Antique Identifier Apps (2026): 10 Compared

Clearing a parent's house, buying at a car boot sale or finding a box in the attic all end with the same question: is this old thing anything special? Most people don't know a Victorian piece from a modern copy, and that's fine.

Antique identifier apps give you a first answer from a photo. The ten below include phone apps, marks and sales guides, and services where a human expert looks at your item. 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 watches are part of the haul, my piece on vintage watches as an alternative asset is worth reading.

Antique 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
Antiqueby	Android antique identifier	Age and origin from one photo	Not stated
AntiqueSnap	Antique and collectible scanner	Coins, stamps, jewelry and books	Not stated
Curio	iPhone antique identifier	Where old things came from	Not stated
Kovels	Antiques marks and research site	Looking up maker's marks	Not stated
Lens AI	Photo identification app using AI	Age clues and visible marks	Yes
Mearto	Online expert appraisal service	A real expert's opinion	Not stated
RelicSnap	iPhone antique identifier	Quick snaps at a flea market	Not stated
Tocuro	AI antique identification app	Furniture with daily free scans	Yes
WorthPoint	Antiques research and sales database	Marks, patterns and past sales	Not stated
Zophi	Android antique identifier	Garage sale and attic finds	Not stated

Ten antique identifier apps to try

Antiqueby

Best for: Pointing the camera at an old item to learn what the piece is, its age and where it came from, with a rough value estimate.

AntiqueSnap

Best for: Scanning a mixed box of collectibles, from old coins and stamps to jewelry and books, with one app and one photo each.

Curio

Best for: Snapping a photo of an antique, vintage item or collectible to learn what the piece is, where it came from and roughly what it's worth.

Kovels

Best for: Collectors who want to look up a mark in a dictionary of marks, read identification guides and check reported sales.

Lens AI

Best for: Getting a likely identification, age clues and visible marks from a photo, then researching similar sold items yourself.

Mearto

Best for: Sending photos of fine art, antiques or collectibles to a human specialist for an online appraisal within about two days.

RelicSnap

Best for: Identifying antiques and vintage items in a snap on an iPhone, with the history behind each find explained.

Tocuro

Best for: Working through furniture and estate finds with free scans that reset every day and instant value estimates.

WorthPoint

Best for: Researching an item through a visual database of makers' marks, autographs, patterns and symbols plus historical sales data.

Zophi

Best for: Checking vases, coins, stamps and figurines while browsing a garage sale or flea market, or clearing out the attic.

Which tool fits the item in front of you

• Looking up a mark on the base: Kovels.
• Checking past sales of similar items: WorthPoint.
• A piece that might be worth insuring: Mearto.
• Old furniture from a house clearance: Tocuro.
• A mixed box of coins and jewelry: AntiqueSnap.

The UK ivory rule that catches sellers out

GOV.UK guidance on the Ivory Act says items containing ivory can only be sold under a standard exemption or with an exemption certificate. The standard exemptions include a musical instrument made before 1975 with less than 20% ivory by volume, an item made before 3 March 1947 with less than 10% ivory where all the ivory is integral, and a portrait miniature made before 1918.

Items made before 1918 with outstandingly high artistic, cultural or historic value need an exemption certificate instead. So age alone doesn't make an old piece legal to sell in the UK. If an app or a mark suggests any part of an item is ivory, check the rules before you list it.

How to get a useful answer from an antique app

1. Clean off dust gently, but never polish or repair before you identify.
2. Photograph the whole item, then every mark, label and signature close up.
3. Include the base, the back and any joints, where makers often leave clues.
4. Compare the app's answer with sold examples, not current listings.
5. Get a human appraisal for anything you plan to insure, sell or donate.

Identification, value and appraisal are three different jobs

Identification tells you what an item probably is: the type, the maker, the period and the material. Apps do this reasonably well for common pieces with clear marks, and less well for one-offs, regional items and clever reproductions.

Value is harder, because it depends on condition, demand and where you sell. An app's range is a starting point. A formal appraisal from a qualified person is what insurers, executors and charities usually ask for, so treat app results as homework before that conversation.

Antique app mistakes to avoid

• Cleaning or repairing first. It can lower the value.
• Trusting what sellers ask. What similar pieces sold for tells the real story.
• Skipping the marks. They're often the best clue you have.
• Selling before you check materials. Some need permission to sell.

Questions to ask before you rely on a result

• Does the app explain why it thinks the item is that age?
• Does it read maker's marks, or only the overall shape?
• Can I see similar items that sold, not just listings?
• Is there a route to a human expert if I need one?

Signs an old item deserves a closer look

• It carries a clear maker's mark or signature.
• Several sources agree on the maker and period.
• Similar items have sold, not just been listed.
• It's made from materials that need special rules.

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

My plain advice on antique identifier apps

Use an app to sort the box into curiosities and possible treasures, then spend your time researching the few pieces that look promising. Photograph marks carefully, look up sold examples and only then decide whether an expert is worth it.

If you're selling designer pieces alongside the antiques, check the platform first; my review asking is Vestiaire Collective legit covers one popular option.

Frequently asked questions

Can an app tell me how old an antique is?

Many suggest a likely period from style and marks, but treat it as an estimate rather than proof.

Are antique identifier apps free?

A few tools on this list say they're free to use on their own site, as the table shows.

Are app valuations accurate?

They're a starting point; condition and what similar items sold for matter, and a qualified appraiser is best for big decisions.

What should I photograph?

The whole item plus close-ups of every mark, label, signature, base and join.

Can I sell an old item that contains ivory in the UK?

Only under a standard exemption or with an exemption certificate, according to GOV.UK guidance on the Ivory Act.

When do I need a professional appraisal?

For insurance, estate settlement, donations or any item you think could be valuable.