Step-by-Step Guide: Building a Craigslist Clone with Adalo

This comprehensive tutorial walks you through creating a functional classifieds marketplace app using Adalo's platform. While Craigslist processed over 144 million visits in late 2024 but hasn't updated its design in years, you'll build a modern, mobile-first alternative in 2-4 weeks without writing code.

Key Takeaways

• Build a fully functional classifieds app without coding in 2-4 weeks
• Use Adalo's Saleworthy template as your foundation to save setup time
• Implement location-based filtering, in-app messaging, and payment processing
• Publish to iOS, Android, and web from a single build
• Start for free, upgrade to $52/month for location features
• Leverage proven marketplace database architecture for listings, categories, and user management

Prerequisites and Initial Setup

Step 1: Create Your Adalo Account and Choose Your Starting Point

1. Visit Adalo.com and sign up for a free account
2. Click "Create New App" from your dashboard
3. Choose "Mobile App" (recommended for mobile-first classifieds)
4. You have two options:
   
   • Quick Start: Select the "Saleworthy" template (an OfferUp clone with pre-built marketplace features)
   • Custom Build: Choose "Start from Scratch" for complete control

Recommendation: Start with the Saleworthy template to save significant setup time, then customize for your specific market.

Step 2: Configure Your App Theme

1. Name your app (e.g., "LocalMarket" or "CampusClassifieds")
2. Select your brand colors:
   
   • Primary color: Main brand identity (e.g., blue for trust)
   • Secondary color: Call-to-action buttons (e.g., green for "Post Listing")
3. Choose a clean, readable font from the font library
4. Click "Continue" to enter the visual builder

Expected Result: You're now in Adalo's drag-and-drop interface with either a blank canvas or pre-built Saleworthy screens.

Building the Database Structure

Step 3: Understand Adalo's Built-in Relational Database

Adalo includes a relational database with collections (similar to tables), properties (fields), and relationships. This is the foundation of your classifieds marketplace.

Click the Database icon (cylinder shape) in the left sidebar to access the database editor.

Step 4: Enhance the Users Collection

The Users collection already exists. Click on it and add these properties:

1. Click "+ Add Property" for each field:
   
   • Phone Number (Text) - For buyer-seller contact
   • Profile Photo (Image) - Builds trust in marketplace
   • Location (Location type) - For local filtering
   • Bio (Text - Multiline) - User description
   • Average Rating (Number) - Calculated from reviews
   • Total Ratings (Number) - Count of reviews received
   • Verified (True/False) - Email verification status
   • Member Since (Date & Time - Automatic) - Trust indicator

Why this matters: User profiles build trust in peer-to-peer marketplaces. 59% of shoppers prefer local transactions, making location data critical.

Step 5: Create the Listings Collection

1. Click "+ Add Collection" at the top
2. Name it "Listings"
3. Add these properties:

Core Listing Info:

• Title (Text) - Item name/headline
• Description (Text - Multiline) - Detailed description
• Price (Number) - List price
• Condition (Text) - Options: "New", "Like New", "Used", "For Parts"
• Status (Text) - Options: "Active", "Sold", "Pending", "Expired"

Visual Content:

• Featured Image (Image) - Primary photo
• Additional Images (List of Images) - Up to 6 more photos
• Image Count (Number) - Displays "1 of 7" in gallery

Location & Metadata:

• Location (Location) - Item location
• City (Text) - For city-based filtering
• Neighborhood (Text) - Craigslist-style local zones
• Created Date (Date & Time - Automatic) - Post timestamp
• Expires On (Date & Time) - Auto-expire after 60 days
• Views Count (Number) - Track listing popularity

Important: Compress images to 500KB-1MB and optimize images before upload to avoid hitting storage limits.

Step 6: Create the Categories Collection

1. Click "+ Add Collection"
2. Name it "Categories"
3. Add properties:
   
   • Name (Text) - Category title
   • Icon (Image) - Visual identifier
   • Description (Text) - Category explanation
   • Sort Order (Number) - Display priority

Pre-populate with common Craigslist categories:

• Electronics
• Furniture
• Vehicles
• Real Estate
• Jobs
• Services
• Community
• For Sale - General

Step 7: Create the Messages Collection

For buyer-seller communication:

1. Click "+ Add Collection"
2. Name it "Messages"
3. Add properties:
   
   • Message Text (Text - Multiline) - Message content
   • Created Date (Date & Time - Automatic) - Timestamp
   • Read Status (True/False) - Unread indicator
   • Attachment (Image) - Optional photo

Note: Adalo doesn't support real-time messaging. Use a 5-second countdown timer to refresh the message list, or integrate Zapier for email notifications.

Step 8: Create the Favorites Collection

For saved listings:

1. Click "+ Add Collection"
2. Name it "Favorites"
3. Add properties:
   
   • Saved Date (Date & Time - Automatic) - When bookmarked

This collection only needs dates; relationships define which user saved which listing.

Step 9: Set Up Database Relationships

This is critical for connecting your data. Click the "Relationships" tab in each collection:

Listings Relationships:

1. Click "+ Add Relationship"
2. Seller Relationship:
   
   • "A User can have many Listings as Seller"
   • This creates "Seller" property in Listings and "My Listings" list in Users
3. Category Relationship:
   
   • "Many Listings can belong to one Category"
   • This creates "Category" property in Listings

Messages Relationships:

1. Sender: "A User can send many Messages" (creates "Sender" property)
2. Recipient: "A User can receive many Messages" (creates "Recipient" property)
3. Listing Reference: "Many Messages can relate to one Listing"

Favorites Relationships:

1. User: "A User can have many Favorites"
2. Listing: "Many Favorites can reference one Listing"

Expected Result: Your database now mirrors proven marketplace structures similar to those used by OfferUp, which has processed $14 billion in transactions.

Installing Required Components

Step 10: Access the Component Marketplace

Adalo's Component Marketplace offers additional components beyond the standard set.

1. Click the "+" button in the left component toolbar
2. Scroll to bottom and click "Explore Marketplace"
3. Browse or search for components

Step 11: Install Google Maps Component

Required for location-based classifieds (Professional plan minimum):

1. Search "Maps" in the marketplace
2. Click "Install" on the Google Maps component
3. Set up Google Maps API:
   
   • Visit Google Cloud Console
   • Create new project or select existing
   • Enable "Maps JavaScript API" and "Places API"
   • Create API key (Credentials section)
   • Copy key to Adalo Maps configuration

Cost Note: Google Maps offers a free tier for initial usage. Beyond that, costs are approximately $7 per 1,000 loads.

Important: Geolocation features require Professional plan ($52/month annual billing) minimum. The Free and Starter plans cannot access location features.

Step 12: Install Star Rating Component

1. Search "Star Rating" in marketplace
2. Click "Install" (typically free)
3. Return to your app editor

This component enables user ratings, which build trust in marketplace communities.

Step 13: Install Additional Marketplace Components (Optional)

Consider these for enhanced functionality:

• Calendar Component - For scheduling meetups/pickups
• Image Carousel - Better multi-photo display
• Chat Component - Enhanced messaging UI

Creating User Authentication

Step 14: Build the Welcome Screen

1. Rename the default screen to "Welcome"
2. Add visual elements:
   
   • Image component: Upload your app logo (recommended: 200x200px)
   • Text component: App tagline (e.g., "Your local marketplace for buying and selling")
   • Text component: Value proposition (e.g., "Safe, local, and trusted")
3. Add navigation buttons:
   
   • Button: "Sign Up" → Link to new screen "Sign Up"
   • Button: "Log In" → Link to new screen "Log In"
4. Add bottom text link: "Continue as Guest" → Link to "Browse Listings" (limited view)

Step 15: Create the Sign-Up Screen

1. Click "+ Add Screen" and name it "Sign Up"
2. Add a Form component:
   
   • Click form, set "Connected to" → Users collection
   • Set "Submit creates" → Sign Up action
3. Add form fields (drag from components panel):
   
   • Email Input (labeled "Email Address")
   • Password Input (labeled "Create Password")
   • Text Input (labeled "Full Name")
   • Text Input (labeled "Phone Number")
   • Location Input (labeled "Your City") - Defaults to current location
4. Add optional Image Picker for profile photo
5. Configure submit button:
   
   • Action 1: Sign Up
   • Action 2: Navigate to "Home" screen
6. Add bottom link: "Already have an account? Log In" → Link to Log In screen

Expected Result: New users can create accounts in under 60 seconds. Apps built with Adalo have registered 2 million+ end-user accounts.

Step 16: Create the Log In Screen

1. Add new screen "Log In"
2. Add Form component:
   
   • Set to "Log In" action (not connected to collection)
3. Add fields:
   
   • Email Input
   • Password Input
4. Submit button action:
   
   • Action: Log In
   • Navigate to: "Home" screen
5. Add links:
   
   • "Forgot Password?" → Link to password reset screen
   • "New here? Sign Up" → Link to Sign Up screen

Designing the User Interface: Listings, Categories, and Search

Step 17: Create the Home Screen with Category Navigation

1. Add new screen "Home" (this is your main browse screen)
2. Add Top Navigation Bar:
   
   • Left icon: Menu (hamburger) → Link to user menu
   • Center: Search icon → Link to "Search" screen
   • Right: Profile icon → Shows logged-in user photo
3. Add Text: "Browse by Category" (large, bold)
4. Add Custom List component:
   
   • Set to "Horizontal" scrolling
   • Connect to "Categories" collection
   • Sort by "Sort Order"
5. Inside the category list, add:
   
   • Image (Category Icon) - circular, 60x60px
   • Text (Category Name) - centered below icon
6. Set click action: Navigate to "Category Listings" screen, pass "Current Category"

This follows Craigslist's proven approach.

Step 18: Build the Category Listings Screen

1. Add new screen "Category Listings"
2. Set to receive "Category" data from previous screen
3. Add Text displaying category name: "Current Category > Name"
4. Add filter controls:
   
   • Dropdown: Sort by (Price: Low to High, Price: High to Low, Newest, Oldest)
   • Text Input: Price range filter (Min/Max)
5. Add Custom List (Grid layout, 2 columns):
   
   • Connect to "Listings" collection
   • Filter: Category = Current Category AND Status = "Active"
   • Sort based on dropdown selection
6. Inside each list item:
   
   • Image (Featured Image) - square, fills card
   • Text (Title) - bold, 2 line max
   • Text (Price) - large, format as currency: "$" + Price
   • Text (Location > City) - small, gray text
   • Icon (Favorite heart) - conditional fill if in user's favorites
7. Click action: Navigate to "Listing Detail", pass "Current Listing"

Step 19: Create the Search Screen

1. Add new screen "Search"
2. Add Text Input with placeholder "What are you looking for?"
3. Add search filters:
   
   • Dropdown: Category (All Categories + individual options)
   • Location Input: Near (defaults to user location)
   • Number Input: Max Price
   • Dropdown: Condition filter
4. Add Button: "Search" (trigger filter actions)
5. Add Custom List of search results:
   
   • Connect to "Listings"
   • Filter by: Title contains search text, Category matches dropdown, Price ≤ max, Status = Active
   • Same card design as category listings
6. Add "No results" conditional text when list is empty

Search Tip: For distance-based filtering, use city/neighborhood dropdowns instead of radius calculations (simpler and more reliable).

Step 20: Build the Listing Detail Screen

This is where buyers decide to contact sellers.

1. Add new screen "Listing Detail"
2. Set to receive "Listing" data from previous screen
3. Add image gallery:
   
   • Image (Current Listing > Featured Image) - full width, 60% screen height
   • Add swipe functionality using Image Carousel component for additional images
   • Text overlay: "1 of [Image Count]" (bottom right)
4. Add listing information section:
   
   • Text (Title) - large, bold (24px)
   • Text (Price) - very large, green (32px) - format: "$" + Price
   • Text (Condition) - badge style (e.g., "Like New" with background)
   • Text (Description) - multi-line, readable (16px)
   • Text (Posted: Created Date) - small, gray - "Posted 3 days ago"
   • Text (Location > City + Neighborhood) - with map pin icon
5. Add seller information card:
   
   • Image (Seller > Profile Photo) - circular, 50x50px
   • Text (Seller > Full Name)
   • Text (Seller > Average Rating) - with star icon: "★ 4.8 (23 reviews)"
   • Text (Seller > Member Since) - "Member since Jan 2024"
   • Button: "View Profile" → Navigate to seller profile screen
6. Add action buttons:
   
   • Button (primary): "Message Seller" → Navigate to chat screen
   • Button (secondary): "Make Offer" → Navigate to offer screen
   • Icon button: Favorite (heart) - Toggle favorite status
   • Icon button: Share → Share action (native sharing)
7. Add conditional buttons (only if Logged In User = Seller):
   
   • Button: "Edit Listing" → Navigate to edit screen
   • Button: "Mark as Sold" → Update Status to "Sold"
   • Button: "Delete Listing" → Confirmation modal, then delete

Expected Result: A comprehensive listing view that drives buyer-seller interactions.

Creating the Listing Submission and Management Flow

Step 21: Build the "Post a Listing" Form

1. Add new screen "Post Listing"
2. Add progress indicator at top: "Step 1 of 3: Item Details"
3. Add Form component connected to Listings collection:
   
   • Set "Submit creates" → New Listing
4. Add form fields:
   
   • Text Input: Title (with character counter: 0/70)
   • Text Area: Description (character counter: 0/500)
   • Dropdown: Category (populated from Categories collection)
   • Number Input: Price ($)
   • Dropdown: Condition (New, Like New, Used, For Parts)
5. Add validation:
   
   • Title: Required, minimum 10 characters
   • Price: Required, minimum $1
   • Category: Required
6. Submit button: "Next: Add Photos" → Navigate to photo screen

Step 22: Adding Image Upload Functionality

1. Add screen "Add Photos"
2. Add progress indicator: "Step 2 of 3: Photos"
3. Add Image Picker components:
   
   • Primary: "Featured Image" (required) - large preview
   • Additional: "Upload more photos" (up to 6) - grid layout
4. Add image tips text:
   
   • "First photo is your cover image"
   • "Use natural lighting and clean backgrounds"
   • "Show item from multiple angles"
5. Add buttons:
   
   • Button (secondary): "Back" → Return to previous screen
   • Button (primary): "Next: Location" → Navigate to location screen

Image Optimization: Remind users to optimize images before upload. Consider adding compression tips or using external image hosting like Cloudinary for larger catalogs.

Step 23: Configure Location and Publishing

1. Add screen "Publish Listing"
2. Add progress indicator: "Step 3 of 3: Location & Publish"
3. Add location form fields:
   
   • Location Input: "Item Location" (defaults to user's location)
   • Text Input: City (auto-populated from location)
   • Dropdown: Neighborhood/Area (pre-populated options for your city)
   • Toggle: "Show exact address" (default: off - only shows neighborhood)
4. Add listing preview card showing all entered info
5. Add terms checkbox: "I agree to posting guidelines"
6. Add Button (primary): "Publish Listing"
   
   • Action 1: Create Listing with all form data
   • Action 2: Update Listing → Set Seller = Logged In User
   • Action 3: Update Listing → Set Status = "Active"
   • Action 4: Update Listing → Set Created Date = Now
   • Action 5: Navigate to "Listing Published" success screen

Step 24: Enabling Users to Edit and Delete Their Listings

1. Add screen "Edit Listing" (similar to Post Listing)
2. Pre-populate form with Current Listing data
3. Submit button updates instead of creates:
   
   • Action: Update Current Listing
   • Navigate back to Listing Detail
4. Add "Delete" button (bottom, red, with confirmation):
   
   • Show modal: "Are you sure? This cannot be undone."
   • If confirmed: Delete Current Listing → Navigate to "My Listings"

User Dashboard: Create a "My Listings" screen showing all listings where Seller = Logged In User, with quick edit/delete options.

Implementing Messaging Between Buyers and Sellers

Step 25: Adding a Chat Component to Your App

Buyer-seller messaging is critical for classifieds. While Adalo doesn't support true real-time messaging, you can build functional chat:

1. Add screen "Chat"
2. Set to receive "Listing" data (to know what item is being discussed)
3. Add header showing:
   
   • Image: Listing > Featured Image (thumbnail)
   • Text: Listing > Title
   • Text: Listing > Price
4. Add Custom List of messages:
   
   • Connect to Messages collection
   • Filter: (Sender = Logged In User AND Recipient = Seller) OR (Sender = Seller AND Recipient = Logged In User)
   • Filter: Listing = Current Listing
   • Sort by: Created Date (Oldest First)
5. Style message bubbles:
   
   • If Sender = Logged In User: Blue, right-aligned
   • If Sender ≠ Logged In User: Gray, left-aligned
6. Add message composition:
   
   • Text Input: "Type a message..." (bottom of screen)
   • Button: Send icon (paper airplane)
   • Action: Create Message → Set Sender = Logged In User, Set Recipient = Listing > Seller, Set Listing = Current Listing

Step 26: Setting Up Conversation Threads

1. Add screen "My Messages" (inbox view)
2. Add Custom List showing unique conversations:
   
   • Group messages by Listing
   • Show most recent message per listing
   • Sort by latest message date
3. Display for each conversation:
   
   • Image: Other user's profile photo
   • Text: Other user's name
   • Text: Listing title
   • Text: Last message preview (first 50 characters)
   • Text: Time ago ("2h ago")
   • Badge: Unread count (if Read Status = False)
4. Click action: Navigate to "Chat" screen, pass Listing

Step 27: Configuring Message Notifications

Since Adalo lacks real-time updates, use workarounds:

Option 1: Auto-refresh with Countdown Timer

1. Add Countdown Timer component (invisible) set to 5 seconds
2. When timer ends: Refresh message list
3. Restart timer

Option 2: Email Notifications via Zapier

1. Set up Zapier integration (requires Starter plan minimum)
2. Trigger: New Message created
3. Action: Send email to Recipient
4. Template: "[Sender Name] sent you a message about [Listing Title]"

Zapier Note: Adalo's Zapier integration supports 5,000+ apps. Zapier pricing is separate (starting at $19.99/month).

Adding Advanced Features: Geolocation, Payments, and Filters

Step 28: Integrating Google Maps for Local Listings

Requires Professional plan ($52/month) minimum:

1. On Listing Detail screen, add Map component:
   
   • Center on: Current Listing > Location
   • Zoom level: 13 (neighborhood view)
   • Markers: Single pin at listing location
   • Height: 200px
2. Add "Get Directions" button:
   
   • Link: https://maps.google.com/?q=[Listing Location Latitude],[Listing Location Longitude]
   • Opens in new tab/external browser
3. On Browse screen, add map view toggle:
   
   • Switch between List view and Map view
   • Map view shows all Active Listings as pins
   • Click pin → Navigate to Listing Detail

Distance Filtering Implementation: Instead of radius calculations (complex), use Craigslist's city-based approach:

• Multi-select dropdown with nearby cities
• "Search within: My City, City A, City B, City C"
• Filter Listings where City is in selected cities

Step 29: Setting Up Payment Processing with Stripe

For monetizing your marketplace, integrate Stripe payment processing:

1. Install Stripe component from marketplace
2. Create Stripe account at stripe.com
3. Get API keys (Dashboard > Developers > API Keys)
4. Add keys to Adalo (Settings > Integrations > Stripe)
5. Create payment flows:

Option A: Promoted Listings

1. Add screen "Promote Listing"
2. Show promotion tiers:
   
   • Featured: $5 for 7 days (top of category)
   • Highlighted: $2 for 3 days (bold title)
3. Add Stripe Payment component:
   
   • Amount: Based on selected tier
   • Description: "Promote [Listing Title]"
   • On success: Update listing with "Promoted" flag and expiration date

Option B: Transaction Fees For marketplace commission models:

1. Require buyers to pay through app
2. Use Stripe Connect for split payments
3. Platform takes a commission
4. Remaining funds go to seller

Stripe Fees: Stripe charges standard transaction fees. Your commission is on top of this.

Step 30: Building Advanced Search Filters

Enhance the search screen with power user filters:

1. Add filter section with "Advanced Filters" toggle
2. When enabled, show:
   
   • Price Range: Min and Max number inputs with slider
   • Date Posted: Dropdown (Last 24h, Last 7 days, Last 30 days, Any time)
   • Seller Rating: Minimum rating slider (3+ stars, 4+ stars, etc.)
   • Verified Only: Toggle (only show verified sellers)
   • Photo Only: Toggle (exclude listings without images)
3. Apply filters to Custom List:
   
   • Use AND/OR logic for multiple conditions
   • Update list in real-time as filters change
4. Add "Clear All Filters" button to reset

Filter Performance: With Adalo's database handling 20M+ daily requests, filters work smoothly for apps with under 5,000 listings. Beyond that, consider Xano integration for better performance.

Building the Rating System

Step 31: Create the Review Collection

1. Click "+ Add Collection" in Database
2. Name it "Reviews"
3. Add properties:
   
   • Rating Value (Number) - 1 to 5 stars
   • Comment (Text - Multiline) - Optional review text
   • Created Date (Date & Time - Automatic)
4. Add relationships:
   
   • Reviewer: Many Reviews to One User (who wrote it)
   • Reviewed User: Many Reviews to One User (who received it)
   • Listing: Many Reviews to One Listing (what transaction)

Step 32: Build the "Leave a Review" Screen

Show this after a successful transaction:

1. Add screen "Leave Review"
2. Set to receive "Listing" data from previous screen
3. Add header:
   
   • Text: "How was your experience?"
   • Image: Listing > Seller > Profile Photo
   • Text: Listing > Seller > Full Name
4. Add Star Rating component:
   
   • Connect to Reviews collection > Rating Value
   • 5-star scale
   • Large, tappable stars
5. Add Text Area: "Tell us more (optional)" → Reviews > Comment
6. Add submit button:
   
   • Action 1: Create Review
   • Action 2: Update Review → Set Reviewer = Logged In User
   • Action 3: Update Review → Set Reviewed User = Listing > Seller
   • Action 4: Update Review → Set Listing = Current Listing
   • Action 5: Custom Action (calculate new average rating)
   • Action 6: Navigate to "Thank You" screen

Step 33: Calculate Average Ratings with Custom Formulas

Adalo supports custom formulas for calculations:

1. In Users collection, update Average Rating property:
2. Set formula: Sum(Reviews > Rating Value) / Count(Reviews)
3. This automatically updates when new reviews are added
4. Update Total Ratings: Count(Reviews)

Display ratings on:

• User profile pages: "★ 4.7 (142 reviews)"
• Listing detail pages (seller info section)
• Search results (optional badge for highly-rated sellers)

Testing Your Craigslist Clone Across Platforms

Step 34: Using Adalo's Preview App for Mobile Testing

1. Download "Adalo" preview app:
   
   • iOS: App Store
   • Android: Google Play Store
2. Open app and scan QR code from Adalo builder
3. Test key flows:
   
   • User signup and login
   • Browse categories and listings
   • Search with filters
   • Post a new listing with photos
   • Send messages
   • Leave reviews
4. Check for issues:
   
   • Image upload from camera roll
   • Location permissions granted
   • Forms submit correctly
   • Navigation flows smoothly

Platform Notes: All components work across web and native, but test thoroughly as some features (like image picker) behave differently on mobile vs. web.

Step 35: Testing Responsive Design on Web Browsers

1. In Adalo builder, click "Preview" button (top right)
2. Test in multiple browsers:
   
   • Chrome (desktop and mobile view)
   • Safari (desktop and mobile)
   • Firefox
3. Test responsive breakpoints:
   
   • Desktop (1920px)
   • Tablet (768px)
   • Mobile (375px)
4. Check that:
   
   • Text is readable at all sizes
   • Buttons are tappable (minimum 44px height)
   • Images scale properly
   • Forms work on all devices

Responsive Design: Adalo's responsive design feature automatically adapts layouts, but you can customize breakpoints for pixel-perfect control.

Step 36: Common Testing Scenarios for Marketplaces

Create test scenarios covering:

1. New User Journey:
   
   • Sign up → Browse → View listing → Message seller → Receive response
2. Seller Journey:
   
   • Post listing → Receive inquiry → Respond → Mark as sold → Receive review
3. Search & Filter:
   
   • Search by keyword → Apply price filter → Apply location filter → View results
4. Payment Flow (if implemented):
   
   • Select promoted listing tier → Enter payment info → Process payment → Confirm promotion active
5. Edge Cases:
   
   • What happens if listing has no images?
   • Can users message themselves? (should be blocked)
   • Do expired listings disappear from active view?

Add test data:

• 10-15 sample users
• 50-100 listings across categories
• Various price points and locations
• Some with reviews, some without

Publishing Your Marketplace App to Web and Mobile Stores

Step 37: Publishing to a Custom Domain

Requires Starter plan minimum ($36/month annual billing):

1. Register a domain ($10-45/year from providers like Namecheap, GoDaddy)
2. In Adalo, go to Settings > Publishing > Web App
3. Click "Add Custom Domain"
4. Enter your domain (e.g., localmarket.com)
5. Copy the DNS records provided
6. In your domain registrar, add CNAME record:
   
   • Host: @ or www
   • Points to: [your-app].adalo.com
7. Wait 24-48 hours for DNS propagation
8. Click "Publish" in Adalo

Expected Result: Your app is live at your custom domain with SSL certificate (HTTPS automatic).

Step 38: Submitting to the Apple App Store

Requirements:

• Apple Developer account ($99/year)
• Starter plan minimum
• App icons (1024x1024px)
• Screenshots (various iPhone sizes)
• App description and keywords

Steps:

1. In Adalo: Settings > Publishing > iOS App
2. Fill in app information:
   
   • App name
   • Bundle ID (com.yourcompany.appname)
   • Version (1.0.0)
   • App icon
3. Click "Build for iOS" (takes 30-60 minutes)
4. Download IPA file or let Adalo submit directly
5. In App Store Connect:
   
   • Create new app
   • Upload build
   • Add metadata (description, screenshots, keywords)
   • Submit for review
6. Wait 1-3 days for Apple review

Rejection Risks: Follow Apple's guidelines carefully. Common issues: incomplete metadata, inappropriate content, missing privacy policy.

Step 39: Publishing to Google Play Store

Requirements:

• Google Play account ($25 one-time fee)
• Starter plan minimum
• App icons and screenshots

Steps:

1. In Adalo: Settings > Publishing > Android App
2. Fill in app information (similar to iOS)
3. Click "Build for Android" (30-60 minutes)
4. In Google Play Console:
   
   • Create new app
   • Upload APK/AAB file
   • Complete store listing
   • Set content rating
   • Submit for review
5. Wait 1-3 days for Google review

Note: Google Play typically has faster approval (24-48 hours) vs. Apple (2-3 days).

Scaling and Maintaining Your Classified Marketplace

Step 40: Monitoring App Performance and Uptime

Adalo provides 99%+ average app uptime, but monitor your app:

1. Check App Performance dashboard (Settings > Analytics):
   
   • Active users
   • Screen views
   • Database queries per second
2. Set up external monitoring (optional):
   
   • Use UptimeRobot to ping your web app
   • Get alerts if app goes down
3. Monitor key metrics:
   
   • Daily active users (DAU)
   • Listings posted per day
   • Messages sent
   • Conversion rate (views → messages → transactions)

Step 41: Upgrading Plans as Your User Base Grows

Plan for scaling costs as your marketplace grows:

Growth Tiers:

• 0-500 users: Free plan (testing only) or Starter ($36/month)
• 500-1,000 users: Professional ($52/month) for location features
• 1,000-5,000 users: Professional with additional app actions ($5/1,000 actions)
• 5,000-10,000 users: Team plan ($160/month annually) for more storage
• 10,000+ users: Business plan ($200/month annual) + Xano integration

Cost Inflection Point: Expect increased costs when hitting 5,000+ active users due to Team plan requirement and potential Xano integration.

Step 42: Using External Databases for Scale

When your marketplace exceeds 5,000 listings, integrate Xano for better performance:

Benefits:

• Handle 50,000+ records without slowdown
• Advanced database queries
• Better data security and backups
• API-first architecture

Setup:

1. Create Xano account (starting at $25/month)
2. Requires Team plan minimum ($160/month)
3. Export Adalo data to CSV
4. Import into Xano database
5. Connect Xano to Adalo via External Collections
6. Migrate screens to use Xano data

Timeline: 1-2 weeks for migration with 5,000+ records.

Monetization Strategies for Your Craigslist-Style App

Step 43: Charging Listing or Transaction Fees

Following proven marketplace models:

Option 1: Listing Fees

• Charge sellers to post listings (e.g., $2-5 per listing)
• Implement with Stripe payment before listing goes live
• Works best for job boards and real estate

Option 2: Transaction Fees

• Take a commission on completed sales
• Require in-app payments via Stripe
• Use Stripe Connect for automatic splits
• Example: $100 sale = commission to platform, remainder to seller

Option 3: Freemium Model

• Free basic listings (limited to 5 active listings)
• Charge $9.99/month for unlimited listings
• Add verification badge for paying members

Step 44: Offering Premium Placement Options

Featured listing packages:

• Featured (Top of Category): $5 for 7 days
• Highlighted (Bold Title): $2 for 3 days
• Bumped (Back to Top): $1 per bump
• Homepage Featured: $10 for 24 hours

Implement with:

1. Add "Promoted" and "Promotion Expires" properties to Listings
2. Sort listings by: Promoted (Yes/No) first, then Created Date
3. Use countdown timer to auto-expire promotions
4. Send Zapier reminder: "Your promotion expires in 24 hours"

Step 45: Building Subscription-Based Features

Create tiered memberships:

Free Tier:

• Post up to 5 active listings
• Standard search features
• See seller contact after messaging

Pro Tier ($9.99/month):

• Unlimited listings
• Priority placement in search
• Verified badge
• Advanced analytics
• Remove ads

Implement with:

• Add "Subscription Tier" property to Users
• Use Stripe Subscriptions (recurring billing)
• Show conditional content based on tier
• Gate features with "If Subscription Tier = Pro"

Revenue Potential: A classifieds app with significant transaction volume and commission structure has substantial revenue potential.

Why Build Your Classifieds Marketplace with Adalo

Adalo's no-code platform eliminates the barriers that traditionally prevented entrepreneurs from launching marketplace apps. While custom-coded classifieds platforms can cost up to $100,000+ and take 6-12 months to build, Adalo enables you to launch in 2-4 weeks for under $1,000 first-year costs.

The platform's true strength lies in its full-stack capabilities. You're not just building a website wrapper—you're creating native mobile apps that publish directly to the App Store and Google Play, plus a responsive web app, all from a single build. This is exactly what modern classifieds users expect: 59% of shoppers prefer local transactions, and mobile-first design makes meeting those buyers where they are effortless.

For marketplace-specific features, Adalo delivers what matters most. The relational database handles complex relationships between users, listings, messages, and transactions without requiring SQL knowledge. Location-based filtering—essential for local classifieds—is included via Google Maps integration on the Professional plan. Payment processing through Stripe enables commission models and promoted listings. And with Zapier integration connecting to 5,000+ apps, you can automate notifications, CRM updates, and marketing workflows without custom coding.

Perhaps most importantly, Adalo scales with your success. Start on the free tier to validate your concept with beta users. Graduate to Starter ($36/month annually) when ready to publish. Upgrade to Professional ($52/month) to unlock location features and custom integrations. If you reach 10,000+ users, the Team plan with Xano integration supports enterprise-scale marketplaces. Over 1 million apps have been created on Adalo, collectively serving 2 million+ end users—proof that the platform handles real marketplace traffic.

Whether you're building a campus marketplace, niche collectibles exchange, or local services directory, Adalo provides the fastest path from idea to published app. The only code you need to know is your Stripe API key.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I build a Craigslist clone without coding experience?

Yes. Adalo's drag-and-drop interface requires zero coding knowledge. The platform uses visual components and pre-built form actions—if you can create a slide deck, you can build an app. For classifieds specifically, start with the Saleworthy template (an OfferUp clone) to get pre-configured database relationships and screens, then customize for your market. Most non-technical builders launch functional marketplaces in 2-4 weeks.

How much does it cost to build and publish a marketplace app with Adalo?

First-year costs total approximately $1,245 for a location-based classifieds app: Professional plan at $52/month ($624 annual), Apple Developer license ($99/year), Google Play fee ($25 one-time), domain registration ($12-15), Google Maps API (free tier initially), and Zapier for notifications ($240 annually). This is cheaper than custom development, which can reach $100,000+.

How do I add payment processing to my classified ads app?

Install the Stripe component from Adalo's marketplace, create a free Stripe account, and add your API keys in Settings > Integrations. You can implement promoted listings ($2-5 per featured post), transaction fees (commission using Stripe Connect), or subscription tiers ($9.99/month for unlimited listings). Stripe charges standard transaction fees; your marketplace commission is on top of this base fee.