[UPDATE] The Swappa Local program has been discontinued and is no longer available. Sorry for the inconvenience.
When it comes to tech and consumer electronics, there are a few ways to sell your stuff online. While Craigslist was one of the first selling sites, the choices for making a little extra cash have grown to a variety of platforms – from selling apps like OfferUp and Letgo, to online marketplaces like Swappa. Some of these sites are app-based and online only, while others have the option of either selling online or at a local meetup.
Here we’ll break down some of the main features of the top-selling sites to help you decide which platform is best for you.
*Facebook Marketplace does offer “buyer/seller ratings,” but they’re only available on their apps (not on the website)
Swappa
Swappa started in 2010 with a single goal in mind: to provide people with a way to buy and sell tech you can trust. We know we might be biased, but judging by our hundreds of 5-star reviews on TrustPilot, our users think we’ve been doing a great job too.
One key difference between Swappa and yard sale sites like is our rule against selling junk devices. We require all devices sold in our marketplace to be in full working condition. Additionally, Swappa is the only marketplace to review listings before they can be sold.
Here are a few more benefits of selling on Swappa:
Pros
Keeps out junk devices – on Swappa, we don’t allow broken devices to be sold.
Approves listings – listings on Swappa are manually reviewed and approved before they can be purchased.
24/7 support – Swappa’s support team is available around the clock to review listings, and to answer questions to make the process fast and easy.
Serious buyers and sellers – save time when you shop on Swappa by avoiding repeated messages and missed meetings.
Buyer and seller profiles – know who you’re buying from with Swappa user profiles.
Cons
Only tech can be sold on Swappa – while we’ve already expanded our catalog from phones to devices like MacBooks, cameras, and smartwatches, Swappa is all about tech. We actually think this is more of a pro – consider us your experts for buying and selling tech you can trust. If you’re looking to buy a used car, find an apartment, or sell other non-tech-related items, look to the others.
OfferUp
Launched in 2011, the OfferUp ad-supported app offers a variety of products from used iPhones to bigger items like used cars. As of 2018, OfferUp sellers can also connect with buyers from across the country to ship their items, in addition to having the option to sell locally.
Pros
Selling app – for people who prefer chatting through an app, OfferUp’s platform is easier to use than chatting with strangers on Craigslist
Support team – The OfferUp help page offers support for buying and selling, setting up your account, and information on the rules of using the selling app. For specific questions, OfferUp encourages people to connect with their support team on Twitter or to fill out their online help form.
Buyer and seller profiles – OfferUp has public profiles for their users so people know who they’re doing business with.
Cons
Junk devices can be sold – since OfferUp doesn’t moderate listings, you can’t be sure what you’ll get. When it comes to tech, this means you could receive a broken, stolen, or blocklisted device.
Doesn’t approve listings – items do not have to be approved before they are listed on OfferUp.
Buyers may not be serious – with no listing approval process, buyers may make low offers and may not be serious about purchasing the item.
Letgo
Founded in 2015, Letgo is another service that connects buyers and sellers to sell products locally. Users on Letgo can browse the app to find a range of products like used PS4 consoles, cheap iPhones, used treadmills, and even houses. Although the name suggests you can find free items people in your area are “letting go,” most everything in the marketplace actually has a price.
Pros
Selling app – similar to OfferUp, for people who prefer chatting through an app, Letgo’s platform is easier to use than chatting with strangers on Craigslist
Support team – Letgo also has a help center with resources for things like how to post a listing, how to message the buyer or seller, and support when something goes wrong with a sale. They also have an online form users can fill out with specific questions.
Buyer and seller profiles – Letgo has user profiles where you can see past reviews from other users.
Cons
Junk devices can be sold – When it comes to tech, just about any item can be sold on Letgo, in any condition whether it’s working or broken. There’s no moderation, so it can be tough to know whether a phone for instance has been blacklisted or stolen.
Doesn’t approve listings – items do not have to be approved before they are listed on Letgo.
Buyers may not be serious – with no listing approval process, buyers may make low offers and may not be serious about purchasing the item.
eBay
Starting in 1995, eBay has grown to be one of the biggest-selling sites in the world. Different from some of the other platforms, eBay is an auction site where people can bid on an item instead of paying a flat price.
Pros
Number of buyers and sellers – When it comes to selling your goods purely online, eBay has grown to become a household name. That means there’s a wide selection of goods, and buyers and sellers.
Cons
Fees – eBay takes a 10% cut from anything you sell on their site so the more expensive the item is you’re selling, the more eBay takes from the top. This can get extremely costly. For example, a $700 old smartphone would see eBay pocketing $70 from that sale.
Junk devices can be sold – sellers are allowed to sell broken devices on eBay.
Doesn’t approve listings – items do not have to be approved before they are listed on eBay.
Buyers may not be serious – with no listing approval process, buyers may make low offers and may not be serious about purchasing the item.
Craigslist
Craigslist started in 1995 and was one of the first selling sites to take off. Known for its “no frills” design, Craigslist offers ways for people to find jobs, sell their used tech, or find an apartment to live in.
Pros
Number of buyers and sellers – like eBay, Craigslist is more of a household name and has name recognition which means more buyers and sellers.
Cons
Junk devices can be sold – Craigslist allows you to sell anything, providing it’s legal, of course. This could lead to you unknowingly buying a phone that may not be fully operational, has been reported lost, stolen, or is altogether incompatible with your carrier.
No online support – if you have any issues with your listing or have a question, you can fill out a contact form and wait. We can’t say for certain how long it will take for someone to get back to you, but the dismal 1-star review on Trustpilot is certainly telling.
No real safety measures – Craigslist doesn’t have user profiles so you’re emailing complete strangers and organizing meetups in order to complete transactions. To be frank, there’s a reason why Craigslist has the reputation it does when it comes to safety.
No moderation – there’s no real way to tell if an item on Craigslist is legitimate since Craigslist doesn’t actually moderate their listings.
Buyers may not be serious – with no listing approval process, buyers may make low offers and may not be serious about purchasing the item.
Facebook Marketplace
In 2016, Facebook introduced its own selling service: Facebook Marketplace. As the social platform with the most users worldwide, Facebook already has a huge group of users ready to buy and sell goods online.
Pros
Number of buyers and sellers – as the most popular social platform, Facebook has built-in buyers and sellers.
Cons
Junk devices can be sold – Facebook also allows you to sell anything on its platform. This could lead to you unknowingly buying a phone that may not be fully operational, has been reported lost, stolen, or is altogether incompatible with your carrier.
No online support – although Facebook does have a support team, they don’t have a team working to help ensure you get a functional device.
Doesn’t approve listings – items do not have to be approved before they are listed on Facebook Marketplace.
No moderation – there’s no real way to tell if an item on Facebook is legitimate since Facebook doesn’t actually moderate its listings.
Buyers may not be serious – with a single tap of a button, buyers can easily ask ‘is this item still available’? This can be frustrating for buyers who learn the item is not for sale anymore, and for sellers who have to deal with low-ball offers.
*****
It’s not hard to see why Swappa is a no-brainer for anyone looking to buy or sell used tech. With our focus on safety, moderation, online support, and a top-notch community of buyers/sellers, Swappa is hands down the best option for anyone looking to find the best deals, or make some extra cash selling their old devices. Hit the link below to get started buying/selling on Swappa today.