Card scanner
Scanning a Pokémon card with PokéItem
PokéItem identifies a Pokémon card from a photo: the card's name, set, number and language, then its price, in your choice of currency. The scanner also recognises sealed products and reads the label of graded cards. It works on iOS, Android and the web; the free version includes 20 scans per month, and scanning is unlimited with Premium.
How it works
- Take the photo. Lay the card flat, in good light, and take the photo from the Scanner tab.
- Check. PokéItem shows the recognised card with its set, number, language and price. If the match is uncertain, the app offers several cards to choose from, or a manual search.
- Add. The card goes into the binder for its language, with its condition and, if you wish, its purchase price.
What the scanner recognises
| Item | What PokéItem does |
|---|---|
| Pokémon card | The card's name, set, number, rarity and price |
| Card language | Detected from the photo: French, English, Italian, German, Spanish, Japanese, Korean or Chinese |
| 1st Edition | Stamp spotted and flagged when it is legible |
| Other versions | Prices of the reverse holo, 1st Edition or other versions, shown alongside |
| Graded card | Grading company, grade and certificate number read from the label |
| Sealed product | Booster, ETB, booster box or collection box, identified just like a card |
When the scanner is unsure
Two cards can look very much alike: reprints, promos, stamped versions. When the match is not certain, PokéItem says so and offers the closest cards, with a manual search button. On a confident match, a link lets you report an error.
For the best results: a flat card, no glare, good light, and the number legible at the bottom of the card.
Scanner speed
On 23 October 2026, PokéItem replayed on its current engine 100 real scans made by collectors on 23 September, and compared each time with the original one. Half of all scans now finish in under half a second, and three in four in under a second.
| Metric | 23 September 2026 | 23 October 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Median time | 0.91 s | 0.46 s |
| Average time | 1.75 s | 1.04 s |
| 75% of scans under | 2.37 s | 0.84 s |
| 90% of scans under | 4.09 s | 2.30 s |
| Scans under one second | 56% | 76% |
| Scans over 2 seconds | 34 of 100 | 18 of 100 |
Scan time depends on the connection, the lighting and the card: a rare card, or one very close to another, takes more checks.
How many scans
- Free: 20 scans per month. Once they are used up, one free scan remains available each day.
- Premium and Premium+: unlimited scans.
- Scanning a whole binder page: 10 pages per month with Premium, 30 with Premium+.
Photos and privacy
PokéItem asks for your consent before analysing photos. The photo is used to identify the card; how it is processed is detailed in the privacy policy. When offline, the photo is queued and identified once the connection is back.
Frequently asked questions
Which app can scan my Pokémon cards?
PokéItem scans Pokémon cards on iOS, Android and the web, and shows their price in your choice of currency. Other apps also offer a scanner; the comparison page presents them.
Is the PokéItem scanner fast?
Yes. In an internal measurement on 23 October 2026 over 100 real scans, the median scan time was 0.46 seconds, and 76% of scans finished in under a second.
Does the scanner recognise French and Japanese cards?
Yes. PokéItem detects the card's language from the photo: French, English, Italian, German, Spanish, Japanese, Korean or Chinese.
Can I scan a PSA graded card?
Yes. PokéItem reads the grading company, the grade and the certificate number from the label on the slab.
Is the scanner free?
The free version includes 20 scans per month, plus one free scan per day once the quota is reached. Scanning is unlimited with Premium.
Scan your first cards
Open the scanner →