Selling old electronics for cash is one of the best quick ways to make money. Even broken electronics can net you some extra funds.
A quick internet search shows there are many people selling electronics for cash, including broken devices, for parts. What you consider junk may still be very valuable to someone else, regardless of usability.
Most opportunities to sell used electronics for cash are online, but you can also find ways to sell them near you.
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Best Places to Sell Old Electronics for Cash Online
Don’t let old electronics collect dust. Here are nine of the best options to get money for your devices.
1. BuyBackWorld
BuyBackWorld is one of the top places to sell your old devices for cash. It buys a wide variety of new, used and broken electronics, including:
- Phones
- Tablets
- Laptops
- Cameras
- Game consoles
- Gadgets such as Apple Watches and iPods
BuyBackWorld accepts both Android and Apple-based products. They even buy unused gift cards.
How it Works: Tell them what you want to sell, and they will give you a quote. Assuming you accept the offer, they provide a shipping label for you to send in the device(s). Upon receiving the item(s), they pay you via either check or PayPal.
The process takes roughly a week, and you can expect payment faster if you choose PayPal.
Pros of selling on BuyBackWorld: If you need somewhere to sell something beyond a smartphone, BuyBackWorld is a good choice since they buy laptops, game consoles, and more.
Cons of selling on BuyBackWorld: There is not much downside, just watch for low offers.
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2. SellCell
SellCell is a terrific choice to sell used electronics for cash online. The site claims to be the largest price comparison site for selling old mobile phones and electronics.
SellCell does not purchase items. It lets you compare all buyback sites on the web to help ensure you receive the maximum amount for your items and don’t leave money on the table.
SellCell lets you sell used cell phones for cash as well as other products. Those items include the following:
- Amazon Kindles
- Desktops
- Fitbits
- Gaming consoles
- Laptops
It’s also possible to sell things like an Apple or Samsung Watch and GoPros. The best part of using SellCell to sell used electronics for cash is their Best Price Guarantee.
The guarantee is fairly straightforward. If they locate a price difference within 24 hours of your order, they pay you double the difference. Like other resale sites, SellCell provides free shipping for your devices.
How it Works: Accept an offer, print off the shipping label, and send it to the chosen company. After the company receives it, they inspect it and send you cash.
Pros of selling on SellCell: You get to compare quotes from multiple sources. If you need to sell laptops for cash, or even desktops, SellCell is an excellent option to get rid of your devices. The platform also offers to double price differences.
Cons of selling on SellCell: You’re not selling directly to SellCell, so this may cause issues if there is a problem with your order.
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3. Buyback Boss
If you want to sell your old phone for cash, BuyBackBoss may be a good option. They don’t buy back quite as many items as Gazelle or Decluttr, but can be goof if you just want to get rid of your iPhone or Samsung-based phone. They also take back iPads on occasion.
How it Works: Enter the barcode on your phone. They will provide a quote within minutes. If you take their offer, they provide a prepaid shipping label to print off so you can mail the item for free.
The day after BuyBackBoss receives the item, they send payment via PayPal or check. They also buy broken electronics for cash.
Pros of selling on BuyBackBoss: They offer a price match guarantee if you have proof of receiving a higher price from a competitor. They also offer a 14-day price lock as long as the device arrives as described.
Cons of selling on BuyBackBoss: They don’t buy as many devices as other used electronics sites. There are also some complaints online from users saying the platform often disagrees with condition of devices, resulting in a lower payout.
4. Swappa
Swappa is one of the more unique platforms on this list. It’s like Craigslist and eBay in that you deal directly with people. It’s mostly known for a great place to sell used phones, but also lets you sell:
- Laptops
- Tablets
- Video Games
- Watches
- Cameras
- Voice assistants
Devices must be 100 percent functional to qualify for the platform. You won’t be able to sell your device if it’s broken. If it doesn’t turn on or has other malfunctions, you can’t list it.
Because you’re selling to the public, you may not receive the quoted price.
Swappa also has one of the best apps to sell your stuff online and follows the same process as using their desktop site.
How it Works: To sell anything on Swappa you need to create a profile, add the device, and write a description. Then you’ll list a price and wait for a buyer. It is free to list all of your used electronics on Swappa. So, there is no risk to you.
Like eBay and other online retailers, the transaction is final when you receive payment. Swappa pays with PayPal, so it is safe, secure, and effortless.
Pros of selling on Swappa: There are no fees to list your items on Swappa. You can sell electronics besides phones, such ad watches and cameras.
Cons of selling on Swappa: They charge a fee when your item sells, but reports indicate the fee is cheaper than eBay.
5. Backflip
Selling your old electronics for cash is easy with Backflip (formerly Whistle). They claim to pay 50 percent higher than their competitors and the selling price is guaranteed or they’ll return it to you for free.
With Backflip you can sell your used:
- Phones
- iPads
- MacBooks
- Apple Watches
- Headphones
- Gaming consoles
- Amazon Kindles
How it Works: Accept an offer, wait for the free shipping kit to arrive or print off the free shipping label, and send your used electronics to Backflip. Within a day of receiving the device the company will check it’s condition and pay you by debit card, direct deposit, gift card, or check.
Pros of selling on Backflip: There are no shipping fees and you get instant buyback offers. Additionally, Backflip offers free return shipping, in-transit insurance, and tracking. Backflip is a great way to get rid of old electronics you no longer use.
Cons of selling on Backflip: It’s possible your final offer may differ from the original quote if the condition of the device is different than stated.
6. Gazelle
Gazelle is similar to BuyBackWorld in how it lets you sell electronics. It accepts a wide range of devices, though not as many as some. Gazelle will pay cash for:
- iPhones
- iPads/tablets
- Samsung phones
- Macbooks
- Mac desktops
- Blackberry devices
Gazelle is A+ rated by the Better Business Bureau, and has a consumer rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.
How it Works: Go to their site and tell them what you want to sell. They give you an offer in less than a minute.
You can also turn your item in at any Gazelle kiosk in your area for immediate cash. Kiosks only accept phones, tablets, and MP3 players and offers tend to be lower than what you’d receive online.
If you decide to take an offer on their site, they send you a trackable shipping label so you can ship your item to them for inspection. This process tends to take no longer than a week. Afterward, Gazelle will send your payment via check or PayPal.
Pros of selling on Gazelle: Gazelle has preset standards on what they accept, which simplifies the selling process. They also offer prepaid shipping.
Cons of selling on Gazelle: Gazelle doesn’t always offer the highest prices compared to other sites. They can also change your rate if the item arrives not as described.
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7. Sell Old Electronics on Amazon
Amazon is another terrific place to try selling old electronics for cash online. You can sell a wide array of old devices, including:
- Phones
- Tablets
- Cameras
- Blu-Ray players
- Streaming media players
If you don’t want to sell your item, you can also take advantage of Amazon’s Trade-in program that allows you to send your old video games, Kindles, books, electronics, DVDs, etc for Amazon gift cards.
This is one of the best ways to earn free Amazon gift cards. Since Amazon sells practically everything, it’s almost as good as selling old items for cash.
How it Works: Set up a seller account and create a listing. Take clear pictures and use specific keywords to describe your item. Depending on your location, trade-in items may take up to ten business days to arrive before they are processed, but you can track the items you send in.
*Related: Have a lot of old DVDs? Here are the best places to sell used DVDs and turn them into cash.*
Amazon asks that items must be at least in acceptable condition. You won’t be able to sell broken electronics for cash, but you can sell items you no longer want.
Pros of selling on Amazon: You can sell virtually anything on Amazon, opening up more opportunities to earn money.
Cons of selling on Amazon: There is a lot of competition to sell electronics on Amazon, making it more difficult to get a sale. It can take up to ten days for trade-ins to process.
8. Decluttr
Decluttr lets you sell many things for cash, including:
- iPhones
- Android-based phones
- Most any iOS based devices
- Kindles
- CDs, DVDs, and Blu-Rays
- Gaming consoles
- Blackberry devices
You can even sell books and Legos!
How it Works: On their site or app, enter in the barcode of the device. Within minutes, you get a quote for what they will pay you. Assuming you take the offer, you can either print off a free shipping label or take it to a UPS store (where they take care of it for free). The day after Decluttr receives your item they pay you via either PayPal, direct deposit, or check.
This makes Decluttr one of the best options to earn PayPal money instantly.
Just be honest in your description of the item to ensure you get the most cash for it.
Pros of selling on Decluttr: You can sell everything from Kindles to Legos. They pay for shipping and have a convenient app.
Cons of selling on Decluttr: There aren’t many drawbacks, aside from watching for low offers.
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9. eBay
You’re probably already familiar with eBay as a place to sell old electronics for cash. It’s also an excellent way to get cash for used appliances, which may be larger and therefore items you want to sell locally.
When you create a listing and make a sale, the site will take a small fee out of the purchase price (just like Amazon) so keep that in mind and also consider shipping costs when pricing your item.
There are alternatives to eBay, so don’t overlook those as a possibility to unload your old devices.
How it Works: You create a listing. Be sure to write a solid description and include good photos. Decide whether you want to set a fixed price through the ‘Buy it Now’ option, or auction your item.vWith this option, be sure to set your item at a minimum price that ensures the item doesn’t sell for less than its value.
Pros of selling on eBay: Similar to Amazon, you can sell almost anything on eBay. You can sell broken electronics on eBay, so long as you disclose it.
Cons of selling on eBay: Fees to sell on eBay can be high, as you have to pay listing and selling fees as well as shipping costs.
Where to Sell Old Electronics for Cash Nearby
It’s pretty easy to sell old electronics for money online. However, you may not want to deal with mailing items somewhere and might rather sell locally. If you’re wondering, ‘where can I sell electronics for cash near me?’ you have five likely options:
- Best Buy Trade-In
- Craigslist
- EcoATMs – you can find ecoATM locations here
- Local Facebook Groups
- Do an internet search for ‘scrap yard near me‘ to find one that buys electronics and metals
When trying to sell items through Craigslist or Facebook make sure to take some precautions. It’s best to meet the individual in a public place, during the day. You also only want to take payment in cash.
You also want to take a few actions with the device to ensure your protection, such as:
- Back up photos, videos and data
- Encrypt your data and then wipe it from the device
- Disable factory reset protection
- Perform a factory reset
There are apps available to take care of the last steps so you don’t have to do it manually.
Security aside, if you’re asking yourself ‘can I sell my phone for cash near me?’ there are often plenty of options available.
Summary
Selling used devices is a terrific way to declutter around the house, plus it nets you some extra cash. It also helps reduce waste and keep items out of a landfill.
While there’s no guarantee that you’ll receive an offer on your items, the process to either request a quote online or sell your item locally to a buyer are both pretty easy and won’t take up too much of your time.
Keep in mind that the older devices or ones with more wear and tear may not be as profitable, but you still may be able to make some type of profit off the sale especially if the item was just sitting in your home collecting dust.
How many old electronic devices do you have lying around the house? Have you ever tried selling things for cash?
