Sell old mobile phones for the best price
Recycling old mobiles for cash is easy! Compare the best places to sell your mobile phone and get the most money.
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There's only one way to prevent robots from taking over: stop hoarding your old mobile phones by recycling them in exchange for cash. Obviously.
If you're looking to sell your old phone for the best price, follow our top tips to make as much money as possible from it.
A bit of trivia: "There are more mobiles in the world than people". True or False? Answer at the end!
Selling your mobile phone
Best mobile phone recycling companies
These are the top websites to compare quotes from when recycling your old phone:
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Giffgaff Recycle
When selling your mobile phone to giffgaff, it will either be refurbished or recycled in the UK.
They have a pretty quick payment system, where you'll be paid within five working days of them assessing that the device meets their terms and conditions.
But they've also got quite a quick refund system (which could be less good for you as the seller). If they reduce the offer amount after checking your phone and you're no longer happy with it, you have 48 hours to reject the price and request a free return.
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Mazuma
On Mazuma, you can sell your old phones, tablets, smartwatches, laptops, Macs and gaming consoles. After you sell them, Mazuma will send them to one of their reuse partners where they are recycled or refurbished.
When you sell an old phone to Mazuma, they'll pay you on the same day they receive your phone, as long as it arrives before 2pm on Monday – Friday, excluding public holidays.
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EE Recycle
EE Recycle offers pretty good prices for fully-working items, without any cosmetic damage. You can sell phones in any condition, but you may not get the price you're hoping for.
If they think the condition is not as good as you said, they'll readjust the offered amount. If you decide to turn down the new quote, they'll return your phone for free.
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Envirofone
On Envirofone's website, you can both sell your old phone, and buy new and refurbished mobile phones.
A big perk of selling your phone to them is that you can get a 12% extra bonus on top of what they offer which you can put towards a new phone from their shop.
Envirofone also accepts damaged phones. If your phone's a little worse for wear, you could consider selling to them.
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musicMagpie
Selling your phone to musicMagpie is a quick process, and they offer some competitive prices. So, if you need cash quickly, selling your phone to them could be a good option.
After finding your phone's model on their site, you will be able to select either 'Good', 'Poor' or 'Faulty' for the device's condition and receive a quote instantly.
If you're happy with the offer, you can then send them your phone for free. As long as the condition fits your description, you'll receive the payment on the same day the mobile arrives.
But if musicMagpie disagrees with the condition and lowers the offer price, you'd then have up to 21 days to accept the new amount. If you decline the offer, you can have the phone returned for free.
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O2 Recycle
O2 Recycle, like Envirofone, will offer you a bonus if you make a purchase with them when you recycle your old phone.
When selling your old phone to O2, you'll receive payment within three to five working days. They also accept faulty devices, so it may be a good option if your phone has seen better days.
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Amazon Trade-In Store
Looking for ways to earn money on Amazon? You could use their Trade-in program to get Amazon vouchers for your old devices, including your smartphone.
It's completely free to do. Simply answer some questions about your phone and you'll receive a quote. Then, ship it off to Amazon and they'll verify the condition within 10 business days. After that, you'll be credited the value of the device in Amazon vouchers on your account. Easy peasy.
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SellMyMobile
On SellMyMobile, you can compare as many phone recycling sites as possible in one place. It's a good place to look for a general overview of prices and the value of your mobile phone model. But do check each phone recycling site as well to be sure of the price.The best part of the comparison site is, if you find a better deal elsewhere within 24 hours of placing an order to sell your phone through them, they'll refund you the difference.
How phone recycling works
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Hoping to recycle your old mobile for money? There are dozens of phone recycling services waiting to offer you cash in exchange for old devices. Plus, it's super easy to do.
Since they all operate in a similar way, it comes down to comparing the quoted prices.
Most companies will send you a postage-paid pack for your phone to be sent off. They will then inspect the device to ensure it matches the details and conditions you provided online.
If it does, you should receive the quoted price. However, if the recycling company isn't happy with the phone's condition, they'll likely take some money off your payment.
Depending on the condition, your phone will then either be resold, exported abroad or broken down into parts for recycling.
What's my mobile phone worth?
To get the most money for recycling an old mobile handset, you will need to sell a phone which is still in good condition and a relatively recent model.
For example, if (for some reason) you wanted to recycle an unlocked recent Apple iPhone (128GB) in good condition, musicMagpie has quoted £561*. But, even if the phone is still fully functional, "heavy wear and tear, such as scuffs" drops the offer to just £336.60*.
Unfortunately, the majority of phones won't make nearly as much as an iPhone 14 when recycled. As a comparison, an unlocked Samsung Galaxy S22 (128GB) in good condition, without water damage, is quoted as £300* by musicMagpie.
Bear in mind, though, that it's still worth looking into how much you could get even if your phone's slightly damaged and outdated. Selling it for just a few quid would be worth it if it's otherwise going to collect dust on your shelf. Plus, it's much better for the environment to save it from going to waste.
You can find out how much you could get for recycling a phone by heading to each website listed above. All you have to do is enter your device's details (make, model and condition) and note down the guide price for comparison.
Hopefully, the tips in this guide will help you find the best price for your old handset. Plus, you'll know that your recycled phone is going to good use.
* Prices correct at the time of writing.
11 tips for recycling mobiles for cash
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These are the best ways to make money from old phones when recycling them:
- Always compare companies before offloading your phone – prices can vary massively.
- You'll get a better price if your phone isn't tied to a network. It can be worth unlocking your phone first (usually free).
- Give your phone a clean with a soft, dry cloth. It's not worth spending money repairing dents and scratches.
- Some phone recycling companies may offer a higher price if you take payment in gift cards rather than cash.
- The price quoted isn't always what you'll get as it's based on condition. If you're unhappy with the final price, either challenge them or ask for your phone back.
- Do you have a damaged phone? You could beat quoted prices by selling it for spare parts to private buyers.
- If you want a new phone, some networks offer trade-ins for your old one. Check if the trade-in value beats the cash you could get for selling.
- Remove your SIM card, copy and wipe your data, and reset to factory settings before selling your phone.
- If your best offer is ridiculously low, you don't have to sell. Keep your old phone as a spare for travelling or consider recycling it through a local charity shop.
- Don't forget to cancel any mobile phone insurance when you sell the handset.
- Keep the original boxes and accessories for new gadgets. They can add to the value!
Selling your phone to private buyers
Sending your phone off to a recycling company or site is generally quick and easy. However, if you have the patience to maximise the cash, it's best to find a buyer yourself (especially if it's a smartphone holding decent value).
The companies above make their profit by selling devices on. This could sometimes be for up to three times as much for iPhone and Samsung mobiles. To keep that money in your pocket, sell direct using one of the methods below.
Best places to sell mobile phones
To make as much money from selling your old mobile as possible, try selling it privately through these options:
- eBay – Large market, but check the fees and boost your chances with our eBay selling tips
- Facebook Marketplace – Free listings and, again, we have Facebook selling tips
- Gumtree – Free listings
- Friends and family.
6 top tips to sell your phone quickly
- Include lots of quality photos of your phone in your seller ad
- Be totally honest about the phone's condition and what's included
- If sending your phone by post, ensure it's well-padded and use a signed-for delivery service (add the P&P costs to your listing)
- For local sales, arrange to meet the buyer in a safe public place
- Avoid 'wanted' adverts online – there is a risk of being scammed
- Digital banking apps allow you to get paid without sharing bank details.
Looking for some extra ways to make some cash? Here is a list of things you can sell right now!
