Every year Apple comes out with a delicious and enticing new iPhone that you absolutely MUST have. And if you have it, your kids are going to need it. And pretty soon you’re just like the rest of American and there are old cell phones piling up in junk drawers collecting dust alongside useless power cords. Those power cords might be real trash but reconsider tossing out those old cell phones. You can make some serious money for the “junk” you have laying around gathering dust and losing value by the day. And there are tons of benefits outside of monetary gain from selling your extra smartphones.

Here’s what you need to know to make the smart choice and sell your smartphone.

Trade-in Option
Many cell service providers will offer to buy your old smartphone in exchange for opening a new plan and buying from them. This might be a simple and easy solution if you were looking to make the switch, to begin with. But this option will most likely have the least amount of monetary reward. Places like Verizon and Sprint generally only offer $75-$160 for your old phone.

Sell your Smartphone to a Retailer
There are several retailers that are interested in buying back old smartphones. Gazelle is one decent option. Best Buy is a familiar option. Both of these retailers will give you estimates of their offer before you commit and sell your smartphone, but they are generally pretty low. Amazon and Apple both have trade-in options where you can trade your old device for a gift card or store credit. Buy Back Pros will help you navigate the process by making it super simple and headache-free by taking care of all the details for you. It doesn’t hurt to check out your options before you sell your iphone and see who will offer you the best estimate. Their estimates can vary widely, so be sure to shop around before you sell.

Sell to an Individual Buyer
If you sell your smartphone to an individual buyer you might be able to make a little bit more money. Typically you can get at least $50 or even $100 more if you sell your smartphone on eBay or even Facebook's sell and trade feature. If you’re going to sell your smartphone to an individual person then you’ll need to post all of the important details. You’ll have to list the model name, your carrier, the storage capacities, display size, camera resolution, and more. And be honest about the condition of your phone. If there is a scratch on the back, be sure to disclose that information and provide a picture so people can see the damage.

Prepping to Sell your Smartphone
No matter where you sell your smartphone, you need to make sure you’ve wiped all of your personal data off of it. You don’t want anyone else to have access to that stuff! A simple factory data reset will remove all pictures, email, contacts, and apps. Androids have the reset feature under Backup in the Settings section. iPhones have the reset feature in the General category of the Settings section. If you’re selling an iPhone that is operating with iOS 7 or later, then you will need to release the phone from your cloud so that the new owner can connect. All you’ll have to do is log into your iCloud account, select All Devices, and then choose the phone you want to be deleted.

After your data has been cleared, you are all set to empty out that junk drawer and put some cash in your hand!

Get a Phone for Free if you are in United States

The United States government provides a free government phone thru a program called Lifeline, which offers free or discounted phone services to eligible low-income individuals and families. This program is supported by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and is administered by various companies throughout the country.

To qualify for Lifeline, individuals must meet certain income requirements or participate in a qualifying government assistance program such as Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), or Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA).

Once qualified, individuals can receive a free cell phone and a certain number of minutes, text messages, and data each month, depending on the state and service provider. Some providers may also offer additional features such as international calling or data rollover.

To apply for Lifeline, individuals can contact a participating service provider in their state and provide documentation to prove their eligibility. They can also apply online or by mail through the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC), which oversees the program.

It's important to note that Lifeline services are not available in all areas, and the availability and terms of the program may vary depending on the state and service provider. To learn more about Lifeline and how to apply, visit the USAC website or contact a participating service provider in your state.