Where to Sell Your Phone in the UK (2026): Every Option Compared.

Updated October 2026

Got an old phone in a drawer? It's probably worth more than you think, and it loses value every month it sits there. But there are a lot of ways to sell one, and they suit different people. Some pay more, some pay faster, and some are a lot less hassle.

This guide compares every main option in the UK: what you'll get, how quickly you're paid, how much effort it takes, and what can go wrong.

 

Every option at a glance

Option	Price you get	How fast you're paid	Effort	Main thing to watch
Private sale (eBay, Facebook Marketplace, Gumtree)	Usually the highest	When it sells	High	Scams, no-shows, returns
Vinted	Often a little lower	When the buyer confirms	Medium	Smaller audience for phones
Postal phone buyers	Middle	A few days after it arrives	Low	The offer being revised on arrival
CeX	Lower in cash, more in vouchers	On the spot	Low	The cash price
Apple or network trade-in	Credit, not cash	Against a new phone	Low	Locked to that brand or network
A local shop like Calatech	A fixed price, quoted online	The same day we check it	Low	Being honest about the condition

1. Selling privately: eBay, Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree

The upside: it's usually where you'll get the most. eBay reaches the widest audience, and it dropped selling fees for most UK private sellers in late 2024, so more of the price stays with you. Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree are free and local, and a well-priced phone can go within hours.

The downside:

• It takes time. Photos, a description, a stream of questions and lowball offers, and buyers who don't turn up.
• Scams. Fake payment screenshots, "my courier will collect", and buyers who claim the phone arrived broken. Be wary of anyone who won't pay through the platform.
• Meeting strangers. On Facebook and Gumtree you'll usually hand the phone over in person. Pick somewhere public.
• Returns. On eBay a buyer can open a case, and the process tends to favour buyers.

Best for: people who want every last pound and don't mind the work.

 

2. Vinted

The upside: listing is quick, the buyer pays the fees, and Vinted sorts out the postage label.

The downside: it's a fashion app first, so fewer people are browsing for phones, and Vinted buyers tend to be bargain hunters. Your money is held until the buyer confirms they're happy.

Best for: casual sellers who are happy to wait and accept a fair rather than top price.

 

3. Postal phone buyers

These are the big websites that quote online and send you a postage label. You post the phone, they test it, then they pay.

The upside: no buyers to deal with, free postage, and a price before you commit.

The thing to check: the price you're quoted depends on their inspection. If they grade your phone lower than you did, most will send a revised offer, sometimes a lot lower. Before you send it, check three things:

• How long you have to accept or refuse a revised offer, and what happens if you don't reply.
• Whether the phone comes back free if you say no, and how quickly.
• How much the postage is insured for. A tracked label is often only insured to a fairly low value.

Best for: people who want an easy sale and are confident about the condition of their phone.

 

4. CeX

The upside: there's a store in most towns, they test the phone in front of you, and you leave with the money.

The downside: the cash price is noticeably lower than the voucher price, so you get the best deal only if you're spending it in CeX.

Best for: people who want it done today and are happy to take vouchers.

 

5. Apple and network trade-ins

The upside: it's built into buying your new phone, so it's very little effort.

The downside: you get credit rather than cash, it only works with that brand or network, and the value is often lower than selling elsewhere. Trade-in values are also usually confirmed only after inspection.

Best for: people already upgrading with Apple or their network who value convenience over the last few pounds.

 

6. A local shop: Calatech in Haverhill

We're a real phone shop in Haverhill, Suffolk. We buy phones, test them on our own bench, refurbish them and sell them on with a warranty. Here's how selling to us works:

• Your price is locked for 14 days. Get it online in under a minute. Order your new phone first, and sell us the old one when it arrives.
• Better than you said? We pay more. If your phone's in better condition than the grade you chose, we pay the higher price.
• Worse than you said? You see why. We send you video and photos of exactly what we found, and you choose: the new price, or your phone back free.
• Paid the same day we check it, by bank transfer. Drop it in and you can take store credit instead, 5% more, towards a phone from us.
• Three ways to get it to us: drop it in at the studio (we test it in front of you, and check with you that your data has been wiped before you leave), free collection within 8 miles of Haverhill or 5 miles of Cambridge (for phones worth £300 or more), or free tracked post from anywhere in the UK.

The honest downside: a careful private sale can still get you a bit more. We cover testing, refurbishment and a warranty for the next owner, so our price reflects that.

Best for: people who want a fair, fixed price, paid the same day, without the hassle or the risk of a private sale.

See what we pay for popular models: iPhone 15, iPhone 16 Pro Max, iPhone 17 Pro Max, Galaxy S24 Ultra, Pixel 9 Pro. Selling a console? Sell your PS5.

 

Which one should you choose?

• You want the most money and don't mind the work: eBay, or Facebook Marketplace locally.
• You want it done today: a local shop, or CeX if you'll take vouchers.
• You want easy, but a price you can rely on: a buyer that locks your price and returns your phone free if the offer changes.
• You're upgrading with Apple or your network anyway: their trade-in, if the credit is close to what you'd get elsewhere.

 

Before you sell, whichever you choose

• Back up your phone: photos, messages, everything.
• Sign out and switch off Find My (iPhone) or remove your Google and Samsung accounts (Android). A phone that's still locked to your account can't be bought.
• Factory reset it, and take out your SIM and memory card.
• Clear any finance first. Phones still on finance, or reported lost or stolen, can't be sold.
• Be honest about the condition. It's the single biggest reason prices change after inspection.

 

Common questions

Is it safe to sell my phone online?

Yes, if you use a buyer that tells you up front what happens when your phone arrives: how it's graded, how long you have to decide on a revised offer, and whether it comes back free. For private sales, keep payment on the platform and don't post a phone before you've been paid.

 

Will I lose my data?

Not if you back up first. Reset the phone before you sell it, and a good buyer wipes it again to a certified standard. At Calatech, if you drop it in, we check with you that it's been wiped before you leave.

 

Can I sell a phone with a cracked screen?

Usually, yes. Most buyers, including us, buy faulty phones as long as they switch on. You'll get less than for a working phone, but often more than you'd expect.

 

How much is my phone worth?

It depends on the model, storage and condition. Get your exact price in under a minute, locked for 14 days.

 

Do you buy phones near Cambridge, Bury St Edmunds or Royston?

Yes. We collect free near Haverhill and Cambridge, and anyone can post free from anywhere in the UK. See selling in Cambridge, Bury St Edmunds and Royston.