Questions people actually ask
What Spindl is, which formats it handles, what it costs, where its data comes from, and the things it will not do — each answered in a line.
What is Spindl?
Spindl is a record collection app for iPhone and Android. You scan a record's barcode or photograph its sleeve, and it catalogues the record in seconds with artist, year, label, country, pressing and market value filled in — then it adds a daily feed about the records you own, recommendations based on your collection, and hunts that track the pressings you are still missing.
Which formats does it handle?
Vinyl, CDs and cassettes, including box sets, 7-inch singles, picture discs and reissues. Spindl records the pressing you own, not just the album, so two copies of the same title are two records with two values.
Is Spindl free?
Yes, for a collection of up to 50 records, with no card required and no trial countdown. Pro costs $39.99 a year and holds up to 5,000 records. Barcode scanning is unmetered on both plans; AI cover recognition comes as an allowance because it costs real money per use.
Where does the record data come from?
Discogs for releases, pressings and market value, and MusicBrainz with the Cover Art Archive for artist discographies and cover art. Spindl keeps its own copy of the Discogs catalogue — 16.7 million releases — so a scan is fast even on a bad connection in a shop.
How accurate is the market value?
It is the market data for the exact pressing you confirmed, which is why Spindl makes you confirm it: a 1971 original and a 2015 repress of the same album are different prices. Where the market data is thin — obscure records, private presses — Spindl says the value is unknown rather than inventing one.
Does it work without a barcode?
Yes. Photograph the sleeve and AI reads the artist, title, label and catalogue number off the cover, then searches for matching releases and shows you the candidates. It never saves a match on its own — you pick the copy you are holding.
What is a hunt?
A hunt is a checklist for one artist you are completing — studio albums, everything, or the ones you choose — with the exact pressing you want marked on each line. Scan one of those records and it ticks itself off. Hunts are free on every plan.
Can I get my data out?
Yes, CSV export at any time, and it includes everything you have entered. If you stop paying, your collection stays and the account goes read-only — still there, still exportable. We do not delete collections.
Does Spindl sell records?
No. It is not a marketplace and we take no cut of anything. Records link out to Discogs, Amazon and eBay when you want to buy a copy, and the shop map exists to send you to real shops.
Which languages does it speak?
English and Spanish throughout the app, including the AI-written snippets about your records. The website is also in French, Portuguese and German.