So, you’re looking for a way to get a cheap Chromebook.
You’ve probably heard some good things about them, like their blazing fast speeds, ease-of-use, or even their recent ability to run Android apps.
Thankfully, since they’re widely popular now in schools, it’s easy to get your hands on a Chromebook for cheap without much effort. I compiled this list of places you can look to get one for dirt cheap.
If you want to jump on the Chromebook bandwagon but you don’t want to spend a whole lot, you’ve come to the right place!
Let’s get started. I’ll show you where to find a Chromebook for cheap!
Last updated: 2/24/23. This list has been updated. New methods to find Chromebooks for cheap are constantly being added as necessary.
These methods are still working (and saving) readers their hard-earned cash in 2021 and beyond.
1. Check eBay
eBay is probably my favorite place to find stuff for next-to-nothing. Chromebooks are no exception. You’re nearly guaranteed to find a cheap Chromebook on this platform. They have Chromebooks in both new and used condition for prices much less than MSRP often with free shipping. I’m not being sponsored for this post by them.
This is by far my favorite method to get a cheap one, even if used. It’s much safer than using Craigslist if you’re afraid getting scammed or something. eBay nearly always backs the buyer if there are problems or issues. And you can read seller ratings too.
Not to mention, refurbished on eBay comes with a warranty.
If you really want to save some bucks, they run promotions for 5% back in eBay Bucks, which are basically e-gift certificates. Buy when you see these campaigns ongoing. Check if your credit card has special offers for PayPal (their most widely used payment method) or eBay specials.
You can really save some money buying a used Chromebook. Or selling yours first then putting the cash towards a new one.
With everyone going to work from home mode, you just may have been obligated to pick up a cheap laptop for virtual meetings and such. A Chromebook can handle all the basic software and functions OK as a machine just for meetings.
It’s got a webcam. It’s got an internal mic. And it’s got speakers. If you just need a laptop for online conferences, a Chromebook ticks all the boxes.
I’m just honestly giving my opinion about the platform. Their prices for Chromebooks are either at or below MSRP with free shipping and expedited delivery. This beats Amazon if you’re not a Prime member because you get free and fast shipping without the need for a membership.
I’d check eBay first for the particular Chromebook you’re looking for. If you don’t ‘have one in mind, just do this:
- Go to eBay.
- Look for the search bar and type in “chromebook” and hit Enter.
- Sort by “Lowest Price + Shipping” on the search results.
- Choose “Buy it Now.”
That’s the secret sauce.
Price filters are key
A lot of people don’t even know how to use a filter, so I thought I’d write this for the people who are looking for a good Chromebook deal. Now skim through the search results until you find one that catches your eye. You can also use the Auction system, but I find that it takes too much time (I have no patience), and often results in about the same price as the BIN price so it’s pretty much a waste of time.
And if you’re looking for a cheap Chromebook, time is valuable. Wasting time looking for deals or auctioning is the same as paying an additional fee with your own time, so don’t spend too long deal hunting.
You can also do this technique with the if you’re looking for a specific Chromebook model.
For example, if you want an Acer CB3-131, just type that directly into the search bar and you’ll get the results. Filter them by doing the same process as above to get a Chromebook for a bargain! Here’s an example of what I mean. It’s an eBay search filtered by lowest price and BIN format.
This is still my favorite method to use for finding dirt-cheap electronics. eBay may have a bad rep, but you can find secondhand laptops for next-to-nothing. And often with free shipping!
2. Check Craigslist
It’s the most popular classifieds directory in the US. You’re bound to find a sweet deal on a cheap Chromebook there. The best way is to simply go to your local city and search for “chromebook” or the specific model if you have one in mind.
The classic classifieds site never fails to impress with the deals that can be had for cheap.
Get good at scalping and reselling Chromebooks and you can have a business on the side! Making money with your Chromebook? Yes. It’s possible. And all you need is a laptop with Internet. That’s it.
There are more opportunities than ever.
If you’ve never used CL before, it can be confusing for newbies due to its older design. Believe it or not, this is how web pages looked back then in the 90s. Here’s how to find a good deal on a Chromebook using Craigslist:
Step 1: Go to craigslist and find your city. It should automatically connect you to your local directory, but if it doesn’t or if it puts you in the wrong city, you can select the appropriate one.
Step 2: Type in “chromebook” and hit Enter. If you know what you want, then type in the model number, like “samsung chromebook pro.”
Step 3: Filter the results by price. Or just start browsing.
Step 4: When you find one that peaks your interest, contact the seller via email, phone, or text depending on what they allow. Sellers are often willing to bargain for a lower price unless they state that they don’t want low-ball offers (in this case make reasonable offer) or the price is firm. But if nothing’s stated, you can always make an offer.
Tip: OBO means “Or Best Offer.” These sellers will negotiate the price!
That’s it. You can usually score an awesome deal on Chromebooks using this technique. If you want to buy a used Chromebook, this is the place to look. Provided you look hard enough, you can often find some very, very cheap prices- often up to 50% off the MSRP, sometimes even NEW.
Remember to always bargain with the seller with a counteroffer. Unless they specifically state “price is firm” or “no lowball offers,” you can make a deal.
3. Use deal sites
This is one option that’s often overlooked. People usually just buy straight from the retailer without even checking out the possible deals that are just clicks away and could save some serious cash. They have deals on everything and there’s a deal site dedicated to every niche on the planet. But we’re looking for cheap Chromebooks and nothing else.
There are a lot of deal sites out there, but the ones I personally use that find all the best deals are Slickdeals and Dealsplus. Just go to either one and search for “chromebook” or the specific model you have in mind. Browse any available deals and see if it’s on sale. Usually, when stores have discounts and specials on Chromebooks, they’ll be posted on these portals since they’re some of the top dogs and most popular deal sites out there.
This one is a fast solution and saves you time in checking for possible deals from major retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, Fry’s Electronics, Newegg, Walmart, Microcenter, etc. If there’s a good deal, it’ll be posted on either portal.
4. Search on Amazon
Let’s not forget about the largest online retailer on the planet. Amazon tends to usually have the lowest price and offer free 2-day shipping for Prime subscribers. And it’s pretty much guaranteed they’ll have a cheap Chromebook that fits your interests due to their huge volume of inventory.
Just doing a search for “chromebook” yields plenty of results to do price comparison shopping.
Their prices are usually the lowest or on-par with other retailers, as they have an automatic bot that changes their prices to match the lowest retailer. Check on Amazon to get a scope of the average low price of a Chromebook and then you can do your price comparisons from there. Usually, they’ll have the lowest price or just a few dollars more in terms of Chromebooks.
If you’re comfortable shopping on Amazon or you don’t want to buy it elsewhere (or you have Prime), then it’s worth the few extra dollars.
But other times, they may not have the lowest price or the price difference between Amazon and a competitor is significant.
If they don’t have the lowest price, you can try price matching with Amazon.
To do this, simply find the product then scroll down about halfway through the page.
To demonstrate this, here’s a page for the CB3-131. Scroll down and you’ll see a link that says “Would you like to tell us about a lower price?” Click on it and let them know about a cheaper price you found elsewhere. You can often get them to lower and match their price if the other competitor fits their acceptable price match policy.
5. Check electronic outlets and clearances
Retail giants like Best Buy, Walmart, and even Amazon all have older stock that they discontinue. This is the perfect opportunity to snag a cheap Chromebook and get an awesome deal on one.
When newer models roll out, the older one usually gets discounted quickly in order to sell out. Watch for new Chromebooks as they roll out and then search for the older model to check prices. If you don’t know how to do this, Google is your friend.
Use a combination of Wikipedia and Google in order to find discounted Chromebooks. For example, if the Samsung 2 Chromebook just came out, do a search for “samsung chromebook list” and find a Wikipedia page entry for a list of them (seriously, Wikipedia has everything).
Scan through the list and look for the previous model before the Samsung 2 came out. In this case, it’s the original Samsung 1 Chromebook.
Then just use any of the methods above to look for a good deal on the Samsung 1. That’s it.
You can also browse clearance aisles at physical retailers or even online clearance sections such as the Amazon Warehouse.
6. Buy it used
This is probably the most surefire way to get a Chromebook for cheap. Buying it used can save you a ton of cash depending on the condition of it. You can use any of the methods above and search for used Chromebooks:
- On eBay, just filter the search results by ticking the “Used” checkbox in the search results, like this.
- If you’re on Amazon, you can click on “Browse all sellers” and look for Chromebook in used condition. Here’s an example.
- And if you’re on craigslist, you can simply search for “used chromebook” or use the condition filter to select from new, like new, excellent, fair, good, or salvage only, as shown here.
Do you get it now? It’s not hard at all! You can usualy find a cheap Chromebook with just a few clicks if you’re getting it used.
Did you find a sweet Chromebook deal?
Well, that’s about all the tips I have for you right now on finding a cheap Chromebook. With a little bit of patience and some scouring, you’re sure to find a good deal on a Chromebook and never pay MSRP again!
If you have any tips, feel free to add them to this list by leaving a comment! And if you’ve found this list helpful, let me know as well.
Also, consider telling a friend about this guide who you think may be interested in buying a Chromebook =].
Thanks for reading!
