How to Scan Trading Cards With Your Phone

Updated June 2026 · 5 min read

Scanning beats searching by hand every time. Here's how to identify and price any trading card with your phone — and do a whole collection in minutes.

Why scan instead of searching by hand?

There are tens of thousands of cards across hundreds of sets, with multiple printings each. Typing every card into a search box is slow and error-prone. A scanner uses your camera to identify the exact card in about a second and pull its current price — so a whole binder takes minutes, not hours.

What you need

• A phone with a camera
• The CardlyMon app (free on iOS and Android)
• Decent lighting

How to scan a card, step by step

1. Open the app and point the camera at the card.
2. The AI identifies the game, set, number, rarity and printing.
3. It shows the current market value.
4. Tap to add it to your collection and track your total worth over time.

Tips for accurate scans

• Use even lighting and avoid glare on holographic cards.
• Lay the card flat and fill the frame.
• Keep the camera steady and parallel to the card.

Which cards can you scan?

CardlyMon recognises Pokémon, Magic: The Gathering, Yu-Gi-Oh!, One Piece, Disney Lorcana and major sports cards — so you can price a mixed collection in one place.

Frequently asked questions