Whether you’re ready to upgrade your current cell phone or get rid of older unused devices, consider selling them for cash before recycling them or throwing them away.
In this article, I’ll look at six places where you can sell your old cell phone for the most value. I browsed the current selection of pre-owned phones and went through the process of attempting to sell an iPhone 12 on each of these sites to see where you’re likely to get the most cash back.
How To Make Money Selling Your Cell Phone
If you aren’t looking to trade in your phone, selling it for cash is the next best option. Luckily, there’s no shortage of places to sell your old devices.
When you decide to sell your cell phone, the first step is to get quotes from several different places so that you know you’re getting the most cash back.
To get an idea of where you’ll get the most value for your old cell phone, I gathered quotes from six different companies that buy used devices. I looked at offers for an unlocked iPhone 12 in good condition with 64GB of storage.
| Company | Offer |
|---|---|
| Swappa | $189 |
| Decluttr | $128 |
| BuyBackWorld | $96 |
| ItsWorthMore | $117 |
| Gazelle | $100 |
| ecoATM | $65 |
Of course, offers will vary depending on the type of phone you’re selling and its condition.
Where To Sell Your Phone
The best way to decide where to sell your cell phone is by gathering quotes and choosing the company that will offer the most cash.
I took a closer look at each of the six companies mentioned above to see which phones they currently accept, how customers are responding to them online and what you can expect once your phone is sold.
Swappa
Swappa offered the highest range of prices for the iPhone 12 based on my research in February 2023, but the final price that you’ll get really depends on the buyer.
I had to create a free account to make a listing for my phone, but you can browse phones similar to yours available for sale to see what price you’re likely to get. Shipping is your responsibility as the seller on Swappa, so be sure to consider it in the cost of your asking price.
At the time of writing, Swappa accepted a wide variety of phones including iPhones, Samsung phones, Google Pixels, OnePlus phones and more.
Swappa is accredited by the Better Business Bureau where 237 customers gave Swappa an average rating of 4.41/5 stars. On Trustpilot, Swappa maintains excellent feedback with a 4.8/5-star rating from over 22,000 reviews.
To learn more about Swappa before you sell your phone, check out these five things to know.
Decluttr
Decluttr also offered a great price on the iPhone 12, as well as free shipping.
To sell your phone on Decluttr, simply choose or search for your device and select the specifications. You’ll be asked to choose your phone’s carrier and rate your phone’s condition.
On the final page, you’ll see the offer price to the right. To proceed, click “Sell this device.”
Like Swappa, Decluttr is accredited by the Better Business Bureau where 530 customers have given Decluttr an average rating of 3.92 out of 5 stars. Trustpilot paints a similar picture with an excellent rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars from 25,800 reviews.
Before you sell your phone on Decluttr, be sure to read our full review.
BuyBackWorld
BuyBackWorld offered the third-highest return for the iPhone 12 behind Swappa and Decluttr. Like Decluttr, BuyBackWorld also offered free shipping.
To get a quote on your old cell phone, choose which type of phone you have by selecting the model, carrier and storage. You’ll be asked to indicate the condition of your cell phone — whether it’s poor/broken, average, excellent or new. From there, you can see your quote and click “Get Paid” to continue the process.
BuyBackWorld is also accredited by the Better Business Bureau with nearly perfect ratings (4.56/5-stars) from 222 customers. On Trustpilot, BuyBackWorld has a great rating of 4.1/5 from 312 reviews.
Before you sell your phone at BuyBackWorld, be sure to read our full guide.
ItsWorthMore
ItsWorthMore is another great place to get a quote for your old cell phone. When I compared prices on an iPhone 12 in February 2023, ItsWorthMore offered the fourth best price.
The website is easy to use: simply click “start selling” and select your device to begin. You’ll get an instant quote based on your information and the condition you describe. Then, you’ll get a free, trackable pre-paid shipping label to mail your phone. You will need to package it yourself.
ItsWorthMore has excellent ratings. The company is accredited by the Better Business Bureau and maintains an A+ rating with 4.1/5 stars from 92 customer reviews. On Trustpilot, the company has an average rating of 4.7/5 stars from 956 reviews.
To learn more about ItsWorthMore or to get a quote for your device, visit the company’s website.
Gazelle
Gazelle offered the lowest quote on an iPhone 12 in February 2023 ($59 more than ecoATM.) While the offer wasn’t the highest on the list, Team Clark member Anthony Hazzard has personally had a great experience with this website in both 2014 and 2018 after finding the best payout at Gazelle. You can read more about his experience in our full Gazelle review.
It’s easy to get a quote on Gazelle’s website as long as you have the phone you’re selling nearby. Plus, you’ll get a free shipping label to send your phone in for inspection.
Online, Gazelle hasn’t been as active as other online resellers on Better Business Bureau. At the time of writing, the company had a 1.22/5-star rating from 92 customer reviews. However, Trustpilot revealed a “great” rating of 3.9/5 from over 3,000 customers. Plus, Gazelle is a verified company on Trustpilot.
To learn more about Gazelle before you sell your cell phone, check out these five things to know.
ecoATM
ecoATM stands out from the other options on this list because it’s an in-person kiosk service. You can use the online locator to find the nearest kiosk, which is most likely located in a Kroger, Walmart or mall.
Although you can’t sell your phone online with this option, you can still get a quote. Click “Price your device” and choose your phone’s brand, model, storage capacity and carrier.
You’ll be asked to rate the condition of your phone before receiving a quote. Note that the price is subject to change based on your phone’s condition at the kiosk.
Before you head to your nearest ecoATM, check out these five things to know.
What To Know Before Selling Your Cell Phone
Once you’ve gathered quotes and have an idea of where you’d like to sell your phone, it’s important to read the fine print.
For some of the online options, you may have to set up a PayPal account if you don’t already have one. Other companies offer to mail you a check, and the ecoATM kiosks offer cash on the spot.
Once you’ve accepted an offer, be sure to restore your phone to factory settings and take the time to package it well. You don’t want any accidental damage taking place on its way to its destination. Be honest about the condition of your phone to ensure you’ll receive the payment you’re expecting.
Final Thoughts
If you’re ready to sell your old cell phone, each of these companies is worth checking out. Take the time to get quotes from a variety of places and go with the one that offers you the best net price.
When I attempted to sell a 64GB iPhone 12, I received the best offer from Swappa even after seller-paid shipping costs. Still, be sure to check out Decluttr, BuyBackWorld, Gazelle and ItsWorthMore for competitive pricing and free shipping. For a faster (albeit smaller) payout, visit your nearest ecoATM kiosk.
Have you sold an old cell phone recently? Let us know where you sold it and how it went in the Clark.com Community!
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