I have a confession to make, and it's shocking-I still have an iPhone 4S.

In case you have forgotten what that is, it is the fifth generation of the iPhone, and came out in 2011. Since mobile technology years are like dog years, this phone is basically 25 years old.

My mobile carrier has informed me on several occasions that I am eligible for an upgrade, yet I have rebelled against the idea that I need to get a new phone-it has kind of become my thing. My phone works just as well as it did the day I got it. It is still in excellent condition, and the power adapters are the same ones I use for my iPad. (The fact that I would have to get all new chargers and docks with an iPhone 5 or newer is a sore spot for me, and one of the reasons I have clung to my 4S for as long as I have.)

With the arrival of the iPhone 6, I am starting to feel the itch to give up my fight against the inevitable and upgrade this year. Since my 4S is still in great shape, I couldn't bear letting it go without getting what I feel is a fair price. (It has become like a treasured family heirloom that you will only let go of if the person that buys it understands just how special it is.)

With a weakened resolve, I decided to start researching some of the most popular trade-in programs to see which ones provide the greatest value:

Amazon Electronics Trade-in Program

I found Amazon's program to be pretty straightforward, and they will give me a decent price for my old phone. You select your model, answer a few brief questions about your phone, and they make you an offer. If you like the offer, you ship the phone to them (for free), and they give you an Amazon gift card in that amount. For my "like-new" 16GB iPhone 4S, they will give me "up to" $123.10 in Amazon credit. Not bad for a frequent Amazon shopper like myself. I am assuming the "up to" means that they need to check that the phone is truly in the condition I claim it is before they send the full amount.

Trade-in Programs with your Mobile Carrier

Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, & T-Mobile all seem to be running similar promotions for iPhone trade-ins. My carrier-Verizon-is running a "Trade-in & Trade-up" promotion with which you can get a Verizon gift card in addition to the value of your old phone, with the purchase of an iPhone 6 or 6 Plus. Between the value of my old phone and the promotional amount, Verizon offered a trade-in total of $200, which conveniently, is the cost of an iPhone 6 with a 2-year agreement.

AT&T is claiming to give at least $200 in credit for an iPhone 4 or newer, and both T-Mobile and Sprint claim they will match or beat any competitor trade-in offer. There's no doubt that the top mobile carriers are competing for their share of the iPhone trade-ins, and the offers are pretty enticing. As far as which one to choose-the incentives seem to be pretty even across the board, so it's really just a matter of which one is your network of choice.

Apple Reuse and Recycling Program

Apple's trade-in program is similar to Amazon's-easy and straightforward. You enter in a few details about your phone and they give you an offer that will be sent to you in the form of an Apple gift card. The offer for my phone was $115-just slightly less than what Amazon offered. The benefit with Apple's program is that you can avoid the hassle of shipping and just take your old phone into an Apple Retail Store and get credit on the spot.

Best Buy Trade-in Program

Last year when my husband defected from the Apple brand by trading in his iPhone for (gasp!) an Android, we went to our local Best Buy store. We didn't expect he would get much for his iPhone 4, as it had a huge crack across the back, so I was really impressed when they gave him $50 in credit for it. BestBuy.com's current offer for my 4S is $125, but they are running an in-store only promotion for "up-to" $200 for qualifying phones.

Gazelle

Gazelle has been getting some buzz lately, so I decided to check them out as well. The site is very user friendly, and they make the process quick and easy. Answer a few simple questions about your phone and get your offer. I was a little disappointed that the offer for my phone was only $75-well under offers from the other programs. But Gazelle doesn't sell phones-they only buy them-so you get paid actual money via PayPal or a check, instead of a gift card or store credit like with the other programs. So if you have a phone that you just want to sell for cash, this option could be the way to go.

Recommendations

There are pros and cons to each trade-in program, depending on your particular needs. For me, going with the incentives from my wireless carrier seems to be the best deal at the moment. I can essentially get an iPhone 6 for "free," I just have to give them my beloved 4S and sign away my next two years. This would mean I have to act soon though, as the offer is only valid for a limited time.

For someone who wants a higher level of service, or may have questions about choosing their next phone, I would recommend Best Buy or the Apple Store. Both have very knowledgeable staff and provide credit towards your new phone, and both can enroll you into a contract with one of the top wireless carriers. If price is a concern, check them both out and see what each will offer you for your trade.

If you don't need to trade-up because your rich uncle is buying you the new iPhone 6 for Christmas-go with Gazelle or Amazon. You can get cash to put in your piggy bank, or you can use your Amazon gift card to buy all your new iPhone 6 accessories! You can never have too many cord tacos.