Short answer
If you want to catalog crystals you already own — photos, what you paid, what they're worth, where they're stored — use a dedicated collection manager such as CrystalVault (iPhone/iPad, free to start, $2.99 one-time Pro, no subscription, offline).
If you want to find out what an unknown stone is, use an AI identifier app. They're good at that job but usually charge a weekly or yearly subscription, and their collection features are secondary.
If you want total control and don't mind manual work, a spreadsheet or Notion database works — you just lose the catalog data and the photo gallery.
The three kinds of crystal apps
1. Collection managers
Built around the crystals you own. You pick each stone from a reference catalog, attach your own photo, and track details over time. CrystalVault is in this group: 278 pre-loaded crystals, a gallery-style vault, 1–5 vibe ratings, purchase price and current value, wishlist, statistics, notes, tags, storage location and CSV export.
2. AI photo identifiers
Point the camera at a rock and get a guess. The App Store category is dominated by these (for example Rock Identifier, Crystalyze, Rock & Crystal Identifier). Accuracy varies with lighting and specimen, and most are monetized through subscriptions. Some include a “my collection” list of past scans.
3. Crystal guides and encyclopedias
Reference apps focused on meanings and properties — for example A Guide To Crystals from The Crystal Council — some of which add collection tracking as a paid upgrade.
What to look for
- Your own photos. A collection is about your specimens, not stock images.
- A real catalog underneath. Formula, hardness, family, localities and chakras should be filled in for you.
- Value tracking. Purchase price and current value, totaled — useful for insurance.
- Export. CSV or similar, so your records outlive any app.
- Offline and private. Gem shows rarely have signal; your collection doesn't need a cloud account.
- Fair pricing. A collection is a long-term record. A weekly subscription for a list you'll keep for years adds up quickly.
Comparison at a glance
| CrystalVault | AI identifiers | Spreadsheet | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Cataloging what you own | Naming unknown stones | DIY records |
| Price | Free / $2.99 once | Mostly subscriptions | Free |
| Built-in catalog | 278 crystals | Yes | No |
| Photo gallery | Yes | Scan history | Clunky |
| Value & wishlist | Yes | Varies | Manual |
| Offline / no account | Yes | Usually not | Depends |
| Photo identification | No | Yes | No |
Our recommendation
Most serious collectors end up with two tools: an identifier for the occasional mystery stone, and a collection manager as the permanent record. If you're on iPhone or iPad and want the second one without a subscription, try CrystalVault free — the first 10 specimens cost nothing.
App names are trademarks of their owners and are mentioned for comparison only. Feature and pricing notes about other apps reflect their App Store listings at the time of writing and may change.