There are more places to sell your laptop online than ever. Most of them will take your laptop and give you less than it's worth. Here's an honest comparison of the real options in 2026.
SellMyLaptops.com
Best for: Speed, simplicity, and fair prices without hassle.
Instant quotes on 13,000+ models. Free UPS shipping. Same-day payment after inspection. Family-owned since 2008, based in Reno, Nevada. Accepts working and broken devices.
Pros: No listing required, no waiting for a buyer, no shipping risk, works even if your laptop is broken.
Cons: Won't beat a perfect private sale on eBay for premium devices in mint condition.
eBay
Best for: High-end laptops in perfect condition with a patient seller.
The highest potential ceiling — but 13.25% final value fee, shipping insurance costs, and the risk of fraudulent returns eat into it fast. A $500 eBay sale nets you roughly $420 after fees. You also need to photograph it, write a listing, answer questions, and box it up yourself.
Pros: Highest ceiling for mint-condition premium laptops.
Cons: Fees, time, fraud risk, and no buyer for broken devices.
Swappa
Best for: Mid-range consumer laptops in good condition.
Lower fees than eBay (flat fee model), but smaller audience and slower sales. No broken devices accepted.
Pros: Safer than eBay, lower fees.
Cons: Slower, no broken devices, smaller market.
Back Market
Best for: Refurbishers, not individual sellers.
Back Market is a marketplace for certified refurbished devices sold by professional refurbishers. Individual sellers can't list directly.
Trade-In Programs (Best Buy, Apple, Dell)
Best for: People who value convenience above everything else.
These programs are fast and easy — and they know it. They pay 30–50% of what a private buyer or buyback service would pay. On a $600 laptop, that's a $200–$300 difference.
Pros: Extremely convenient.
Cons: Worst prices by a significant margin.
The Verdict
For most people selling most laptops: a dedicated buyback service gives you the best combination of price, speed, and safety. eBay makes sense only for mint-condition, high-demand machines with a seller willing to invest time and accept risk.