Planning on buying the iPhone 8? You can offset part of the cost by selling your old iPhone. How much you can get for your iPhone depends on a variety of factors, including the condition of the device as well as where you sell it – and it literally compares to pay your options.
iPhone selling options include:
- Wireless carriers
- Online trade-in companies
- Local stores and kiosks
- The private market
Many people trade in their iPhones to wireless carriers like Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile. It makes sense, because it’s the most convenient way to sell your iPhone. However, wireless carriers tend to pay less than other options – they don’t manage their own trade-in programs, so they have to pay a “middleman” – and they only pay in store credit.
Online trade-in companies pay an average of 30 percent more than wireless carriers. They offer cash payments (via check or PayPal), typically sent within a few days of receiving your iPhone. Examples include MobileFlyp, Gazelle, uSell, and Buyback Boss. You can use a free service like Flipsy to compare multiple trade-in offers at once.
Local stores and kiosks are quick and convenient options that pay in cash or credit. Payouts vary, though they usually pay less than online trade-in companies. Examples include Best Buy, Apple Stores, ecoATM kiosks, and pawn shops. You can find local iPhone buyers with Flipsy Local.
The private market – Craigslist, Ebay, Facebook Marketplace, etc. – pays the most money for used iPhones, though it lacks the convenience of the other options. There is no guarantee of sale and you risk the hassle of no-shows and scams. Still, you’ll get more cash by selling directly to end-users. As the “blue book of iPhones,” Flipsy displays private market values based on real-world sales so you know how much yours is worth.
Before you sell your iPhone, do your research to find the best deal for you. Do you want a quick sale? The most money? A combination of convenience and value? The answers will help you decide where to sell it – and, as the following comparisons demonstrate, it literally pays to compare your options:
iPhone 7 Plus (32GB black on the Verizon network)
- Private market: $599 cash
- Flipsy: $461 cash
- uSell: $401 cash
- AT&T: $330 credit
- Verizon: $345 credit
- T-Mobile: $335 credit
- Gazelle: $350 cash
- Best Buy: $350 credit
- ecoATM: $275 cash
- Apple Store: $425 credit
- Sprint: $200 credit
iPhone 7 (32GB black on the Verizon network)
- Private market: $488 cash
- Flipsy: $375 cash
- uSell: $342 cash
- AT&T: $320 credit
- Verizon: $345 credit
- T-Mobile: $283 credit
- Gazelle: $325 cash
- Best Buy: $347 credit
- ecoATM: $230 cash
- Apple Store: $375 credit
- Sprint: $165 credit
iPhone 6s Plus (16GB space gray on the Verizon network)
- Private market: $378 cash
- Flipsy: $291 cash
- uSell: $231 cash
- AT&T: $205 credit
- Verizon: $215 cr
- T-Mobile: $175 credit
- Gazelle: $240 cash
- Best Buy: $221 credit
- ecoATM: $145 cash
- Apple Store: $260 credit
- Sprint: $125 credit
iPhone 6s (16GB space gray on the Verizon network)
- Private market: $307 cash
- Flipsy: $236 cash
- uSell: $192 cash
- AT&T: $165 credit
- Verizon: $170 credit
- T-Mobile: $135 credit
- Gazelle: $195 cash
- Best Buy: $185 credit
- ecoATM: $115 cash
- Apple Store: $215 credit
- Sprint: $110 credit
iPhone 6 Plus (16GB space gray on the Verizon network)
- Private market: $268 cash
- Flipsy: $206 cash
- uSell: $199 cash
- AT&T: $140 credit
- Verizon: $149 credit
- T-Mobile: $127 credit
- Gazelle: $165 cash
- Best Buy: $155 credit
- ecoATM: $105 cash
- Apple Store: $170 credit
- Sprint: $80 credit
iPhone 6 (16GB space gray on the Verizon network)
- Private market: $209 cash
- Flipsy: $161 cash
- uSell: $145 cash
- AT&T: $110 credit
- Verizon: $110 credit
- T-Mobile: $91 credit
- Gazelle: $130 cash
- Best Buy: $120 credit
- ecoATM: $80 cash
- Apple Store: $170 credit
- Sprint: $70 credit
Retrieved 9/5/2017
Article by Brian Morris
