Kijiji Vs Facebook Marketplace: Which Is Better? [2024]

Online marketplaces are turning into the ideal solution for Canadians to buy and sell pretty much anything with much more ease. Among the many platforms, Kijiji and Facebook Marketplace are two of the most preferred options.

Whether you’re decluttering, buying, or selling treasures even a small business owner- what makes a world of difference in your success is getting onto the right platform. Here’s a comparison of two of the most popular selling platforms in Canada: Kijiji vs. Facebook Marketplace.

Kijiji vs. Facebook Marketplace: Overview

Kijiji is a free, Canadian-classified ad site that was founded in 2005. Fully owned by eBay, Kijiji serves the market in Canada. 

Ranging from housing to jobs, services, and merchandising, Kijiji has grown to become one of the household names in Canada. Ease of use: it is free and popular, and one can post free ads or upgrade for visibility.

Facebook Marketplace feature was introduced in 2016, it has gained a lot of popularity thanks to its integration with Facebook and its social network.

Facebooker users now easily buy and sell within their locality through Facebook users’ high population, making it easy and convenient for them to transact. The categories range from electronics, furniture, vehicles, and properties for rent.

User Base and Reach

Kijiji has very active users, especially among Canadians. For people who still prefer offline classifieds, it has been the trusted source in Canada for a long period, from finding a new apartment to buying second-hand goods. 

The users of Kijiji range from young professionals to retirees. This platform holds immense potential, especially in major cities like Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal, where it is pretty easy to get in touch with either potential buyers or sellers within the region.

The advantage of Facebook Marketplace is the huge number of people using Facebook. On this platform, there are millions of Canadians. 

The marketplace is linked to a Facebook account, so one need not create a different account but can access the Marketplace through their Facebook account. 

This integration also allows for a more personalized experience, as listings can be shown that relate to the user’s location, interests, and network connections.

Ease of Use

Kijiji and Facebook Marketplace offer user-friendly interfaces, but they cater to slightly different audiences.

Kijiji has an extremely simple interface that is very much centered around browsing and posting classifieds. 

It’s an easily navigable platform. Categories and subcategories are organized well. Putting up an ad on the site is very simple. It involves filling out a form with details of an item or service one would like to offer. 

In comparison with the likes of Instagram Shopping, Facebook Marketplace derives much value from the fact that it natively integrates with the Facebook platform. 

You can upload photos of items, write descriptions, and add prices within the Facebook application or via their website. 

The interface of this platform is fit for ease of use; for instance, key elements that make for such frictionless integration include features like the Chat Integration feature that allows buyers and sellers to communicate directly through Facebook Messenger. 

Search and Filtering

More importantly, the inclusion of effective search and filter will ensure that a user is accorded the smoothest time, and the two platforms have inbuilt tools up to par.

Besides this, Kijiji also provides an advanced search to let its users drill down further according to category, setting the geographical location, price range, and even an ad posting date. 

This will be very helpful when one wants to search for a particular item or service in places with high population density and many listed items. 

Facebook Marketplace also includes searches and filters, though a touch more concise compared to Kijiji. Users can filter, and the websites’ algorithm often puts forth suggestions in front of the user, based on the activity and set preferences. 

Safety & Security

Safety and security when making online transactions remain paramount, and both Kijiji and Facebook Marketplace protect their users.

Kijiji has also implemented quite several safety features, among them reviews and ratings of users that can be used to gauge the credibility of a buyer or a seller before one transacts with a given buyer or seller. It comes with tips and guidelines on safe transactions, like meeting in public places and ensuring secure payment. 

Security on Facebook Marketplace makes use of Facebook’s existing security infrastructure since any user must be a Facebook user to enter the platform. 

This adds an extra layer of accountability because users’ profiles will consequently be linked with what goes in the Marketplace. 

Fees & Commissions

How much it costs to use this platform is the critical factor for users; below is a comparison of Kijiji and Facebook Marketplace:

While basic advertising is free with Kijiji, it does provide some paid formats to pump up the visibility of ads. These include the placement of an ad at the top of a category or as an Urgent Ad, a Top Ad, or just several other features that it integrates for promoted listings, which can help to highlight your listing in a crowded market. 

Facebook Marketplace, on the other hand, does not incur any cost in listing an item. It is completely free, hence the reason why it is attractive to individuals and small businesses seeking to sell items without extra cost implications. Though it may be free, there will be a cost if you opt to promote your listings with Facebook Ads. 

Final Words

Both Kijiji and Facebook Marketplace, though, shine for slightly different reasons and cater to slightly different audiences within Canada. 

Kijiji is long established with a wide variety of different categories, and search features fit for a more traditional classified ad experience. 

The integration of Facebook Marketplace with Facebook, social features, and its wide reach dictates the convenience it brings and the personalization that is brought into a person’s experience of it.

FAQs