Card Scanning Machine vs Card Codex
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Card Scanning Machine
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The application to control the card scanning machine.
Card Codex
Instantly identify trading cards by pointing your camera. Get card name, set, number, and current value without typing. All recognition happens on your device for complete privacy.
- Instant card identification
- Automatic value lookup
- Camera-based scanning
- On-device processing
- Unlimited free scans
- Supports English and Japanese sets
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Point. Scan. Know. Card Codex identifies your trading cards in an instant — name, set, card number and current value — just by pointing your camera. No typing, no searching, no guesswork. PRIVATE BY DESIGN Card recognition runs entirely on your phone. Photos of your cards never leave your device. No ads, no trackers, and no account needed to scan. Check the permissions: we ask for the camera, and nothing else. UNLIMITED SCANNING, FREE Scan as many cards as you like. We don't put the thing that matters behind a weekly limit. FAST AND ACCURATE A purpose-built recognition engine identifies cards across English and Japanese sets, including tricky holo and full-art cards — through a sleeve, or straight off a binder page without taking anything out. TWO WAYS TO SCAN • Auto — hold steady and it identifies hands-free. • Manual — line up the shot and tap the shutter for tough or vintage cards. Priced in £, with English and Japanese sets built in. YOUR SESSION, ORGANISED Build up a scan session and see the total value at a glance. Card Codex is the companion app to cardcodex.com. Card Codex is an independent tool and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Nintendo, The Pokémon Company International, or Game Freak. Trademarks are used only to describe compatibility.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Card Codex at fortnightly against Card Scanning Machine's every 5 months. Card Scanning Machine's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.1). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Card Scanning Machine ships an update every 5 months, Card Codex fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 28, 2026 and October 23, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Card Scanning Machine | Card Codex |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | — | 1 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | Fortnightly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | — | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 — better | 15.1 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 28 MB | 78 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | IDEA 8 (PVT) LTD | Card Codex Ltd |
In-app purchases
Card Scanning Machine
No in-app purchases
Card Codex
No in-app purchases









