Apple’s newest iPhone SE suggests that even Apple is aware of the need for cheaper phones. Whether you’re in the market for a new SE or still dreaming of the iPhone 11, don’t just toss your aging phone in a drawer when you upgrade. Sell your iPhone! That old hunk of glass is more valuable than you might think.
There are quite a few services that will give you cash or store credit for a used iPhone. We’ve compared some popular services for trading in an old device for cash or store credit. Most of these services accept Samsung and Google devices, and all of them take iPhones.
Updated for June 2020: We’ve tweaked phones and pricing, and removed Decluttr due to poor experiences on staff and other reports around the web.
First, Some Tips to Get a High Resale Price
Comparing prices on all these services highlights some tips for maximizing the resale value of your phone. First and foremost, take care of your phone. Buy a good case (check out our case recommendations) and consider a screen protector (AmFilm protectors work well). They’ll keep your device looking new, which is the best way to ensure you get the most money possible when you sell.
Always buy your phone unlocked. That will maximize your resale value. Unlocked phones work on any wireless network that they have the antenna to support. There’s no reason to lock yourself to one carrier. Generally, unless a carrier tells you a phone is unlocked, it probably isn’t, especially if you buy it on a payment plan.
The last thing to do before you run off to cash in your old phone is to back up all your data using iCloud or iTunes. One gotcha to watch out for: If you back up data using iTunes, not iCloud, make sure you back up your text messages, which sometimes include photos and videos you haven’t saved to your Camera Roll. Remember to unpair your Apple Watch if you have one, and wipe your phone’s data as well.
1. Best for Pristine iPhones
An eBay clone of sorts, Swappa seeks to eliminate some of the problems associated with eBay: high seller fees, poor seller-buyer communication tools, and too many poor-quality devices. You won’t be able to sell your iPhone here unless it’s in good shape, fully functional, with no damage.
So long as your phone meets Swappa’s listing criteria and you’re willing to put in a little effort, this is where you’ll get the most money for your old device. As you would on eBay, you’ll need to put together a listing with photos. Be sure to take the case off your phone, and be honest about the condition. Remember to factor in shipping when setting your sale price.
Currently an 64-gigabyte iPhone 8 model sells for about $260, with the 256-gigabyte model going for $294. An iPhone XR averages $450 to $520, depending on the storage capacity.
2. Best for Reliable Cash