When I look at my old iPhone XR, I don’t see dollar signs: I see an oversized brick, one that’s too big for my pockets. I see a formerly excellent device that’s starting to slow down in its old age. When I started looking for a replacement, I was surprised to find that plenty of people were interested in paying me for that oversized brick.

In fact, there’s a bustling marketplace for used iPhones in Canada that includes Apple, third-party retailers like Mobile Klinik, Cell Clinic, and Orchard, along with online classifieds like Kijiji and Craigslist. As long as your iPhone is unlocked, then it can be sold in Canada. The sheer number of outlets, though, can be overwhelming. Who offers the best prices? And who’s the most trustworthy vendor?

In this detailed breakdown, I tested six different different iPhone buying outlets, using my iPhone XR as a test case to determine the pros and cons of each buyer. By the end, I determined that Orchard is the best place to sell your iPhone in Canada, though that answer may differ depending on what you’re looking to gain by trading in your old device.

Where to sell your iPhone

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I wanted to see how each venue’s process and pricing matched up, so I used my iPhone XR (128GB) as a test case. Thanks to its obnoxiously large Otter Box case, it's in very good condition with minimal wear. Here’s what I learned about the options for selling your iPhone in Canada.

Apple

• Pros: Reliable buyer, secure transaction
• Cons: No cash payments, lower than market average

You can sell your iPhone to Apple, though the company doesn’t pay cash. Instead, they will give you credit towards Apple products, either in the form of an Apple Gift Card or as a credit towards a new iPhone.

In general, Apple’s payouts for iPhones are less than the other options on this page. Unlike third-party retailers, Apple provides a general list of their lineup’s used prices with a particularly important phrase attached: “up to.” That means that these prices are not guaranteed; the condition, performance, and a number of other issues can drive the price down. The only sure thing is that the price will not go above what’s listed.

Apple currently offers up to $160 for my iPhone XR, which is a decent offer considering there’s no risk involved: It’s a secure transaction from a verified buyer. Still, there’s no guarantee that they’ll give me the full $160 for the phone. Worse, I’m stuck with Apple credit rather than cash; if I was hoping to ditch my iPhone and use the money to buy an Android phone, I’m out of luck.

Several Canadian carriers also offer trade-in credits for iPhones, with the Big Three (Bell, Rogers, and Telus) often doling out the best incentives. Check out some of the best iPhone trade-in offers available now.

Third-party retailers: Mobile Klinik, Cell Clinic, and Orchard

• Pros: Cash payments, secure transactions
• Cons: Cheaper than classified listings

Apple isn’t the only reliable outlet for used iPhones. Several websites buy used iPhones, refurbish them, and then resell them to consumers. I wanted to see how these sites’ payments stack up against Apple's, so I sought estimates from some of the more popular options in Canada: Mobile Klinik, Cell Clinic, and Orchard.

At first glance, third-party retailers pay less for used iPhones than Apple does. I fed each of them the same details about my iPhone XR (128GB of storage, very good condition, intact screen) and received quotes below Apple’s: Mobile Klinik offered $131, Cell Clinic offered $150, and Orchard offered $161. Remember, though, that Apple’s price was presented with an asterisk: it wasn’t $160, but “up to $160.”

In many ways, these third-party retailers are actually a better bet than Apple. Apple might promise the possibility of a higher price, but those prices aren’t guaranteed. (Remember, their prices are preceded by the tricky “up to.”) You still get a secure transaction through Mobile Klinik, Cell Clinic, and Orchard and stand to get paid more than Apple, who isn’t known for their charity. Most importantly, you can be paid out in real dollars, rather than in credit, via PayPal, check, e-transfer, or Visa Gift Card, depending on the site.

Online classifieds: Kijiji and Craigslist

• Pros: Highest prices
• Cons: No secure transactions, peer-to-peer exchange

If you want to get the most money for your old iPhone, you’re going to have to take some risks and strike out on your own. Plenty of people sell used smartphones on classified sites like Kijiji and Craigslist, and, on the whole, they stand to make more money. I surveyed both sites throughout the course of an afternoon, looking for iPhone XRs in Ontario. I found one listing on Kijiji for $150 and three on Craigslist for $150, $125, and $200.

Those prices are, for the most part, higher than your other options. Still, I’m skeptical for a few reasons. The first is that listings don’t equal sales; for all I know, the $200 iPhone XR will never be sold. The second is that the peer-to-peer nature of Kijiji and Craigslist means you won’t have the security of Apple or a major third-party retailer like Mobile Klinik. You’ll need to meet up with your potential buyer and hope they’ve brought you the agreed-upon amount. (I hope it goes without saying, too, that your safety could be in danger if your buyer happens to be an unsavory type.)

Recap: What’s the best place to sell an iPhone in Canada?

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If you’re looking to get cash for your used iPhone, we recommend using Orchard. In our testing, we found they offered the highest amounts and employed the easiest processing for selling the phone.

If you’re looking to trade in your iPhone for a new one, we recommend checking with your carrier to see if they are currently offering trade-in deals. Usually, this happens when a new iPhone is available, so you can expect the same in September 2024, when the iPhone 16 is set to arrive.