How-to
How to Sell Your Phone for the Most Money (Safely)
Sell before the new model launches, clean it up, remove your accounts, and compare a trade-in quote with private sale. Here's how to get the most.
Sell before the next model launches, clean it, include the box, and wipe it properly so it's ready to go. Get an instant trade-in quote first, then decide if a private sale is worth the extra money and hassle. Never ship a phone or hand it over before you're paid.
⚠️ Back up before you sell
Wiping your phone deletes everything. Back up your photos, messages and 2FA apps first. Follow our back up and reset guide.
What decides how much you get
- Model and storage: newer and bigger storage is worth more.
- Condition: cracks on the screen or back are the biggest price drop.
- Battery health: under 80% lowers the price.
- Locked or not: unlocked and account-free phones are worth more. Account-locked phones are worth almost nothing.
- Timing: values drop most right after a new model comes out.
Step-by-step: sell your phone
- Get a quote now. Check your value on our Sell your device page. It takes under a minute and gives you a baseline.
- Time it. iPhone values usually drop after Apple's September launch, Galaxy values after Samsung's early-year launch. Sell a few weeks before if you can.
- Back up everything. iCloud or Google backup, photos, WhatsApp, and your 2FA app.
- Remove your accounts. iPhone: sign out of your Apple Account to turn off Find My. Android: remove your Google and Samsung accounts to turn off Factory Reset Protection.
- Factory reset. Erase all content and settings. See our reset guide.
- Remove your SIM and microSD. And delete or transfer your eSIM.
- Clean it. Wipe the screen and back with a microfibre cloth. Clear lint from the port with a wooden toothpick. A clean phone looks better graded.
- Gather extras. Original box, cable, case. They help on a private sale.
- Choose how to sell. Trade-in for speed and safety, private sale for a bit more money. See below.
Trade-in vs private sale
| Trade-in with us | Private sale | |
|---|---|---|
| Money | Fair, fixed quote | Usually a bit more |
| Time | Minutes in store, or ship it free | Days to weeks |
| Risk | None | Scams, no-shows, lowballers |
| Payment | Cash or store credit | Depends on the buyer |
| Data safety | We wipe and verify | Up to you |
Putting the money toward an upgrade? Store credit stacks on our already-low refurbished prices.
Private sale: avoid these scams
- Fake e-Transfer emails. Check your bank app, not an email, before handing over the phone.
- Overpayment scams. Anyone who "accidentally" sends too much and asks for the difference back is a scammer.
- "Ship it first." Never ship before payment clears.
- Swap scams. In person, keep the phone in your hand until you're paid. Meet somewhere public with cameras.
- Verification code scams. Never share a code texted to you. It's someone taking over your account.
Damaged phone? Still sell it
Cracked, dead battery, or won't turn on? It's still worth something for parts and refurbishing, and it keeps it out of landfill. Get a quote anyway.
Upgrade with the cash
FAQ
When is the best time to sell my iPhone?
A few weeks before Apple's September event. Prices for older models typically drop once new iPhones launch.
Do I need to remove my SIM card before selling?
Yes. Remove your physical SIM and any microSD card, and delete or transfer your eSIM.
Can I sell a phone that's still on a payment plan?
Usually not until it's paid off, and phones with unpaid balances can get blacklisted by carriers. Pay it off first.
Will you buy a cracked or broken phone?
Yes, in most cases. Damaged phones get a lower quote but are still worth selling.
Skip the new-phone price
Get the iPhone 15 pre-owned from $430.99, tested by real technicians with a 1-year warranty and 30-day returns.