CRAutos vs Encuentra24: Which Is Right for Your Car?

Choose CRAutos if you want to reach buyers who are specifically shopping for cars and don't mind paying ₡2,260 to have your ad go live without waiting for a phone call. Choose Encuentra24 if you want a free ad on a general classifieds site that reports a large audience and prices shown in dollars and colones. For most sellers, listing on both is the practical answer.

PuroCarro publishes this comparison and is neither of the two sites; we mention it as a third option at the end. Figures were checked on October 2, 2026.

Summary

Type of site and audience

The core difference is focus. CRAutos lists only vehicles, so everyone who visits is looking for one. On October 2, 2026 it showed about 11,700 vehicles, 5,484 of them offering financing, and the business press quotes its price data.

Encuentra24 is general classifieds operating in several countries. In 2026 sponsored content it claims more than 5 million monthly visits, but that figure covers all categories, and its strongest category is real estate. The audience is wide, but not all of it is shopping for a car.

Cost to the seller

On CRAutos, the publish page shows no price for the basic ad, but the ad waits until the site phones you to confirm it. If you don't want to wait, automatic confirmation costs ₡2,260. The other options, as of October 2026 and with IVA included:

• "Nuevo" badge for 4 days, with automatic confirmation: ₡2,825.
• Messages such as "GANGA", "Financiamiento" or "Venta urgente": ₡5,085 for one, ₡6,215 for three.
• Destacado (highlighted): ₡9,605. Super destacado: ₡12,430, which adds a post on CRAutos' Facebook page.

On Encuentra24, the basic vehicle ad is free according to the site. There are paid ads labelled "Resaltado", "Destacado" and "Exclusivo", but we could not confirm their prices for cars in Costa Rica. Check them on the site before paying.

Photos and listing format

CRAutos uses a structured form: make, model, engine size, body style, year, full price in colones, colours, fuel, transmission, mileage, province, plate number and contact details. That makes ads easy to compare. The cap is 5 photos, or 8 with destacado.

Encuentra24 ads show prices in dollars and colones. We could not confirm the photo limit or how long an ad stays up. In May 2026 it announced, in sponsored content, AI-powered search and larger images.

Search for buyers

CRAutos lets buyers filter by make, model, body style, fuel, transmission, province, doors, year and price, plus "financing only" and "accepts trade-in only". We did not see a mileage filter when we checked.

We could not review Encuentra24's live search page. We did confirm separate sections for new and used cars, location filtering and keyword search.

Ownership changes

CRAutos is being sold to Move Tech International. Coprocom, the competition authority, disclosed the deal in February 2026 and opened a comment period, and according to El Financiero on September 8, 2026, closing was expected in early October and the site continues operating normally. Nothing has been published about the buyer or its plans.

Encuentra24 belongs to Frontier Digital Ventures, which put its Latin American unit under strategic review in 2024. We did not find the outcome of that review.

When to choose each

CRAutos makes more sense if:

• You want buyers who are only looking at cars.
• Your car comes with financing or you accept a trade-in, since those filters work in your favour.
• You don't mind a small fee to go live immediately.

Encuentra24 makes more sense if:

• You want to list for free.
• You want to show the price in dollars and colones.
• You already use Encuentra24 for other sales.

How to list on both

1. Check your model's market value before setting a price, for example in CRAutos' Bluebook or the PuroCarro Bluebook.
2. Use the same price and details on both ads.
3. Pick your 5 best photos for CRAutos and upload the rest on Encuentra24.
4. When the car sells, take both ads down the same day.

A third option: PuroCarro

If you want a third channel, PuroCarro is a cars-only marketplace with a free plan for one active listing and up to 20 photos. When there are at least 20 similar listings, each ad shows how its price compares with the market. It has less history than either site on this page. See PuroCarro vs CRAutos, PuroCarro vs Encuentra24 or the guide to the best sites to sell your car.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is CRAutos or Encuentra24 better for selling a car?

It depends on your priority. CRAutos reaches buyers who only want cars and has about 11,700 vehicles listed; Encuentra24 is free and, by its own figures, has a broad general audience. Listing on both usually gives the best reach.

How much does it cost to list on CRAutos and Encuentra24?

As of October 2026, the basic CRAutos ad shows no price but waits for a confirmation call; automatic confirmation costs ₡2,260. On Encuentra24 the basic vehicle ad is free, and highlighted ads carry a cost you should check on the site.

How many photos does each site allow?

CRAutos allows 5 photos, or 8 with destacado. We could not confirm Encuentra24's limit.

Does Encuentra24 have a Blue Book like CRAutos?

In 2021 sponsored content, Encuentra24 promoted an average-price tool by make and model. CRAutos has a Bluebook whose data the business press quotes.

What happens to CRAutos during the sale?

As of September 8, 2026, co-founder Javier Fernández told El Financiero that the site continues operating normally while the sale to Move Tech International is completed. The buyer has not published any plans.

Verdict

CRAutos is the specialist: focused, with structured ads and useful filters, but few photos and paid extras to go live fast. Encuentra24 is the generalist: free and with a big audience by its own figures, but less focused on cars. If you can, list on both.