The Options for Selling Your iPhone in 2026
You have more options than ever to sell your used iPhone — but not all of them put the same amount of money in your pocket. Here's an honest comparison of every major channel.
Apple Trade-In
What you get: Apple Store credit only. No cash option.
iPhone 15 Pro 256GB (good condition): ~$400 credit toward a new device.
The catch: You can only spend it at Apple. If you're not buying a new iPhone immediately, it's not useful. Apple also deducts more aggressively for any damage. And "good condition" to Apple means virtually perfect — a single scuff can drop your value significantly.
Carrier Trade-Ins (AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile)
What you get: Bill credits spread over 24–36 months. Not cash.
iPhone 15 Pro 256GB: Up to $800 in bill credits — but only if you're upgrading to a new plan on a qualifying device, and you lock in for 2–3 years.
The catch: The "up to" number is almost never the number you actually get. Conditions are restrictive and credits are spread over years. Not useful if you want cash now.
eBay (Selling Yourself)
What you get: Market price minus fees. eBay + PayPal fees total ~13–15%. Buyer fraud risk is real.
iPhone 15 Pro 256GB (unlocked, good): $550–$650 after fees.
The catch: Takes time to list, photograph, package, and ship. Buyers can claim the phone arrived damaged. Chargebacks happen. eBay almost always sides with the buyer on disputes.
Gazelle / Decluttr / BuyBack Boss
What you get: Cash or check.
iPhone 15 Pro 256GB (good): $280–$380 depending on platform and timing.
The catch: Prices are often lowballed at checkout. Prices change frequently. Slow payment (checks mailed). Some platforms re-grade your device on arrival and lower the offer.
iPhoneTraderExpress.com
What you get: Cash — PayPal, Zelle, CashApp, or check.
iPhone 15 Pro 256GB (good): Check your exact price here.
The advantages: Price locked 14 days from quote. Same-day payment after inspection. Free UPS shipping. Any condition accepted. Family-owned — real people, not a warehouse algorithm.
The Bottom Line
If you want maximum cash today, the ranking generally goes: eBay (most, but with effort and risk) > iPhoneTraderExpress > Gazelle/Decluttr > Apple Trade-In (store credit) > Carrier trade-in (bill credits over years).
If you want the easiest, fastest cash with zero hassle, get your quote here — it takes 30 seconds and you'll have real money in your account within 48 hours of shipping.