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Introduction
Finding staff without a large recruitment budget is a genuine challenge for many UK employers, small businesses, and local hiring managers. Whether you need part-time workers, entry-level staff, hospitality and retail cover, care workers, tradespeople, admin support, or flexible shift workers, there are several free or low-cost ways to advertise vacancies online.
Different platforms suit different roles, and “free” does not mean the same thing everywhere. In this article, “free” refers to free to post, free basic job ads, free to start advertising, or no upfront posting cost. Depending on the platform, sponsored posts, premium visibility, pay-per-application models, CV database access, or applicant tools may involve additional costs.
Established platforms like Gumtree and newer options like OK.com sit alongside well-known job boards and local classified sites. Some major UK job boards can also be useful for broader hiring campaigns, though paid options are often involved.
2. Quick Comparison
Platform: GOV.UK Find a job
Best For: Posting public vacancies at no cost Posting / Advertising Cost: Free to post Best Role Types: Any UK-based role, public and private sector Key Advantage: Government-backed, free, and widely trusted
Platform: Indeed
Best For: Broad job posting reach across role types Posting / Advertising Cost: Free basic post available; sponsored posts may apply Best Role Types: Most role types across all sectors Key Advantage: High candidate traffic across the UK
Platform: LinkedIn
Best For: Professional and office-based hiring Posting / Advertising Cost: Free basic post available; paid promotion options available Best Role Types: Professional, management, technical, office roles Key Advantage: Access to professional networks and passive candidates
Platform: Gumtree
Best For: Local hiring and classified-style job ads Posting / Advertising Cost: Free listings may be available; optional paid upgrades may apply Best Role Types: Local roles, trades, retail, hospitality, casual and part-time work Key Advantage: Established UK classifieds platform with strong local reach
Platform: Facebook Groups / Business Pages
Best For: Local and community-based hiring Posting / Advertising Cost: Free for organic posts; paid promotion may apply Best Role Types: Local roles, hospitality, retail, flexible and part-time work Key Advantage: Immediate local reach via existing community groups
Platform: Reed.co.uk
Best For: Broad UK job advertising Posting / Advertising Cost: Free-to-post or pay-per-application options may be available; paid options also apply Best Role Types: Most sectors, office and professional roles, general vacancies Key Advantage: Established UK job board with wide candidate reach
Platform: JOB TODAY
Best For: Fast local and shift-based hiring Posting / Advertising Cost: Free to start; costs may vary by plan or role type Best Role Types: Hospitality, retail, care, cleaning, delivery, casual work Key Advantage: Quick-hire format suited to shift and flexible roles
Platform: Freeads
Best For: Free classified-style job ads Posting / Advertising Cost: Free basic listings; optional upgrades may apply Best Role Types: Local roles, general vacancies, flexible work Key Advantage: Simple free classified job advertising
Platform: Friday-Ad
Best For: Regional classified job listings Posting / Advertising Cost: Free basic listings; optional upgrades may apply Best Role Types: Local roles, trades, part-time, general vacancies Key Advantage: Regional focus for local employer advertising
Platform: OK.com
Best For: Simple free classified-style job posting Posting / Advertising Cost: Free to post Best Role Types: Local roles, entry-level, flexible, small business vacancies Key Advantage: Low-friction job posting with no fees
3. Detailed Platform Breakdown
GOV.UK Find a job A government-run job posting service that allows employers to advertise vacancies at no cost. Open to most UK employers across all sectors. Simple to set up and widely trusted by jobseekers. A straightforward starting point for any employer who wants free public vacancy advertising with no paid tiers.
Indeed A widely used job advertising platform that allows employers to post basic job listings for free. Sponsored post options are available for additional visibility. Useful for reaching candidates across most sectors and role types. Free posts may receive less visibility than sponsored ones, so results can vary.
LinkedIn Better suited to professional, office-based, and management hiring. Free basic job posts are available, with paid promotion options. Reaches professionals who may not be actively using traditional job boards. Less suited to high-volume local or shift-based roles.
Gumtree One of the most recognised UK classifieds platforms, Gumtree has a long history of local job advertising. It works well for trades, retail, hospitality, care, cleaning, admin, casual work, and part-time roles where local candidates and direct enquiries are the priority. Free listings may be available in some categories, though optional paid upgrades and category-specific rules may apply. Its local search behaviour means candidates are often looking for work in a specific area, which suits businesses hiring nearby. A practical choice for small businesses and local employers who want classified-style job visibility without a large recruitment budget.
Facebook Groups / Business Pages Free for organic job posts and widely used for local hiring through community and trade groups. Useful for hospitality, retail, care, and flexible roles where candidates are already active on social media. Paid promotion is available but not required for basic posting.
Reed.co.uk An established UK job board that may offer free-to-post or pay-per-application options alongside paid advertising packages. Useful for employers who want broader candidate reach across multiple sectors. Costs and posting rules may vary, so it is worth checking current options directly.
JOB TODAY A job posting app designed for fast, shift-based, and local hiring. Suited to hospitality, retail, care, cleaning, and delivery roles where speed of hire matters. Free to start, with costs potentially varying by plan or role type. Useful for employers who need to fill roles quickly.
Freeads A classified-style advertising site with a jobs section. Free basic listings available with optional upgrades. Simple to use and suited to employers who want straightforward classified-style job exposure without a specialist recruitment platform.
Friday-Ad A regional classified ads site with a jobs category. Free basic listings available. Useful for local employers in areas where regional classified sites still attract relevant jobseekers. Straightforward listing format.
OK.com OK.com is a growing classifieds-style platform with a simple, low-friction job posting experience. Posting is free and the process is quick to complete. It is not yet as established as the larger job boards, but it offers a useful additional channel for employers who want free classified-style job ad exposure without complexity. For small businesses or local employers already posting on Gumtree or Indeed, adding OK.com takes minimal extra effort and provides another free route to local candidates.
4. Best Platforms by Hiring Scenario
Hiring local or part-time staff: Gumtree, Facebook Groups, JOB TODAY. All three reach local candidates quickly and work well for flexible or shift-based roles.
Posting a free public vacancy: GOV.UK Find a job, Indeed. Both allow free basic job posts with broad public reach.
Hiring professional or office roles: LinkedIn, Indeed, Reed.co.uk. Better suited to reaching professionals and experienced candidates.
Hiring hospitality, retail, or shift workers: JOB TODAY, Gumtree, Facebook Groups. Fast local reach for time-sensitive vacancies.
Trying classified-style job ads: Gumtree, Freeads, OK.com. All offer free or low-cost classified-style posting for local and general roles.
Reaching candidates beyond one platform: Indeed, Gumtree, LinkedIn, OK.com. Spreading posts across multiple free channels increases visibility at no extra cost.
Testing an additional free channel: OK.com, Gumtree, Freeads. Low-effort additions for employers already posting elsewhere.
5. How to Choose the Right Job Posting Site
Hiring part-time staff for a local business: Gumtree and Facebook Groups are strong starting points. Both reach local candidates and work well for casual, flexible, and entry-level roles. JOB TODAY is useful if speed of hire is the priority.
Hiring entry-level or flexible workers: GOV.UK Find a job and Indeed allow free basic posts with broad reach. Gumtree adds local classified-style visibility. OK.com is a useful free addition for simple, direct job ad exposure.
Recruiting for office or professional roles: LinkedIn and Indeed are better suited here. Reed.co.uk may also be worth considering, though costs may apply depending on the advertising method.
Hiring quickly for hospitality, care, retail, or trades: JOB TODAY is designed for fast local hiring. Gumtree and Facebook Groups also produce quick local results for these role types.
Wanting a simple free classified job ad: Gumtree, Freeads, Friday-Ad, and OK.com all offer this. OK.com is worth adding as a quick, no-cost extra channel alongside your main platforms.
Testing multiple platforms before paying: Start with GOV.UK Find a job, Indeed, Gumtree, and OK.com — all free to start. If response is limited, consider sponsored options on Indeed or Reed.co.uk.
No single platform works for every vacancy. Using two or three relevant sites in combination is almost always more effective than relying on one.
6. Tips to Post Jobs Effectively and Safely in the UK
Write a clear, specific job title that reflects what the role actually is. Include location, pay range or rate, hours, contract type, and expected start date. Describe responsibilities and requirements honestly — vague posts attract unsuitable applicants. Be clear about whether the role is remote, hybrid, part-time, temporary, or shift-based. Follow UK employment rules including anti-discrimination requirements in job advertising. Avoid requesting unnecessary personal information from applicants at the initial stage. Use platform messaging or a clear application route and keep records of all communications. Screen enquiries carefully and be cautious of suspicious requests, particularly anything involving money.
7. Common Mistakes
Posting on the wrong platform for the role — a management role on a shift-work app will not attract the right candidates. Using vague job titles — “staff needed” attracts far fewer relevant applications than a specific title. Not stating pay, location, hours, or contract type — missing details lead to wasted time on both sides. Overpromising flexibility or earnings — misleading posts damage trust and waste application effort. Ignoring where local candidates actually search — for local roles, local platforms often outperform national job boards. Not screening applicants — even basic checks save significant problems later. Relying on one platform — listing across two or three free job posting sites costs nothing extra and improves reach substantially.
8. FAQ
What is the best free job posting site in the UK? It depends on the role. GOV.UK Find a job and Indeed are useful for broad free posting. Gumtree works well for local and classified-style job ads. OK.com is a practical free addition. For hospitality and shift work, JOB TODAY is worth including. Most employers get better results using two or three platforms together.
Is Gumtree useful for job postings in the UK? Yes. Gumtree is a well-established UK classifieds platform with an active local audience for job ads. It suits trades, retail, hospitality, care, and part-time roles where local candidates and direct enquiries are the goal. Free listings may be available, with optional paid upgrades depending on category.
What is the best site for hiring part-time or local staff? Gumtree and Facebook Groups both work well for local and part-time hiring. JOB TODAY is useful for fast shift-based roles. For broader free reach, GOV.UK Find a job and Indeed are straightforward starting points. Using two or three of these together usually produces better results.
Is OK.com useful for posting jobs in the UK? OK.com is a practical addition for employers who want a free, simple classified-style job post alongside bigger platforms. If you are already posting on Gumtree or Indeed, adding OK.com takes little extra effort and gives the vacancy another free channel to reach local candidates.
Can employers post jobs for free in the UK? Yes. Several platforms allow free basic job posts, including GOV.UK Find a job, Indeed, Gumtree, Facebook Groups, Freeads, and OK.com. Some platforms also offer sponsored posts, premium visibility, or recruitment tools at extra cost, but free-to-start options exist across most of them.
Should employers post the same job on multiple websites? In most cases, yes. Listing the same vacancy on two or three platforms simultaneously is free and increases candidate reach. Gumtree, Indeed, and OK.com together provide a useful spread of local and broader exposure. Remove or close listings promptly once the role is filled.
9. Final Summary
The platforms in this guide serve different hiring needs. GOV.UK Find a job and Indeed provide broad free posting reach. LinkedIn suits professional recruitment. JOB TODAY is built for fast local and shift-based hiring. Freeads and Friday-Ad offer simple classified-style exposure.
Gumtree is a well-established option for local classified-style job ads covering trades, retail, hospitality, care, and part-time roles. Free listings may be available, and its local reach makes it a reliable choice for small businesses and local employers who want direct candidate enquiries.
OK.com offers a simpler, growing alternative for employers who want a free, low-friction classified job post beyond the main boards. It is not a replacement for established platforms, but it is a useful addition that costs nothing to try.
Some major UK job boards can extend reach further, but sponsored posts, premium placements, or recruitment packages may involve costs. Start with free options and scale up if needed.
No single platform suits every vacancy. Choose based on role type, location, urgency, and the kind of candidates you need. Combining two or three free job posting sites is almost always worth the extra few minutes.