand to create custom products with no upfront cost.

• Connect your store to Google Analytics to understand where your customers are coming from.

11. Mozello

Best for: Small businesses or hobbyists who are just starting out with a handful of products.

Seller fees: The free plan has zero subscription or transaction fees. 

How it works: Mozello's site builder is incredibly simple. Sign up, choose a template, and use the block editor to build your pages and add your products. The free plan lets you accept payments via PayPal or bank transfer.

Pros:

• No transaction fees means you keep 100% of the profit from your sales.

• Includes basic marketing tools like SEO options and social media integrations.

• Built-in multilingual support is a great feature for reaching customers across Canada.

Cons:

• You're limited to five products and just 0.5 GB of storage, which isn't much.

• The small product limit makes it unsuitable for businesses looking to scale.

Tips for selling on Mozello:

• Optimize your product images to a smaller file size to make the most of your limited storage.

• Since you only have five product slots, make each one count with excellent photos and compelling descriptions.

Choosing the right free option – which one to pick?

With so many great free websites to sell items online, the best one for you depends on what you're selling. Here's a quick comparison to help you decide.

Smart selling tips for Canadians

No matter which platform you choose, following these best practices will help you make sales faster and build a great reputation.

1. Create listings that sell

Your title should be clear and descriptive. Include the brand, item name, colour, and size. Take at least three to five clear photos in natural light against a neutral background. In your description, be honest about the item's condition, including any flaws.

2. Price your items right

Research what similar items have sold for on the platform. Price your item competitively, but consider listing it slightly higher than your lowest acceptable price (e.g., C$25 instead of C$20) to leave room for negotiation or to offer discounts later.

3. Stay on top of tax obligations

Once your side hustle starts growing, remember that you may need to report your income to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). If you sell more than C$30,000 in a year, you'll likely need to register for, collect, and remit GST/HST. It's always a good idea to chat with an accountant to understand your obligations.

4. Master shipping and safety

For local meetups, always pick a public, well-lit place. For shipping, use sturdy packaging and send items out promptly using a tracked service like Canada Post. Fast shipping often leads to better seller reviews.

Tired of packing boxes and running to the post office? With Printful, you can skip inventory and shipping altogether. We have a fulfilment centre right here in Canada, which means when you sell a product, we print, pack, and ship it directly to your Canadian customer fast and with no customs fees. You can create everything from custom t-shirts and hoodies to custom mugs and tote bags with your own designs.

Conclusion

Whether you're decluttering your home, flipping unique finds, or launching a brand new business idea, these websites make it easy to start selling online for free in Canada. The secret to success is picking the platform that fits your products and goals, creating listings that shine, and treating your buyers with respect.