So you get fed up with the official LEGO app’s pathetic, gutted catalog. You search for an alternative, hoping the community has fixed what LEGO abandoned. You find "Brick Collector" or apps like it. Your hope lasts for about 30 seconds—until you hit the paywall.A SUBSCRIPTION? ARE YOU KIDDING ME? I already spent thousands on the physical bricks. I paid for every one of those damn sets. Now I have to pay a monthly or yearly fee just to look at a complete list of what I own? To track my own property? To see the history of the hobby I've bankrolled for decades?It's the same greedy, extractive disease. Every single app developer saw LEGO's neglect and thought, "Ah, a gap in the market! Let's not fill it out of passion, let's monetize the frustration." It's not a service; it's digital ransom. Pay up, or go back to your spreadsheet, sucker.They’re selling you access to data that is PUBLIC, FREE, and MAINTAINED BY VOLUNTEERS on Brickset and Bricklink. The absolute gall. They wrapped a free API in a crippled UI and had the audacity to put a lock on it.We’re being nickel-and-dimed at every turn. LEGO shuts down its own legacy. Third parties charge you to see it. There's no sanctuary. The entire ecosystem is now designed to create another recurring revenue stream, another "service" to bleed the fans dry. Final verdict: Skip this app. Skip the official one. Open a browser and go to Brickset.com. It’s free, it’s complete, it’s better in every way, and it’s made by people who actually give a damn about the bricks, not just the bottom line.This isn't a collector's tool. It's a subscription trap for a hobby that used to be about freedom. Disgusting. 🤢
I completely understand your frustration, and I truly appreciate you taking the time to write such a detailed review. Like you, I’ve spent years building my LEGO collection, and I felt the same disappointment as official tools slowly stopped meeting collectors’ needs. That’s exactly why I created Brick Collector — not to exploit that gap, but to offer something better for fans like us.Just to be 100% clear: there is no subscription in this app. No monthly fees, no auto-renewals. It’s a one-time lifetime purchase — that’s it. Also, the app doesn’t lock you out after a few taps. You can use all features for free, for up to 6 sets, with no time limit. That means you can:•Try barcode scanning and the full interface,•Track condition, missing parts, receipts, and photos,•Export your data at any time — you’re never “locked in”.You only pay if you feel the app brings enough value to manage your full collection. Unlike some “free” websites, there are no ads, no tracking, and no reselling of your data. You’re the customer — never the product.I have deep respect for platforms like Brickset and BrickLink — I use them myself. Brick Collector isn’t meant to replace them, but to complement them: a mobile-first companion for organizing your physical LEGO inventory.Thanks again for your honest feedback. I’m just one indie developer doing my best to build a tool that serves the hobby I love. If you have ideas on how to improve the free experience, I’m always listening.— François ThibaultCreator of Brick Collector (independent app, not affiliated with the LEGO Group)