Pokémon card scanner: how to scan and price your cards
A Pokémon card scanner is a phone app that recognises a card from your camera and shows its name, set and market price in seconds. It's the fastest way to sort a pile of cards and find the valuable ones.
How a Pokémon card scanner works
You point your phone's camera at a card. The app matches the image against its card database, identifies the exact card and set, then shows a price based on recent sales. Most apps let you add scanned cards to a collection that tracks its total value over time.
Pokémon card scanner apps
- TCGplayer app: scans cards and shows TCGplayer market prices, and lets you buy and sell on its marketplace.
- Collectr: built around tracking a collection's value, with card scanning.
- Newer scanner apps compete on speed, and some can scan a whole binder page at once.
Accuracy varies by app, set and language, so it's worth trying two and comparing.
Pokémon card scanner tips for accurate scans
- Scan in bright, even light, without glare on holo or foil cards.
- Lay the card flat on a plain, dark surface.
- Take the card out of a shiny toploader, or tilt it to avoid reflections.
- Scan one card at a time, then check the set number the app found against the card.
Scanning Japanese Pokémon cards
Not every app recognises Japanese cards, and some match them to the English version, which can be priced very differently. Check that the result shows the Japanese set code and card number. For sealed Japanese product, use our Pokémon card price checker.
What a scan can't tell you
A scanner identifies the card, but it can't judge condition or spot a fake. Check the card yourself (how to tell if a Pokémon card is fake), and remember that a graded card is priced by its grade (what grading costs).
Questions
What is the best Pokémon card scanner app?
The TCGplayer app is the most widely used, and Collectr is popular for tracking a collection's value. Try more than one, because accuracy varies.
Are Pokémon card scanner apps free?
Most are free to download and scan with, and some charge for extra features.
Can a scanner tell if a Pokémon card is fake?
No. A scanner identifies which card it is, not whether it's genuine or what condition it's in.