How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Ratings come from G2, Capterra or Trustpilot, with the date we checked them.
Key takeaways
- TCGplayer is the best general price checker, with market data across Pokemon, Magic, Yu-Gi-Oh, and more.
- Solira and Shiny offer the fastest camera scanning with broad game coverage and TCGplayer market prices.
- TCG Card Scanner adds batch binder scanning, offline Japanese card recognition, and AI grading estimates.
- Pokellector and Moxfield suit single game collectors who want set tracking or deck building beside prices.
- Scan values are estimates, not appraisals. Condition matters: heavily played cards can sell for 50 to 70 percent less than listed prices, and grading estimates are not official PSA, BGS, or CGC grades.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|
 TCGplayer | General price checking | Free | Yes |
 Solira | Fast multi game scanning | Free | Yes |
 Shiny | Price data across marketplaces | Free | Yes |
 TCG Card Scanner | Batch scanning and grading estimates | Free | Yes |
 Foloy | All in one scanning and tracking | Free | Yes |
 Pokellector | Pokemon set completion | Free | Yes |
 Moxfield | Magic decks and prices | Free | Yes |
 PriceCharting | Vintage and graded values | Free | Yes |
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The best TCG scanner apps
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
TCGplayer is the default price reference for trading card games in the US. Its app covers Pokemon, Magic: The Gathering, Yu-Gi-Oh, and other games with market prices, recent sales data, and price history, plus barcode scanning for sealed products and singles. Because TCGplayer is also a marketplace, its prices reflect real transactions rather than hopeful listings.
The app is a price checker first and a scanner second: camera identification is less deep than Solira or Shiny, and collection management is lighter. For a collector at a card show who needs a trustworthy price in seconds, TCGplayer is the first app to open, and it is free.
What we like- Market prices and price history across major games
- Barcode scanning in the app
- Marketplace to buy and sell beside prices
Watch out for- Scanning is less specialized than dedicated scanners
- Prices reflect TCGplayer sales only
- Collection tools are lighter than rivals
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Solira is an iPhone card scanner app: point the camera at a card and it shows the matching card with its current TCGplayer market price. It covers 17 trading card games, including Pokemon in English and Japanese, Magic, Yu-Gi-Oh, One Piece, Disney Lorcana, Dragon Ball, Flesh and Blood, Digimon, Star Wars Unlimited, and more, though set coverage varies by game.
Downloading and trying a scan is free, while unlimited scans and full card details need Solira Pro. Grade estimates from front and back photos check centering, corners, edges, and surface, but the result is an estimate, not an official grade, and Solira does not authenticate cards. For fast multi game scanning with trusted prices, Solira is a top pick.
What we like- Point the camera and get the card plus TCGplayer market price
- 17 games including Pokemon, Magic, Yu-Gi-Oh, One Piece, and Lorcana
- Grade estimates from front and back photos
Watch out for- Unlimited scans and full details need Solira Pro
- No sports cards
- Prices are references, not offers
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Shiny, from Shiny Cardboard, claims over a million collectors and offers the fastest card recognition in its category, with unlimited scanning. Its edge is price data: values from eBay, TCGplayer, and Cardmarket, including graded slabs and sealed products, with historical prices, all free. Collection management, set folders, wish lists, and price alerts are also free.
Coverage spans Pokemon, One Piece, Magic, Yu-Gi-Oh, Dragon Ball, Gundam, Riftbound, and Disney Lorcana, with support for emerging games, though it is narrower than Solira's 17 games. The centering tool helps decide which cards are worth sending for grading, but it is not a grade. For a collector who wants the widest price picture free, Shiny is hard to beat.
What we like- Price data from eBay, TCGplayer, and Cardmarket with history
- Unlimited scanning
- Collection management and price alerts free
Watch out for- Game coverage is narrower than Solira
- Centering tool is a pre grading check only
- Some features need an account
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
TCG Card Scanner scans cards in real time from the camera or gallery, using artwork recognition that works on holo, worn, and Japanese cards. For Pokemon it recognizes tens of thousands of English and Japanese cards, even offline, including new Japanese sets. Batch scanning counts duplicates automatically, and users can pick the exact version: first edition, unlimited, holo, or reverse holo.
Prices come from TCGplayer and Cardmarket with daily updates, price history, and graded values, while AI grading checks centering, corners, edges, and surface before a card is sent to PSA, BGS, or CGC. The free tier covers daily scans and 100 tracked cards, while Pro adds unlimited scans, alerts, and CSV export. For a binder heavy collector, this is the most complete scanner.
What we like- Batch scan whole binders with duplicate counting
- Recognizes 21,000 plus English and 23,000 plus Japanese Pokemon cards, even offline
- AI grading estimates and trade analyzer
Watch out for- Free tier caps tracked cards at 100
- Pro is a subscription
- Game list is smaller than Solira
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Foloy, from Scaling Engine, is an all in one scanner and collection manager for collectors from first booster pack to large collections. It scans Pokemon, Yu-Gi-Oh, Magic, One Piece, Dragon Ball, and other games instantly, then shows card details, artwork, set, rarity, and rulings, plus live pricing from marketplace sales and auction results.
Trending prices, price history, and alerts help users decide when to buy, sell, or hold, while collection tools track sets and wish lists. As a newer app, its community and data depth vary by game. For a collector who wants scanning, pricing, and tracking in one free app, Foloy is a strong all rounder.
What we like- AI scanning across major games
- Live market trends and price history
- Smart collection management with alerts
Watch out for- Newer app with a smaller community
- Some data depth varies by game
- Store listing should be confirmed at link pass
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Pokellector is the specialist pick for Pokemon collectors who care about completing sets. It offers clear set checklists and collection tracking built around Pokemon releases, which general scanners handle less neatly. Collectors commonly pair it with TCGplayer: Pokellector for the collection, TCGplayer for prices.
It covers Pokemon only and has no camera scanning, so it is a companion rather than a standalone scanner. For a Pokemon collector chasing set completion, Pokellector remains the best organized tracker available, and it is free.
What we like- Built for Pokemon set tracking
- Clear set checklists
- Pairs well with TCGplayer for prices
Watch out for- Pokemon only
- No camera scanning
- Prices come from other sources
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Moxfield is the deck building home for Magic: The Gathering players, with collection tracking and deck prices beside powerful building tools. Players build decks, check prices, share lists, and track collection value in one place, with a large community behind it.
It covers Magic only and has no camera scanning, so it pairs with TCGplayer or a scanner for identifying physical cards. For a Magic player who wants decks and prices together, Moxfield is the standard, and its core tools are free.
What we like- Best Magic deck builder with prices
- Collection and deck value tracking
- Large community and shared decks
Watch out for- Magic only
- No camera scanning
- Best features need familiarity with Magic formats
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
PriceCharting tracks values for trading cards, video games, and collectibles, with strength in vintage and graded cards. It combines marketplace data with eBay sold listings, which helps for older cards where TCGplayer data is thin. Collectors use it beside TCGplayer when pricing vintage or graded pieces.
It is not a camera scanner, and its interface is dense with data, so it suits research at a desk more than a quick check at a show table. For a collector pricing vintage or graded cards, PriceCharting is an essential second source, and it is free to browse.
What we like- Strong for vintage and graded card values
- Combines marketplace and eBay sold data
- Useful beside TCGplayer for older cards
Watch out for- Not a camera scanner
- Interface is data dense
- Best for research rather than quick show floor checks
How we chose
We ranked apps by scan accuracy, game coverage, price source quality, and collection tools. Apps that recognize cards from artwork, including holo and Japanese cards, scored above barcode only tools. Prices from real sales scored above asking prices, and free tiers that cover real use scored above trials that block core features.
We stated value limits plainly throughout. Scan prices are market references, not offers, and a card's realized price depends on exact printing, condition, language, grade, fees, and timing. Heavily played cards can sell for 50 to 70 percent less than near mint listings, and no app's grade estimate replaces an official grade.
Buying guide
Start with your games. A multi game collector should try Solira or Shiny first, while a Pokemon only collector pairs Pokellector with TCGplayer, and a Magic player pairs Moxfield with a scanner. Check game coverage before committing, since set and printing coverage varies by app and game.
Next, test scanning on your hardest cards: holo patterns, Japanese text, worn edges, and dark sleeves. Scan in even light with all four edges in frame and the name and collector number readable. If an app misidentifies your cards often, switch: accuracy matters more than any extra feature.
Finally, use prices as a range, not a verdict. Check two sources, adjust for condition, and look at recent sold listings for valuable cards. For grading candidates, use the app's centering tool as a screen, then send only the strongest cards to PSA, BGS, or CGC, since grading fees can exceed a card's value.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best TCG scanner app overall?
TCGplayer is the best general price checker, while Solira and Shiny offer the fastest camera scanning across games. TCG Card Scanner is best for batch scanning binders and grading estimates.
Are scan prices accurate?
Scan prices reflect recent market data and are usually close for common cards, but condition, printing, language, and timing change realized prices. Heavily played cards can sell for 50 to 70 percent less than listed prices.
Can a scanner app grade my card?
No app gives an official grade. Apps estimate centering, corners, edges, and surface to help decide which cards are worth sending to PSA, BGS, or CGC, but only those graders issue real grades.
Do scanner apps work with Japanese cards?
Yes, several do. TCG Card Scanner recognizes tens of thousands of Japanese Pokemon cards by artwork, and Solira covers Japanese Pokemon cards too. Results depend on artwork clarity and set coverage.
Is there a free TCG scanner app?
Yes. TCGplayer, Shiny, Foloy, Pokellector, Moxfield, and PriceCharting are free to start, while Solira and TCG Card Scanner offer free tiers with Pro subscriptions for unlimited scans and advanced tools.
Sources we checked (0)
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has 5+ years in B2B and SaaS SEO. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.