Pact vs. OfferUp
Cash works until it doesn't.
OfferUp is a good place to sell a lamp for cash. Pact is an OfferUp alternative for the deals where you need to know you won't get burned: the buyer's payment is held until the deal is done.
How OfferUp handles payment
On OfferUp, local deals are usually paid at the meetup. OfferUp's own advice to buyers is to "bring cash," which it calls "the safest payment option." That is simple, and it is fine when you can see the item in front of you and the price is small.
It gets harder when you can't check everything on the spot. A phone that dies the next day, a deposit on something you haven't seen, a handyman paid up front. Once cash changes hands it is gone. OfferUp says it plainly: "Refunds are not accepted for in-person transactions."
Side by side
| Pact | OfferUp | |
|---|---|---|
| Paying | The buyer pays by credit or debit card in the app, before the handover or the work starts. | Cash at the meetup. OfferUp's advice: "bring cash." |
| Where the money waits | Held by Trustap until the deal is done, then released to the seller after a 24-hour window. | In the seller's hand as soon as it's paid. |
| If something goes wrong | A formal dispute process, and a full refund to the buyer if the deal is cancelled. | No refund through OfferUp. In OfferUp's words: "Refunds are not accepted for in-person transactions." |
| Services | Post a job, agree a price, and pay through Pact. The provider is paid once the job is done. | Payment is arranged directly with the provider. OfferUp's advice: get a written contract to protect yourself. |
| Events | Host your own: RSVPs, ticket sales and check-in at the door. | Event pros such as DJs, photographers and planners can advertise, but there are no RSVPs or ticket sales for your own event. A ticket you own can be listed like any other item, unless its resale is restricted. |
| Cost | 5.5% + $0.40 per side, the price of the protection. | Free for items, with a fee to post services or jobs. |
Hiring someone off OfferUp
OfferUp lists services, and payment is between you and the provider. OfferUp advises agreeing payment terms before work starts and making sure the provider has a secure way to accept payment, and it recommends a written contract.
On Pact the agreement and the payment are the same thing. You agree a price in the app, the buyer pays, and Trustap holds it. The provider can see the money is there before they start, and the buyer knows it won't be released until the job is marked done and the 24-hour window has passed.
When to use which
For a quick cash swap with someone down the street, OfferUp is fine, and it's free.
You would be upset to lose the money: paying a deposit, hiring someone, buying something expensive before you have seen it work, or selling tickets to your own event.
Common questions
What does Pact cost compared to OfferUp?
OfferUp is free for local item sales. Pact charges each side 5.5% + $0.40 when a deal completes. On a $100 deal the buyer pays $105.90 and the seller receives $94.10. Free deals, where the price is $0, cost nothing. See the fee calculator.
Does Pact hold my money?
No. The payment is held by Trustap, an independent payment-holding service, not in Pact's bank account. It goes to the seller once the deal is done and the 24-hour dispute window has passed.
What if the deal falls through?
If a deal is cancelled, the buyer gets a full refund. If the buyer and seller disagree about whether it was done, either can open a dispute and Pact reviews both sides.
Can I still meet in person?
Yes. Pact is local too. The difference is that the buyer has already paid by card in the app, so nobody is carrying cash.
Sources. OfferUp's policies were checked against its own help pages on September 24, 2026. Policies change, so follow the links for the current version.
- OfferUp: how to pay, fees, working with service providers, service categories, prohibited items
- Pact: fees, support and disputes.
More comparisons: Pact vs. Craigslist · 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.