1995 founded Standing
classifieds · craigslist.org
Craigslist
the moat is real
31 years 172 days and counting
Started as a mailing list in 1995. The site that ate newspaper classifieds and then refused to become a startup.
Why it lasted
- It looks like 1996 on purpose. The ugly is the filter. People who want to transact stay.
- Network effects in local classifieds are brutal: the other side of the market is already there.
- Craig Newmark and Jim Buckmaster refused the growth story. No ads race, no app redesign, no pivot.
Times it almost ended
- eBay, Kijiji, Facebook Marketplace, Nextdoor, OfferUp, and a thousand funded clones. The jobs and housing graphs held.
- Newspapers sued. The newspapers are the ones that look like ghosts now.
What would finish it
- A trusted local graph that is already in everyone's pocket (Marketplace) fully eating housing and jobs. Housing is still sticky.
Questions
Is Craigslist still up?
Yes, with a Standing verdict: the moat is real. Founded 1995.
How long has Craigslist been around?
Craigslist has been up since 1995-03-01.
Why did Craigslist survive?
It looks like 1996 on purpose. The ugly is the filter. People who want to transact stay.
Could Craigslist still die?
A trusted local graph that is already in everyone's pocket (Marketplace) fully eating housing and jobs. Housing is still sticky.