Lion's Eye Review 2026
Is Lion's Eye the right MTG card scanner for you? Our detailed review covers scanning accuracy, pricing, features, and more.
Lion's Eye is an iOS-only MTG card scanner that has carved out a niche as the best option for identifying Secret Lair printings and non-standard card variants. The developer is remarkably active on Discord, often responding to bug reports and feature requests within hours. While it has a smaller user base than mainstream competitors, its dedicated community is enthusiastic and engaged. This review explores whether Lion's Eye is the right choice for collectors who deal with unusual cards.
Quick Facts
Ios
Free with Plus subscription
Basic scanning free
Collectors with Secret Lair and special variant cards who want an active developer community
Pros & Cons
Pros
- +Best-in-class scanning for Secret Lair and variant cards
- +Extremely responsive developer active daily on Discord
- +Collector number detection improves accuracy on difficult cards
- +Auto-scanning in premium tier speeds up bulk sessions
- +Enthusiastic and helpful community
Cons
- −iOS only with no Android or web version
- −Smaller user base and fewer online resources
- −Some useful features locked behind the Plus subscription
Detailed Ratings
Scanning Accuracy
Lion's Eye is the best scanner available for Secret Lair editions, special variants, and cards with non-standard layouts. The premium tier adds collector number detection and auto-scanning, which further improve accuracy on difficult cards. For standard cards it performs well, but its real edge is on the cards that trip up every other scanner.
User Interface
The interface is clean and functional, with a layout that makes scanning and browsing your collection straightforward. It follows iOS design conventions well, and recent updates have refined the overall experience. Navigation is intuitive even for new users.
Price Tracking
Price data is available and generally accurate for the major marketplaces. For Secret Lair and variant cards specifically, having accurate price lookups is critical since these cards often have wildly different values from standard printings. The price tracking is reliable enough for informed trading decisions.
Collection Management
Collection management covers the essentials well, with good search and organization options. It handles the complexity of variant cards and special editions better than most competitors. The feature set is still growing, and the developer's responsiveness means requested features often arrive quickly.
Value for Money
Basic scanning is free, with the Plus subscription unlocking auto-scanning and collector number detection. The pricing is fair for the specialized functionality it provides. For collectors with significant Secret Lair or variant collections, the premium features pay for themselves through more accurate identification.
Final Verdict
Lion's Eye fills a specific niche better than any other scanner on the market. If you collect Secret Lairs, special variants, or cards with unusual layouts, this app will correctly identify cards that stump every competitor. The developer's daily presence on Discord is genuinely rare and creates a feedback loop that keeps the app improving rapidly. The trade-off is a smaller community and iOS exclusivity, but for its target audience, Lion's Eye is the clear winner.
Looking for a Better Alternative?
Try Lotus Scan for iPhone — AI-powered card recognition, real-time prices, and collection management in one app.