Short answer: a small iPhone phone farm costs roughly $600–$800 up front for three phones and $1,500–$1,900 for eight, plus software. At one post per account per day, an eight-phone farm on Farmero works out to about $0.12 per post including hardware paid off over a year — against about $1.70 per post on a done-for-you service like TokPortal.
The figures below are estimates. The assumptions are listed so you can swap in your own numbers.
Assumptions
| Input | Figure used | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Used iPhone 11 | $160 each | Buyback offers were $75–$171 on 16 Sept 2026 (BankMyCell); buying costs more than selling |
| Powered hub | $80 (7-port), $150 (10+ port) | Typical price for charging-capable hubs; varies |
| Data cable | $12 each | Short, certified |
| Mac | $0 | Most people start on a Mac they already own |
| Accounts per phone | 8 | Farmero plans are sized at eight per iPhone |
| Posts per account per day | 1 | Conservative; change it to match your plan |
| Hardware payback | 12 months | |
| Proxies | Not included | Optional; prices vary widely by provider |
Three builds
| 3 phones | 8 phones | 25 phones | |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPhones | $480 | $1,280 | $4,000 |
| Hubs | $80 | $150 | $450 (3 hubs) |
| Cables | $36 | $96 | $300 |
| Up front | $596 | $1,526 | $4,750 |
| Farmero plan | Solo $49/mo | Rack $99/mo | Studio $199/mo |
| Hardware per month (12-mo payback) | $50 | $127 | $396 |
| Monthly all-in, year one | $99 | $226 | $595 |
| Accounts | 24 | 64 | 200 |
| Posts per month (1/account/day) | 720 | 1,920 | 6,000 |
| Cost per post, year one | $0.14 | $0.12 | $0.10 |
| Cost per post after payback | $0.07 | $0.05 | $0.03 |
A 25-phone build usually needs a second Mac, which Studio covers (five Macs).
Against a done-for-you service
TokPortal charges 2 credits per post (about $1.70), 32 credits (about $27.14) to create an account, and 25 credits per account per 30 days to keep it, with plans from $49 to $1,200 a month (pricing, checked 17 Sept 2026).
At 1,920 posts a month — the eight-phone build above — posting alone would be about $3,260 a month on per-post pricing, against about $226 owning the hardware. The trade is labour: a service runs the devices for you; a farm is yours to plug in, cable and watch.
Against cloud phones
Cloud phone services charge per virtual device per month and run Android, not iOS. If you need iPhones specifically, they are not an option. See cloud phones vs real iPhones.
Costs people forget
- Replacement batteries — phones on charge all day age faster. See battery care.
- Spare cables and one spare phone — the cheapest insurance on a rack.
- An Apple Developer account ($99/year) if you do not want to re-sign runners every seven days with a free Apple ID.
- Proxies, if you run many accounts from one connection.
- Your time setting up and checking on the rack.
FAQ
What is the cheapest way to start a phone farm?
Two or three used iPhones on a Mac you already own, plugged in directly or into one small powered hub, with Farmero's free seven-day trial (two iPhones, no card).
When does owning the phones pay back against a per-post service?
Almost immediately at any real volume. At $1.70 a post, a $1,526 eight-phone build costs the same as about 900 posts.
Are newer iPhones worth the extra money?
Only if you need what they add. See which iPhone to buy.
Does Farmero charge per post?
No. Plans are monthly, by phones, accounts and Macs. Posts are not metered.