Collection app comparison: mintboxd, Discogs, CLZ, Letterboxd
Four apps people use to keep track of a physical media collection, side by side. Short version: Discogs is music only and also a marketplace; CLZ (Collectorz) is a separate paid app per category; Letterboxd is a film diary and does not track physical editions. mintboxd keeps music, film, games, books and figures in one free iPhone app, records them at pressing level, shows them on a 3D shelf, and does not sell anything.
| Feature | mintboxd | Discogs | CLZ (Collectorz) | Letterboxd |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scope | Music, film, games, books, comics, figures in one app | Music only (vinyl, CD, cassette) | Music, movies, games, books, comics, each a separate app | Film and TV only |
| Pressing-level records | Yes: format, country, year, region code, edition, catalogue number | Yes, very detailed for music | Partly (edition pick) | No, work level |
| Barcode scanning | Yes; also ISBN and game disc serial numbers | Yes (mobile app) | Yes | No |
| 3D shelf | Yes, at real case dimensions; unknown cases measured with the camera | No | No | No |
| Estimated value | Yes, from eBay listing medians | Yes, from its own marketplace data | Yes (some categories) | No |
| Diary, ratings, reviews | Yes | Limited (ratings and comments) | Limited | Yes, core feature |
| Social | Follow, feed, reels, likes, comments, messages; private profile option | Forum, shared collections | No | Follow, lists, comments |
| Marketplace | No; no selling or payments | Yes, buying, selling and fees | No | No |
| Price | Free, no ads | Free (seller fees) | Paid subscription | Free; Pro and Patron paid |
| Platform | iPhone and iPad (iOS 17+) | Web, iOS, Android | Web, iOS, Android | Web, iOS, Android |
| Languages | English, Turkish | Multilingual | Multilingual | Multilingual |
Which one is for whom
- You collect only vinyl and CDs and you buy and sell: Discogs. It has the largest music catalogue and a marketplace.
- You manage several categories from a desktop and will pay for it: CLZ. Each category is a separate app and subscription.
- You want to log and rate the films you watch: Letterboxd. No physical editions, barcodes or shelf.
- You want vinyl, film, games, books and figures in one place, at pressing level, on a 3D shelf: mintboxd. No selling; iOS only.
mintboxd vs Discogs
Both record music at pressing level; mintboxd actually uses Discogs data for music matching. The difference is scope and purpose: Discogs is music only and a marketplace; mintboxd also covers film, games, books and figures, sells nothing, and shows the collection on a 3D shelf.
mintboxd vs CLZ
CLZ needs a separate app and paid subscription per category and also runs on web and Android. mintboxd keeps every category in one free app and adds a social feed and a 3D shelf, but runs only on iOS.
mintboxd vs Letterboxd
Letterboxd records what you watched; mintboxd records what you own. Letterboxd's diary and social features are very strong, and it has no physical editions, barcodes or shelf. mintboxd has a diary and ratings too, but the object in your hands is the centre.