15 Places to Sell a Laptop for Cash
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Is your old laptop taking up space in your closet or lost beneath a stack of books? Selling your laptop for cash is better than letting it sit around collecting dust and it will help you afford a new one too!
How much you can get from your laptop depends on how old it is, the brand, and the hardware and software it includes.
There are many options to choose from to sell your used laptop for a fair price. We’ll let you know about the top places to sell laptops for cash.
Where to Sell Your Laptop
Here are the best options when selling your laptop.
1. Swappa
Swappa can help you sell your laptop for cash. The online community lets you create a listing using pictures and a description. Unlike eBay, which charges you a fee, you won’t pay a fee to sell your laptop on Swappa.
Instead, the buyer pays the fee as part of the final sale price.
Swappa lets you sell these laptop operating systems:
- Macbook
- Windows
- Chromebook
The platform has a few restrictions on the condition of your machine. For instance, you can’t sell your laptop if there is a crack on the screen or if any of the keys don’t work or are missing.
All in all, Swappa is a great marketplace for selling your laptop. Creating your listing only takes a minute, and accepting payment is easy since the buyer pays through PayPal.
2. SellCell
Find out how much your MacBook is worth in seconds on SellCell. While its name suggests you can sell cell phones, SellCell also offers the option to sell your MacBook for top dollar.
It’s free to sell your MacBook on SellCell, and you can advertise your computer to the top buyers. SellCell does all the work, comparing prices the best buyers are willing to pay, allowing you to get top dollar for your computer in one place.
SellCell has over ten years of experience selling electronics and works with top buyers to help you make the most of your computer.
To sell your MacBook to SellCell, you must enter your information on the company’s website, choose a buyer from the options provided, and ship your computer free of charge.
Once the buyer verifies the device, you’ll receive payment.
3. Gadget Salvation
Gadget Salvation streamlines trading your laptop for cash. You enter the brand, model and condition of your device and the service will tell you how much it’s worth.
The best part is they’ll buy it directly from you, so there’s no need to list your laptop, take photos or wait to find a buyer.
If you’re happy with the amount, you can ship the laptop using a free pre-paid shipping label.
You can sell other tech gadgets like tablets and phones, too.
When it arrives, you can receive payment within 48 hours by these methods:
- Check
- PayPal
- Venmo
- Bank deposit
4. Decluttr
Decluttr can be the best option if you want to sell various items with an instant buyback offer. One downside is the company only accepts Apple laptops built after 2012.
Laptop owners can start selling by entering their MacBook serial number and a basic condition assessment to get a quote.
You can also sell these items to Decluttr:
- Smartphones
- Tablets
- Wearables
- Books
- CDs and DVDs
- Video games
- Lego
After accepting the offer, you receive a prepaid UPS shipping label. After a final inspection, expect next-day payment by direct deposit or PayPal.
Read our Decluttr review to learn more about quickly selling tech items.
5. SellBroke
Sometimes laptops come with cracked screens or missing keys. While other places might not accept your damaged device, you can get cash for it at SellBroke.
Describe any problems during the quote process, and you’ll get an offer in just a few minutes, even if your laptop doesn’t work.
SellBroke will send you a free shipping label at UPS or FedEx. Most platforms only partner with one of the shipping companies.
Payment options include:
- Google Pay
- PayPal
- Paper check
In addition to used laptops, SellBroke buys other tech items like phones and desktop computers. The platform also buys drones, gaming consoles and 3D printers.
6. Mac of All Trades
One of the best sites to sell your Apple laptop is Mac of All Trades. They’ve been a trusted site since 1995 and have paid out over $18 million to buy used electronics.
Like most other places to sell your electronics online, Mac of All Trades provides free instant pricing and free shipping.
You will submit a form, and the service will provide a custom offer.
To get the best price, ship all the original accessories with your laptop. Your offer could be less than expected if you can’t find the charging cable or the battery is missing.
Where they really shine is in the quick payment process. Mac of All Trades sends payment to you within three business days after your laptop arrives at their facility.
Your two payment options are PayPal and mailed check.
7. VarageSale
VarageSale is a virtual garage sale site that connects you with local buyers to sell your laptop no matter what condition it’s in.
Download the app to get started. You’ll upload up to five pictures of your laptop and add a description before posting your ad online.
Using the message option built into VarageSale, buyers can contact you if they have questions about your device. Arrange a time to meet to deliver the item, and you’ll be on your way to getting cash from your laptop.
You can use this platform to sell your unwanted items from home in addition to your old laptop.
8. Gazelle
You might recognize Gazelle as a leading site for selling electronics. You can ship items for free or drop off at a local EcoATM kiosk.
This site specializes in helping you sell used cell phones, but they also buy tablets and MacBooks and other electronic devices.
The kiosks only accept phones, tablets and MP3 players, so the website is how you’ll sell your laptop.
You get an offer in less than a minute and can print off a prepaid label to ship your laptop to them for free.
Payment options include:
- Amazon gift card
- PayPal
- Paper check
It’s also possible to buy used electronics on Gazelle to save money on your next upgrade.
9. Amazon
Amazon is a retail giant and is the go-to site for everything from an inexpensive box of Kleenex to a $2 million collection of signed NFL collector’s items. But did you know about Amazon’s trade-in program?
Check to see if Amazon will accept your device as a trade-in with just a few clicks on their site. The catch is that your device must function perfectly and have no cracks or other damage.
Shipping is free when you send in your item. And, if your laptop isn’t accepted, Amazon will return it to you at no cost, too.
In exchange for your used laptop, you could get an Amazon gift card to use toward your next purchase.
10. eBay
You might not think about selling your old laptop on eBay, but the site is for more than toys and collectibles.
The account is free to set up, and the platform walks you through adding a title, description and photographs.
When you’re ready to sell, you pick a fixed sales price or set up an auction to sell your laptop to the highest bidder. You can also accept counteroffers if you wish.
eBay has built-in payment options, and the buyer can pay with PayPal, credit, or debit card. Otherwise, if you’re delivering the item in person, payment can be made upon pickup.
You will pay approximately 10% of the sales price in seller fees. If you offer free shipping, the seller covers the shipping costs.
Note: There are several other sites like eBay where you can also try to sell your laptop online.
11. Craigslist
Craigslist is one of the oldest local selling platforms, and you can sell most items for free. Selling your laptop locally is an excellent way to add some cash to your wallet.
There aren’t any limits on the condition of your device, making this an excellent option if your screen is cracked or has other damage.
The key to getting a good price on Craigslist is including a detailed description and several photos.
Seasoned sellers recommend a slight markup on the sale price. If you’d like to get $200 for your old laptop, you might set the price at $225 to allow room for negotiation with potential buyers.
You can also use the platform to sell your car, but you may need to pay a $5 listing fee.
12. Facebook Marketplace
Facebook Marketplace creates a public listing that anyone can see from the Facebook app or website. With over 800 million users, you get access to plenty of buyers.
The platform is one of the best places to sell your laptop locally, as there are no fees. This local buy-and-sell app may also get more traffic than competing platforms like Craigslist.
Selling locally means there’s no need to worry about packaging or shipping your device. Plus, the buyer can pay you in person when you meet them for pickup.
Buyers can also pay with a debit card, but neither person pays fees. Sellers can deposit the cash into a linked bank account for free.
13. Facebook Groups
Before Facebook Marketplace was an option, many people used Facebook to make money. It’s still available to use and can be a simple way to earn extra cash.
You can also list your device in the Facebook Marketplace when you add it to a Facebook Group. Choosing both options means more buyers will see your item, increasing the chances of it selling for the price you want.
Buyers are usually local to your community or city, which makes arranging for pickup and payment easy.
14. Best Buy
Best Buy’s Trade-In program will buy most of the top laptop brands. This can be a good move if you want to buy your next laptop from Best Buy.
The downside is that they pay you with Best Buy gift cards instead of cash. However, this isn’t a bad option if you need help paying for a new machine.
To start, choose the brand, model, and condition of your trade-in. Best Buy will give you an estimate of how much they’ll pay for it. You can mail the item or enter a participating location to trade your laptop at a store.
15. OfferUp
Another site specializing in local sales is OfferUp. On this site, you’ll connect with buyers looking for a great deal on a laptop in your community or nearby town, eliminating the hassle of packing and shipping your device.
You can also ship items to long-distance buyers, and the buyer pays for shipping. However, sellers pay a 12.9% service fee ($1.99 minimum) on these orders.
The online video on their site walks you through the steps to make the most of your listing. Plus, there’s a free app that lets you list your item in less than 30 seconds.
What To Do Before You Sell A Laptop
To get a good price, you’ll need to locate everything you want to sell with it, such as manuals, charging cables, a laptop bag, or other accessories.
You also should list any damage to the machine or problems you’ve noticed with the laptop.
Remember to back up and erase all the personal data on your laptop before you give it to someone else.
Check out this video on resetting your computer back to factory settings:
Once everything is stored, follow the system settings to reset your laptop to factory settings and list your laptop for sale with one of these top companies.
Be sure to include multiple photos to help your machine sell faster.
Frequently Asked Questions
While selling a laptop can be risky, selling through a platform like eBay or Swappa can ensure that the buyer is legit.
You can easily sell your laptop to a pawn shop near you. However, just know that they will not pay you what you could get by selling on the other platforms above.
It is important to reset your laptop so no one can access your personal information. If it was, it could make it easier for identity theft to occur.
Summary
With so many options, selling your laptop for cash is a breeze. The hard part is deciding how much your laptop is worth.
No matter which site you use to sell your device, Gadget Value can provide an instant quote for various brands and conditions.
You can also do an eBay search to determine a fair price before listing it for sale. So what are you waiting for? Dig out your old laptop and dust it off for extra money.