Why does Craigslist still look like early internet days?

The purposeful design choice that makes Craigslist resemble the internet's inaugural website demonstrates its cleverness.
If you’ve ever visited Craigslist, you know the vibe: Craigslist doesn't use flashy animations or sleek designs and it also lacks dark mode features. Craigslist feels like you're stepping into a time machine to arrive back in 1995. But here’s the twist—that’s exactly the point. Craigslist deliberately presents itself as reminiscent of the internet’s initial awkward yet magnificent beginnings. And guess what? It works.

To me, the idea of selling something for $10.00, and then worried if the person company to my house is going to rob me or even if we meet at a general location, the same thing, safety issues.

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Simplicity is the Secret Sauce
Craig Newmark established Craigslist in 1995 as an email bulletin for Bay Area happenings. The original email list transformed into a website in 1996 and has maintained its foundational elements throughout its existence.

Craigslist maintained its minimalistic design approach while other websites continuously upgraded with new technologies. The site features basic links in blue color blocks without flashy logos or automatic video playback. The minimalistic design of the website loads at incredible speed regardless of connection speed.

The simplicity of Craigslist has earned it the nickname “the cockroach of the internet” because of its persistent nature and remarkable durability.

The Numbers Don’t Lie
The outdated design of Craigslist could be seen as a disadvantage to its success. Think again. Despite not changing much in decades:

Each month Craigslist receives over 50 billion page views.

Users across 700 cities in over 70 countries can access the service.

The U.S. internet audience ranks Craigslist among its top 20 most-visited sites despite numerous modern competitors having more advanced designs.

Craigslist appears outdated but it remains a dominant force.

Trust Built the Craigslist Empire
The old-fashioned interface somehow provides an unexpected sense of comfort. The Craigslist platform presents itself in an honest way as it doesn't employ tricks through algorithms or pop-up advertisements. That stripped-down look builds trust. People choose Craigslist because it delivers effective results for tasks like selling a couch or finding a job as well as looking for band members.

While many sites attempt to accomplish multiple goals simultaneously Craigslist remains satisfied with its own identity. And honestly, that’s kind of refreshing.

Final Thought: Ugly by Design
Craigslist presents the appearance of having been constructed using a floppy disk. But behind that 90s exterior is a brilliant strategy: Maintain simplicity and utility without modifying a functioning system.

Sometimes, retro just works.