Where to Sell Your iPhone for the Most Money in 2026
Trade-in vs marketplace vs selling your carrier — we priced out five ways to sell an iPhone and ranked them by real cash out.
List it on Back Market
Best payout on electronics & refurb devices.
Your iPhone is the one gadget that keeps real resale value. But the spread between the fastest sale and the most profitable one is bigger than people think.
The five options, priced
| Method | Cash out (16 Pro, 256GB) | Speed | Effort |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple trade-in | ~$560 | Same day | Minimal |
| Carrier trade-in | ~$480–520 credit | Same day | Minimal |
| Refurb marketplace (Back Market) | ~$640 | 1–2 days | Low |
| eBay auction | ~$610–680 | 3–7 days | Medium |
| Facebook Marketplace | ~$650–720 | Same day–week | Highest (meetups) |
The honest ranking
Fastest & safest: Apple or carrier trade-in. Zero risk, instant credit. You pay for the convenience.
Best balance: a refurb marketplace like Back Market. You ship it in, they inspect it, payment lands in a day or two, and prices sit well above trade-in because refurbishers resell to a global buyer base.
Most money, most hassle: Facebook Marketplace. You capture the retail price, but you’re dealing with lowballers, no-shows, and payment scams. Our guide to selling safely covers the red flags.
Before you list
- Back up and sign out of iCloud
- Remove SIM, then erase all content & settings
- Confirm the device no longer appears in Find My
- Take photos of the screen, frame, and ports in natural light
A device with a clean IMEI and no iCloud lock is worth materially more — on every single platform.
List it on Back Market
Best payout on electronics & refurb devices.
Fast answers
Is it worth selling a cracked iPhone?
A cracked screen usually costs $150–$300 to fix but can drop the resale value by a similar amount. List it as-is on a marketplace — a fixer-buyer will pay close to working condition on the parts market.
Should I trade in to Apple or sell privately?
Apple trade-in is the fastest and safest, but you usually leave 20–40% on the table versus selling privately to an individual buyer.
What do I need to do before selling my iPhone?
Back up, sign out of iCloud, remove the SIM, erase all content and settings, and remove the device from your Apple ID / Find My. A device still tied to your Apple ID is unsellable.