Selling on Amazon is a competitive game, and the right tools can make all the difference. Amazon seller scanner apps help sellers quickly analyze product profitability, making them indispensable for retail arbitrage, online arbitrage, and wholesale businesses. These apps scan product barcodes, retrieve real-time data from Amazon’s database, and display crucial information such as sales rank, pricing history, competitor listings, and estimated fees.

For anyone trying to outperform competitors and maximize profits, having the right scanner app is essential. Some are free, while others offer advanced features like offline scanning, historical price tracking, and real-time profit calculations. This article will break down the most popular scanner apps, their benefits, key features, and what to look for when choosing one.

What Are Amazon Seller Scanner Apps?

An Amazon seller scanner app is a mobile tool designed to help sellers make informed purchasing decisions. These apps scan barcodes using a smartphone camera or an external Bluetooth scanner, instantly pulling data from Amazon’s marketplace.

When a barcode is scanned, the app processes the image, deciphers the product code, and fetches information such as:

• Current market price on Amazon
• Sales rank and historical sales performance
• Number of competing sellers
• Profit margin and estimated Amazon fees
• Eligibility to sell in a specific category
• Buy Box information (who currently controls the Buy Box)

These tools are particularly useful for retail arbitrage, where sellers buy discounted products from retail stores and resell them for a profit on Amazon. By scanning products in-store, sellers can quickly determine if an item is worth buying.

Why Use an Amazon Seller Scanner App?

A seller scanner app provides several advantages that can make a major difference in profitability. Speed, accuracy, and real-time data access are critical for making quick and informed decisions.

• Saves Time and Effort: Instead of manually researching products, a scanner app automates product sourcing in seconds.
• Helps in Informed Decision-Making: Access to historical pricing, estimated profit, and competition data allows sellers to choose the most profitable items.
• Boosts Profits with Smarter Buying: By analyzing sales velocity and historical trends, sellers can identify products with high demand and strong profit margins.
• Keeps You Competitive: A scanner app helps you track competitor pricing and make pricing adjustments accordingly.
• Provides Instant Data: See current price, average price, number of sellers, and estimated profit in real-time.
• Helps Calculate Costs: Factor in shipping, taxes, and purchase price to determine net profit before buying an item.

A well-chosen scanner app can mean the difference between buying a profitable product or making an expensive mistake.

Things to Consider When Choosing a Scanner App

With multiple options available, selecting the right scanner app requires evaluating several key factors.

• Accuracy & Real-Time Data: Apps that pull data directly from Amazon’s API provide the most up-to-date and reliable information.
• Offline Functionality: Some apps offer offline database downloads, allowing sellers to scan products in locations with poor internet connectivity.
• Integration with Other Tools: Apps like Scoutify 2 integrate with Keepa and CamelCamelCamel for historical price tracking.
• Ease of Use: A simple, intuitive interface speeds up scanning and decision-making.
• Cost: Free apps like Amazon Seller App work for beginners, while paid apps offer more features and better data insights.
• Category-Specific Needs: Some apps, like ScoutIQ, specialize in book-selling and provide additional insights like eSCORE for book profitability.
• Triggers & Customization: Advanced apps allow setting profit triggers to instantly identify buy or pass opportunities.
• Buy Box & Sold by Amazon Info: Some products are dominated by Amazon itself, making it harder to compete. Scanner apps can highlight this to avoid bad buys.

Most Popular Amazon Seller Scanner Apps

With numerous Amazon seller scanner apps available, choosing the right one depends on your budget, selling strategy, and the features you need. Here’s a breakdown of the top options, covering their key features, pros, and cons to help you make an informed decision.

1. Amazon Seller App

The Amazon Seller App is Amazon’s official mobile application designed for sellers who need a free, easy-to-use scanning tool. It allows users to scan barcodes, check live pricing, estimate fees, and view sales ranks. Since it pulls data directly from Amazon, the information is accurate and up-to-date. However, it lacks advanced analytics, historical pricing, and customizable profit triggers.

Best for: Beginners and casual sellers who want a free scanner app with basic features.

Key Features:

• Barcode scanning with real-time pricing and FBA fees
• Inventory and order management tools
• Direct Amazon integration at no cost

Pros:
✔ Free and beginner-friendly
✔ Provides real-time Amazon data
✔ Easy to navigate

Cons:
✖ Lacks historical pricing and sales trends
✖ No advanced analytics or profit tracking
✖ Requires an internet connection

2. Scoutify 2

Scoutify 2 by InventoryLab is a powerful scanner app designed for serious Amazon FBA sellers. It integrates with InventoryLab, making it easy to track inventory, research products, and analyze profitability.

Best for: Experienced sellers looking for advanced sourcing tools with InventoryLab integration.

Key Features:

• Profit calculator with detailed fee breakdowns
• Customizable profit triggers
• Buy lists for streamlined inventory tracking
• Integration with Keepa and CamelCamelCamel for historical pricing

Pros:
✔ Provides in-depth profitability data
✔ Syncs with InventoryLab for seamless inventory management
✔ Allows batch listing preparation

Cons:
✖ Requires an InventoryLab subscription ($69/month)
✖ No built-in historical pricing data (requires Keepa subscription)

3. ScoutIQ

ScoutIQ is a specialized scanner app for book resellers. It includes eScore, a metric that estimates demand based on past sales, and features an offline mode, which is essential for scanning books in areas without internet access.

Best for: Amazon booksellers who need detailed sales insights and offline scanning capabilities.

Key Features:

• eScore to predict book sales performance
• Live and offline scanning modes
• Historical sales rank and price tracking
• Buy list creation for bulk purchases

Pros:
✔ The best app for booksellers
✔ Offline mode for scanning without an internet connection
✔ eScore provides better demand insights than sales rank alone

Cons:
✖ Limited to book reselling (not ideal for other products)
✖ Paid subscription required ($14–$44/month)

4. ScanPower

ScanPower is a professional-level scanner app that provides in-depth data for sourcing, pricing, and inventory management. It’s commonly used by high-volume sellers because of its ability to process large inventories efficiently.

Best for: Large-scale sellers looking for comprehensive scanning and listing tools.

Key Features:

• Real-time Amazon pricing and fee calculations
• Multi-pack and bundle scanning support
• Customizable profit analysis
• Deep Amazon API integration

Pros:
✔ Best for bulk sourcing and batch listing
✔ Offers detailed analytics and multi-pack scanning
✔ Works well for wholesale and private label sellers

Cons:
✖ Higher subscription cost ($49–$99/month)
✖ More complex to use for beginners

5. Profit Bandit

Profit Bandit is a budget-friendly scanner app that provides basic sourcing tools and profit calculations. It offers real-time Amazon data, making it a great choice for small sellers who want an affordable scanning solution.

Best for: Budget-conscious sellers who want a low-cost scanner app.

Key Features:

• Barcode scanning with profit estimates
• 15+ Amazon FBA fee calculations
• Manual ASIN search for items without barcodes
• Real-time Amazon price and competition checks

Pros:
✔ Affordable ($9.99/month)
✔ Simple and user-friendly
✔ Covers essential scanning features

Cons:
✖ No sales rank history or Keepa integration
✖ Limited advanced analytics

6. Keepa

Keepa is not a barcode scanner but an essential Amazon research tool for tracking historical price and sales rank data. It provides detailed charts that help sellers understand price trends and make better sourcing decisions.

Best for: Sellers who rely on historical pricing and sales rank data.

Key Features:

• Price and sales rank history tracking
• Amazon Buy Box insights
• Browser extension for instant product research
• Mobile app for on-the-go price tracking

Pros:
✔ Best for historical pricing analysis
✔ Helps sellers avoid price fluctuations
✔ Works as a browser extension and mobile app

Cons:
✖ Not a standalone scanner app
✖ Requires a subscription for full features ($19/month)

7. SellerAmp

SellerAmp is a multi-functional scanner app that combines profit calculations, competition analysis, and Keepa integration into one tool. It’s widely used by retail arbitrage and online arbitrage sellers.

Best for: Sellers looking for a scanner app with Keepa integration and detailed profitability metrics.

Key Features:

• Profit calculator with fee breakdowns
• Keepa chart integration
• Customizable alerts for profitable items
• Chrome extension, web app, and mobile app options

Pros:
✔ All-in-one research tool for Amazon sellers
✔ Provides detailed profit breakdowns
✔ Works across desktop and mobile

Cons:
✖ Requires a paid subscription ($14.95/month)
✖ May have a steeper learning curve for new users

Which Scanner App is Right for You?

If you’re just starting, the Amazon Seller App is the best free option. For those serious about retail arbitrage, Scoutify 2 and ScanPower provide detailed profitability insights. ScoutIQ is the best choice for book resellers, while Profit Bandit offers an affordable entry-level solution. If historical pricing data is important, Keepa is an essential tool. Finally, sellers needing an offline database should consider Neatopricer.

Each app serves different needs, so testing a few options will help you find the one that fits your selling strategy best.

How to Use an Amazon Seller Scanner App Effectively

Understanding how to use a scanner app efficiently can make a significant difference in product sourcing and profitability.

First, open the scanner app and use the barcode scanning feature to scan a product’s UPC or ISBN code. If the barcode is damaged or missing, most apps allow manual entry of the product name or ASIN.

When evaluating a product, the sales rank is one of the most critical factors. A product with a low sales rank (closer to #1) sells frequently, while higher-ranked items may sit in inventory longer.

Next, analyze the pricing trends. If a product has a fluctuating price, check Keepa or CamelCamelCamel to see if it was recently inflated due to seasonal demand. A steady price history suggests consistent demand, while sudden drops may indicate increased competition.

To determine profitability, subtract Amazon fees, shipping costs, and the purchase price from the selling price.

Finally, check competing sellers. If the product has too many FBA sellers offering the same item at a low price, it may lead to price wars, shrinking margins. Additionally, avoid products where Amazon itself is a seller.

FAQ

What is the best Amazon scanner app for beginners?

The Amazon Seller App is the best free option for beginners. It allows basic scanning, pricing checks, and fee calculations without any additional cost.

Which scanner app works best for booksellers?

ScoutIQ is highly recommended for book resellers, as it offers eSCORE analytics to predict book profitability.

Can I use a scanner app without an internet connection?

Yes, apps like Scoutly (formerly FBAScan) offer an offline database mode, allowing sellers to scan products even in areas with no signal.

Are paid scanner apps worth it?

For serious sellers, paid scanner apps offer advanced features like historical pricing, profit triggers, and category-specific insights. The cost is often justified by better sourcing decisions and higher profits.

Do these apps work outside the US?

Yes, many scanner apps support international Amazon marketplaces, but features may vary depending on region and API restrictions.