OLX is a global online classified platform that allows users to buy, sell, or rent used goods like cars, bikes, electronics, furniture, and real estate. OLX was founded by Alec Oxenford and Fabrice Grinda in 2006, way before any other marketplaces for old goods. This platform gained traction through its TV commercials after 2009, and lakhs of new listings were on OLX from metro cities.
People can do job listings on this platform, and there is also an option for listing services. The key benefit OLX has is with logistics and no stress of maintaining inventory itself. This platform acts as a marketplace and works as a middleman to bridge buyers with sellers of old goods and services. Now, OLX is available in many countries, and the key revenue source comes from both individual users and businesses. Some professional sellers pay a fee in exchange for listing products.
OLX started focusing more on high-value categories like motors, real estate, and jobs to increase its revenues. Over the years, OLX has become a top platform when it comes to selling or buying old goods.
How is the OLX Business Model Structured?
OLX business model is structured around a marketplace platform strategy where users, like Individuals and businesses, can list items for sale or rent. The listing on this platform can be free, but to get more visibility, speed, and better placement, there are paid features. For people who want to sell something quickly, they can feature the product for particular keywords by paying a small fee for a given time.
Another part of its structure involves transaction-adjacent services where certain categories, like motors and real estate, get premium features for a fee. These features include enhanced listing tools, dealer dashboards, and trust and safety features. These professional accounts have features to check vehicle history, ratings, verification services, and more.
| Company/Brand | OLX Group (subsidiary of Prosus N.V.) |
| Establishment Year | 2006 (founded in Argentina; OLX, over time, expanded globally) |
| Headquarters | Amsterdam, Netherlands (Prosus is based there), with local operations in many countries, including India |
| Founder/Owner | Founders: Fabrice Grinda, Alec Oxenford (initially); now owned by Prosus N.V. |
| Industry | Online classifieds / Marketplace / Advertising / Lead generation / Premium listings and services |
| Net Worth (2025) | US$777 million for OLX Group (FY2025) |
| Total Revenue 2025 | OLX Group (subsidiary of Prosus N.V.) |
How Does OLX Make Money?
There are various strategies to diversify income and reduce dependency on one medium. The key strategies used by OLX to make money are:
1. Paid and Premium Listings
OLX uses a freemium model where users can sign up, sell, and buy products without paying a single buck. However, there are paid and premium listings for sellers that allow for reaching a wider audience, ensuring a speedy sale and more. These paid features help in targeting customers based on tags, and these listings show up higher in the list for a particular keyword and tag for a specific region.
2. Subscription Plans for Professional Sellers and Dealers
For businesses like professional sellers and dealers, OLX offers exclusive features that help in catering to a mass audience through better exposure and highlighting in the listing. There are particular categories where these subscription plans work the best. The categories are motors and real estate. For dealers, agents, and retailers, these subscription plans make sense in increasing revenue.
3. Advertising and Promoted Listing
The ability to sponsor a product in any category helps brands, local businesses, and professional sellers. These sellers pay to promote their listening or to be featured in searches, banners, or special sections. OLX may even show third-party display ads on its platform to ensure you are able to sell the product with ease. These benefits come with a small fee, but for professional sellers, these features make sense.
4. Transaction Fees
In some countries and some specific categories, like cars/vehicles, OLX has started to take commission and transaction fees. For example, OLX Autos includes services where OLX acts as more than just a listing platform by facilitating inspection, dealer lead generation, or even buying from a seller and reselling. When OLX steps into sales, there are higher chances of making a sale, and for this feature, they charge a commission. However, regular goods and services sold only attract a small transaction fee.
Financial Performances
In FY25, OLX group generated around US$777 million in revenue, which was up by 18% for Year on Year numbers. It has adjusted EBIT of US$270 million, which ensures a margin of about 35% and the number increased by 25% from last year.
What’s new in 2025?
OLX has started focusing more on high-value items like motors, real estate, and jobs because these verticals help in generating strong revenue. The selling of used cars attracts commission and transaction fees. The average ticket size in automobile and real estate is usually higher, which helps increase revenue numbers.
