# Glimmer Scan vs TCG Archivist

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Glimmer Scan at none against TCG Archivist's 1. Glimmer Scan also leads on review sentiment (76% vs 50%). TCG Archivist's advantage is update cadence (every 9 days vs every 5 weeks) and iOS requirement (15.5 vs 17.0). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. TCG Archivist sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $4.99 per month. Glimmer Scan asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.1 for Glimmer Scan against 4.2 for TCG Archivist. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 21 and 51 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 76% of Glimmer Scan's written reviews are positive against 50% of TCG Archivist's.

Glimmer Scan ships an update every 5 weeks, TCG Archivist every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Glimmer Scan | TCG Archivist |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.1 (21 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/glimmer-scan/id6502996383/reviews) | **[4.2 (51 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tcg-archivist/id6751176846/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 21 | **51** |
| Positive reviews | **76.2% of reviews** | 50.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 502 MB | 514 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.5** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Jannik Wortmann](https://appshunter.io/developer/1747252603) | [TCG Archivist LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1833836395) |

## What reviewers say

### Glimmer Scan

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/glimmer-scan/id6502996383)

Easily scan and catalog your Disney Lorcana trading card collection. This app uses intuitive recognition technology to track your cards and offers flexible export options. It is currently in beta with ongoing development.

**Highlights:** Card recognition technology, Collection cataloging, Export to Dreamborn.ink, General export format, Dark Mode support, Active localization, Customizable app icons

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### TCG Archivist

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tcg-archivist/id6751176846)

Manage your Magic: The Gathering card collection without sorting. Scan cards into labeled locations for instant retrieval. Track collection value, build decks from your inventory, and find any card in seconds.

**Highlights:** Scan cards into labeled storage, No sorting required, Instant card retrieval, Real-time collection value tracking, Build decks from owned cards, Searchable and filterable collection

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Sub | $4.99 | per month |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Glimmer Scan free?

Glimmer Scan is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is TCG Archivist free?

TCG Archivist is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Glimmer Scan or TCG Archivist?

TCG Archivist is rated higher. Glimmer Scan averages 4.1 out of 5 from 21 ratings, while TCG Archivist averages 4.2 from 51 ratings.

### Do Glimmer Scan or TCG Archivist have ads?

Neither Glimmer Scan nor TCG Archivist shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Glimmer Scan or TCG Archivist?

Glimmer Scan ships an update every 5 weeks, and TCG Archivist every 9 days. Most recently, Glimmer Scan was updated on October 30, 2026 and TCG Archivist on November 5, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*