I Compared 8 Buyback Sites to See Which Would Pay More for My Old Phone
I recently purchased a new phone, which proved to be one of the larger purchases I’ve made this year (even larger than a round-trip flight to Europe).
Now that I have an old, still-functioning phone hanging around, I’ve been looking into to selling it — you know, to alleviate some of the pain I felt swiping my credit card.
I’ve read a lot about a buy back site called Decluttr, so I started there.
The big appeal with Decluttr (full review) is the company sends you a free shipping label, so you just stash your old phone in a box and ship it off for free.
Then, you get paid. It means you don’t have wait around for a buyer to bite.
Of 8 Buyback Sites, This Company Offered the Most 80% of the Time
I started by pricing my phone, but then I was interested in looking into other makes and models as well.
For the sake of consistency, I noted all of these devices were in “good” or “fair” conditions, depending on how the sites defined the term.
Each time, I said my phone was registered with AT&T, though it seems like you’ll get a little more back if it falls into the “factory unlocked” category. You might also get a few extra dollars if you have the original packaging or charger.
Note: I can’t guarantee your estimates will be the same as these. It’ll depend on the day and the site’s demand, as well as your phone’s condition.
All right. Here’s what I found:
Apple iPhone 6
64 GB
- Decluttr: $181.50
- Buyback Boss: $170
- Gazelle: $120
- iGotOffer: $165
- ItsWorthMore.com: $140
- MaxBack: $135
- SwopSmart: $171
- The Whiz Cells: $151
Apple iPhone 5C
32 GB
- Decluttr: $52.80
- Buyback Boss: $50
- Gazelle: $40
- iGotOffer: $45
- ItsWorthMore.com: $60
- MaxBack: $47
- SwopSmart: $46
- The Whiz Cells: $45
Apple iPhone 4S
64 GB
- Decluttr: $30.80
- Buyback Boss: $10
- Gazelle: not listed
- iGotOffer: $1
- ItsWorthMore.com: $20
- MaxBack: not listed
- SwopSmart: $20
- The Whiz Cells: not listed
Samsung Galaxy S7
32 GB
- Decluttr: $209
- Buyback Boss: not listed
- Gazelle: $115
- iGotOffer: $105
- ItsWorthMore.com: $155
- MaxBack: $191
- SwopSmart: $216
- The Whiz Cells: $202
Samsung Galaxy Note 3
32 GB
- Decluttr: $101.20
- Buyback Boss: not listed
- Gazelle: $40
- iGotOffer: $75
- ItsWorthMore.com: $65
- MaxBack: $51
- SwopSmart: $75
- The Whiz Cells: $68
BlackBerry Q10
16 GB
- Decluttr: $29.70
- Buyback Boss: not listed
- Gazelle: $5
- iGotOffer: not listed
- ItsWorthMore.com: not listed
- MaxBack: not listed
- SwopSmart: $18
- The Whiz Cells: $24
HTC One (M8)
32 GB
- Decluttr: $77
- Buyback Boss: not listed
- Gazelle: $25
- iGotOffer: not listed
- Itsworthmore: $40
- MaxBack: $33
- SwopSmart: $36
- The Whiz Cells: $51
LG G4
16 GB
- Decluttr: $79.20
- Buyback Boss: not listed
- Gazelle: $35
- iGotOffer: not listed
- ItsWorthMore.com: not listed
- MaxBack: $51
- SwopSmart: $50
- The Whiz Cells: $64
Motorola Moto X
16 GB
- Decluttr: $25.30
- Buyback Boss: not listed
- Gazelle: $5
- iGotOffer: not listed
- ItsWorthMore.com: not listed
- MaxBack: not listed
- SwopSmart: $12
- The Whiz Cells: $6
Nokia Lumia 1520
32 GB
- Decluttr: $88
- Buyback Boss: not listed
- Gazelle: $10
- iGotOffer: not listed
- ItsWorthMore.com: not listed
- MaxBack: $37
- SwopSmart: not listed
- The Whiz Cells: $45
So… Where Will You Get the Most Money For Your Used Phone?
For my iPhone 6, it looks like I can get the most from Decluttr — especially with that additional $5 back.
Plus, like I mentioned, I don’t have to pay for packaging or shipping. And I’ll get paid the day after Decluttr receives my package.
Carson Kohler (@CarsonKohler) is a staff writer at The Penny Hoarder. She hates herself for how much she spent on her new phone.
