A free, open-source alternative to card scanning subscriptions

Card Dealer Pro, My Card Wizard, Kronozio and TCG Automate are good at what they do, and they all charge every month and meter every scan. Here is how Cardloader compares, including where they are the better choice.

Cardloader compared with paid card scanning software
Feature	Cardloader	Card Dealer Pro	My Card Wizard	Kronozio	TCG Automate
Price	Free	$9, $19 or $59 a month	From $9 a month	From $10 a month	$9 to $185 a month
Scan limits	Unlimited with the local model; Ximilar API billed per call	500 to 5,000 AI credits a month	Monthly scan credits (500 on Beginner)	Priced by items a month	500 to 30,000 scans a month
Open source	Yes, Apache-2.0	No	No	No	No
Offline, on-device AI	Yes, local vision model	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed
Works without an account	Yes, in local mode	No	No	No	No
App	Desktop: Windows, macOS, Linux	Web app + desktop scanner app (Mac, Windows)	Web app in the browser	Web app in the browser	Desktop: Windows, macOS
Direct scanner control	Yes: TWAIN, SANE, watch folder	Yes, through its desktop app	No, upload saved scans	No scanner support listed	Yes: TWAIN, WIA, ICA, watched folder
Card types	TCG, sports, comics, graded slabs	Trading cards (20M-card database)	19 TCGs, sports, non-sports, slabs	Sports and TCG, plus other collectibles	TCG and sports
AI grading and centering	Yes, with the Ximilar API	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed
Marketplace listing	Coming soon; CSV export today	eBay, Shopify, Whatnot, CollX	eBay, Shopify, WooCommerce, CardTrader and more	eBay	eBay

Competitor facts checked on October 15, 2026 from each product’s own website. Prices in USD per month before annual discounts. Spotted something out of date? Open an issue.

Alternatives

Cardloader vs Card Dealer Pro

Card Dealer Pro, owned by CollX, is built for dealers who scan with a fi-8170 and list straight to eBay, Shopify and Whatnot. Plans run from $9 to $59 a month, each with a monthly allowance of AI credits.

Cardloader drives the same scanner for free, identifies cards offline with its local model and never runs out of credits. Choose Card Dealer Pro if one-click listing to marketplaces is the job; choose Cardloader to scan, identify and grade your inventory without a subscription.

Sources: carddealerpro.com , carddealerpro.com/trading-card-scanner

Cardloader vs My Card Wizard

My Card Wizard is a browser app with wide game coverage, TCGplayer prices and listing to eBay, Shopify, WooCommerce and others, starting at $9 a month for 500 scan credits. You scan with your own software and upload the images.

Cardloader is a desktop app that talks to the scanner directly, works offline and has no credit limit with the local model. It exports CSV rather than listing for you.

Sources: mycardwizard.com/pricing , mycardwizard.com/compare/card-dealer-pro

Cardloader vs Kronozio

Kronozio NEXT is a web-based inventory manager for all kinds of collectibles, with AI card identification and eBay listing, from $10 a month depending on volume.

Cardloader focuses on getting cards in: bulk scanning, identification and grading on your own computer, for free. Its CSV export can feed an inventory tool like Kronozio.

Sources: kronozio.com/pricing , kronozio.com/features

Cardloader vs TCG Automate

TCG Automate is the closest desktop rival: a Windows and macOS app with TWAIN, WIA and ICA scanner support and eBay listing, from $9 to $185 a month by scan volume.

Cardloader also runs on Linux, is open source and has an offline engine with no scan limits.

Sources: tcgautomate.com/pricing , tcgautomate.com/desktop-app

Honest advice

When a paid tool is the better fit

You want cards listed on eBay, Shopify or Whatnot in one click, with titles and photos filled in.
You need marketplace price feeds and repricing built into the same tool.
You would rather not install software and prefer a browser app with support included.

For everything else, from sorting bulk to pre-grading a binder, Cardloader does it for free, and its CSV export can feed any of those tools.

FAQ

Questions about switching

What is the best free alternative to Card Dealer Pro?

Cardloader is a free, open-source desktop app that scans and identifies trading and sports cards with the same Fujitsu/Ricoh fi-8170 scanner. It runs an AI model on your computer with no monthly credits. It does not list to marketplaces; it exports CSV.

Can I scan trading cards without a subscription?

Yes. Download Cardloader, download the free local model in Settings and analyse a folder or scan straight from your scanner. No account and no subscription are needed. The Ximilar API is optional and billed per call only if you use it.

Can I move my existing inventory into Cardloader?

Yes. Import a CSV: rows with a card name come in as identified cards right away, and rows with an image path are analysed. Column headers are read in English, loosely: name, set, number, price, image and similar.

Start scanning your cards for free

Download Cardloader for Windows, macOS or Linux, point it at a folder or your scanner, and identify your first batch in minutes. No subscription, no account.

Download Cardloader Star on GitHub