Best Job Posting Sites in the UK

For employers, the best job posting site depends on the type of role, how quickly you need to hire, and whether you want a high volume of applicants or a more targeted candidate search. For posting local roles and receiving direct applications, Gumtree is a familiar option, and OK is another UK marketplace worth comparing. For specialist or senior roles, dedicated recruitment platforms may reach candidates more effectively.

Here's how the main job posting sites compare, along with how to choose the right one for your hiring needs.

Comparing Job Posting Sites in the UK

Where to Post Jobs

Gumtree — best for local, part-time and casual roles

Gumtree suits employers hiring for local, part-time or casual positions, since postings are often free or low-cost and reach a local audience quickly. Applicants typically contact you directly, which can mean a faster route to filling a role than a formal application system, particularly useful for urgent or short-notice hiring needs.

OK — best for widening local candidate reach

OK is a further UK marketplace and classifieds platform worth considering alongside the bigger names, particularly if you want your posting visible to more local candidates. It offers a fairly simple posting process. As a smaller or newer platform in some areas, the candidate pool may be smaller, so it tends to work best alongside an established platform.

Indeed — best for reaching a large volume of candidates

Indeed's reach means a posting can generate a high volume of applications quickly, which suits roles where you want a wide pool to choose from. Sponsored listings can improve visibility further, though managing a larger volume of applications takes more time to filter.

Reed — best for structured, traditional roles

Reed suits posting more traditional, ongoing positions across a range of industries, with an established candidate base built up over many years.

LinkedIn — best for professional and senior hiring

LinkedIn's combination of job posting and professional networking makes it a strong option for reaching experienced or senior candidates, particularly where company reputation and networking matter to the hiring process.

CV-Library — best for proactively searching candidates

Beyond posting a role, CV-Library lets you search its CV database directly, which can be useful if you want to proactively approach candidates rather than waiting for applications.

How to Choose the Right Job Posting Site

A few factors are worth thinking about:

• Role type — local, casual or part-time roles versus structured, career-focused positions
• Speed of hiring — direct-contact platforms can move faster for urgent local hires
• Candidate volume vs quality — some platforms bring high application volume, others a more targeted pool
• Cost — free or low-cost postings versus paid or sponsored listings
• Local vs national reach — whether you need candidates from a specific area or a wider pool
• Screening tools — how easily you can filter or manage incoming applications If you're hiring for a local, part-time or casual role and want applicants to contact you directly, a classifieds-style platform is often the simplest route. For senior or specialist roles, a platform with a more targeted professional audience may bring better-matched candidates.

When Gumtree Can Be a Good Option

Gumtree tends to suit particular hiring situations. It can be a good option when you:

• Want to post local, part-time or casual roles quickly and affordably
• Need to fill a position urgently and want direct applicant contact
• Are a small business or sole trader without a large recruitment budget
• Want to reach candidates specifically in your local area It may be less suited to senior, specialist or highly competitive roles, where a platform with more targeted professional reach — such as LinkedIn or CV-Library — may bring better-matched applicants.

Staying Professional When Posting Jobs

• Write clear, honest job descriptions, including hours, pay and location
• Respond to applicants promptly, since candidates are often applying to more than one role
• Be upfront about the type of contract — permanent, casual, zero-hours or fixed-term
• Avoid requesting sensitive personal information too early in the process
• Handle candidate communication professionally, since your listing and responses reflect on your business

Final Thoughts

There's no single best job posting site in the UK — it depends on the type of role, how quickly you need to hire, and how targeted a candidate pool you're after. Gumtree and OK are both reasonable starting points for local, low-cost postings, while Indeed, Reed, LinkedIn and CV-Library each suit different hiring needs. Many employers use a mix depending on the role.

FAQ

What's the best job posting site in the UK? It depends on the role. Gumtree suits local, part-time and casual postings, while LinkedIn or CV-Library suit more senior or specialist hiring.

Are there other platforms besides Gumtree for posting jobs? Yes — OK is another UK marketplace worth considering, along with Indeed, Reed, LinkedIn and CV-Library, depending on the role.

Is it free to post a job listing? Some platforms, including Gumtree, often allow free or low-cost postings, particularly for local or casual roles, though this can vary by category and platform.

How quickly can I expect applications after posting? This varies by platform and role, but direct-contact platforms like Gumtree can sometimes generate quicker responses than formal application systems.

Should I post on more than one platform? Many employers post on a mix of platforms, particularly a local option alongside a broader job board, to widen candidate reach.

How do I manage a high volume of applications? Setting clear criteria in your job description upfront can help reduce mismatched applications, and responding promptly helps keep the process moving.

Which platform is best for posting a local, part-time role quickly? Gumtree is widely used for this, since postings are often free or low-cost with direct applicant contact.