Performing a Craigslist search can be challenging. The Craigslist web site receives billions of page views per month yet still has limited capabilities for searching its numerous locations and categories. To help people search Craigslist more efficiently a number of web-based search tools have sprung up.

New Tools for A Craigslist Search

Over the last few years the number of tools for searching Craigslist has grown significantly. Whether you want to do a Craigslist search for a garage sale, wants ads, jobs, services, personals or an apartment here are six tools for monitoring and searching Craigslist classified ads more efficiently.

1. CraigsPal features a robust set of searching tools and consists of two versions: CraigsPal Free also known as Craigslist Reader Pro and CraigsPal. Both versions allow for personally selected search parameters and create custom multi-city, multi-state, multi-country Craiglist searches with an advanced keyword interface. The difference between the two versions is that the free version is a search screen only while the paid version includes fully automatic Craigslist search (autopilot), instant notifications of new search results, backup of user defined searches and free updates. The paid for version is $30.

2. Search Tempest is a web based service from SearchTempest Online that allows user to search Craigslist results based on distance from a specific city or zip code. The distance is user controlled from 25 miles to any distance. SearchTempest has a single page interface that, in addition to variable distance, utilizes categories, sub-categories and keywords. A main departure from other services is that SearchTempset can also search EBay, Backpage, and Kijiji in addition to Craigslist. The service is free. A separate product “Ad Notifier for Craigslist” is available for $10.

3. Crazedlist.org is an interesting tool that consists of a large grid of check boxes for all US cities that are served by Craigslist.org. This service allows you to check the appropriate Cities and geographic areas, enter keywords, select a category and then preform a Craigslist search. It isn’t fancy but Crazedlist.org does deliver results quickly and in a clean, easy to read interface. There is also a smaller grid on a second tab for searching worldwide. One twist is that this only works with Firefox or Chrome browsers, but not Internet Explorer, and requires a minor tweak to a low level browser setting for referrer data. This is a free service.

4. Craiglook.com is a much more Spartan search mechanism for Craigslist online classifieds. Craiglook is strictly a web based tool with a single page interface that consists of two search boxes for keywords and city or zip code along with a wide range of category checkboxes. All searches in CraigLook are for a 250 mile radius. The service is free.

5. Craigstoolbox.com is a plugins for the Firefox browser that enhances the Craigslist Search results. CraigsToolbox is a simple tool that works in conjunction with the Craigslist website and provides additional features such as the Image Preview Tool, an Alerts Listing tool and a Save Listing tool. A free trial version is available and the cost for the paid version is $9.95 per year.

6. Search All Craigs consists of a basic search box interface that returns Google-type results. These results fro a Craigslist search can be confined to one of seven specific geographic areas within the US or the UK. There is very little filtering capabilities with the Search All Craigslist tool. This site is essentially a stylized custom Google search with limited functionality.

UPDATE:

CraigsList Reader from Motion Technologies is no longer available. The web site has a message that starts, “At this time, we are no longer able to offer our valued customers the Craigslist Reader Searching Tool.” And then includes a list of some questionable links. “

Craiglist Classified Ad Search Tools – Take Your Pick

These are some very useful tools for searching the vast amount of classified ads data on Craiglist.org. The levels of features and functionality vary widely among these search tools. If you search Craigslist online classifieds (or criagslist, or craglist, or craig list or cregslist or graigslist or craigslsit or graiglist – lots of common misspellings) with any frequency one or more of these tools should help streamline your Craigslist search processes depending on your needs and budget.

Craigslist is the number one source of free classified ads on the web and is known to just about anyone using the Internet. Here are some other interesting facts about Craigslist (or criagslist, or gregslist, or craigs list, or graigslist…) from Craigslist Fact Sheet:

More than 50 million people use Craigslist in the US alone

Craigslist.org is #7 worldwide in terms of English-language page views

Craigslist.org receives more than 1 million new job listings each month

Craigslist users self-publish about 50 million new classified ads each month

Craigslist has expanded to more than 700 local sites in 70 countries

The Craigslist discussion forums feature more than 120 million user postings in 100 topical forums.

CraigsList currently employs a whopping 30 people to run this enterprise.

Plenty of options and tools for you to use when you search Craigslist classified ads. Plus a range of tools for different budgets and needs. Happy searching.