Free tool

Card Identifier

Work out exactly which card you’re holding — set, edition, and number — from a single photo.

Identify a card

Upload a photo to identify the card. 3 free scans.

Why identification comes first

You can't price a card you haven't identified. Trading card games reprint heavily, and the difference between two printings of the same card is routinely the difference between bulk and a serious sum. Getting the printing right is the whole game.

What identifies a card

  • Set symbol or expansion symbol. Which release the card came from — the single most useful marking on the card.
  • Card number. Its position within that set, usually printed as a fraction or a collector number.
  • Edition markings. 1st Edition stamps on Pokémon; border colour and copyright year on Magic.
  • Rarity treatment. Holo, reverse holo, full art, alternate art, foil — each prices on its own.
  • Language. Japanese, German, and other printings trade in separate markets from English.

Cards that are easy to misread

Reprints with identical artwork are the usual trap — the art gives you no signal at all, and only the set symbol and number separate a valuable original from a common reprint. Reverse holos are another: the foiling sits on the card body rather than the art, and they price differently from the standard holo version of the same card.

Frequently asked questions

How do I identify a trading card from a photo?

Upload a clear, straight-on photo of the whole card above. The identifier reads the name and artwork to work out what it is. The Kardexy app resolves the exact set, edition, and card number.

What if my card has no set symbol?

For Pokémon, that usually means an early Base Set printing. For Magic, cards before 1995 have no expansion symbol. Both cases are worth checking carefully — that’s where the valuable cards tend to be.

Can it identify cards in other languages?

The app’s catalog covers non-English printings, which trade in their own markets and can be worth more or less than the English version of the same card.

Does identifying a card tell me its value?

Identification is the first step — once the exact printing is known, the app pulls the live TCGplayer and Cardmarket price for it in your card’s condition.