7 Pros + Cons of Flippa for Buying & Selling Websites

Ohhh Flippa. Where do we start? Ok, how about, you know when (and this is NO disrespect) you go with your Grandparents to an old-school yard sale or even login to your eBay account for the first time in 5 years, and you’re like, “why am I here” but then you’re like, “oh ok, actually here’s something I want…and they’ve gotten better since I was last here” and then you go and buy something and you actually get a deal?

Ok – that’s Flippa. The OG of buying and selling digital properties like websites, SaaS tools, web apps, and more for prices you can’t believe from people who probably don’t exist but somehow have money. I’ve never been a big customer, or even a significant customer of theirs, but I have bought and sold some properties there, despite not having any context of how Flippa even works.

So this is what I’ve found to be useful & not useful about Flippa, especially compared to other platforms that I have used more often like Motion Invest and Empire Flippers.

Pros

One of The Oldest Website Marketplaces

Flippa has been around since 2009 – ancient history for website brokerages. It’s had some well-known sales (like Mark Zuckerberg’s FaceMash.com among others). So it has the brand name to bring together a decent number of buyers & sellers.

Wide-Range of Inventory

I’m always mildly surprised by the diverse selection of digital assets available on Flippa. On any given day I can browse through established e-commerce stores, content sites, SaaS platforms, mobile apps, and premium domains. During my last search I found everything from $500 starter sites to seven-figure businesses generating substantial monthly revenue.

Restructured Pricing, Design & Buy Flow

The recent platform overhaul has significantly improved the buying experience. I appreciate the streamlined listing process and the new escrow system that makes transactions more secure. The website no longer looks like it’s from 2012. The verification badges clear pricing tiers and improved search filters help me quickly identify legitimate opportunities. Their new pricing structure which starts at $99 for basic listings has helped reduce low-quality submissions while the premium packages offer enhanced visibility for serious sellers.

Assets At Every Price Point

I’ve found incredible value across all price ranges on Flippa. The platform offers starter sites in the $1000-$10000 range and established operations selling for $100000+. The variety of price points makes it possible for me to diversify my portfolio and scale my investments based on my budget and experience level.

Cons

Everybody has tradeoffs, including Flippa.

Lots of Sub-Par Assets

I’ve spent countless hours sifting through Flippa listings and soooo many of the assets listed don’t meet basic quality standards. Many websites feature spun content, poor backlink profiles, or inflated traffic numbers. Most starter sites are built purely for quick flips with minimal effort put into content quality or sustainable business models. The marketplace is flooded with cookie-cutter Amazon affiliate sites and dropshipping stores that haven’t generated any real income. It’s better than it was…but it’s not a marketplace like Empire Flippers or even Motion Invest.

Poor Reputation To Overcome

The platform’s history with scams and fraudulent listings has created lasting trust issues. I’ve personally encountered sellers who tried to manipulate traffic data or provided fake profit statements. While Flippa has implemented verification measures I still see questionable practices slip through. Many experienced buyers I’ve networked with still approach Flippa listings with extreme skepticism preferring to work through more exclusive marketplaces for high-value acquisitions.

Next Steps

If you’re considering Flippa I recommend starting small and focusing on well-documented listings with verifiable metrics. Take time to master the platform’s tools and always conduct thorough due diligence before making any purchase.

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