Best for Craigslist
Residential proxies
from $0.27/GB
The IPs come from home ISPs, and Geonode can target a US state or city, so the IP matches the Craigslist site you post to; sticky sessions hold one IP for up to 24 hours.
Sites & services
Craigslist Proxy How to Set It Up and Which Type to Use
Craigslist works on
- Web
- Android
- iOS
Key facts
Which proxy to use
A residential proxy in the same city or state as the Craigslist site you post to, set in the OS or browser. Craigslist has no proxy field.
How Craigslist picks your city
craigslist.org sends you to the site for the area of your IP address, but every city site (for example sfbay.craigslist.org) opens for anyone by its URL. To read listings in another city you don't need a proxy.
Terms of Use
The Terms allow only the Craigslist app, general-purpose browsers and email clients, forbid collecting content with scripts or scrapers, and forbid bypassing moderation such as blocks. They also set liquidated damages of $0.25 per page for viewing more than 1,000 pages in 24 hours.
Phone verification
Some postings ask for a one-time code by voice call or text before they go live. The code goes to your phone number, so the proxy has no effect on this step.
Ways to route Craigslist through a proxy
Craigslist has no proxy field in the site or the app, so the proxy goes into the operating system, the browser or a proxy client app.
| Name | Works In | Auth | Blocking Resistance | Best For | Where To Get |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| System proxy (Windows, macOS, iPhone Wi-Fi) | craigslist.org in Chrome, Edge and Safari, which follow the system proxy | Username and password (the browser prompts on Windows) | Same as the IP behind it | Posting and replying from your own computer | Geonode residential or ISP proxies |
| Browser extension (for example Proxy SwitchyOmega) | Only the browser or browser profile it is installed in | HTTP or SOCKS5; username and password depend on the extension | Same as the IP behind it | Keeping Craigslist on one IP while other sites use your normal connection | Geonode residential proxies |
| Proxy client app (Android) | The Craigslist app and Chrome on Android; the client routes apps through a local VPN | SOCKS5 or HTTP with username and password | Same as the IP behind it | The Android app with a password-protected proxy | Geonode residential proxies |
Which proxy type to use with Craigslist
Craigslist does not publish how it scores IPs. For posting, use an IP in the same area as the Craigslist site you post to.
Good for one account
ISP proxies
from $1.25/IP
The IP never changes, so a Craigslist account logs in from the same address every day.
Poor for posting
Datacenter proxies
from $0.14/GB
Hosting IP ranges are public, so Craigslist can see the traffic comes from a server and not a home connection.
Testing only
Free public proxies
Free
Many people share each one, so the IP may already be blocked on Craigslist, and many stop working within hours.
How to set up a proxy for Craigslist
Copy the proxy host (hostname or IP), port, username and password from your Geonode dashboard before you start.
Open Settings > Network & internet > Proxy.
Under Manual proxy setup, click Set up next to Use a proxy server.
Turn on Use a proxy server.
Enter the host in Proxy IP address and the number in Port.
Click Save.
Open craigslist.org in Chrome or Edge and enter the proxy username and password when the browser asks.
Check detailed instructions on our blog:
Read the blog postHow to check that the proxy works
Open Geonode's What is my IP page in the same browser or on the same phone; it should show the proxy IP and city.
Type craigslist.org into the address bar. It should open the Craigslist site for the proxy's area, not your own.
Pick the Craigslist site before you write the post. A post's site can't be changed later, and you can't post to more than one site at a time.
How to turn the proxy off
Windows: in Settings > Network & internet > Proxy, click Edit next to Use a proxy server and switch it off. macOS: switch off the proxy under Details > Proxies. iPhone: set Configure Proxy back to Off.
Android: tap Disconnect in the proxy client app, then force-stop Craigslist so it opens a new connection.
Common Craigslist proxy problems and fixes
Craigslist says your IP is blocked while the proxy is on
- Someone used the same IP for scraping or mass posting; shared, free and datacenter IPs are the usual ones
- Start a new residential session to get a different IP. If your own home IP is blocked, write to Craigslist through its contact form.
CauseFixPost blocked, or flagged and removed soon after going live
- It repeats one of your active posts, the same ad is in several areas or categories, or the ad is not local to the site
- Keep one ad per item on one site. To move a free post to the top, click renew on your account page (allowed every 48 to 72 hours) instead of posting it again.
CauseFixPhone verification rejects the number
- The number is international or VOIP, or it is already linked to another Craigslist account
- Use a non-VOIP number from the country of the Craigslist site that is not linked to another account, and wait 5 minutes before you ask for a new code.
CauseFixThe post is stuck on hold
- Craigslist staff hold some new posts for manual review
- Wait and reload the post to check its status. A held post is usually moved to the top of the list when it is approved, so don't post it again.
CauseFixThe browser keeps asking for the proxy password (error 407)
- Wrong username or password, or the city suffix in the username is misspelled
- Copy the proxy credentials again from the Geonode dashboard; your Geonode account login will not work here. Check the city name against the targeting docs.
CauseFix
More for Craigslist users
Craigslist proxy FAQ
It is an ordinary HTTP or SOCKS5 proxy that you set in your browser, operating system or phone before you open Craigslist. Craigslist then sees the proxy's IP address and area instead of yours.
Residential proxies in the same city or state as the Craigslist site you use. For a single account that should always log in from one address, a static ISP proxy also works.
Yes, the proxy only changes the IP your post comes from. Craigslist's rules still apply: one site per post, no cross-posting or overposting, and ads must be local to the area. Using many IPs to get around those rules breaks the Terms of Use and can lead to blocks and removed posts.
No. Every Craigslist city site is open by its URL, such as newyork.craigslist.org, from any IP. The IP only decides which site craigslist.org opens by default.
Craigslist does not publish why it blocks an IP; shared, datacenter and free proxy IPs used for scraping or mass posting are the usual cases. A shared IP can be blocked because of another user.
For a quick test, yes. Free proxies are shared by many people, so their IPs are often blocked already, and you should not log in to your Craigslist account through one you don't trust.
Buy one only if you need an IP in a specific US or Canadian area, or a fixed IP for your account. There is no special Craigslist proxy product: a residential or ISP proxy with city targeting does the job.
