Comparison

Back Market vs Plug®

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Back Market

Shop for professionally inspected refurbished electronics like phones, tablets, and laptops at significant savings. The app offers a 1-year warranty, 30-day returns, and trade-in options for your old devices, promoting sustainability and affordability.

Highlights
  • Shop refurbished phones, tablets, laptops, and more
  • 1-year warranty and 30-day returns on eligible purchases
  • Trade-in old devices for cash
  • Device diagnostics and care features
  • Exclusive discounts for students, educators, and military
  • Order tracking and flexible payment options
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Refurbished tech that's actually as good as it sounds. Because you should have the same peace of mind buying refurbished as you do when buying new. Every device is professionally inspected and backed by The Back Market Promise. With over 17 million customers globally, Back Market is the refurbished tech marketplace and shopping app where people buy refurbished and pre-owned devices with confidence — for way less than buying brand new. Save up to 40% vs. buying new on professionally inspected devices. Browse phones, iPads and tablets, MacBooks and laptops, Apple Watch, smartwatches, AirPods, audio gear, gaming consoles and more all in one app, all given a second life by experts. ▶ SHOP REFURBISHED TECH YOU CAN TRUST WITH THE BACK MARKET PROMISE Every device sold on Back Market is refurbished by qualified professionals and thoroughly checked before it reaches you. Eligible purchases include: • 1-year warranty • 30-day returns if it’s not the right fit • Devices checked with up to 100-point quality inspections • Devices guaranteed not to be locked, stolen or fraudulently sourced • Back Market Customer Care ready to help if something goes wrong Get extra peace of mind on eligible purchases with Express Replacement: if something goes wrong with an eligible device, a replacement can be shipped for free before the original device is sent back. On eligible purchases, you can also add a BackUp protection plan for even more protection if something goes wrong. ▶ AN APP BUILT AROUND HOW YOU SHOP The Back Market app makes it easy to choose the right device: • Browse and compare phones, tablets, laptops and more in one place • Discover offers and limited-time deals on tech that suits your needs • Save your favorites and get notified when prices drop • Follow your order from checkout to delivery with in-app tracking • Use flexible payment options and pay over time, where available ▶ STUDENT, EDUCATOR OR US MILITARY? • Students and educators can get an extra $20 off eligible orders. • Eligible US military customers can get an extra 10% off selected offers. ▶ TURN OLD TECH INTO MONEY WITH BACK MARKET TRADE-IN • Sell your old smartphones, tablets, MacBooks and laptops, gaming consoles, headphones. • Get a Trade-in offer in minutes, ship your device for free using the instructions provided and get paid once it’s checked • Scan to trade in and AI grading help you identify your device, assess its condition and get a more accurate offer in minutes • You can get up to $700 for eligible devices when you trade in ▶ CHECK HOW YOUR DEVICE IS DOING With Device Care features available in the app, you can run diagnostics on your current phone or tablet to check key functions such as screen, audio, camera, sensors and connectivity. It’s an extra way to keep an eye on how your device is working and get more life out of it. ▶ REFURBISHED THAT’S BETTER FOR YOUR WALLET AND THE PLANET Choosing refurbished instead of new helps extend the life of existing devices and reduce electronic waste. You get refurbished tech that fits your life today, while helping avoid the impact of manufacturing something brand new. ▶ ABOUT US Founded more than 10 years ago, Back Market is one of the largest premium refurbished tech marketplaces. Our mission is to make refurbished tech the mainstream choice by extending the life of devices, fighting electronic waste, and challenging today's throwaway culture. Over 30 million refurbished devices have been sold on Back Market across 17 markets, avoiding approximately 1.6 million tons of carbon emissions. Buy smarter, buy with confidence.

About

Plug®

Access a curated selection of certified refurbished tech, including iPhones, at competitive prices. Track orders, get exclusive deal notifications, and enjoy a 1-year warranty on all devices. Offers installment payments and free 2-day shipping.

Highlights
  • Certified refurbished tech
  • Best prices on inventory
  • Order tracking
  • Exclusive deal notifications
  • 1-year warranty
  • Installment payments
  • Free 2-day shipping
Features
Read full description

Plug® is your connection to the latest iPhones and more Our mission is to take pre owned devices and turn them into certified refurbished devices. Tap into the plug family, anytime, anywhere, and all in one spot — the plug app. Get instant updates, track your orders, find any item in stock, and get inspired by our users all over the world! With the Plug app, you will be able to do the following: 1. Choose directly from plugs inventory, which includes the best prices. 2. Access customer care: Order tracking and after-sales support. 3. Receive notifications and updates on exclusive deals 4. Receive updates on what is going on at Plug and how we are helping the environment We have the best deals on pre-owned devices. - All devices are fully tested, work perfectly, and are backed with a 1-year warranty - Installment payments available with Shop Pay Installments - Free 2 Day shipping and you can track your package directly in the app - 30-day hassle-free return policy

Screenshots

Back Market4 screens
Plug®4 screens

Verdict

The call

Back Market and Plug® both sit at 4.7 stars, but that hides the real split: 84% of Plug®'s written reviews are positive against 50% of Back Market's. Back Market's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 2 weeks) and chart position (#165 vs unranked). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Back Market against 4.7 for Plug®. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 70K and 16K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 50% of Back Market's written reviews are positive against 84% of Plug®'s.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Back Market ships an update weekly, Plug® every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on November 9, 2026.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
Back Market versus Plug®: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBack MarketPlug®
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (70K ratings)4.7 (16K ratings) — better
Positive reviews49.7% of reviews84.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings70K — better16K
Update frequencyWeekly — betterEvery 2 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
Best chart rank#165 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size210 MB66 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperBack MarketeCommsell

Customer experience

Back Market

All ratings70,413 ratings
Positive93.6%
Neutral1.7%
Negative4.7%
Written reviews1,410 reviews
Positive49.7%
Neutral3.9%
Negative46.4%

Plug®

All ratings15,747 ratings
Positive93.4%
Neutral1.7%
Negative4.9%
Written reviews555 reviews
Positive84.0%
Neutral2.5%
Negative13.5%

User reviews

Back Market

From 70K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Fast and reliable delivery
  • 👍 Great quality refurbished products
  • 💰 Affordable prices
  • ♻️ Environmentally friendly
  • 🔒 Trustworthy company

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Issues with product condition not matching description
  • 🔍 Lack of transparency from sellers
  • 🤔 Confusing return/refund process
  • 📞 Poor responsiveness of customer support
  • 🕰️ Slow shipping and order processing

Plug®

From 16K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 💰 Affordable prices
  • 🚚 Fast shipping
  • 🎁 Giveaways and discounts
  • 📱 Wide selection of devices
  • 🔄 Good condition of refurbished devices

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Occasional issues with device functionality (e.g., Face ID, audio, battery)
  • 🔒 Concerns about device locking/activation issues
  • 📦 Inconsistent shipping times
  • 🔁 Difficulty with returns/exchanges
  • 🚫 Limited availability for Canadian customers

Bugs and requests

Back Market

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Devices arriving locked or with other issues
  • Incorrect product specifications on listings
  • Inconsistent quality control

Requested features

4 requests
  • Battery health information for devices
  • More detailed product condition descriptions
  • Direct communication with sellers
  • Improved packaging and shipping to prevent damage

Plug®

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • App crashes or freezes on boot screen
  • Pricing discrepancies between app and checkout

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add option to change currency
  • Expand shipping to Canada
  • Improve return/exchange process
  • Provide more details on device condition

In-app purchases

None

Back Market

No in-app purchases

None

Plug®

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Back Market free?
Back Market is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Plug® free?
Plug® is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Back Market or Plug®?
Plug® is rated higher. Back Market averages 4.7 out of 5 from 70K ratings, while Plug® averages 4.7 from 16K ratings.
Do Back Market or Plug® have ads?
Neither Back Market nor Plug® shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Back Market or Plug®?
Back Market ships an update weekly, and Plug® every 2 weeks. Most recently, Back Market was updated on November 9, 2026 and Plug® on November 9, 2026.

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