# Compare and Recycle vs musicMagpie — which pays more in 2026?
Compare and Recycle and musicMagpie are two of the most recognised names in UK phone recycling. Both offer free postage, fast payment and strong consumer reputations. But when it comes to the price you actually receive for your phone, the difference between the two can be significant.
This guide compares both services across the factors that matter most.
What is Compare and Recycle?
Compare and Recycle is a price comparison site for phone recycling — not a recycler itself. When you get a quote on Compare and Recycle, you're being shown prices from multiple recyclers including Envirofone, musicMagpie, Mazuma and others. You then click through to the recycler of your choice.
This means Compare and Recycle is a discovery tool rather than a destination. The prices you see are the recyclers' prices, not Compare and Recycle's own.
What is musicMagpie?
musicMagpie is one of the UK's largest phone recyclers and also sells refurbished phones. It buys directly from consumers, paying by bank transfer or PayPal. musicMagpie is consistently one of the top-paying recyclers in the UK and has an established reputation built over 15+ years.
Price comparison
Prices fluctuate daily but as a general rule musicMagpie is competitive on popular iPhone and Samsung models. The key point is that no single recycler is always the highest payer — prices change daily based on wholesale demand.
The only way to guarantee you're getting the best price is to compare across multiple recyclers before committing. GadgetRank compares 30+ UK recyclers including musicMagpie in real time.
Compare live sell prices across 30+ UK recyclers →
Payment speed
musicMagpie — typically pays within 1-2 working days of receiving your phone. Bank transfer or PayPal.
Recyclers on Compare and Recycle — varies by recycler. Envirofone pays within 1-3 days. Mazuma within 1-2 days. Always check the specific recycler's payment terms before posting.
Reliability and Trustpilot scores
Both musicMagpie and the main recyclers featured on Compare and Recycle have strong Trustpilot scores with thousands of reviews. The main complaints across all recyclers tend to centre on revised prices — where the recycler disputes the condition and offers less than the original quote.
The bait and drop problem
One issue that affects all phone recycling services — including recyclers listed on Compare and Recycle and musicMagpie itself — is the practice of revising the quoted price downward after the phone arrives.
This happens when the recycler assesses the condition differently to how you described it. It is the single most complained-about issue in UK phone recycling.
GadgetRank addresses this by showing you each recycler's condition criteria in plain English before you commit — so you know exactly what Excellent, Good and Faulty means for that specific recycler, reducing the chance of a nasty surprise.
Which should you use?
Neither — or rather, use both to compare. Check musicMagpie's price and check what else is available on the same day. The highest payer changes week to week.
GadgetRank shows you musicMagpie alongside 30+ other UK recyclers on every device page, ranked by highest payout. One search, every option.
According to Which? guidance on selling your phone, always factory reset and remove accounts before sending any device to a recycler.
Find the best price for your phone →
Frequently asked questions
Is musicMagpie safe to sell to?
Yes — musicMagpie is one of the UK's most established recyclers with over 15 years of trading and hundreds of thousands of Trustpilot reviews.
Does Compare and Recycle include musicMagpie?
Yes — musicMagpie is one of the recyclers featured on Compare and Recycle's comparison results.
What if my price gets revised after I post my phone?
You have the right to reject the revised offer and have your phone returned, though some recyclers charge a return postage fee. Always read the terms before posting.