Earlier this year, Apple set the tech world on fire by unveiling the 14” MacBook Pro 2021 and MacBook Pro 2021 16” with M1 Pro and M1 Max chips. Powered by the latest in Apple Silicon and featuring Liquid Retina XDR displays with mini LED technology and over 10,000 local dimming zones, these are some of the most impressive and technologically advanced laptops that money can buy.
All this tech means that the latest MacBooks don’t come cheap. Fortunately, you can upgrade for less by selling your current laptop. Keep reading to learn where you can get the most cash for your used MacBook, MacBook Air, or MacBook Pro.
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Where can I sell my MacBook?
There are quite a few places where you can trade in your MacBook — but where you sell determines how much money you get. So let’s take a look at the 6 most popular places to sell or trade in your MacBook to figure out where you can get the most cash:
Swappa gets you the most money for your used MacBook. Whether you’ve got a MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, or an older MacBook Retina; selling on Swappa means you get paid 2 to 3 times as much money compared to trading it in. But that’s not the whole story…
Unlike some trade-in programs, Swappa pays you cash, so you’re free to spend your money however you’d like. In contrast, the Apple Trade In Program gives you an Apple Store gift card, so you’re stuck paying retail when you upgrade.
So ditch the Apple Trade In Program, don’t settle for a low payment at the Best Buy Trade-In Program, and whatever you do, avoid the Walmart Trade-In scam.
Get more for your used tech and upgrade for less on Swappa.
How much can I sell my MacBook for?
Swappa gets you 2 to 3 times as much money as you’d get at a trade-in program, but it’s time to dive a little deeper and find out just how much money you can make on Swappa — and how that compares to the Apple MacBook Trade In Program.
MacBook Air Trade-In Value
The MacBook Air is Apple’s most popular laptop — and with good reason. The Air is a sleek and streamlined laptop that has more than enough power and functionality to take care of the basics. It should come as no surprise that you can make some good money selling your MacBook Air on Swappa.
| Swappa | Apple | Gazelle | Decluttr | Best Buy | Walmart | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MacBook Air 11” – Early 2015 | $284 | $190 | 112 | $120 | $135 | $125 |
| MacBook Air 13” – Early 2015 | $315 | $210 | $159 | $130 | $155 | N/A |
| MacBook Air 13” – Mid 2017 | $497 | $330 | 190 | $310 | $225 | $200 |
| MacBook Air 13” – Late 2018 | $654 | $380 | $229 | $380 | $250 | $225 |
| MacBook Air 13” – Mid 2019 | $643 | $450 | 228 | $400 | $325 | $320 |
| MacBook Air 13” – Early 2020 | $719 | $500 | $223 | $400 | N/A | $5 |
| MacBook Air 13” – Late 2020 | $813 | $620 | N/A | N/A | N/A | $144 |
Yes, you read that right: Walmart will only pay you $5 for your used MacBook Air 2020. You deserve better.
No matter which MacBook Air you own, you’ll make a lot more by selling it on Swappa. And since you’re paid in cash, you can spend it however you’d like.
MacBook Pro Trade-In Value
The MacBook Pro is Apple’s next most popular offering. Offering a great blend of power and portability, the MacBook Pro is built to handle the demands of professionals on the go. It’s no wonder that you can make a lot of money by selling your used MacBook Pro on Swappa.
| Swappa | Apple | Gazelle | Decluttr | Best Buy | Walmart | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MacBook Pro 13” – Early 2015 | $382 | $260 | 168 | $250 | $175 | $150 |
| MacBook Pro 13” – Late 2016 | $491 | $320 | $210 | $300 | $250 | $200 |
| MacBook Pro 13” – Mid 2017 | $599 | $340 | $232 | $300 | $250 | $225 |
| MacBook Pro 13” – Mid 2018 | $654 | $540 | $369 | $550 | $325 | $300 |
| MacBook Pro 13” – Mid 2019 | $787 | $560 | $282 | $400 | $400 | $400 |
| MacBook Pro 13” – Mid 2020 | $882 | $600 | $335 | $600 | $450 | N/A |
| MacBook Pro 13” – Late 2020 | $1,020 | $740 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
New or old — it doesn’t matter. You’ll always make more money selling your used MacBook Pro on Swappa.
MacBook Retina Trade-In Value
Last but not least is the older MacBook Retina line. Although the MacBook Retina was replaced by the Air, it’s still a great laptop that can power through most tasks for most users. Here’s how much you can get for your used MacBook Retina:
| Swappa | Apple | Gazelle | Decluttr | Best Buy | Walmart | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MacBook Retina – Early 2015 | $362 | $210 | 117 | $200 | $95 | $95 |
| MacBook Retina – Early 2016 | $347 | $210 | $145 | $280 | $100 | $100 |
| MacBook Retina – Mid 2017 | $530 | $310 | 157 | $350 | $110 | $110 |
Just like what we saw with the other models, the choice is clear: You get much more money selling your used MacBook Retina on Swappa.
Where is the best place to sell a MacBook?
We think it’s pretty clear by now that Swappa is the best place to sell your used MacBook. It doesn’t matter whether you have a 2020 MacBook Air with an M1 Chip or a 2015 MacBook Air with an Intel Core m3 processor — Swappa pays you 2 to 3 times as much for your used MacBook. And the Swappa goodness doesn’t end there…
Swappa is the safest marketplace for used tech. Real people verify listings before they go live, so buyers know what they’re getting. And our strict No Junk, No Jerks policy and advanced AI-powered fraud prevention keep the scams out, so you can concentrate on making more and saving more.
So what are you waiting for? Get more for your MacBook on Swappa today!
Snag the best deals on used MacBooks deals wherever you go. Download the Swappa App today!
Data acquisition: Resale and Trade-In Prices gathered on October 27, 2021 at Swappa, Apple Trade In Program, Gazelle, Decluttr, Best Buy Trade-In Program, and Walmart Trade-In Program (Gadget to Gift Cards, powered by CExchange). All items listed in “good” condition, with the processor and storage variants noted below:
| MacBook Air | Model Number | Processor | Storage |
|---|---|---|---|
| MBA11 Early 2015 | MJVM2LL/A | i5 1.6GHz | 128GB |
| MBA13 Early 2015 | MJVE2LL/A | i5 1.6GHz | 128GB |
| MBA13 Mid 2017 | MQD32LL/A | i5 1.8GHz | 128GB |
| MBA13 Late 2018 | MRE82LL/A | i5 1.6GHz | 128GB |
| MBA13 Mid 2019 | MVFH2LL/A | i5 1.6GHz | 128GB |
| MBA13 Early 2020 | MVH22xx/A | i3 1.1GHz | 256GB |
| MBA13 Late 2020 | MGN63LL/A | M1 7-Core | 256GB |
| MacBook Pro | Model Number | Processor | Storage |
|---|---|---|---|
| MBP13 Early 2015 | MF839LL/A | i5 2.7GHz | 128GB |
| MBP13 Late 2016 | MLUQ2LL/A | i5 2.0GHz | 256GB |
| MBP13 Mid 2017 | MPXQ2LL/A | i5 2.3GHz | 128GB |
| MBP13 Mid 2018 | MR9Q2LL/A | i5 2.3GHz | 256GB |
| MBP13 Mid 2019 | MUHN2LL/A | i5 1.4GHz | 128GB |
| MBP13 Mid 2020 | MXK32LL/A | i5 1.4GHz | 256GB |
| MBP13 Late 2020 | MYD83xx/A | M1 8-Core | 256GB |
| MacBook Retina | Model Number | Processor | Storage |
|---|---|---|---|
| MB Early 2015 | MK4M2LL/A | M 1.1 GHz | 256GB |
| MB Early 2016 | MLH72LL/A | m3 1.1 GHz | 256GB |
| MB Mid 2017 | MNYF2LL/A | i5 1.3 GHz | 256GB |
