Quick Answer
The C3 Card Compare tool at /compare lets you place up to four TCG cards side by side and compare current AUD prices, 14-day price trends, and market data simultaneously. This guide explains how to use Card Compare effectively when deciding which cards to buy, sell, or trade.
Basic Usage
Go to /compare and search for any TCG card by name. The tool returns the card with its current AUD buy price and recent price trend. Add a second card to compare side by side. Continue adding cards until you have the comparison set you need. The cards are displayed with price history, current market price, and trend direction so you can see at a glance which represents better value relative to its recent performance.
Comparing Versions of the Same Card
Many TCG cards exist in multiple versions: regular, foil, alternate art, and special editions. Card Compare lets you search and compare different versions of the same card side by side to identify the best value version for your specific purpose. If you want a card for competitive play and condition appearance does not matter, you may find a regular version at 60 percent of the price of the alternate art. If you are collecting for appearance, the alternate art premium may be justified.
Comparing Cards Across Sets
When building a deck and deciding between two similar-function cards from different sets, Card Compare shows the current price difference and trend for both. If one card performs the same function but costs AU$5 less and is trending down while the other is trending up, that information directly affects your purchase decision.
Using Card Compare Before Trades
Local game store trade events and player trades work on perceived value. Before entering a trade, use Card Compare to check current AUD prices for both what you are giving up and what you are receiving. A trade that feels fair at a glance can be significantly one-sided when checked against current market prices. Knowing the numbers means you trade from information rather than intuition.
The 14-Day Trend Data
The 14-day price trend shows whether a card has been rising, falling, or stable over the past two weeks. Buying a card that is currently falling in price (downward trend) while the current price is higher than it will be in a week is poor timing. Selling a card that is currently rising (upward trend) before the trend completes may leave money on the table. The trend data adds a timing dimension that the current price alone does not provide.
Card Compare and the EV Calculator Together
The most powerful combination is using Card Compare to check the top chase cards in a set and then using the EV Calculator at /tools to determine whether the box EV at current prices is positive. Card Compare gives you the individual card prices; the EV Calculator converts those into a box-level verdict. Together they answer both questions: are these specific cards worth buying as singles, and is the box worth opening?
How This Tool Fits the Full C3 Toolkit
The C3 tools are designed to work together as a complete decision-support system for Australian TCG collectors and players.
The EV Calculator at /tools answers the sealed product question: is this box worth opening at my purchase price? It uses current AU card prices to give a verdict before you commit to opening.
The Card Compare tool at /compare answers the singles question: how do these specific cards compare in current AUD value? It shows up to four cards side by side with price trends.
The Market page at /market answers the timing question: is this card's price moving up or down right now? It shows seven-day price trends for the Australian market.
The Collection Tracker at /tracker answers the portfolio question: what is my collection worth, and am I ahead or behind on my investment? It tracks purchase prices and current values across eight games.
Using all four tools together gives you visibility into sealed product value, individual card value, price timing, and overall collection performance simultaneously. No single tool gives the complete picture. The combination does.
The C3 Take
Card Compare at /compare changes TCG buying and trading from guesswork into informed decisions. The two minutes it takes to check side-by-side prices before any significant purchase or trade is the smallest investment of time with the highest consistent return in TCG collecting. Use it every time.
What to Read Next
- Use Card Compare at /compare
- Run the EV Calculator at /tools
- Browse all TCG card prices at /cards/mtg