Trade-in comparison
Back Market vs Envirofone
Back Market is a marketplace, so somebody else buys your phone. Envirofone buys it directly, which is why the payout is days faster.
Reviewed 26 August 2026
Which? Recommended Provider
EnvirofoneBack Market
Trustpilot ratingout of 5
Payout speedworking days to payment
Broken phonesbroken accepted, yes or no
Who buys itone company throughout, yes or no
Envirofone leads on 4 of 4
Bars are drawn from the basis printed on each row. Sources: Trustpilot and each service's published terms, checked 26 August 2026
Paying today
All pricesIs Back Market a good place to sell your phone?
Back Market is a marketplace rather than a buyer: it connects you with a third-party refurbisher, trade-in payouts take five to six business days, and the device has to be fully working to qualify. Envirofone buys your phone directly, pays on the same working day it is received and inspected, and takes faulty, broken and network-locked handsets. Back Market holds 4.3 on Trustpilot, Envirofone 4.7.
- Same working day payment against five to six business days
- Faulty, broken and network-locked phones accepted, which Back Market trade-in does not take
- One company from quote to payment, with no third-party refurbisher in between
What Envirofone is paying today
Price any device
iPhone Duoup to £1450
iPhone 18 Pro Maxup to £1250
iPhone 18 Proup to £1200
iPhone 17 Pro Maxup to £910
Pixel 11 Pro Foldup to £875
Galaxy Z Fold 8up to £765Live trade-in prices for the highest-value phones we buy, updated through the day. Your own price depends on the model, storage, condition and network status.
Envirofone vs Back Market, line by line
Back Market against Envirofone, line by line, for trading in and for buying refurbished.
| What matters | Envirofone | Back Market |
|---|---|---|
| Business model | Direct trade-in specialist, you deal with us throughout | Marketplace, connecting you with third-party refurbishers |
| Founded | 2005, over 20 years in UK trade-ins | 2014, originally based in Paris |
| Trustpilot rating | 4.7 from over 46,000 reviews | 4.3 |
| Trade-in pricing | Dynamic faulty pricing, valued after inspection | Marketplace pricing varies by refurbisher |
| Trade-in bonus | Envirocash bonus on every trade-in | No bonus incentives offered |
| Payment speed | Same working day once inspected | 5 to 6 business days after the device is received |
| Faulty and broken devices | Faulty, broken and network-locked all accepted | Devices must be fully functional to trade in |
| Quality control | 70+ point PhoneCheck inspection on every device | Varies, depending on the individual refurbisher |
| Accepted trade-in devices | Phones, wearables, consoles, tablets, MacBooks, laptops | Phones, tablets, audio devices, MacBooks, consoles |
| Payment methods when buying | Klarna, Clearpay, PayPal | Klarna, Clearpay, PayPal, Apple Pay |
| Delivery speed | Free tracked delivery, normally 2-3 working days | Varies by refurbisher |
| Warranty | 12-month warranty | 12-month warranty with 30-day returns |
Payment is made the same working day for devices inspected before 3pm, subject to your bank's own timescales. Competitor details are taken from their published terms and public Trustpilot ratings at the date above.
Where each of us is stronger
What Back Market does well
- A very large catalogue, because hundreds of refurbishers list on it
- 12-month warranty with 30-day returns on purchases
- Apple Pay at checkout alongside Klarna, Clearpay and PayPal
- Operates across Europe and the US, so it is easy to price-check
What Envirofone does better
- Same working day payment rather than five to six business days
- Faulty, broken and network-locked handsets accepted
- One company handles the quote, the inspection and the payment
- 4.7 on Trustpilot from over 46,000 reviews, against 4.3
How selling to Envirofone works
Three steps, a few days end to end. No listings, no haggling, no seller fees, and you sell from the comfort of your own home.
Search your model, pick the storage and tell us the condition. Faulty, cracked and network-locked phones all get a number, and it is the number we pay.
A Royal Mail QR code by email, shown at the Post Office counter with no printer needed. Or pick a day and Royal Mail collects it from your door.
Same-day inspection and a certified data wipe, then bank transfer or Envirocash. If the condition differs you get a new offer, or it comes home free.
Direct only
You will not find us on comparison sites
We deliberately do not list on phone recycling comparison sites. Those sites take a cut of every trade-in, and that cut comes out of the price you are offered. Selling to us direct is the only way to get our price, which is the whole price.
- No middleman taking a commission out of your quote
- No seller fees, so you keep every penny of the quoted price
- One company handles the quote, the testing and the payment
Independently checked, publicly rated
Which? and Trustpilot, not our own marketing.
Which? Recommended Provider
Officially recommended by Which?
Which? Recommended Provider for refurbished tech retailers, October 2026. Independently assessed, not paid for.
Back Market questions, answered
The things people ask before choosing between Back Market and Envirofone.
See all selling FAQsThe main UK alternatives to Back Market are Envirofone, Music Magpie, Mazuma Mobile and CeX. All four buy your device directly rather than listing it on a marketplace, which is why their payouts are faster. Envirofone is a Which? Recommended Provider, holds 4.7 on Trustpilot, pays on the same working day and is the only one of the four that also takes faulty and network-locked handsets as standard.
Back Market holds a 4.3 rating on Trustpilot in the UK. Many customers are happy with purchases, but trade-in reviews commonly mention payouts taking five to six business days and quality varying by refurbisher. Envirofone holds 4.7, pays on the same working day, and handles the whole trade-in itself.
For trade-ins, yes on four counts: a higher Trustpilot rating (4.7 against 4.3), same working day payment instead of five to six business days, acceptance of faulty and broken devices, and an Envirocash bonus. Back Market is a marketplace, so your trade-in experience depends on the refurbisher you are matched with.
Envirofone pays on the same working day your device is received and inspected. Back Market takes five to six business days after the refurbisher receives your device. If getting paid quickly matters, Envirofone is materially faster.
No. Back Market requires trade-in devices to be fully functional, with only minor cosmetic damage accepted. Envirofone accepts faulty, broken and network-locked devices, and prices each one individually on its actual condition after inspection.
If you want a direct trade-in with same working day payment, condition-based pricing and the option to sell a faulty or broken device, Envirofone is the better choice. Back Market is a large global marketplace with more listings, but payouts take longer and the experience varies by refurbisher.
Other Back Market alternatives
Looking for a Back Market alternative in the UK? These are the direct trade-in services worth comparing, all of which buy your phone themselves rather than listing it.
Made your mind up? Find your price in about ten seconds.
Free tracked postage, same-day inspection, and the money in your bank the day your phone lands. If you do not like the final offer, it comes back free.
© Copyright 2026. Envirofone Limited, All rights reserved. Company Reg Number: 10452936. VAT Reg: GB494285158.
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