If you’ve got a new iPad for Christmas or planning to get a new iPad Pro or iPad mini 4, you’ll want to do something with your old iPad. Rather than just let the table sit idly in your drawer, you should spend a few minutes and decide whether you should give your old iPad to a loved one or sell it to get the maximum value for it.
To help you get the most money for your existing iPad, we have compared the resale prices from the most popular auction sites, classified sites and trade-in services that allow you to lock in an estimate and get quick cash for your iPad. Prices are based on a good condition WiFi-only space gray iPad Air 2 with mid-tier 64GB storage. Pricing will vary if you have an older iPad model or an iPad with a cellular modem.
Gazelle
Gazelle wants your old iPad and is offering the best trade-in price, better than your wireless carrier, local Best Buy or even Apple. Gazelle also gives you 30 days to send your item, allowing you to lock in a price now and use your old iPad up until the new one arrives. Pricing varies based on model and capacity with newer and higher capacity models worth more. For example, an iPad Air 2 64GB in good condition is worth $215, while the 128GB model is $240.
Terms: Gazelle will ship a box with a label or provide a label if you have a box. You ship the device and they will evaluate its condition before issuing a payment. You have 30 days to send in a device.
Payment: Options include a check by regular mail, an Amazon gift card, an instant PayPal payment or a charitable donation.
Prices: Gazelle offers mid-range prices among trade-in services and gets bonus points for its 30-day price lock-in, but you can do better overall on eBay if you don’t mind the hassle.
- Apple iPad Air 2 (64GB – unlocked, cellular) – $225
- Apple iPad Air 2 ,(64GB – WiFi-only) – $215
- Apple iPad Air 2 (128GB – WiFi-only) – $240
NextWorth
Similar to Gazelle, NextWorth will allow you to lock in a quote for your iPad for 30 days. NextWorth’s checkout process is a bit more detailed than Gazelle’s, requiring you to answer several,questions about the iPad’s condition. Also similar to Gazelle, NextWorth’s prices vary according to the capacity and model with newer and higher capacity versions coming out on top as the iPad models with the highest buyback price.
Terms: NextWorth will provide a shipping label for you to send your iPad to them within 30 days of requesting a quote. Following inspection, the service will send out a payment within one business day.
Payment: Options include a check by regular mail, a Discover prepaid card, a Target gift card or PayPal.
Prices: NextWorth edges out competitor Gazelle for prices, and easily beats out Apple and other retailers. It also gets bonus points for its quick payment once a device has been received and evaluated for condition.
- Apple iPad Air 2 (64GB – unlocked, cellular) – $240
- Apple iPad Air 2 ,(64GB – WiFi-only) – $220
- Apple iPad Air 2 (128GB – WiFi-only) – $260
Amazon
Amazon runs an online trade-in service,that’ll provide an Amazon gift card in exchange for your iPad. Just go to the trade-in store and search for the iPad model you want to sell back. When viewing the iPad retail page, you will see a box that says “Sell yours for a Gift Card.” Just tap on “Trade In Now” to get a quote. Amazon’s navigation is a bit more confusing than other retailers since it ties into its,retail store.
Terms: Amazon will provide a shipping label for you to send your iPad within 7 days of requesting a quote. Amazon will evaluate the condition of the device and send along payment shortly after the device is evaluated. If the trade-in price is lower than the original estimate, Amazon provides you with the option to accept the lower quote automatically or opt to return the device for free.
Payment: The only payment option is an Amazon gift card,
Prices: Amazon is another excellent payment option, but only useful if do a lot of shopping with Amazon. If you are looking to get cash for your next iPad Pro and not just money to spend on Amazon, you’ll need to look elsewhere as Amazon does not carry the iPad Pro. It’s available via third-party resellers which often jack up the price.
- Apple iPad Air 2 (64GB – unlocked, cellular) – $334.01
- Apple iPad Air 2 ,(64GB – WiFi-only) – $291.05
- Apple iPad Air 2 (128GB – WiFi-only) – $349
Best Buy
Unlike its competitors which are online-only, Best Buy accepts iPad trade-ins both online and in their retail stores. You can get an estimate of your iPad first online and then complete the transaction in the store for the fastest payment.
Terms: Best Buy provides the option to trade-in a iPad at a Best Buy retail store or send it in for free using a label supplied by the retailer.
Payment: Option only includes a Best Buy Gift Card.
Prices: Best Buy offers a low payout, when compared to other services. Best Buy’s biggest advantage is that you can go into the store and get instant credit that can be used right away to purchase a new iPad Pro.
- Apple iPad Air 2 (64GB – unlocked, cellular) – $212
- Apple iPad Air 2 ,(64GB – WiFi-only) – $192
- Apple iPad Air 2 (128GB – WiFi-only) – $234
Staples
Staples’,trade-in program is powered by Clover Wireless, which handles the device evaluation and payment process. The service requires you to either send in your device and receive a Staples eCash card via email or bring it into the store for instant store credit.
Terms: Staples will provide a shipping label for you to send the iPad into the trade-in center, where it will be evaluated. You have 30 days to send in your device. Upon evaluation, Staples will send an eCard within 15-30 days.
Payment: The only payment option is,a Staples gift card.
Prices: Staples also accepts both online and in-store trade-ins, and it pays more than competitor Best Buy, which also offer in-store trade-ins. It only provides a Staples gift card and Staples doesn’t sell the iPad Pro. Use it only as a last resort or if it is the closest retailer near you.
- Apple iPad Air 2 (64GB – unlocked, cellular) – up to $260
- Apple iPad Air 2 ,(64GB – WiFi-only) – up to $240
- Apple iPad Air 2 (128GB – WiFi-only) – up to $260
Apple
Apple introduced a Reuse and Recycling program several years ago to allow customers to recycle their old iPads. The service will pay cash in the form of an Apple Store gift card for newer models that are in functional condition. Older or non-functional iPads can be turned in for proper disposal and recycling, but not for cash. This service is available both online and in stores.
Terms: Apple will provide a shipping label for you to send the iPad into the trade-in center, where it will be evaluated. You also can visit an Apple Retail store. The mail-in evaluation is handled by a third-party company and not Apple directly.
Payment: Option only includes an Apple Store gift card for online trade-ins or instant store credit for in-store trade-ins.
Prices: Apple is lowest priced of all retailers and online services. It also doesn’t accept all the iPad models, excluding the newer iPad 6 and 6 Plus at this time. That exclusion may change once the new iPad is launched.
- Apple iPad Air 2 (64GB – unlocked, cellular) – up to $225
- Apple iPad Air 2 ,(64GB – WiFi-only) – up to $225
- Apple iPad Air 2 (128GB – WiFi-only) – up to $225
eBay
eBay is the largest online auction site and will provide you with the highest price for your used iPad. The selling process is simple — just list your iPad, watch the bids come in and ship off the iPad when you are done. Unfortunately, there is some risk as eBay has its fair share of scammers who use stolen credit cards and hijacked accounts. Protect yourself by using PayPal for payments, sending only to the confirmed address on the PayPal payment and using a shipping method that provides both a tracking number and a signature upon delivery. eBay also is pricey as you pay fees to eBay for the sale and fees to PayPal for processing the payment.
Terms: You are responsible for negotiating the sale and shipping the item according to the terms of the auction.
Payment: Payment is received before the item is shipped. You control the amount and the terms of the sale.
Prices: eBay is a great place to sell a iPad, offering higher prices and a wider pool of potential buyers. High seller fees and PayPal fees (about 10% of final sale price) take away from the final value of the device and are a discouragement to some.
- Apple iPad Air 2 (64GB – unlocked, cellular) – $465
- Apple iPad Air 2 ,(64GB – WiFi-only) – $415
- Apple iPad Air 2 (128GB – WiFi-only) – $475
Classifieds
Craigslist and other classifieds, like Uncle Henry’s in Maine, are a convenient way to sell your old iPad. Prices usually are on the higher end of the scale and you have the advantage of being paid in cash with minimal fees (most services are free). The biggest risk is your safety with some people using the classifieds to arrange a sale only to steal the item you are trying to sell. To minimize your risk, you should arrange to meet in a public place during the daytime and bring a friend if possible. You also should keep sales local and not send off your device as most of those offers to buy remotely are scams.
Terms: You are responsible for negotiating the sale and meeting locally to sell,the item.
Payment: Payment is received before the item is delivered, usually the transaction is done in person.
Prices: Craigslist prices vary by region with metropolitan areas offering higher value and quicker sales of an iPad. There are no fees and usually you are paid in cash, which are two major advantages to using Craigslist.
Family or Friends
Giving your old iPad to your family and friends is an easy way to sell your device with minimal risk of theft or fraud. The recipients likely will be happy to get a new used iPad and you can help them with the transition process if needed.
Donate to Charity
There are a variety of charitable organizations that will accept iPad for donations. Some accept the iPads and distribute them to schools, families and other individuals who are in need of a tablet, but can’t afford one. Others will resell the tablet devices to raise money for their cause. Popular charities that accept iPads include Computers with Causes and Recycling for Charities. When donating, don’t forget to get a receipt if claiming the donation on your taxes is important to you.
Tip for Jailbreakers
If you’ve got a jailbroken iPad then you could sell it for a premium to someone looking for a jailbroken device. You can use Cydia Impactor, which allows you to, return the device to stock Apple iOS software without having to restore your device. You then can sell, your iPad on iOS 9.0.2 or lower, giving the buyer the opportunity to jailbreak it.
What are you going to do?
Trade-in services are an easy way to get cash for your old iPad without having to deal with Craigslist no-shows and eBay scammers. Their convenience comes with a cost, though, as they don’t pay as much as a private sale. Nonetheless, there are many people who prefer the easy money and locked-in prices of the trade-in services.
What are you going to do with your old iPad now that the new iPad Pro is out? Are you keeping your existing iPad or will you upgrade? If you plan to upgrade, what will you do with your old iPad? If you do, trade-in your iPad, don’t forget to prepare your iPad properly by backing it up, erasing it, and turning off activation lock using our handy guide.
