# BiblioScan — full context for LLMs

> BiblioScan is an AI-powered book scanning and resale analysis tool. It helps book resellers, thrift store flippers, and anyone selling used books find the real market value of their books instantly. Take a photo of a bookshelf and the AI identifies every book by its spine in seconds — no need to scan barcodes one by one.

Website: https://biblioscan.ai — available as a web app and as a mobile app on iOS and Android.
This file is the extended version of https://biblioscan.ai/llms.txt.

## How it works (3 steps)

1. **Take the photo.** Photograph an entire shelf, a stack of books or a thrift store row directly from the app (iOS, Android or web). The built-in camera guides the framing. The AI detects book spines even when tilted, partially hidden or shot in low light.
2. **AI identifies every book.** The AI model recognises each title in seconds, then pulls real sales data from the last 12 months. For every book: title, author, ISBN, median sale price, sales frequency, available buyback offers. Zero manual input.
3. **See the profit, make the call.** Every book gets a BiblioRank that sorts the most profitable first. You see estimated profit after Amazon, eBay, Mercari or buyback fees at a glance. Add profitable books to your buylist, export to Excel, or send the buyback comparison in one tap.

## Features

- **AI Shelf Scanning**: photograph a whole bookshelf; the AI identifies every book by its spine, even tilted, partially hidden or in low light. One credit scans one photo containing multiple books.
- **Barcode Scanning**: traditional ISBN/barcode scanning for individual books, on web and mobile.
- **Bluetooth barcode scanners**: works with KDC scanners, the Opticon OPN-2006 and any Bluetooth HID scanner.
- **Buy/reject triggers**: set custom buy/reject rules; the phone plays a distinct sound and vibration for each verdict, so you can scan without looking at the screen.
- **Real Market Pricing**: shows the actual median selling price based on recent sales data (last 12 months), not just buyback offers.
- **Profit Estimation**: estimated net profit after platform fees and shipping (FBA or FBM fees for Amazon).
- **Sales History**: how often a book sold in the last 12 months and at what prices.
- **BiblioRank**: automatic ranking that sorts scanned books from most profitable to least profitable, based on sales volume, purchase frequency, online availability, and seasonal relevance.
- **Buyback Comparison**: compare buyback prices across multiple platforms in each market.
- **Buylists**: save profitable books to a buylist while sourcing; export to Excel.
- **Inventory mode**: track every book you own — where it is listed and at what price, when and for how much you bought and sold it — with advanced stats and charts (margin, sell-through, stock value).
- **Amazon Seller integration**: connect your Amazon Seller account to see live, for every scanned book, whether you're approved to sell it (with a "Request approval" shortcut if not), whether it's already in your stock, and whether you've sold it before — at what price and when.
- **Free tools**: ISBN lookup (https://biblioscan.ai/isbn-lookup), profit calculator (https://biblioscan.ai/calculator), FBA fee calculator (https://biblioscan.ai/fba-calculator), Book Duel comparison (https://biblioscan.ai/book-duel), out-of-print book requests (https://biblioscan.ai/out-of-print-books), city-by-city used book directory (https://biblioscan.ai/where-to-buy-used-books/).
- **City-by-city used book directory (free)**: curated guides to the best places to buy used books — used bookstores, thrift stores, flea markets, library sales — city by city, starting with France (Paris, Lyon), with Germany, Spain and the US to follow, each with an interactive map showing every spot. https://biblioscan.ai/where-to-buy-used-books/
- **Wanted books ("book bounties")**: anyone can post a free, account-less wanted request for an out-of-print book with a buyback price (min €10). When any BiblioScan user scans that book — shelf photo or barcode — a banner shows the offer and the requester's contact; the deal happens directly between them, with no commission.
- **Public REST API**: every user can generate personal API keys from Settings (up to 20, with a chosen expiry) and drive BiblioScan from their own scripts — scans, barcodes, metadata, buy lists, inventory, Amazon Seller data. Full reference at https://biblioscan.ai/api-docs.

## API

BiblioScan exposes a REST API at https://biblioscan.ai, documented at https://biblioscan.ai/api-docs.

- **Authentication**: a personal API key, created in Settings → API keys. Keys start with `bsk_` and are 52 characters long. The raw key goes in the `Authorization` header — no `Bearer` prefix — exactly where a session token would go.
- **Key management**: `POST /api/apikeys` (create, returns the full key once), `GET /api/apikeys` (list, prefixes only), `DELETE /api/apikeys/:id` (revoke, immediate). These three require a login session; an API key cannot manage API keys.
- **Expiry**: chosen at creation (1–3650 days, or never) and not editable afterwards. Max 20 active keys per account.
- **What a key can call**: account, shelf scans, barcode scans, ISBN metadata, buy lists, inventory, Amazon SP-API endpoints, and read-only billing. Calls consume credits exactly like calls from the app.
- **What a key cannot do**: change the password, delete the account, manage sessions, cancel a subscription, or manage API keys — all return `403`.
- **Response conventions**: ids are `_id` (MongoDB), image paths are relative and prefixed with `../`, a scan is shaped `scan → jobs[] → spines[] → results[]`, and bounding boxes are in original-image pixels.

## Who it's for

- Book resellers and flippers (thrift stores, estate sales, library sales, flea markets)
- Amazon FBA/FBM book sellers
- People decluttering their personal library who want to know what their books are worth
- Booksellers on eBay, Vinted, Mercari, Facebook Marketplace, Booklooker, and other platforms

## Markets and languages

BiblioScan operates in 4 markets with full language support:

- **France**: compares prices on Momox, Gibert, Recyclivre, Vinted, Leboncoin, Rakuten, BookVillage, eBay, Amazon
- **Germany**: compares prices on Momox, Rebuy, Studibuch, Hugendubel, Booklooker, Kleinanzeigen, ZVAB, Amazon, eBay
- **USA**: works with BookScouter buyback vendors, Amazon, eBay, Vinted, Mercari, Facebook Marketplace, AbeBooks, ThriftBooks
- **Spain**: supports Wallapop, Milanuncios, Todocoleccion, Casa del Libro, Amazon, eBay

## How it compares to alternatives

- **vs ScoutIQ**: BiblioScan uses AI to scan entire shelves at once (not just one barcode at a time). ScoutIQ requires an Amazon seller account; BiblioScan works for any marketplace. Full comparison: https://biblioscan.ai/blog-en/scoutiq-alternative
- **vs BookScouter**: BookScouter only compares buyback offers. BiblioScan shows the real market value so you know if selling yourself would earn 5-20x more. Full comparison: https://biblioscan.ai/blog-en/biblioscan-vs-bookscouter
- **vs SellerAmp SAS**: SellerAmp is an all-category Amazon sourcing tool; BiblioScan is a book specialist with shelf-level photo scanning and buyback offers. Full comparison: https://biblioscan.ai/blog-en/biblioscan-vs-selleramp
- **vs Scoutly, Bookzy, Scoutify, Profit Bandit**: barcode-era scanners compared honestly (real 2026 prices) in the roundup: https://biblioscan.ai/blog-en/best-book-scanner-apps
- **vs Profit Bandit**: still maintained but now requires an Amazon Professional Seller account; BiblioScan needs none. Full comparison: https://biblioscan.ai/blog-en/profit-bandit-alternative
- **vs Scoutify 2**: only sold inside the $69/mo Seller 365 bundle; BiblioScan is standalone, pay-per-scan. Full comparison: https://biblioscan.ai/blog-en/scoutify-replacement
- **vs FBAScout**: effectively retired for individual scouts (ScanPower pivoted to big-seller suites); not to be confused with FBAScan, renamed Scoutly. Details: https://biblioscan.ai/blog-en/fbascout-alternatives
- **vs ScanLister**: a bulk-listing tool, not a scouting app — complementary, not rival. Full comparison: https://biblioscan.ai/blog-en/scanlister-vs-biblioscan
- **vs buyback vendors (US)**: TopDollar4Books, BooksRun, World of Books and the other buyback sites are the *floor* BiblioScan shows next to the resale value. Real offers on 10 books: https://biblioscan.ai/blog-en/topdollar4books-review · BookScouter alternatives: https://biblioscan.ai/blog-en/bookscouter-alternative
- **vs Momox, reBuy, Studibuch, Thalia (DE)**: buyback services (Ankauf), not scanners — BiblioScan shows the market value next to the Momox offer. 10 books tested: https://biblioscan.ai/blog-de/momox-alternative · https://biblioscan.ai/blog-de/rebuy-vs-momox · https://biblioscan.ai/blog-de/buchankauf-vergleich · https://biblioscan.ai/blog-de/thalia-buecher-verkaufen-erfahrungen
- **vs Momox, Gibert, Recyclivre (FR)**: services de rachat, pas des scanners — 10 livres testés le même jour, 136 € au meilleur racheteur contre 697 € de médiane de vente : https://biblioscan.ai/blog/comparateur-rachat-livres
- **vs Momox, Hamelyn, Reciclibros (ES)**: recompra services, not scanners. Opinions with real prices: https://biblioscan.ai/blog-es/momox-opiniones · https://biblioscan.ai/blog-es/hamelyn-opiniones · https://biblioscan.ai/blog-es/reciclibros-opiniones

## Pricing

- **Free trial**: registration is free and gives 5 credits, no credit card required. Each credit scans one photo containing multiple books.
- **Plans**: Basic, Premium and Pro, priced by scan volume — pay monthly on a recurring basis or subscribe for a single month with no long-term commitment. Cancel anytime.
- **Credits never expire**: buy them today and use them at your own pace.
- Details: https://biblioscan.ai/pricing

## FAQ

**How does it actually work?**
Simply take a photo of the books on the shelves with the application. The AI automatically detects all visible books and gives you resale values. This works even on books seen from the back or partially visible.

**In which markets is BiblioScan present?**
BiblioScan is designed specifically for the US, Spanish, French, and German markets, with a database and price analysis tailored to resale platforms in the United States, Spain, France, and Germany.

**Does BiblioScan only work on books?**
For now, yes. It focuses on books to offer the most accurate service possible. Other types of products may be added in the future.

**Can BiblioScan generate false positives?**
The AI is trained to minimize errors, but no technology is perfect. Verifying important results is recommended, especially for high-value purchases.

**Is it compatible with Android, iPhone, PC, Mac?**
Yes. BiblioScan is a web application that works on all modern devices with an up-to-date web browser, plus native mobile apps on iOS and Android.

**Can I test the service for free?**
Yes, registration is free and gives you 5 credits to test the service. Each credit allows you to scan a photo containing multiple books.

**What are the registration commitments?**
BiblioScan works on a subscription basis: choose from several packages containing a fixed number of credits, with the option of paying monthly on a recurring basis or subscribing for a single month with no long-term commitment.

**When does billing start?**
Billing only occurs when you decide to purchase additional credits after using your free credits.

**Can I switch from one plan to another?**
Yes, you can change plans at any time. The rates simply differ depending on the quantity of credits purchased.

**How much money can I expect to earn using BiblioScan?**
It depends on your activity and buy-sell strategy. Users report significant gains by identifying undervalued books that resell well. The return on investment can be very quick with a few good finds.

**What is BiblioRank sorting?**
BiblioRank classifies books according to several criteria: their sales volume, purchase frequency, online availability, and seasonal relevance. It helps you identify the most promising books while leaving an essential place for your own judgment in the final choice. It's the default sorting mode, but other filters are always available.

**How long are credits valid for?**
Credits have no expiration date. They are valid for life — buy them today and use them at your own pace, whether it's next week or in a year.

**Can I connect my Amazon Seller account?**
Yes. Connect your Amazon Seller account and BiblioScan shows you live, for every scanned book: whether you're approved to sell it (with a "Request approval" shortcut if not), whether it's already in your stock, and whether you've sold it before — at what price and when. Profit is computed net, after FBA or FBM fees.

**Are Bluetooth barcode scanners supported?**
Yes. The app works with KDC scanners, the Opticon OPN-2006 and any Bluetooth HID scanner. Pair them with custom buy/reject trigger rules: the phone plays a distinct sound and vibration for each verdict, so you can scan without looking at the screen.

**How do I track my inventory and sales?**
Inventory mode lists every book you own: where each one is listed and at what price, when and for how much you bought it, when and for how much you sold it. Advanced stats and charts (margin, sell-through, stock value) complete the picture.

## Page directory

All content pages exist in 4 languages (EN / FR / DE / ES). English URLs listed first.

### Product pages

- Homepage: https://biblioscan.ai/ (fr: /fr, de: /de, es: /es)
- Features: https://biblioscan.ai/features
- How it works: https://biblioscan.ai/how-it-works
- Pricing: https://biblioscan.ai/pricing
- Barcode scanning: https://biblioscan.ai/barcode-scanning (fr: /scanner-code-barres, de: /barcode-scannen, es: /escanear-codigo-barras)
- ISBN lookup: https://biblioscan.ai/isbn-lookup (fr: /recherche-isbn, de: /isbn-suche, es: /buscar-isbn)
- Book value estimator: https://biblioscan.ai/book-value (fr: /estimation-livre, de: /buchwert, es: /tasar-libro)
- Out-of-print book requests: https://biblioscan.ai/out-of-print-books (fr: /livre-introuvable, de: /vergriffene-buecher, es: /libros-descatalogados)
- Used books by city (directory): https://biblioscan.ai/where-to-buy-used-books/ (fr: /ou-acheter-livres-occasion, de: /gebrauchte-buecher-kaufen, es: /donde-comprar-libros-usados)
- Profit calculator: https://biblioscan.ai/calculator (fr: /calculateur, de: /preisrechner, es: /calculadora)
- FBA calculator: https://biblioscan.ai/fba-calculator (fr: /calculateur-fba, de: /fba-rechner, es: /calculadora-fba)
- Book Duel: https://biblioscan.ai/book-duel (fr: /duel, de: /buch-duell, es: /duelo)
- API documentation: https://biblioscan.ai/api-docs

### Guides

- Where to buy books to resell: https://biblioscan.ai/wherebuybooks (fr: /ouacheter, de: /wokaeufen, es: /dondecomprar)
- Which shelves to scan first: https://biblioscan.ai/whichshelves (fr: /quelsrayons, de: /welcheregale, es: /queestantes)
- How to take good scan photos: https://biblioscan.ai/goodphotos (fr: /bonnesphotos, de: /gutefotos, es: /buenasfotos)
- How to interpret scan results: https://biblioscan.ai/interpretresults (fr: /interpreterresultats, de: /ergebnisseinterpretieren, es: /interpretarresultados)
- How to sell your books: https://biblioscan.ai/howtosell (fr: /commentvendre, de: /wieverkaufen, es: /comovender)
- What price to sell at: https://biblioscan.ai/whatprice (fr: /quelprix, de: /welcherpreis, es: /queprecio)
- How to package books for shipping: https://biblioscan.ai/packaging (fr: /emballage, de: /verpackung, es: /embalaje)

### Blog

Blog home: https://biblioscan.ai/blog (fr: /blog-fr, de: /blog-de, es: /blog-es)

English articles:

- The 7 best book scanner apps for resellers (2026): https://biblioscan.ai/blog-en/best-book-scanner-apps
- ScoutIQ alternative: https://biblioscan.ai/blog-en/scoutiq-alternative
- BiblioScan vs BookScouter: https://biblioscan.ai/blog-en/biblioscan-vs-bookscouter
- BiblioScan vs SellerAmp SAS: https://biblioscan.ai/blog-en/biblioscan-vs-selleramp
- Profit Bandit alternative: https://biblioscan.ai/blog-en/profit-bandit-alternative
- Scoutify replacement: https://biblioscan.ai/blog-en/scoutify-replacement
- FBAScout alternatives: https://biblioscan.ai/blog-en/fbascout-alternatives
- ScanLister vs BiblioScan: https://biblioscan.ai/blog-en/scanlister-vs-biblioscan
- BookScouter alternatives: https://biblioscan.ai/blog-en/bookscouter-alternative
- TopDollar4Books review: https://biblioscan.ai/blog-en/topdollar4books-review
- Best book buyback sites (10 books, every vendor): https://biblioscan.ai/blog-en/best-book-buyback-sites
- What is an ISBN? (structure, check digit, 10↔13 conversion, books without barcode): https://biblioscan.ai/blog-en/what-is-an-isbn
- BooksRun vs World of Books: https://biblioscan.ai/blog-en/booksrun-vs-world-of-books
- How to scan books for resale: https://biblioscan.ai/blog-en/how-to-scan-books-for-resale
- Best site to sell used books: https://biblioscan.ai/blog-en/best-site-to-sell-used-books
- Why used books gain value: https://biblioscan.ai/blog-en/why-used-books-gain-value
- New vs used books in the USA: https://biblioscan.ai/blog-en/new-vs-used-books-usa
- The US used-book market and Amazon's share: https://biblioscan.ai/blog-en/us-used-book-market-amazon-share
- Reselling used books vs an index fund: https://biblioscan.ai/blog-en/reselling-used-books-index-fund

French articles: https://biblioscan.ai/blog/comment-scanner-livres-pour-revente · /blog/vendre-livres-occasion · /blog/comment-vendre-un-livre-doccasion · /blog/marche-livre-occasion-france-amazon · /blog/livre-neuf-vs-occasion-france · /blog/pourquoi-livres-occasion-prennent-valeur · /blog/revendre-livres-occasion-index-fund · /blog/comparateur-rachat-livres · /blog/isbn-c-est-quoi

German articles: https://biblioscan.ai/blog-de/wie-man-buecher-zum-weiterverkauf-scannt · /blog-de/beste-seite-um-gebrauchte-buecher-zu-verkaufen · /blog-de/deutscher-gebrauchtbuchmarkt-amazon-anteil · /blog-de/buch-neu-vs-gebraucht-deutschland · /blog-de/warum-gebrauchte-buecher-wert-gewinnen · /blog-de/gebrauchte-buecher-verkaufen-indexfonds · /blog-de/momox-alternative · /blog-de/thalia-buecher-verkaufen-erfahrungen · /blog-de/rebuy-vs-momox · /blog-de/buchankauf-vergleich · /blog-de/bonavendi-erfahrungen · /blog-de/hugendubel-buecher-verkaufen-erfahrungen · /blog-de/fachbuecher-verkaufen · /blog-de/schulbuecher-verkaufen · /blog-de/kinderbuecher-verkaufen · /blog-de/was-ist-eine-isbn

Spanish articles: https://biblioscan.ai/blog-es/como-escanear-libros-para-reventa · /blog-es/mejor-sitio-para-vender-libros-usados · /blog-es/mercado-libros-segunda-mano-espana-amazon · /blog-es/libro-nuevo-vs-usado-espana · /blog-es/por-que-libros-segunda-mano-suben-valor · /blog-es/revender-libros-usados-fondo-indexado · /blog-es/hamelyn-opiniones · /blog-es/momox-opiniones · /blog-es/reciclibros-opiniones · /blog-es/donde-vender-libros-usados · /blog-es/que-es-el-isbn

### Legal

- Legal notice: https://biblioscan.ai/legal (fr: /legal-fr, de: /legal-de, es: /legal-es)
- Privacy policy: https://biblioscan.ai/privacy (fr: /privacy-fr, de: /privacy-de, es: /privacy-es)
- Terms of service: https://biblioscan.ai/terms (fr: /terms-fr, de: /terms-de, es: /terms-es)