MTG companion apps compared
ScanEd vs ManaBox vs ManaPool: Which is the best MTG companion in 2026?
If you're serious about Magic: The Gathering, three names come up over and over: ManaBox for scanning and collection tracking, ManaPool as the go-to UK marketplace for singles, and ScanEd — the newer AI-powered companion that wraps scanning, pricing, deck building and selling into one app. Here's an honest, feature-by-feature look at where each one wins.
Quick verdict
- Pick ManaBox if you only want to scan cards into a collection database and don't care about selling or AI insights.
- Pick ManaPool if you're in the UK and want to buy singles from a curated marketplace of trusted sellers.
- Pick ScanEd if you want scanning and live multi-market pricing, EDHREC deck recommendations, price alerts, and a Sell Wizard that publishes listings to eBay or exports to every major marketplace.
Feature-by-feature comparison
| Feature | ScanEd | ManaBox | ManaPool |
|---|---|---|---|
| Camera card scanning | |||
| Bulk / pile scan mode | |||
| Live prices — Cardmarket | |||
| Live prices — TCGplayer | |||
| Live prices — Card Kingdom | |||
| Price alerts | |||
| EDHREC deck recommendations | |||
| AI card insights (Deck Doctor, Card Intel) | |||
| Life tracker & draft assist | |||
| Sell Wizard — publish to eBay | |||
| Sell Wizard — export Cardmarket / TCGplayer / CK | |||
| Marketplace to buy singles | |||
| Web app (works on iOS + Android) |
Where ScanEd wins: the Sell Wizard
ManaBox tracks what you own. ManaPool sells you singles from other people. Neither helps you turn your collection into cash. That's the gap the ScanEd Sell Wizard fills:
- Multi-select cards straight from your collection or scan a fresh pile into the Sell Queue.
- Pick every marketplace you want to list on — eBay, Cardmarket, TCGplayer, Card Kingdom, or a generic CSV.
- Set condition, language, printing, foil and price per card in one scrollable editor (no per-card wizard).
- Publish directly to eBay when connected, or export marketplace-ready CSV/JSON for the rest — one click.
- Track queue status and retry failed items from Sell Queue.
Where ScanEd wins: AI-powered insights
ScanEd's Card Intel and Deck Doctor use Lovable AI to explain why a card is worth holding — format legality, printings, commander demand from EDHREC, sell-vs-hold signals based on price history — and to suggest what to build from what you already own. Neither ManaBox nor ManaPool ships anything comparable.
Where the competition still wins
ManaBox has a longer track record and native mobile apps polished over years — if you never plan to sell and you're deep into their ecosystem, staying put is fair. ManaPool is the strongest UK marketplace for buying singles from trusted sellers, and ScanEd doesn't compete on that — ScanEd is a companion, not a storefront.
Pricing
ScanEd is free to start and uses a credit system for premium AI features and unlimited scans. Daily credit claims and a Pro plan are both available — see Pricing. ManaBox and ManaPool have their own pricing models on their sites.
Try ScanEd free
Scanning your first card takes about ten seconds and doesn't require an account. Sign up to save your collection, set price alerts and unlock the Sell Wizard.
Start scanning Create a free account
FAQ
Is ScanEd a good ManaBox alternative?
Yes. ScanEd covers the same core scanning and collection tracking as ManaBox, and adds an AI-powered Sell Wizard, EDHREC-backed deck recommendations and live multi-market pricing.
How is ScanEd different from ManaPool?
ManaPool is a UK marketplace for buying single cards. ScanEd is a companion app that scans your collection, tracks its value across marketplaces and prepares listings you can publish to eBay or export to Cardmarket, TCGplayer and Card Kingdom.
Can ScanEd publish listings directly to eBay?
Yes — connect your eBay account in Settings and the Sell Wizard will publish listings for you. Other marketplaces are supported as one-click exports.