Pact vs. Craigslist
A Craigslist alternative with the payment built in.
Craigslist connects you with a stranger and leaves the money to the two of you. On Pact the payment is part of the deal: the buyer pays in the app, and it is held until the deal is done.
How Craigslist handles payment
Payment is left to the buyer and seller. Craigslist's own safety advice is to "deal locally, face-to-face," and not to pay before meeting in person. It lists "guaranteed" transactions and payment processing services as things to beware of.
That's sensible advice. It also means you are paying, or being paid, with nothing between you and the other person. If the work stops halfway, or the item isn't what was promised, there is no one to take it to.
Side by side
| Pact | Craigslist | |
|---|---|---|
| Paying | The buyer pays by credit or debit card in the app when the deal is agreed, before the handover or the work starts. | Arranged between you. Craigslist's advice: don't pay before meeting in person. |
| Where the money waits | Held by Trustap until the deal is done, then released to the seller after a 24-hour window. | Nowhere. It goes straight from one person to the other. |
| If something goes wrong | A formal dispute process, and a full refund to the buyer if the deal is cancelled. | Craigslist isn't part of the payment, so there is no dispute or refund through it. |
| Who you're dealing with | Both sides have a Pact account, with ratings from past deals. | Whoever answered the post. |
| Cost | 5.5% + $0.40 per side, only when a deal completes. Posting is free. | Free, except $3-$75 to post in certain categories. |
"Isn't escrow a Craigslist scam?"
On Craigslist, it can be. Craigslist warns that a stranger asking you to use an escrow service can be a scam, and so can "guaranteed" transactions. That's because on Craigslist, payment is left to the two of you, so any escrow a stranger suggests is one they picked, and it may be fake.
Pact works the other way round. The payment isn't something the other person sends you a link to: it's built into the app you already signed up for. The money is held by Trustap, an independent payment-holding service, and you never leave the app to pay. If anyone on Pact asks you to pay outside the app, that's the red flag.
When to use which
Selling a couch for cash to someone who is coming to look at it? Craigslist works, and it's free.
You are hiring someone, paying before you get the item, or taking a job where you want to know the money is there before you start.
Common questions
What does Pact cost compared to Craigslist?
Posting on Pact is free. When a deal completes, each side pays 5.5% + $0.40. On a $100 deal the buyer pays $105.90 and the seller receives $94.10. Deals with a price of $0 cost nothing. See the fee calculator.
Can I post services and gigs on Pact?
Yes. Post a job you need done, or a service you offer. Once you agree a price, the buyer pays in the app and the provider is paid when the job is done.
What if the other person doesn't show up?
If a deal is cancelled, the buyer gets a full refund. If you disagree about whether it was done, either side can open a dispute and Pact reviews both sides.
Does Pact hold my money?
No. Trustap holds it, not Pact's bank account. It is released to the seller once the deal is done and the 24-hour dispute window has passed.
Sources. Craigslist's policies were checked against its own pages on September 24, 2026. Policies change, so follow the links for the current version.
- Craigslist: avoiding scams, posting fees (US)
- Pact: fees, support and disputes.
More comparisons: Pact vs. OfferUp · Pact vs. Facebook Marketplace · all platforms
Post what you're selling or what you need done, agree a price, and let Trustap hold the payment until it's done.