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Osclass

Introduction to Osclass

Osclass is a free open-source PHP and MySQL script for classifieds websites. You install it on your own server, choose a theme, add plugins you need, and run a classifieds site, job board, real estate portal or similar listing site. There are 30+ themes and 200+ plugins available in OsclassPoint Market.

Basic facts

Type Classifieds script (CMS)
License Apache License 2.0
Price Free
Languages PHP, MySQL, JavaScript, CSS
Web server Apache or Nginx
Hosting Self-hosted
Extensions 30+ themes and 200+ plugins in OsclassPoint Market
Development Actively maintained by OsclassPoint team

What is Osclass?

Osclass is a PHP application for creating and managing classifieds websites. Code is split into core, themes and plugins, so you can add or change features without touching core files. Admins manage everything from the back office, and developers can use hooks, filters and child themes for custom work.

Main characteristics

  • Open source: Apache License 2.0. You can use, modify and redistribute it for free.
  • Self-hosted: Runs on your server. You own the data and decide when to update.
  • Multilingual: Language packs plus built-in translator (.po/.mo files or inline translations in admin).
  • SEO: Canonical URLs, hreflang tags, structured data and custom permalinks.
  • Plugins: Payment gateways, social login, shipping, auctions, chat and other features.

Who uses Osclass?

  • Entrepreneurs who want to start a local or niche classifieds site with low budget.
  • Agencies and freelancers building listing sites for clients.
  • Companies that need a job board, real estate portal or directory under their own brand.
  • Developers who want full access to source code instead of a closed SaaS platform.

Technical architecture

Osclass is written in PHP and uses MySQL database. It works on Apache or Nginx and runs on most shared or VPS hosting.

Core components

  • PHP: Application logic and page rendering.
  • MySQL: Listings, categories, users, settings and other data.
  • JavaScript: AJAX calls, form validation, image upload.
  • CSS: Styles for front office (public site) and back office (admin panel).

File structure

oc-admin/          # Back office (admin panel)
oc-content/        # Themes, plugins, languages, uploads
oc-includes/       # Core libraries and classes
oc-load.php        # Bootstrap file
index.php          # Front-end entry point
config.php         # Database credentials and basic settings

Database

Tables use oc_ prefix by default. Most important ones:

  • oc_t_item: Listings (title, description, price and other data).
  • oc_t_user: User accounts (name, email, password hash and other data).
  • oc_t_category: Categories and parent/child relations.
Osclass database tables with oc_ prefix
Database tables

Features

Users

  • Registration and login: Email and password, or social login with plugin.
  • Admin roles: Administrator and moderator accounts with different access in back office.
  • User account: Users can edit profile, upload avatar, manage their listings and saved searches.
Osclass admin user management
User management

Listings

  • Publish: Title, description, price, images and custom fields.
  • Edit and delete: Owner or admin can update or remove a listing.
  • Moderation: Admin can review listings before they go live, block spam and mark listings as expired.
  • Premium listings: Admin can enable premium or featured listings that show above regular ones.
Osclass admin listing management
Listing management

Search

  • Filters: Search by keyword, category, location, price and custom fields.
  • Saved searches: Users get email alerts when new listings match their search.

Categories

  • Subcategories: Categories can have multiple levels.
  • Custom fields: Assign fields to selected categories, for example Make and Model for cars or Bedrooms for real estate.
Osclass admin category management
Category management

Images

  • Upload: Multiple images per listing, optional crop and resize.
  • Watermark: Add logo or text watermark to uploaded images.
  • Regenerate: Rebuild thumbnails and other sizes after you change image settings.
Osclass media settings
Media settings

SEO and permalinks

  • Canonical URLs: Avoid duplicate content.
  • Structured data: schema.org markup on listing pages.
  • Sitemap: XML sitemap for search engines.
  • Meta tags: Title and description for listings, categories and static pages.
  • Analytics: Add Google Analytics, Matomo or other tracking code.
  • Friendly URLs: Define your own URL pattern, for example {CATEGORIES}/{ITEM_TITLE}-i{ITEM_ID}.
Osclass permalink settings
Permalink settings

Languages

  • Translation files: Standard .po/.mo files, editable in Poedit or similar tools.
  • Built-in translator: Translate strings in admin, copy translations between languages, or update catalog from source code.
  • Language packs: 40+ languages in the market.
  • Locale settings: Currency, date format and text direction (RTL) per language.
Osclass built-in translator
Built-in translator

Themes

  • Responsive: Themes work on desktop, tablet and mobile.
  • Theme settings: Change logo, colors, home page blocks and layout in admin without code.
  • Child themes: Keep your changes safe when the parent theme gets updated.

Plugins

  • Features: Payments, messaging, reviews, maps, advanced search, location filters, AI chat assistant and more.
  • Hooks and filters: Add your own code or change default behavior without editing core.
  • Market: Install free and paid plugins from OsclassPoint Market directly in admin.

Security

  • reCAPTCHA: Stops bots on forms.
  • Akismet: Optional spam check for listings, comments and contact forms.
  • CSRF tokens: Protect forms against cross-site request forgery.
  • Password hashing: Passwords are stored as hashes, not plain text.

How to make money with Osclass

  • Paid listings: Charge a fee to publish in selected categories.
  • Promotions: Sell premium, highlighted or top position for listings.
  • Memberships: Sell plans to users or companies with extra limits and benefits.
  • Banner ads: Show your own banners or Google AdSense.
  • Marketplace fees: Take a commission on sales with marketplace plugins.

Most of these work with Osclass Pay plugin plus a payment gateway plugin (Stripe, PayPal and others).

Use cases

  1. General classifieds: Multi-category sites similar to Craigslist or OLX.
  2. Car and vehicle classifieds: Make, model, year and mileage filters.
  3. Real estate: Property sale and rent.
  4. Job boards: Companies post jobs, candidates apply.
  5. Service directories: Plumbers, tutors and other local services.
  6. Multi-vendor marketplace: Sellers list products, buyers pay on the site.
  7. Community boards: Local events, announcements, hobby groups.

Osclass vs SaaS classifieds platforms

  Osclass Typical SaaS
License cost Free Monthly fee
Source code Full access No access
Data ownership Your server, your data Stored by provider
Customization Unlimited Limited to provider options
Hosting and updates You manage Provider manages

Advantages

  • Themes: 30+ free and premium themes, or edit CSS and templates yourself.
  • Plugins: 200+ plugins, installed and configured from back office.
  • Custom code: Child themes, hooks and filters for custom changes.
  • Large sites: With caching, MySQL indexes and CDN, Osclass can run sites with millions of listings.
  • Community: Forum, code snippets and translation packs.
  • Cost: No license fee. You pay for hosting and paid extensions only if you need them.

Limitations

  • Customization: Bigger changes need PHP, MySQL and front-end knowledge.
  • Performance: Sites with high traffic need caching, database indexes or a dedicated server.
  • Extra plugins: Card payments, auctions or shipping are not in core and need plugins.
  • Self-hosting: You are responsible for server, backups and updates.

How to start

  1. Download latest Osclass.
  2. Upload files to your server and run the installer.
  3. Choose a theme and plugins in OsclassPoint Market.
  4. Create categories, set up payments and publish first listings.

FAQ

Is Osclass free?

Yes. Osclass is open source under Apache License 2.0. Premium themes and plugins are optional.

Is Osclass still maintained?

Yes. Osclass is actively developed by OsclassPoint team, with regular core updates, new themes and plugins.

What do I need to run Osclass?

Apache or Nginx web server with PHP and MySQL. Most hosting plans support it.

How many themes and plugins are there?

OsclassPoint Market has 30+ themes and 200+ plugins, both free and paid.

Can Osclass handle large sites?

Yes. With caching, database optimization and CDN it can run sites with millions of listings.

Can I charge for listings?

Yes. Osclass Pay plugin adds fees for premium listings, memberships and featured ads. Bank transfer and wallet are included. Card and PayPal payments need a separate gateway plugin.

Is Osclass good for SEO?

Yes. It has friendly URLs, canonical tags, hreflang, sitemap and structured data, and you can edit meta tags for every page type.

Can I use Osclass for a job board or real estate site?

Yes. Use custom fields and a theme or plugin built for that niche. Osclass is used for jobs, real estate, cars, services and general classifieds.

Summary

Osclass is a free open-source PHP and MySQL script for classifieds websites. You can use it for a small local board or a large multi-category site, extend it with 30+ themes and 200+ plugins, and keep full control over code and data.

See Osclass Market for official themes and plugins.