Scoring free items is fantastic.
Snagging no-cost goods from community listings on Facebook Marketplace, Nextdoor and OfferUp can help you cut expenses — and that thrill of landing a freebie is tough to top.
But claiming those zero-dollar offers on neighborhood buy-and-sell pages can be challenging. Free listings can be labeled as gone within minutes, so you have to act fast.
Fortunately, there’s an app that aggregates all those free posts in one spot and notifies you when new items appear near you.
Appropriately named, it’s the Freebie Alerts app.
Below is an overview of how it operates and what you should know to begin scoring free stuff yourself.
What Is the Freebie Alerts App?
Freebie Alerts is a complimentary app that pings you when people in your neighborhood list free items on popular internet marketplaces.
The app scans listings from multiple marketplaces, including:
When a free item is posted within your area, you’ll get a notification on your phone. You can narrow results by keyword and adjust the geographic range so you only see the types of items you want.
One drawback: the app no longer seems to include Craigslist free listings.
Freebie Alerts has been around for several years, according to the App Store, where it holds a 4.7 rating. On Google Play it has a similar 4.6 score and more than 1 million installs.
How Does Freebie Alerts Work?
You don’t have to register to use Freebie Alerts. Enter your zip code and the app will fill with free items posted on major marketplace sites in your vicinity.
You’ll receive push alerts on your phone when something new is listed nearby.
Tap a listing to view photos and read the details.
Each Freebie Alerts entry displays the time the item was posted, the distance from you and the source site.
If it looks good, follow the link to the original marketplace listing.
Since the app redirects you to the original listing, make sure you have that marketplace’s app installed (for example OfferUp or Nextdoor), otherwise you won’t be able to message sellers.
How to Filter Your Results on Freebie Alerts
Freebie Alerts gives you control over what you see.
You can “whitelist” keywords so you only get free listings that include certain terms, such as couch, TV or toys.
Your geographic search — based on the zip code you enter — can be adjusted from a 1-mile radius up to 50 miles. (You can also switch to a different zip code whenever you like).
You can deselect specific marketplaces too, if you want to view only Facebook Marketplace results, for example.
There’s also the ability to mute or snooze notifications.
Can You Post Items on Freebie Alerts?
Freebie Alerts not only pulls listings from popular marketplaces, it also allows users to create posts directly inside the app.
Posting is simple: add a title and description, then upload a few images.
If someone’s interested, they’ll reach out to you through the app.
What Kind of Stuff Can You Find on Freebie Alerts?
You really never know what will show up on this platform.
When we checked, some frequently listed free items included:
- Bed frames, mattresses and headboards
- TVs
- Books
- Leftover building materials and supplies, like fencing, posts, soil, pallets, 4x4s, etc.
- Large sofas
- Desks and other furniture
- Baby gear and children’s toys
We also found some fun surprises, such as a free ping pong table, a stack of board games, a piñata and a pool table.
Are There Other Apps Like Freebie Alerts?
There doesn’t seem to be another app exactly like Freebie Alerts. Many apps include “freebie” or “free stuff” in their names, but most focus on free samples, coupons or discounts.
Freebie Alerts appears to be the only app — that we could locate, at least — that harvests multiple marketplace sites for free items and sends notifications so you don’t miss a listing.
Freebie Alerts App Review
Freebie Alerts is straightforward and uncluttered yet remarkably good at finding free items nearby without you constantly refreshing Facebook or OfferUp.
Being able to filter results makes it easy to receive alerts only for the items you care about.
It’s also convenient that you can use Freebie Alerts without creating an account or setting up two-factor authentication. Just input your zip code and you’re ready.
That said, Freebie Alerts has limitations.
It’s less useful in rural areas where fewer people post free items online. The app is available only in the United States and the United Kingdom.
Not every free post is worth picking up. There’s a fair amount of worn furniture, broken electronics and random stuff mixed in. Occasionally you’ll encounter misleading ads that say “free” in the headline but disclose a charge in the description. These deceptive listings are uncommon and can be reported in the app.
Also, most offers require you to pick up the item yourself — delivery is rarely provided — so you’ll need reliable transport to claim the find.
Still, the thrill of the hunt is part of the enjoyment, right?
How to Score Other Freebies
Finding free items in your community is great, but there are many other ways to score no-cost goods.
Want more free finds and discounts? Here are some of our favorite freebie resources.
- 17 of the Best Freebies We’ve Found Online
- 23 Ways to Get Everything You Need for Free
- 101 Awesome Birthday Freebies
- 75 of the Best Senior Discounts
- 12 Ways to Get Free Stuff on Amazon
Happy hunting!
Jordan Miller is a Certified Educator in Personal Finance and a senior writer for Savinly.
