BookScouter
An app that scans a book's barcode and compares buyback offers.
What BookScouter does
BookScouter is a free app for selling used books, especially textbooks. Scan the barcode or type the ISBN and it compares what more than 30 buyback sites will pay right now. Pick the best offer, finish the sale on that site and ship the book. It's on iPhone and Android.
Point your camera at the barcode on the back of a book and BookScouter pulls live quotes from buyback vendors. Depending on the title, you'll often see a list of offers side by side. Tap the best one and you finish the sale on that vendor's site, print their shipping label and get paid by check or PayPal.
It works the other way too. You can compare prices when you want to buy a used or new copy. A continuous scan mode and support for external barcode scanners help when you're going through a whole shelf, and Bookshelf keeps scanned books with live prices so you can sell later.
Offers come from buyback companies, so they reflect what those companies will pay, not what a collector might. Textbooks tend to get the best offers, and prices change, so sell while a quote is good. For rare or signed books, a specialist dealer is a better route.
Alternatives to BookScouter
Who it's for
Skip it if: Pricing rare, antique or signed books.
Pricing
Free planThe BookScouter app is free, with no in-app purchases listed. BookScouter also offers Pro Tools for high-volume resellers at $34.95 a month, which most people won't need.
Prices can vary by country. Checked 19 Oct 2026.
What people like
- Free with no hidden charges
- Many buyers compared in one scan
- Around since 2010 and still updated
Watch out for
- You need a printer for shipping labels
- Offers are buyback prices, often low for common books
- iPhone only on Apple devices, no iPad version
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Questions people ask
Is BookScouter free?
Yes. The app is free. There are optional Pro Tools for resellers at $34.95 a month.
How do I get paid?
You sell to the vendor you pick, and they pay by check or PayPal after they receive the book.
Will it tell me what an old or rare book is worth?
Not really. It shows what buyback companies will pay, which works best for textbooks and recent titles.
Do I need a printer?
Yes, to print the vendor's shipping label.