Stamp Identifier Apps (2026): 9 Compared

Inheriting a stamp album is a common way people discover philately. The pages are full of tiny pictures from countries that no longer exist, and there's no obvious way to tell a common stamp from a rare one.

Stamp identifier apps scan a stamp and suggest what each one is. The nine below include phone apps, online catalogues, desktop software and a site where collectors list stamps. They're listed alphabetically and in no particular order, and each description comes from the app's own website or store listing, read this week. If you're buying postage rather than collecting it, my piece on buying stamps online or offline covers the practical side.

Stamp identifier apps side by side

I checked the free plan column on each app's own website or store listing, as of Oct 2026. Yes means the page names the app, an account or a plan or version of it as free. Trial only means a time-limited trial or demo. Not stated means the pages I read named neither, even where there's a download button or a free first scan, so check before you commit.

Tool	Type	Good for	Free plan
Colnect	Collectors community with stamp ID	A human check when the scan fails	Not stated
EzStamp	Stamp collecting software	Desktop cataloguing with recognition	Trial only
Google Lens	Visual search app	A quick first search	Not stated
HipStamp	Stamp buying and selling site	Checking what similar stamps list for	Not stated
Stamp Identifier	Stamp identifier app and web tool	Old, worn and foreign stamps	Yes
StampManage	Stamp inventory software for Windows	Inventory by catalogue number	Trial only
StampScan	AI stamp identifier app	Scanning without a signal	Yes
StampSnap	Stamp identifier and collection app	Follow-up questions about a result	Yes
StampWorld	Online stamp catalogue	A huge picture catalogue	Not stated

Nine stamp identifier apps to try

Colnect

Best for: Collectors who want a world stamp scanner backed by a community, with a 'Not found?' option where a person answers.

EzStamp

Best for: Serious collectors who want desktop software to organise, value and manage a collection, with a stamp recognition add-on.

Google Lens

Best for: A first look-up of an unfamiliar stamp by searching with your camera, an image or a screenshot before you open a catalogue.

HipStamp

Best for: Comparing your stamp with listings from stamp sellers, searchable by catalogue numbers, before you decide to keep or sell.

Stamp Identifier

Best for: Getting the country, year, catalogue number and a value range from one photo, even for old, worn and foreign stamps.

StampManage

Best for: Windows users who want to inventory a collection against catalogue numbers, with stamp listings and images included.

StampScan

Best for: Identifying stamps with catalogue numbers and market values from the camera, with a mode that works offline.

StampSnap

Best for: Saving each identification, asking follow-up questions about it and keeping the whole collection searchable on your phone.

StampWorld

Best for: Browsing a picture catalogue of hundreds of thousands of stamps, building your own collection list and joining the forum.

Which tool fits your collection

• Sorting an inherited album quickly: Stamp Identifier.
• A stamp the scanner can't match: Colnect.
• Cataloguing a large collection on a PC: StampManage.
• Browsing by country and year: StampWorld.
• Seeing what similar stamps list for: HipStamp.

What the U.S. Postal Inspection Service says about discounted stamps

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service says USPS doesn't sell stamps below face value, and that stamps sold at a substantial discount or from a vendor outside the United States are more than likely counterfeit. Items mailed with counterfeit postage are considered abandoned and can be opened and disposed of.

That's worth knowing because collecting and posting overlap. A stamp app can name a design, but it can't tell you a discounted sheet of new stamps is real. Buy postage from USPS or an approved retailer, and keep identification apps for the old stamps in your album.

How to scan a stamp collection without losing track

1. Work one page or one country at a time, not the whole album at once.
2. Use stamp tongs, never fingers, and photograph each stamp on a plain background.
3. Crop the photo so only the stamp is in the frame.
4. Record the catalogue number the app gives you, then double-check it.
5. Set aside anything that looks unusual for a closer look later.

Catalogue numbers, condition and why they matter

Collectors describe stamps by catalogue number, and an app that gives you one saves hours of searching. Two stamps can share a design and differ only in colour shade, perforation or watermark, which changes the catalogue number and sometimes the value.

Condition matters as much as rarity. Centring, gum, tears and cancellation marks all affect what a collector will pay. Apps can't judge these perfectly from a photo, so use them to sort and identify, and let an experienced collector or dealer look at anything special.

Stamp scanning mistakes to avoid

• Peeling stamps off album pages. You can damage the back and the value.
• Scanning several stamps in one photo. Most apps want one at a time.
• Trusting the first catalogue number. Shades and perforations vary.
• Buying discounted new postage online. It's often counterfeit.

Questions to ask before you choose a tool

• Does it give a catalogue number as well as a country and year?
• Can it read old, worn or foreign stamps?
• Can I keep and export my collection list?
• Is there a human check when a scan doesn't match?

Signs a stamp deserves a closer look

• The app can't find a match.
• The colour or perforation looks different from the catalogue image.
• It's old, well centred and clean.
• Similar stamps list for far more than common ones.

Do you make stamp identification or collecting tools? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.

My plain advice on stamp identifier apps

Use an app to sort an album into common stamps and ones worth a second look, recording the catalogue number for each. That alone tells you most of what you need to know about an inherited collection.

For the few that look special, check condition carefully and ask an experienced collector before you sell. Once the album is catalogued, my guide to digital decluttering helps you keep the photos and lists tidy.

Frequently asked questions

How do stamp identifier apps work?

They compare a photo of a stamp with a database and suggest the country, year, catalogue number and often a value range.

Are stamp identifier apps free?

Some tools on this list say the app or a plan is free on their own site, as the table shows.

Can an app tell me what a stamp is worth?

It can give a rough range, but condition, centring and gum matter, so treat it as a guide.

Why do two identical-looking stamps have different numbers?

Small differences in shade, perforation or watermark change the catalogue number.

Is discounted postage sold online safe to use?

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service says deeply discounted stamps are more than likely counterfeit.

Should I remove stamps from an album to scan them?

No, photograph them in place or use tongs, because peeling can damage them.