Insights & guides
Plain answers about identifying records, reading runouts, checking value and choosing a collection app.
CollectingWhat is a discography? LP, EP and single explainedWhat a discography is, what LP, EP and single mean, and how collection apps show an artist's records.
Comparisons12 Best Vinyl and CD Collection Apps in 2026 ComparedPlastic, Discogs, CLZ Music, VinylBox and eight more apps, compared on scanning, listening, Discogs sync and price.
CollectingShare your record collection online, the way it looks on your shelfYour own page for your records: a wall of favourites, curated Collections, your whole collection and your wishlist. Free, and synced with Discogs.
CollectingHow to organise a vinyl or CD collection that outgrew the alphabetRecords or CDs, a shelf holds one order. Plastic holds the rest: your own Collections, artist discographies, genres and Discogs sync.
PressingsEvery coloured record is a one-offColoured records are made partly by hand, so no two match. How plants make splatter and split records, what makes a colour rare, and how it sounds.
CollectingHow to share your vinyl collection on social media or with friendsMake an album-cover grid from your collection, wishlist, folder or tag. Share vinyl, CDs and cassettes, or turn Monthly Rewind into a video on iPhone.-
Comparisons
Plastic vs Discogs: what each app does for your collection
Connect the collection you already have, then scan, listen, browse and keep every
pressing detail on your phone.
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Comparisons
Plastic vs Discographic: more from your music collection
Compare collection tools, scanning, listening, discovery and the cost of each app.
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Comparisons
Plastic vs VinylBox: record collection apps compared
Compare scanning, album pages, collection browsing, Discogs sync, discovery and
seller tools.
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Scanning
Identify a vinyl record from its cover
Point the camera at a sleeve or import a saved photo. Plastic finds the album and
helps you compare the possible pressings.
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Scanning
Barcode Scanner for Vinyl Records
Scan a record barcode to find the release, or use the cover, catalogue number and
runout when there is no barcode.
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Pressings
Vinyl matrix number lookup: search the runout
Type the matrix number or other runout text and compare possible pressings by
label, catalogue number, country and year.
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Value
How much is my vinyl record worth?
Start with the pressing, the condition and recent sold prices. Asking prices alone
do not show what a record is worth.