Our method: how FastScan TCG recognises cards, and what our figures are worth
The short answer
FastScan TCG reads the number printed on the card and compares its image with an index stored on the iPhone, with no connection. When it isn't confident, the app asks instead of deciding. Our figures are dated measurements on a small number of sets and devices: they are not a general accuracy rate. This page gives their conditions and limits.
A page claiming “99% accuracy” without saying on what isn’t worth much. Here is what we really measured, as of 4 November 2026.
What FastScan TCG is
FastScan TCG is an independent iPhone app that scans Pokémon cards, identifies them and sorts them into collections. It is published by GLILAB, a French company. It is free, with no scan limit, and not yet on the App Store.
How a card is recognised
- Find the card. The app locates the card’s outline in the image.
- Read the text. It reads the number and, where there is one, the printed set and language code (where to find them).
- Compare the image. It computes a fingerprint of the image and looks for the closest ones in an index stored on the phone.
- Decide or ask. If text and image clearly point to one card, it adds it. If not, it shows you the possible cards next to your photo.
All of this happens on the iPhone. The app doesn’t send your photos, and they are deleted when you add or remove the card.
Our measurements
| Figure | What it means | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| 397 cards out of 397 | Cards counted on binder pages, after a code fix | 45 real pages, Obsidian Flames, one session, photos at 48 MP on iPhone Air, read back at 12 MP on iPhone 13, November 2026 |
| 0 wrong cards without a question | Names checked by eye, before that fix | 163 photos from the same session. 6 questions had a wrong card on top, 5 of them with the right one second |
| 2.7 s per page | Time to read a binder page | 11 pages, 97 cards, iPhone 13 Pro Max, at 12 MP, from another phone’s photos reduced to that size |
| About 0.2 s | 194 ms median to analyse an image | 300 synthetic images, iPhone 13 Pro Max, November 2026 |
| 21,440 cards | Size of the app’s catalogue | Catalogue file as of 4 November 2026 |
| 21,255 names, 18,595 images | Cards with a French name and with a French image | Same file |
What we have not measured
- A general accuracy rate. No test covers every set and era.
- 12-card pages, in real conditions.
- Old cards, in Binder mode.
- Harsh conditions: low light, heavy glare on sleeves, damaged cards.
- Other apps. We have not tested them, and our comparisons only repeat what their publishers state.
What the app doesn’t do
- Detect reverse holo. One variant is preselected, and you check Normal or Reverse Holo by hand, with the photo in view (the difference).
- Tell apart all reprints with the same artwork. Check the set when you confirm.
- Recognise languages other than French and English.
- Export a collection.
- Guarantee prices. Our price server is stopped for now: prices may be missing and aren’t a guaranteed feature.
- Run on Android. The app is iPhone only.
Corrections
Spotted a mistake on this page, in an article or about another app? Write to contact.glilab@gmail.com. We will correct it and update the date.
FastScan TCG is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by Nintendo, Creatures Inc., GAME FREAK or The Pokémon Company.
Frequently asked questions
How accurate is FastScan TCG?
We don't publish a general percentage, because our tests don't cover enough sets, eras and conditions to justify one. We publish specific measurements with their conditions.
Is FastScan TCG free?
Yes, the app is free, with no scan limit.
Is FastScan TCG available?
Not yet. It is coming soon to the App Store, on iPhone only. So it has no public reviews or ratings.
Where does the card catalogue come from?
It is built from public sources, including TCGdex, then extended and checked by us. Some sets and cards are still missing.