COMPARISON
SubSell vs Apple Trade-In: who pays more for an iPhone in Montreal?
Short answer: SubSell pays you money, on the spot, after a free 5-minute check; Apple Trade In pays in Apple credit or an Apple Gift Card. Bring your Apple quote: we try to beat it.
Direct answer: the two do not pay in the same currency. SubSell pays money: cash on the spot in the shop, or Interac e-Transfer or bank wire for a phone sent by mail. Apple Trade In pays in Apple credit toward a purchase, or an Apple Gift Card. The amounts depend on the model and its condition on both sides, so the honest way to compare is with your own quotes: get your Apple Trade In quote, bring it to SubSell, and we try to beat it. SubSell also buys broken iPhones, at a price given after the free check.
Detailed comparison table
| Criterion | SubSell | Apple Trade-In |
|---|---|---|
| Payment form | Money: cash on the spot (by mail: Interac or bank wire) | Apple credit or an Apple Gift Card |
| When you are paid | On the spot, after a 5-minute check | By mail: once the device is received and checked; in store: as credit on a purchase |
| Broken iPhones | Bought; price given after the free check | Value depends on condition; a device not eligible for credit is recycled for free |
| Other brands | Samsung, Pixel and others bought too | Per Apple's list of eligible devices |
| Price before you come | Displayed cash price guaranteed 24 h once your request is sent | Estimate; final value after inspection |
| Receipt | ✓ With every sale | ✓ By email |
| Where | 757 Rue Beaubien East, Montreal | Online or in an Apple Store |
When Apple Trade-In still makes sense
If you are buying a new iPhone from Apple in the next few days, the credit applies right at checkout, with no step in between. If you want to stay entirely within Apple's ecosystem, it is the simplest route.
When SubSell wins
- You want money — to pay a bill, fund a trip, or buy from anyone besides Apple (Costco, Bell, Best Buy or a wholesaler).
- Your iPhone is broken — SubSell buys it too, cracked screen or water damage included; the exact price is given after the free check.
- You also have a Samsung or a Pixel — SubSell buys them too.
- You want it done today — a 5-minute check in the shop, paid on the spot, no mail-in wait.
- You want to know the price before you come — the displayed cash price is guaranteed for 24 hours once your request is sent.
How to combine both?
Pro tip: use your Apple Trade In quote as a reference. Get it online (a few minutes, no commitment), then bring it to SubSell: we try to beat Apple's number. If we can't, you leave with your iPhone and can still use Apple Trade In.
What about Kijiji, Facebook Marketplace?
Kijiji and Facebook Marketplace can sometimes pay more, but with real risks: meeting strangers, fake Interac transfers, endless negotiation, and no recourse if the buyer disputes afterwards. For many sellers, the difference is not worth the hours and the risk.
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Frequently asked questions
Does SubSell really pay more than Apple Trade-In?
SubSell pays money, cash on the spot (Interac or bank wire by mail); Apple Trade In pays in Apple credit or an Apple Gift Card. SubSell's price for every iPhone is shown online, and the displayed cash price is guaranteed for 24 hours once your request is sent. Bring your Apple Trade In quote and we try to beat it.
Why are the two offers different?
Because they are different businesses. Apple Trade In credits you toward Apple, or gives you an Apple Gift Card. SubSell is a local shop that refurbishes the phones it buys and resells them, and pays you in money. The amounts depend on the model and its condition on each side: compare your two quotes.
Apple Store credit vs cash — what's the practical difference?
Apple credit can only be used at Apple. For a refurbished iPhone elsewhere, non-Apple accessories, or just to pay a bill, money works everywhere. SubSell pays in money: cash on the spot in the shop.
Does Apple Trade-In accept broken iPhones?
Apple's trade-in value depends on the device's condition, and a device that is not eligible for credit is recycled for free. SubSell buys broken iPhones too, cracked screen, water damage or Face ID failure included: the exact price is given after the free check. See our Sell Broken iPhone page.
How long does each option take?
SubSell: about 5 minutes for the check in the shop, paid on the spot. Apple Trade In online: you ship the device, and the credit or gift card comes once it is received and checked. In an Apple Store, the trade-in value is applied to a purchase.