If you own more than a couple hundred records, at some point you’re going to need a way to actually track what’s in your collection — and these six apps (plus one spreadsheet) are the best tools for the job.
Picture this!!! It’s late on a Sunday afternoon and you are wondering which record to play. You have thousands of vinyl records but don’t know which one to play. Or you want to listen to some album but don’t remember who borrowed the vinyl record from you? We all have been through this but now luckily there is an app for that or apps to catalog and manage your record collection. As your collection grows, you will start loosing track of finer details of the vinyl records you own, like release dates, original pressing or represses etc. Thankfully, now there are many mobile apps which make it easier to store, search your collection or when you move your record collection.
Here are some of the best mobile and web apps which can help catalog and manage your vinyl collection:
Discogs
The granddaddy of the vinyl universe. Discogs is an online marketplace for buying and selling vinyl records and CDs – physical media. The website holds the largest amount of discography information of nearly every album released in every format. Not only will you be able to browse the track listings of album, but get information on the year of release or re-releases, bootlegs etc. Get pricing information on each and every album out there.
The unique thing which Discogs offers is a way to catalog and manage your own vinyl collection. You could use their website or official mobile app to manage your collection. You can search millions of artists and albums and add them to your collection by simply scanning their barcode. The app can provide suggestions based on your existing collection. It also keeps you informed about the latest events, artists, albums and genres you love and view trending albums, most collected and most wanted by Discogs users. You can create a watch list of the albums you are looking for and share your collection with friends. Another unique feature of Discogs app is it can show the value of your collection by using the pricing data available on its marketplace.
Disco FM
Disco FM is an app which will help you discover the next hidden gem in your collection. It offers a unique way to browse your collection often called as crate digging where you flip through your records. The app allows you to catalog your vinyl collection by adding the details manually or by scanning the barcode. You can create DJ playlists for playing at your party or friend’s place.
One unique feature which Disco FM features is to instantly preview songs from a record by scanning the barcode. Once you scan a barcode, it will show you songs from iTunes and YouTube which can be played instantly. This way you can decide if you want to purchase the record or not. It will be really helpful if you are browsing records at a thrift store or flea market. The app developers are looking for more ideas from users to incorporate into the app.
Available on iOS
Record Scanner: Vinyl & CD
Record Scanner does something none of the other apps here do: it identifies records by photographing the cover, not just the barcode, which is a real advantage for older records or import pressings whose barcode never got entered into a database. Beyond cataloging, it shows real-time market value for each item and lets you organize your collection into custom shelves by genre, format, or whatever grouping actually makes sense to you. It’s cross-platform, works on iOS and Android, and starts free with a paid tier for unlimited scanning.
MusicBuddy: Music Manager
MusicBuddy is a powerful music album management app that gives you access to your entire music catalog. It has a beautiful interface and is available only on iOS. The app offers some powerful features such as one click add or by scanning barcodes. It has a robust search option with a myriad of options to sort and display. MusicBuddy offers syncing the entire library between iOS devices via iCloud or Dropbox. The app can easily support large music collections with more than 10,000 albums.
MusicBuddy offers a free version of the app with all the Pro features but limited to only 50 albums. With an In-App purchase, unlimited albums can be unlocked.
Available on iOS
VinylBox: Collect & Sell Vinyl
VinylBox is worth a look if part of your goal is thinning out the collection, not just tracking it — it’s built for cataloging and selling in the same app, with a database of over 12 million releases and a direct sync to your existing Discogs account. Scan a barcode or cover, sort it into your collection or wantlist, and list it for sale without switching apps when you decide it’s time to let a record go. It’s free to start, with VinylBox Pro unlocking extra features for a few dollars a month.
Available in iOS
Libib
Libib is a web based cataloging system not only restricted to music but allows you to save all your books, movies and video games. Once you have created an account on Libib, you can add your media collection by looking up ISBN number (for books) or UPC code. You can create your own private library of books, movies, music and video games. The website also offers an option to bulk upload your collection in CSV format which makes it easier to move your collection from another location. It also offers an option to export your collection to CSV. The entire library is synced across all devices connected to your account. The app also provides beautiful statistics of your collection.
Libib offers a free account limited to 5000 items as well as unlimited Pro account. The free account is built of personal collections while the Pro is targeted for small organizations, schools and libraries. Pro features include lending/circulation tracking, email notifications and offers API for app developers.
Vinyl Record Excel Template
Download Vinyl Catalog Excel Template
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to use more than one app? Not really, but a lot of collectors end up using Discogs for pricing and marketplace data alongside a dedicated catalog app like MusicBuddy or the Excel template for the actual day-to-day tracking. Pick one as your primary catalog and treat the rest as backup or reference.
Which app is best for a large collection? MusicBuddy and Libib both scale well past a few thousand records, and Discogs’ collection tool has no practical limit either. If your collection numbers in the tens of thousands, I’d lean toward whichever one you’re already comfortable navigating, since you’ll be in it a lot.
What if I want to sell some of my records, not just track them? VinylBox is the one built for that specifically, since it lets you list a record for sale right from your catalog. Discogs works too if you’re comfortable using its marketplace directly.
Can I switch apps later without losing my data? Usually, yes, as long as you export first. Libib and MusicBuddy both support CSV export, and Discogs lets you export your collection too, so it’s worth doing that periodically even if you’re happy with your current app — it’s the cheapest insurance against an app disappearing on you.
Conclusion
There are more apps out there than these five, and new ones show up every year, but this is the shortlist I’d actually hand a friend who just told me their collection had outgrown their memory. Whether you go with a dedicated app or just the Excel template, the point is the same: pick one and actually use it, because the collection you can’t find anything in isn’t really doing its job. Do let me know which ones you use to manage your vinyl collection in the comments below.
