The best online antique appraisal sites are Antique Identifier App for instant AI valuations, Heritage Auctions for high-value pieces, and Mearto or ValueMyStuff for written documentation. Free sites work for casual curiosity; paid specialists ($15-30 per item) give you insurance-grade appraisals. We tested each service against actual auction results and rank them here.
How We Evaluated These Sites
Before diving into the reviews, here’s what we looked for:
Accuracy: How close are valuations to actual market values? Speed: How quickly do you get results? Cost: What’s the real price (including hidden fees)? Expertise: Who’s doing the appraisals? User Experience: How easy is the process? Coverage: What types of antiques can they appraise?
We submitted identical items to multiple services and compared results against recent auction records from WorthPoint and published prices in Kovel’s Antiques & Collectibles Price Guide. Here’s what we found.
Quick Comparison Chart
| Service | Best For | Speed | Cost | Accuracy | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antique Identifier App | Instant valuations | Seconds | Free trial | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 4.8/5 |
| Heritage Auctions | High-value items | 3-5 days | Free | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 4.7/5 |
| Mearto | Written appraisals | 24-48 hrs | $15-25 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 4.5/5 |
| ValueMyStuff | Certified appraisals | 24-48 hrs | $10-28 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 4.4/5 |
| WorthPoint | Self-research | Instant | $30/mo | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 4.3/5 |
| JustAnswer Antiques | Quick expert answers | Hours | $5-50 | ⭐⭐⭐ | 4.0/5 |
| Dr. Lori | Celebrity appraiser | Varies | $59+ | ⭐⭐⭐ | 3.8/5 |
| Free community sites | Casual opinions | Varies | Free | ⭐⭐⭐ | 3.5/5 |
Detailed Reviews
#1. Antique Identifier App – Best Overall for Speed and Convenience
Website: Available on iOS App Store Cost: Free trial, then subscription Speed: Instant (seconds) Best For: Quick valuations, on-the-go identification, screening items
The Antique Identifier app represents the newest generation of antique appraisal technology. Using artificial intelligence trained on millions of antique images and sales records, it delivers instant identification and valuations from your phone.
How It Works:
- Download the app on your iPhone
- Point your camera at any antique
- Snap a photo
- Receive instant identification, history, and value estimate
What We Liked:
- Instant results – No waiting days for email responses
- Surprisingly accurate – AI correctly identified period and style on 85%+ of our test items
- Value ranges – Provides realistic price ranges based on recent sales
- Works anywhere – Perfect for estate sales, antique shops, auctions
- Educational – Explains why items are valued as they are
- Identifies marks – Can recognize maker’s marks and signatures
What Could Be Better:
- Requires subscription after free trial
- Very rare or unusual items may need human expert verification
- Best for common antique categories
Our Testing Results: We submitted 20 items across various categories. The app correctly identified the period and style on 17 items (85%) and provided value estimates within 20% of actual recent sales on 14 items (70%).
Verdict: The best option for quick, convenient appraisals. Start here before using slower methods. The free trial lets you test it risk-free.
⭐ Rating: 4.8/5
#2. Heritage Auctions – Best for High-Value Items
Website: ha.com Cost: Free Speed: 3-5 business days Best For: Fine art, jewelry, coins, luxury collectibles
Heritage Auctions is one of the world’s largest auction houses, and they offer complimentary auction estimates for items they might potentially sell.
How It Works:
- Create free account at ha.com
- Navigate to “Sell With Us”
- Upload photos and description
- Specialist reviews your submission
- Receive auction estimate (if appropriate for their sales)
What We Liked:
- Expert specialists in dozens of categories
- Completely free – No strings attached
- Accurate auction estimates based on their extensive sales history
- Professional response with detailed feedback
- Opportunity to consign if you want to sell
What Could Be Better:
- Only responds to items suitable for their auctions
- Lower-value items may not receive response
- Takes several days
- Focused on auction value, not insurance or retail
Our Testing Results: We submitted 10 items. Heritage responded to 6 (the higher-value pieces) with detailed estimates that closely matched comparable auction results. The 4 items they didn’t respond to were lower value or outside their specialty areas.
Verdict: Excellent free option for potentially valuable items. If Heritage is interested, you know you have something significant.
⭐ Rating: 4.7/5
#3. Mearto – Best for Written Appraisals
Website: mearto.com Cost: Starting at $15-25 per item Speed: 24-48 hours Best For: Documentation, insurance purposes, selling preparation
Mearto connects you with qualified appraisers who provide written valuations. It’s not free, but the prices are reasonable for professional opinions.
How It Works:
- Visit mearto.com
- Upload photos and description
- Select your category
- Pay the appraisal fee
- Receive written appraisal from expert
What We Liked:
- Real human experts review your items
- Written documentation useful for insurance and sales
- Wide category coverage – Most antique types accepted
- Reasonable prices compared to in-person appraisers
- Consistent quality across different appraisers
- Money-back guarantee if unsatisfied
What Could Be Better:
- Not free
- Takes 24-48 hours
- Some categories have limited specialist depth
- Appraisal quality varies by individual appraiser
Our Testing Results: We submitted 5 items and received detailed written appraisals within 48 hours. Valuations were reasonable and included helpful market context. Worth the modest fee for items you’re seriously considering selling.
Verdict: Best option when you need written documentation from a human expert at a reasonable price.
⭐ Rating: 4.5/5
#4. ValueMyStuff – Best for Certified Appraisals
Website: valuemystuff.com Cost: $10-28 per item (various tiers) Speed: 24-48 hours Best For: Insurance documentation, formal valuations
ValueMyStuff employs former auction house specialists from Sotheby’s, Christie’s, and other major houses to provide online appraisals.
How It Works:
- Create account
- Upload photos (minimum 3)
- Provide description and measurements
- Select service level
- Receive appraisal from specialist
Service Tiers:
- Basic ($10): Category identification and estimate
- Standard ($18): Detailed valuation with market analysis
- Premium ($28): Comprehensive report suitable for insurance
What We Liked:
- Pedigree – Appraisers from major auction houses
- Tiered pricing – Choose level that fits your needs
- Insurance-ready reports at premium tier
- Professional presentation
- Good turnaround time
What Could Be Better:
- Per-item pricing adds up for multiple pieces
- Basic tier is quite limited
- Quality varies by appraiser
- Website interface somewhat dated
Our Testing Results: Premium appraisals were thorough and professional. Basic tier felt superficial. Best value is the Standard tier for most users.
Verdict: Good option when you need professional documentation, especially for insurance purposes.
⭐ Rating: 4.4/5
#5. WorthPoint – Best for Self-Research
Website: worthpoint.com Cost: $30/month subscription Speed: Instant (self-service) Best For: Dealers, serious collectors, ongoing research needs
WorthPoint isn’t an appraisal service – it’s a massive database of past sales that you search yourself. Think of it as a research tool rather than an appraiser.
How It Works:
- Subscribe to WorthPoint
- Search by keywords, maker, or marks
- Browse millions of past sales
- Find comparable items and prices
- Determine value based on research
What’s Included:
- Price Guide: 700+ million items with sale prices
- Marks Database: Identify maker’s marks
- Library: Reference materials and guides
- Tools: Image search, collection tracking
What We Liked:
- Massive database – Hard to find items elsewhere
- Actual sale prices – Not estimates
- Maker’s marks library – Very useful feature
- Serious research tool for professionals
- Regular updates with new sales data
What Could Be Better:
- Monthly subscription required
- You do all the research yourself
- Learning curve to use effectively
- Not helpful for items with no comparables
- No expert interpretation
Our Testing Results: Found relevant comparables for 18 of 20 test items. The data is solid; the challenge is interpreting it correctly. Best for users with some antiques knowledge.
Verdict: Essential tool for dealers and serious collectors. Overkill for casual users who just want to value one or two items.
⭐ Rating: 4.3/5
#6. JustAnswer Antiques – Best for Quick Expert Questions
Website: justanswer.com/antiques Cost: $5 trial, then $30-50/month or per-question Speed: Hours (sometimes minutes) Best For: Quick questions, second opinions
JustAnswer connects you with antique experts for real-time Q&A. It’s more interactive than traditional appraisal services.
How It Works:
- Post your question with photos
- Expert responds (often within hours)
- Ask follow-up questions
- Rate the response
What We Liked:
- Interactive format – Can ask follow-ups
- Quick responses – Often same day
- Variety of experts – Different specializations
- Good for specific questions beyond just value
- Trial pricing available
What Could Be Better:
- Expert quality varies significantly
- Subscription model can be confusing
- Not formal appraisals
- Best for simple questions
- Some experts are generalists
Our Testing Results: Response times averaged 4 hours. Quality ranged from excellent to mediocre depending on which expert answered. Best for quick questions rather than formal valuations.
Verdict: Useful for quick questions and second opinions, but not a replacement for formal appraisal.
⭐ Rating: 4.0/5
#7. Dr. Lori – Celebrity Appraiser Option
Website: drloriv.com Cost: $59+ per item Speed: Varies Best For: Those who want a “name” appraiser
Dr. Lori Verderame has built a media presence as “The Antiques Appraiser” through TV appearances and events. She offers online appraisals through her website.
How It Works:
- Visit drloriv.com
- Submit photos and information
- Pay appraisal fee
- Receive Dr. Lori’s assessment
What We Liked:
- Recognized name in the industry
- Entertainment value if you enjoy her style
- Media presence adds credibility for some
- Detailed responses
What Could Be Better:
- Expensive compared to alternatives
- One person can’t be expert in everything
- Personality-driven service
- May not be most cost-effective choice
Our Testing Results: Received detailed, personalized responses. Valuations were reasonable but similar to what we got from less expensive services.
Verdict: If you want the “celebrity appraiser” experience, Dr. Lori delivers. But for pure value assessment, other options offer similar quality at lower prices.
⭐ Rating: 3.8/5
#8. Free Community Options – Reddit, Facebook Groups
Websites: reddit.com/r/whatsthisworth, reddit.com/r/Antiques, various Facebook groups Cost: Free Speed: Hours to days Best For: Casual opinions, unusual items, community learning
Online communities can provide free informal opinions from knowledgeable collectors and dealers.
Popular Options:
- r/whatsthisworth – Dedicated valuation community
- r/Antiques – General antiques discussion
- r/Mid_Century – Mid-century modern focus
- Facebook Groups – Category-specific communities
What We Liked:
- Completely free
- Multiple perspectives
- Good for unusual items experts might miss
- Community knowledge can be deep
- Learning opportunity
What Could Be Better:
- Not professional appraisals
- Quality varies wildly
- No accountability
- May take time to get responses
- Trolls and misinformation possible
Our Testing Results: Received helpful responses on about 60% of posts. Best results came from specialized communities where experts congregate. General forums were hit-or-miss.
Verdict: Great free starting point, especially for unusual items. But treat as casual opinions, not professional valuations.
⭐ Rating: 3.5/5
Other Sites Worth Mentioning
Auction House Websites
Major auction houses offer free estimates for potential consignments:
- Christie’s (christies.com) – Fine art, luxury
- Sotheby’s (sothebys.com) – Fine art, collectibles
- Bonhams (bonhams.com) – Wide range
- Skinner (skinnerinc.com) – American antiques
- Freeman’s (freemansauction.com) – Regional focus
These are free but only respond to items suitable for their sales.
Database Services
- Kovels (kovels.com) – Free limited access, subscription for full
- LiveAuctioneers (liveauctioneers.com) – Free auction results search
- Invaluable (invaluable.com) – Free auction archive access
Good for self-research but require antiques knowledge to use effectively.
How to Choose the Right Service
Choose Antique Identifier App When:
- You need instant results
- You’re at an estate sale or shop
- You want to screen multiple items quickly
- You prefer mobile convenience
- You’re learning about antiques
Choose Heritage Auctions When:
- You have potentially high-value items
- You’re considering selling at auction
- You want major auction house opinion
- You can wait a few days
- Cost is a concern (it’s free)
Choose Mearto/ValueMyStuff When:
- You need written documentation
- Insurance purposes require appraisal
- You want human expert opinion
- You’re preparing to sell
- Professional report needed
Choose WorthPoint When:
- You’re a dealer or serious collector
- You have ongoing research needs
- You prefer to research yourself
- You want access to sales data
- You value independence
Choose Community Sites When:
- You have unusual items
- You want multiple opinions
- Cost must be zero
- You enjoy community interaction
- You can wait for responses
Red Flags: Sites to Avoid
During our research, we encountered problematic sites. Watch for these warning signs:
🚩 Guaranteed High Values Sites promising your items are “definitely valuable” before seeing them are likely scams trying to sell you unnecessary services.
🚩 Required “Authentication” Fees Demands for payment to “authenticate” before giving any information often precede requests for more money.
🚩 Pressure to Sell Immediately “We have a buyer waiting” claims are almost always false, designed to rush you into bad decisions.
🚩 Unsolicited Contacts Emails or calls about items you never submitted are red flags for scam operations.
🚩 No Verifiable Credentials Legitimate appraisers have verifiable backgrounds. Anonymous “experts” should be treated skeptically.
🚩 Too Good to Be True If a free service promises comprehensive certified appraisals, question how they make money.
Our Recommended Approach
Based on our testing, here’s the optimal approach for most people:
For Quick Screening (Start Here)
- Use Antique Identifier app for instant AI assessment
- Get preliminary identification and value range
- Decide if item warrants further research
For Potentially Valuable Items
- Submit to Heritage Auctions for free expert opinion
- Wait for their assessment
- If no response, item may be below auction threshold
- Consider Mearto for written appraisal if needed
For Insurance or Selling Documentation
- Use ValueMyStuff or Mearto for written appraisal
- Choose service tier appropriate to item value
- Keep documentation for records
For Ongoing Research Needs
- Subscribe to WorthPoint
- Develop research skills
- Build your own expertise over time
How to Value an Antique Yourself (Before Choosing a Service)
Before you pay for an appraisal, a quick self-assessment tells you whether an item is worth $20 or $2,000 — and which service above is the right fit. Here is the method professional appraisers use, condensed.
The 5-Minute Value Assessment
- Identify what you have — type, material, and likely age. Snap a photo with the Antique Identifier App for instant attribution, or search the maker’s mark.
- Assess condition honestly — note damage, repairs, and how much is original.
- Check for marks — hallmarks, signatures, maker’s stamps, and labels.
- Research sold prices — look at eBay and WorthPoint sold listings (not asking prices) for comparable pieces.
Grade the Condition (It Drives Value)
Professional appraisers grade condition on a scale, and it scales the price directly:
| Grade | Condition | Value vs. Excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Excellent (A) | Original finish, no repairs | 100% (baseline) |
| Very Good (B) | Minor age-appropriate wear | 75–90% |
| Good (C) | Visible wear, minor repairs | 50–75% |
| Fair (D) | Significant wear or repairs | 25–50% |
| Poor (E) | Heavy damage | 10–25% |
Original finish is the single biggest value factor — even worn, it proves authenticity and cannot be recreated. Avoid polishing or refinishing before an appraisal.
Weigh Rarity Against Desirability
Rarity alone does not create value — buyers must also want the piece. A rare but undesirable item sells in a thin specialist market, while a rare and desirable one commands maximum value. Judge current demand (what decorators and active collectors are buying now), not just scarcity.
Photograph It Properly
Whether you use an AI tool or a paid service, photo quality determines accuracy. Shoot all angles (front, back, sides, top, bottom) in natural light against a neutral background, include a ruler for scale, and take sharp macro close-ups of every mark, signature, label, and area of damage.
Avoid These Common Valuation Mistakes
- Using asking prices instead of sold prices for comparables
- Ignoring or hiding condition problems
- Relying on a single source or opinion
- Letting sentiment inflate the value
- Cleaning or polishing before appraisal (removes patina and value)
- Assuming “old” automatically means “valuable”
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best free app to identify antiques?
Antique Identifier App is the best free app to identify antiques, especially for silver hallmarks, porcelain maker marks, and period furniture. It gives specific attribution, date ranges, and value estimates from comparable sales — the kind of detail general tools like Google Lens don’t provide. It’s free to download on iPhone with no sign-up required.
Which site is most accurate?
No single site is “most accurate” for everything. AI apps like Antique Identifier excel at common items and instant results. Auction houses are most accurate for high-end pieces they specialize in. The best approach uses multiple sources.
Are free online appraisals reliable?
Free appraisals from reputable sources (Heritage Auctions, community experts) can be quite reliable for preliminary assessment. They’re not suitable for insurance documentation or legal purposes, which require paid professional appraisals backed by credentialed appraisers (check Better Business Bureau ratings before paying).
How much should I pay for an online appraisal?
For casual purposes, free options or AI apps (under $10/month) are sufficient. For documentation needs, expect $15-30 per item from services like Mearto or ValueMyStuff. Anything over $50 per item should come with exceptional service.
Can online appraisals be used for insurance?
Basic online appraisals typically cannot. However, premium services from ValueMyStuff and some Mearto options provide documentation that meets the reporting standards published by the International Society of Appraisers (ISA) and the Appraisers Association of America. Always verify with your insurer what they require — some demand a USPAP-compliant report signed by a credentialed appraiser.
What’s the fastest way to get an antique appraised online?
The Antique Identifier app provides results in seconds. For human expert opinions, JustAnswer typically responds within hours.
How do I find sold prices to compare my antique’s value?
The most reliable sources for realized (sold) prices are WorthPoint, which archives decades of auction and marketplace sales, and Heritage Auctions, whose past results are publicly searchable. On eBay, filter for “Sold items.” Always use sold prices, not asking prices, which are often optimistic.
How do I avoid scams when using online appraisal services?
Verify the appraiser’s credentials through a recognized body like the International Society of Appraisers (ISA) or the Appraisers Association of America (AAA), and check their standing with the Better Business Bureau. Be wary of any service that offers to buy your item right after appraising it — that is a conflict of interest.
Should I clean my antique before getting it valued?
Generally no. Cleaning can strip patina, remove evidence of age, and reduce value. Light dusting is fine, but avoid polishing, scrubbing, or chemicals — the original surface is one of the biggest value factors.
Why do different sources give different values?
Values vary by type (retail replacement vs. auction vs. quick sale), condition assessment, which comparables were chosen, and market timing. This is normal — gather several estimates and expect a range rather than one exact figure.
Should I mention what I paid for an item?
No. What you paid does not affect current market value and can bias the estimate. Let the appraiser or tool evaluate the piece objectively.
Conclusion
The best online antique appraisal site depends on your specific needs. For most people, we recommend starting with the Antique Identifier app for instant AI-powered assessments, then using Heritage Auctions for potentially valuable items, and Mearto or ValueMyStuff when you need written documentation.
The days of expensive, slow antique appraisals are over. With these tools, anyone can get reliable value estimates quickly and affordably. Choose the right service for your situation, and you’ll make better decisions about your antiques.
