Collectr vs Acorn: keep track of every Pokémon variant

One illustration, several collecting targets.

A familiar picture is not enough to finish a Pokémon collection. The ordinary printing, reverse holo and another regional edition can occupy different places in your binder. Your scanner needs to leave you with a record that explains which copy you actually own.

That is the useful distinction in Collectr versus Acorn. We would start with Collectr for a mixed TCG collection and Acorn for a Pokémon project organized around variants. Before entering hundreds of cards, decide what counts as a completed slot.

Choose the catalogue before the camera.

Collectr names Pokémon, Magic, Yu-Gi-Oh!, One Piece, Lorcana, Flesh and Blood and Digimon on its scanner page. It describes identifying the set, number and variant, then adding quantity and condition. Acorn concentrates on Pokémon.

Gather a small sample that represents the awkward parts of your collection: a reprint, a foil, a duplicate and an imported card. Compare the saved identifiers against the physical copies. A correct illustration with the wrong printing can still leave your checklist misleading.

Collectr supported games and scanning workflow · Acorn collection limits, scanning controls and editions

The scan queue is not the collection.

Acorn documents adjustable scanning cooldowns, duplicate controls and a preferred master-set variant. Its results organizer lets you review quantities and variants. Removing a result does not reverse a card already added to the collection.

That distinction matters during a large session. If a duplicate appears, first establish whether you are correcting the pending result or the saved inventory. Otherwise the phone may look tidy while the collection contains an extra copy.

Keep completed cards in a separate pile and reconcile one small batch before moving on. Count physical copies as well as catalogue entries. Two copies of one printing and two different printings represent different collecting progress.

Acorn collection limits, scanning controls and editions

Portfolio management starts with a consistent rule.

Collectr offers bulk copying, moving and deletion between portfolios, with filters for raw cards, graded cards and sealed products. Acorn tracks variants separately and permits manual prices; its FAQ gives a 5,000-card limit per collection even with PRO.

Decide whether your folders represent storage locations, collecting goals or cards available to trade. Mixing those purposes can make the same card appear to belong in several places. Keep ownership counts consistent when reorganizing.

For a large Pokémon collection, plan the folder structure before importing. For a collection spanning several games and sealed products, Collectr’s broader portfolio organization is the more natural starting point.

Collectr portfolio organization and language filters · Acorn collection limits, scanning controls and editions

Printed language belongs beside the set number.

Acorn names Japanese and Western Pokémon TCG languages. Collectr’s tracking page displays EN, JP and CN filters. These are the documented labels to check against your own cards; neither an interface translation nor shared artwork establishes the exact printing.

Put imported copies in your initial sample. Check collector number, set and printed language together, then inspect the record again after saving. A regional variant should remain identifiable when you return to the collection months later.

Acorn collection limits, scanning controls and editions · Collectr portfolio organization and language filters

Make the export useful outside the app.

Acorn’s September 4 release introduced whole-portfolio CSV export with variants, grades and manual prices. Collectr includes collection export in PRO.

Before committing an entire collection, inspect a small exported sample. Can you distinguish duplicate copies from different variants? Can you identify the original printing without opening the phone? Keep an untouched backup before changing columns for another tool.

A portable inventory is especially valuable when your collecting goals change. The useful question is whether the file preserves the distinctions you spent time recording, rather than whether an export button exists.

Acorn prices, CSV features and release history · Collectr PRO prices and exports

Compare annual costs before starting the big batch.

Checked October 15, Collectr web PRO costs US$7.99 monthly or $59.99 yearly, including unlimited scanning. Acorn’s US iOS listing shows weekly offers of $7.99 and $9.99, annual offers of $34.99 and $39.99, and a $99.99 lifetime purchase. Check the offer presented before subscribing.

Acorn version 2.2.1, released September 18, added interface changes, selectable double-tap actions and graded-price display while scanning. Our choice comes back to the collecting job: Acorn for Pokémon variant detail; Collectr for the wider portfolio.

Acorn prices, CSV features and release history · Collectr PRO prices and exports