Australians love an upgrade. Telsyte’s Australian Smartphone and Wearable Devices Market Study found that Australia sold 3.87 million smartphones in the first half of 2026. A modest rise in 2025, and the premium segment over $1,000 has grown steadily, with a quarter of all phones sold priced above $2,000. Apple continues to lead the pack, with a 49.5% share of sales, just shy of parity with Android.
Here’s the part nobody talks about: most of those old phones never get sold. Research commissioned for the Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association found roughly 22.3 million unused mobile phones sitting in Australian households.
Although the trend of using dumbphones for digital detox is growing among Gen Z, the statistics still tell a different story.Indeed, a finder.com.au survey of over 2,000 Australians backs this up. It found that 69 per cent of people upgrade their phone even though the old one still works, yet only nine per cent bother to cash it in through sites like eBay or Gumtree, while a third simply keep it in a drawer for emergencies. That’s a lot of money gathering dust.
If you’re one of those Australians with a working handset gathering dust in a drawer, this guide walks through every legitimate way to turn it into cash in 2026, along with the step-by-step process for each one.
5 Online Options to Sell Used Phones in Australia
Online marketplaces and dedicated phone-selling platforms across Australia make it easy to compare offers and reach potential buyers. You can list the phone yourself or get an instant quote from a resale service.
1. Gumtree – Still the Go-To for Local, Fee-Free Sales
Gumtree is a favourite for Australians who want to sell locally without paying a cut. It works well whether you are in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, or a regional town. The main reason people use Gumtree to sell used phones in Australia is that buyers can filter by suburb and pick up the item in person.
How to Sell Old Phones on Gumtree?
- Create a free account and hit the “Post an ad” button. Give your phone a clear title that includes the brand, model, and storage size, since buyers search using those exact terms.
- Now, you can choose the Mobile Phones category under Electronics. Then write an honest description covering battery health, any scratches, and whether you still have the box and charger.
- List your price slightly above your bottom line, because almost every buyer will try to haggle. Now, add sharp photos of the front, back, screen, and charging port.
- Publish the ad and respond quickly to messages. Always insist on meeting in a public, well-lit place such as a shopping centre, and only hand over the phone once you’ve received cash or a confirmed instant bank transfer.
2. Facebook Marketplace – The Easiest Way to Sell to Your Neighbourhood
Facebook Marketplace has overtaken many classifieds sites simply because everyone already has the app open. Selling locally through pickup costs nothing, and only shipped sales processed through Facebook’s checkout carry a selling fee of around five per cent, so for a face-to-face phone sale, you keep every dollar.
How to Sell Phones on Facebook Marketplace?
- First, open the Marketplace tab. Then tap “Create new listing,” then “Item for sale.”
- Add your phone’s details, a fair price, and a handful of clear photos taken in good light. We recommend turning on location settings to help your listing show up for nearby buyers.
- Chat with interested buyers through Messenger, agree on a pickup spot, and mark the listing as sold once the deal is done so you stop getting messages.
Because your profile is attached to the listing, buyers can see mutual friends or groups, which tends to build more trust than an anonymous classified ad.
3. eBay – Now Free for Casual Sellers
eBay used to cost money, with insertion fees and final value fees eating into your sale price. That changed in 2026. eBay Australia scrapped transaction fees for casual sellers, meaning anyone selling under $25,000 worth of goods a year no longer pays to list or sell an item. That’s a genuine reason to give eBay another look if you wrote it off before.
How to sell Old Smartphones on eBay?
- Sign up for an eBay account and verify your identity, since this builds buyer confidence and protects your account.
- List your phone with a fixed price or as an auction. Fixed price tends to suit phones better, because buyers want certainty. Choose PayPal or eBay’s managed payments so the money lands safely in your account.
- Print the prepaid shipping label eBay generates, package the phone carefully with padding, and post it within the timeframe you promised. Once the buyer confirms receipt, your payout clears.
4. Reebelo – Compare Multiple Buyback Offers in One Go
Reebelo has grown into one of the bigger players in Australia’s second-hand tech space, largely because it doesn’t act as a single buyer. Instead, it compares offers from several Australia-based buyback partners, finds you the highest price, and arranges free shipping through an Australia Post mailbag or prepaid label. It’s a solid option if you want speed without shopping around five different sites yourself, and it will accept a phone in less-than-perfect condition, cracked screen and all.
How to sell used smartphones on Reebelo in Australia?
- Head to the sell-your-phone page, select your exact model, storage, and condition, and get an instant comparison of buyback quotes.
- Accept the best offer and request your free shipping pack.
- Post the phone off. We inspect it within one to two business days, and initiate payment within 24 hours of that inspection.
5. Mazuma Mobile – A Straightforward Mail-In Cash Buyback
Mazuma has operated in Australia for well over a decade and uses a simple price-promise model.
How to sell on Mazuma?
- Search for your exact phone model and answer a few condition questions to get an instant quote.
- Accept the quote, and Mazuma posts you a free sales pack with a reply-paid satchel.
- Send the phone back. Payment lands the same day it’s received and checked, as long as it’s before their afternoon cut-off; if the phone doesn’t match what you described, they’ll send it back rather than lowball you.
Additional Physical Options to Sell Used Phones in Australia
If you prefer selling in person, local phone shops, second-hand dealers, and electronics retailers can also be worth considering. These options let you get an instant valuation and avoid shipping or online listings.
1. JB Hi-Fi Trade-In – Instant Store Credit While You Shop
If you’re already planning to walk out with a new handset, JB Hi-Fi’s trade-in program is genuinely convenient. A third-party assessor runs it, and the value shows up as a gift card you can put straight toward your next purchase.
How to trade in at JB Hi-Fi?
- Use the online trade-in calculator and answer a short set of questions about your device’s model and condition to get an obligation-free quote.
- Accept the offer, and you’ll receive your JB Hi-Fi gift card by email immediately, without waiting for the phone to arrive first.
- Post your old device back using the supplied instructions, or hand it over in-store if you’re upgrading on the spot.
2. Telco Trade – In Programs (Telstra, Optus, Vodafone)
The big three carriers all run their own trade-in schemes, usually pitched at people recontracting or buying a new phone on a plan. The value gets applied as bill credit rather than cash in your bank account, so it suits people who are staying with the same carrier anyway.
How do telco trade-in programs generally work?
- Visit your carrier’s trade-in page or a physical store to get your phone assessed based on its condition and popularity.
- Accept the offer if you’re happy with it. In-store trade-ins are valued on the spot after a quick inspection of the screen, buttons, and whether it powers on properly.
- The credit is applied to your new device purchase or spread across your monthly bill, depending on the carrier’s current offer.
3. Cash Converters – For Instant Cash, No Waiting
If you want money in hand today rather than in a few business days, Cash Converters stores across Australian cities will buy phones over the counter. You won’t get the best possible price this way, since they need margin to resell, but the trade-off is speed.
How to sell to Cash Converters?
- Bring your phone, ID, and charger into a local store.
- Staff will check that it powers on, test the screen and buttons, and make you a cash offer on the spot.
- Accept the offer and walk out with cash immediately if the price works for you.
A Quick Word on E-Waste
It’s worth mentioning why this matters beyond your back pocket. Australia generates around 22 kilograms of e-waste per person every year, nearly three times the global average, and the country’s total e-waste is projected to hit 657,000 tonnes by 2030. Selling your old phone rather than letting it sit in a drawer keeps it circulating instead of ending up as landfill down the track, which is a small but genuine win either way you look at it.
Turning the Cash Into Something Fun
Once that old phone is off your hands, the money doesn’t have to go straight into the bills pile. Many Australians put it toward a newer phone with a bigger, sharper screen, which can make a real difference on nights you are watching La Liga or catching an NFL game live. There’s something satisfying about funding your next handset with the one gathering dust in your drawer, especially when it means better colour, faster refresh rates, and less squinting during a tight final quarter.
FAQs
Is it safe to sell my phone online in Australia?
Yes, it is safe as long as you take basic precautions. You must meet local buyers in public places. In this regard, you should use secure payment methods, and always factory reset your phone and remove your SIM before handing it over or posting it.
Which option pays the most for my phone?
Private sales on Gumtree, Facebook Marketplace, or eBay usually pay more than mail-in buyback services, because you are selling directly to another consumer rather than to a business that needs to resell at a profit. Buyback services and trade-ins win on speed and convenience instead.
Do I need to factory reset my phone before selling it?
Always. Back up anything you want to keep, sign out of your Apple ID or Google account, remove your SIM and any memory card, then run a full factory reset so none of your personal data goes with the phone.
What if my phone has a cracked screen or doesn’t turn on?
Several buyback services, including Reebelo and Mazuma, will still accept damaged or non-working phones, just at a lower price. It’s still worth checking rather than assuming it’s worthless.
How long does payment usually take?
Private sales on marketplaces are typically instant once you meet the buyer. Mail-in services like Mazuma and Reebelo generally pay within 24 hours of receiving and inspecting your phone.
Final Words
There is not one single best place to sell a used phone in Australia. It depends on whether you want the highest possible price, the fastest cash in hand, or the least hassle. Marketplaces like Gumtree, Facebook Marketplace, and now fee-free eBay pay the most if you’ve got a bit of time to spare. Buyback services and trade-in programs suit people who’d rather post it off and get paid without haggling with strangers. Either way, that phone in your drawer is worth more sitting in someone’s pocket than gathering dust in yours.
