Curio Alternative: FlipTip vs Curio
Curio is a popular antique identifier: it names the maker, origin and approximate date and tells the item's history. Its value is an estimate based on what similar pieces are on the market for. FlipTip is built for the buying decision: what the item actually sold for and what you would make.
We make FlipTip. Facts about other tools come from their own websites and app store listings, checked November 2026 — sources at the bottom.
⚡ The short answer
Pick Curio to learn what an antique is and to catalog a collection, with PDF export. Pick FlipTip when you resell: completed sales of the exact item, profit after fees and a buy-or-skip verdict.
| FlipTip | Curio | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Deciding what to buy and resell | Identifying antiques and learning their history |
| Value based on | Completed sales of the exact item (eBay; in the US also Mercari and Poshmark) | What similar pieces are on the market for, across the web |
| Profit and verdict | Profit after fees, the most to pay, sell speed, WORTH IT / SKIP | No |
| Your items | Profit dashboard: stock, sales, expenses, mileage, tax-year report | Collections with PDF export |
| Price | Free plan (3 photo scans a day) · Starter $1.99/mo (40 scans a month, any day) · Hustler $9.99/mo (15 scans a day, up to 450 a month) · Flipper $19.99/mo (40 a day, up to 1,200) · Dealer $39.99/mo (90 a day, up to 2,700) · Flipper free for 5 days for new accounts, no card | Free download; Premium in-app purchases from $4.99 to $49.99 (App Store, US) |
| Works on | Any phone browser (installs like an app) · Chrome extension | iPhone, iPad, Mac with Apple silicon, Apple Vision Pro; Android |
When Curio is the better choice
- You want the story behind an heirloom: maker, origin, era and history.
- You catalog a collection for insurance or family and want a PDF of it.
When FlipTip is the better choice
- You buy to resell. A price based on what similar pieces are listed for is an asking price; FlipTip prices from what the exact item actually sold for.
- You want the maths: profit after the marketplace's fees, the most you should pay and how fast it sells.
- You source more than antiques: electronics, clothing, toys, tools and kitchenware too.
📸 Try FlipTip on your next find
Point your phone at any item: FlipTip identifies it, shows what it actually sold for, your profit after fees and a clear buy-or-skip. Free plan (3 photo scans a day) · Starter $1.99/mo (40 scans a month, any day) · Hustler $9.99/mo (15 scans a day, up to 450 a month) · Flipper $19.99/mo (40 a day, up to 1,200) · Dealer $39.99/mo (90 a day, up to 2,700) · Flipper free for 5 days for new accounts, no card.
Scan an item freeFAQ
How does Curio estimate value?
Its App Store listing says the estimated price range is based on what similar pieces are on the market for — that is, listings, not completed sales (checked November 2026).
Can I use both?
Yes: Curio to learn what an unusual antique is, FlipTip to check what that exact item sold for and whether it is worth buying at the asking price.
Sources
- Curio — App Store (apps.apple.com)
Prices and features change — check the vendor's site before you subscribe. Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we'll fix it.