Where to Sell Your Old Phone in the UK: CeX vs eBay vs Facebook Marketplace

If you want to sell your old phone, the best place depends on what matters most to you. Some platforms are faster, some are safer, and some give you the best chance of getting top money. In 2026, the main UK options are CeX, eBay, Facebook Marketplace, musicMagpie, and Mazuma. Decluttr is no longer an option, because the company has officially shut down.

The real trade-off is simple: the easier the process, the lower the payout tends to be. Instant trade-in services are quick and low-hassle, while peer-to-peer marketplaces usually pay more but come with more effort and more risk. That overall conclusion is an inference from how these platforms currently work and charge sellers.

1) CeX

CeX is one of the easiest places to sell a phone in the UK. Its official site says you can sell phones for cash or vouchers, and the whole service is built around quick trade-ins rather than managing buyers yourself. CeX also makes clear in its terms that once you sell your products to CeX, ownership transfers to them, which is part of why the process feels straightforward compared with marketplace selling.

Pros

• Very easy process
• Immediate quote structure
• No need to create listings or deal with buyers
• Good option if you want store credit or a voucher boost

Cons

• Usually not the highest payout
• Final value depends heavily on CeX grading/testing
• You are trading convenience for a lower ceiling on price

Best for

People who want the quickest no-nonsense sale and are happy to accept a lower return for less hassle.

Honest verdict

CeX is the easiest mainstream option if you want the phone gone quickly. It is rarely where you get the absolute best price, but it is one of the least stressful ways to sell. That conclusion is an inference from CeX’s trade-in model versus peer-to-peer marketplaces.

2) eBay

For many sellers, eBay is the strongest option for getting the most money. eBay says UK-based private sellers get 300 free listings per month and pay no transaction fees when the item sells in most categories, with the buyer paying the Buyer Protection fee instead. eBay also notes that optional listing upgrades and some edge cases can still apply.

That is a big deal because older advice about “high eBay fees” is no longer fully accurate for UK private sellers. eBay did separately announce a change to the per-order final value fee above £10 from £0.30 to £0.40 starting 12 February 2026, but that announcement sits alongside the broader private-seller policy that selling is free in most categories for UK-based private sellers.

Pros

• Usually the best payout potential
• Huge audience of buyers
• UK private sellers currently have a very strong fee position on standard sales

Cons

• More effort: photos, listings, messages, postage
• More chance of disputes, returns, and buyer headaches
• You still need to package and ship properly

Best for

Sellers who want maximum money and do not mind doing the work.

Honest verdict

eBay is probably the best all-round choice if your priority is payout rather than convenience. In 2026, it is especially attractive for UK private sellers because the fee structure is friendlier than many people realise.

3) Facebook Marketplace

Facebook Marketplace is the most tempting option for people who want to sell locally and avoid postage. Facebook’s Help Centre explains how to sell on Marketplace and also has dedicated safety guidance telling users to cancel transactions and stop communicating if they see suspicious activity. It also notes that selling with shipping may be available in some cases, and one Facebook help page says a 10% fee applies to shipped orders, while local arrangements work differently.

Pros

• Good chance of a better price than trade-in services
• No postage for local cash sales
• Fast if you find the right local buyer

Cons

• More time-wasters than any other option
• Highest scam and personal-safety risk of the mainstream platforms
• Less formal protection than eBay for many in-person deals

Best for

Confident sellers who are happy arranging local meetups and know how to avoid obvious scam patterns.

Honest verdict

Facebook Marketplace can be brilliant or awful. It is often the best platform for cash in hand without postage, but it also attracts the most flaky buyers and the most scam attempts. I would only rank it above eBay if you strongly prefer local selling. That ranking is an inference from Facebook’s own safety warnings and the looser structure of Marketplace transactions.

4) musicMagpie

musicMagpie is one of the better-known UK trade-in services. Its phone-selling pages say you can get an instant price, send your phone for free, and if you are selling a phone you can take it to a participating Timpson store. It also says it will lock in the price for 21 days and highlights a Tech Price Promise on relevant pages.

Pros

• Easy process
• Free sending options
• Good for people who want a postal trade-in without dealing with buyers
• Price lock can be useful if you are not posting immediately

Cons

• Usually pays less than eBay or a strong Facebook sale
• Final amount still depends on condition checks
• Less upside if your phone is popular and easy to sell privately

Best for

People who want a simple postal trade-in from a recognisable brand.

Honest verdict

musicMagpie is a solid middle-ground option. It is easier than eBay and usually more polished than random local selling, but you pay for that convenience in the form of a lower likely payout.

5) Mazuma

Mazuma is another long-running UK phone trade-in specialist. Its site says it is the UK’s “largest mobile phone recycling service,” that you can search your device online, send it with freepost including tracking, and that it promises same-day payment when it receives your mobile.

Pros

• Very quick and simple process
• Focused specifically on phones and similar devices
• Freepost and fast-payment messaging are strong convenience points

Cons

• Usually not where you will get the highest price
• Best for convenience rather than maximum return
• Like other trade-in firms, your quote depends on the device matching the described condition

Best for

People who want a fast, specialist phone trade-in with minimal effort.

Honest verdict

Mazuma sits in a similar lane to musicMagpie: quick, simple, and lower stress than marketplace selling. If your priority is speed, it is a very credible option. If your priority is squeezing every pound out of an iPhone, eBay usually gives you more headroom.

So where should you sell your old phone?

Here is the simplest version:

• Sell on eBay if you want the most money. eBay’s current UK private-seller setup is very favourable, but you need to do the work.
• Sell on Facebook Marketplace if you want a local cash sale and you are comfortable dealing with buyers directly.
• Sell to CeX if you want the easiest fast sale and do not mind getting less than the maximum possible.
• Use musicMagpie or Mazuma if you want a simple postal trade-in without listing work.
• Do not include Decluttr in a 2026 comparison because it has officially closed.

My honest ranking

For most people in the UK in 2026, I would rank them like this:

Decluttr — closed

eBay — best if you care about money

CeX — best if you care about ease

Facebook Marketplace — best if you want local cash but can handle risk

musicMagpie — best easy postal middle ground

Mazuma — good fast specialist option

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