Here’s how to disable ads on OfferUp:
The easiest way to disable the ads is to get an app that blocks ads in general, such as Adblock or AdGuard.
If you stick to using the website only, you can also use browser extensions and even browser settings to block the ads.
If you use the mobile app, you’ll need a third-party ad-blocking app.
So if you want to learn all about blocking ads that keep popping up on OfferUp, then this article is for you.
Let’s jump right in!
What Is OfferUp?
OfferUp is an online resource that is geared toward helping people buy and sell items locally.
You can think of it as similar to Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace.
OfferUp allows you to post items for sale, and then other people using the platform can browse for things to buy.
If someone near you wants to buy your item, they can message you, and the two of you can arrange the sale.
It’s all pretty easy.
OfferUp really exists in two spaces.
There is a website that works with all major software platforms, and there is a mobile app that is available for iOS and Android.
Why Are There Ads on OfferUp?
OfferUp has ads for the same reason as many other online resources.
The advertisements pay for the site.
You can use OfferUp for free because people pay to advertise on the platform.
That’s the key to the whole thing.
I’m going to show you how to disable these ads, but keep one thing in mind.
You are cutting into the revenue stream for OfferUp, and if enough people do the same, OfferUp will either have to charge for services or risk going under.
Why Do You Want to Disable Ads on OfferUp? (3 Reasons)
What does it matter?
Do you need a good reason to disable ads?
Isn’t it enough that you don’t want to see them?
Absolutely.
This question isn’t about whether or not you’re justified in blocking ads.
Instead, the reason you want to block them might inform which method works best for you.
If you’re annoyed by ads, then ad blocking based on the web browser will work better (I’ll explain this in more detail later).
If the ads are breaking the app or website so that you can’t use anything, that’s a whole different matter.
So, let’s explore the common reasons why you’re trying to get rid of the ads so that you’ll have more information informing your options when it comes to beating the ads.
#1 Irritation
Let’s be honest about it.
Advertisements are often annoying.
They disrupt what you’re trying to do, and they very, very rarely actually get you to buy anything.
They’re just taking up space and attention for no real value.
Why should you even have to put up with them?
You’re trying to use a local marketplace, so ads for all of these random things don’t even make sense.
If the only reason you want to get rid of ads is that you don’t like them, that’s enough for me.
I’m not here to police your ideas, and I’ll show you the best ways to handle ads.
The point here is that you’ll want to try different tactics if irritation is your motivation.
In general, you’re going to be better off using the OfferUp website as opposed to the mobile app.
It gives you more control over how you block the ads, and you’ll have a better experience overall.
As I go through different ad-blocking techniques in a bit, you’ll see why I’m recommending the website.
#2 Performance
Sometimes, loading ads can mess up the user experience.
Whether you’re using the OfferUp app or website, if ads prevent the thing from working correctly, that’s a huge problem.
In this case, I recommend checking to see if you have a better experience on the app or the website before you pick your ad-blocking mechanism.
You’ll want to use the resource that works better with ads.
Once you know which that is, then you can apply the appropriate ad-blocking tools to further improve the experience.
For clarity, when I talk about performance, there are a few specific things that come to mind.
Ads can cause entire pages to load slowly.
They can also create visual problems where the images you’re trying to see or read are distorted.
If any of that sounds familiar, then you’ll want to see if the website or the app handles ads better.
The one that handles ads better is likely going to handle ad blockers better too.
#3 Interference
The other possibility is that the ads get in the way of things you’re trying to buy on the site.
When ads aren’t clearly marked, you might unintentionally click on them instead of something you want to buy, and that creates a whole new set of problems.
If you’re having a hard time navigating the site or app because of the ads, then once again, I’m going to recommend the website over the app.
The thing you’ll see in a minute is that app blocking on websites is a lot more robust, so if getting rid of the ads themselves is what matters (as opposed to improving performance), stick with the website and use those ad blockers.
You’ll find that form of ad blocking to be substantially more thorough.
How Do You Disable Ads on OfferUp? (3 Ways)
In case I didn’t give this away already, the way you block ads depends on how you’re using OfferUp.
OfferUp is an entirely free-to-use platform, so there is no native way to block those ads.
That is, you can’t just pay a fee and turn the ads off.
There are paid services on OfferUp, but they help promote things you’re trying to sell.
There is no premium service that turns off ads.
That means you need to use external resources to manage the ads, and the tools that work with browsers are very different from the tools that work on mobile apps (even if there are companies that make both).
So, I’ll take you through all of the best ways to stop ads, and you’ll see just how many more options there are for web browsers.
That’s why I made recommendations about using the website over the app, and as you experiment with different ad-blocking options, you’ll see all of it for yourself.
Ultimately, the goal is to get you a good experience, so here are some of the best ways to deal with ads.
Where you go from there is up to you.
#1 Ad Blockers
There are apps that you can get that block ads.
Two of the most famous are probably Adblock and AdGuard, but there are plenty of others, and they tend to work very well.
The thing is, how they work depends on what you are doing.
You can get ad-blocking apps that work directly with your web browser.
In many cases, they are extensions for the browser, and they can block the vast majority of ads on every single website.
In fact, you can even customize what they block and how they do it.
When it comes to blocking ads on mobile apps, you would need one of these ad-blocking apps on your mobile device.
When installed, they aim to block apps on the device regardless of what you’re doing.
They block ads on websites, OfferUp, and anything else that can hit you with advertising.
The thing about the mobile app versions is that their reliability will depend on a few things.
In general, they’re good at what they do, but there will be times when they don’t play well with specific apps.
This really boils down to the fact that app development is complicated, and it’s hard for one ad-blocking app to account for the endless design options that exist in the world.
Inevitably, your ad blocker won’t work right with some apps.
#2 Browser Extensions
I already mentioned that there are ad blockers that work as browser extensions, but it goes even further than that.
Google Chrome has an extension that specifically blocks apps on OfferUp.
It’s customized, and it works very well.
Other browsers have comparable extensions, so if you’re using the OfferUp website, you really can have a good, ad-free experience.
Of course, I should probably explain a little bit about browser extensions so that this makes proper sense.
A browser extension is like an app, but it is designed specifically to work within your web browser.
So, if you think of your web browser (like Chrome or Safari) as its own mobile device, then you can browse the extension store within that device and add extensions that serve specific functions.
From a technical standpoint, extensions tend to be a lot lighter than full applications, largely because they rely on the browser to function.
The point is that they allow you to do specific things with your browser, like blocking ads, and you get them directly from the browser itself, rather than other resources.
Let me make sure one other thing is perfectly clear.
Browser extensions will not impact the OfferUp app at all.
They can’t.
#3 Browser Settings
There’s a third option here, and once again, it’s specific to the browser experience.
Most modern web browsers actually have features built into them that block ads.
You can turn these features on, and then you won’t see as many ads.
They aren’t as thorough as the ad-blocking apps or extensions, but the settings are easy to use and fairly effective.
