Not all digital pack opening platforms offer the same cards or ways to claim your collectibles. Compare different ripping apps and what to check before opening a virtual card pack.
An online ripping app lets you buy and open trading card packs through your phone. The best card rip apps make it clear what you’re buying, what you could get from a pack, what fees you might come across and what happens to the cards after the reveal.
With virtual card ripping, you open a digital pack to reveal cards that only exist online (within a game, for instance). You might be able to use, collect or trade them within the platform, but there's no physical card to have delivered.
There are also live card ripping apps, where a host opens physical packs on camera (called ‘breaking’) and distributes the cards according to the rules of the break.
With physical-backed card ripping, the cards you reveal are linked to real collectibles. Here’s how it works:
Some platforms offer professionally graded cards, which have been assessed by companies such as Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA), Beckett Grading Services (BGS) or Certified Guaranty Company (CGC).
Here's what collectors look for when comparing apps:
If you're looking for physical collectibles, start by checking whether the card packs you buy in the app correspond to real inventory. A reputable platform should explain where its cards are stored and how they're linked to your account.
For professionally graded cards, look for certification numbers and clear images. These can help you compare the card's details with the grading company's records.
Lastly, confirm whether you actually own the physical cards held in storage. Seeing a card in your digital collection doesn't necessarily mean it's legally yours.
A low-priced card pack might seem appealing, but the cost alone doesn't tell you much about what you could get. Look for platforms that disclose the possible cards in a pack and their ‘drop rates’, which is the chance of receiving a specific card or rarity category.
Ripping apps sometimes publish a pack's minimum or maximum card value. These figures could help you make a decision on whether you want to buy it, but they aren't the same as your chances of receiving a valuable card.
After your cards are revealed, some platforms let you sell them back, list them for sale or exchange them for platform credits.
Confirm whether a buyback gives you withdrawable cash or credit that can only be spent in the app. Also look at how long the offer is available. Certain apps place time limits on accepting an offer or deciding whether to request physical delivery.
If you want physical cards, find out what it costs to have them delivered. Platforms can charge per card or calculate shipping based on the size or value of the shipment.
Storage fees may also apply if you leave collectibles in a vault. These extra charges can affect the total cost of collecting trading cards, especially if you’re opening lower-priced packs.
A well-designed app doesn't necessarily mean the company behind it is trustworthy. Before opening packs, do some research on the platform.
Sports cards and Pokémon cards both have active collecting communities, but the characteristics collectors look for in a ripping app can differ. The best sports card ripping app for someone collecting NFL players, for example, may not offer the same selection as a platform focused on Pokémon trading card game (TCG) collectibles.
If you're comparing sports ripping apps, check whether the available packs include the leagues and card sets you're interested in, as well as the edition and grading information.
Sports card collections can include NFL, NBA and MLB trading cards. A card's popularity can change with an athlete's career, recent performances, team changes or collector demand. That’s why two of the same cards may have different values.
Some sought-after collectibles feature rookie players, autographs, or limited-edition cards. You could also find cards that contain pieces of game-used or player-worn memorabilia.
When comparing Pokémon ripping apps, confirm if the packs contain physical cards or virtual game items. Also look at how the platform verifies authenticity and whether it provides enough info to identify the exact card you've received.
Depending on the platform, Pokémon TCGs may include vintage cards, illustration rares, holographic cards, modern releases or professionally graded collectibles. The card's condition can have a considerable effect on its resale value, particularly for older or harder-to-find editions.
Sports card ripping apps | Pokémon ripping apps | |
Main collectibles | NFL, NBA, MLB and other sports cards | Pokémon TCG cards |
Popular card types | Rookie cards, autographs and numbered editions | Illustration rares, holographics and vintage cards |
What affects demand | Athlete popularity, performance, and card scarcity | Character popularity, set demand and rarity |
Popular grading considerations | Card condition, authenticity and autograph verification where applicable | Card condition, authenticity and grading |
Pack prices | Depend on the specific collection and card pool | Depend on the specific collection and card pool |
Resale considerations | Demand may change with player and team news | Demand may differ considerably across sets and editions |
Card collectibles have taken off as hobbyists and first-timers alike amass their collections or flip it for gains.
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One of the biggest differences between card ripping platforms is how they calculate buyback offers. Most use a percentage of a card's fair market value (FMV). This is an estimate of the card’s worth, but it isn't necessarily based on what you paid for the pack.
Let's use a hypothetical example:
Digital pack price | €50 |
Estimated market value of the revealed card | €20 |
Example buyback percentage | 90% |
Buyback offer | €18 |
Difference between pack cost and buyback | −€32 |
So, even though the platform offers 90% of the card's estimated value, you'd only get €18 (before fees) for a pack that cost you €50.
Some platforms advertise a floor value, meaning the lowest estimated value of a card in a particular pack. But that still doesn't mean you'll recover the pack price. Check whether a published floor refers to estimated card value or a minimum buyback offer.
Some ripping apps only keep buyback offers available for a limited time. For example, the app might display a countdown timer after you reveal a card. You’ll then have to accept the offer or request another available option before the deadline.
An expired buyback quote doesn't necessarily mean you lose ownership of your card. However, on some platforms, missing the decision window can trigger an automatic sale.
Make sure you understand the buyback rules of the app you’re using, especially if you plan to collect physical cards.
The delivery process of your cards varies between ripping platforms, but it could look something like this.
The cost of getting your physical cards delivered depends on the platform and the type of shipment. Here's what could affect the final price:
Card ripping can be an enjoyable way to explore trading card collections, but there are financial and practical risks to understand.
Not every card in a digital pack has the same resale value. Some may be worth considerably less than the pack price, while rarer cards could be worth more.
Card ripping apps often highlight the most valuable collectibles available, but that doesn't tell you how likely you are to get them.
For example, if a pack has a 1% chance of revealing a particular rare card, you have a one-in-100 chance each time you open it. But even if you open 100 packs, there's no guarantee you'll receive that card.
Expected Value is the average value of the cards you'd get if you could open the same type of pack many times under the same conditions. For example, let's say a digital pack costs €20, with the following possible card values and odds:
Chance | Card's estimated value |
90% | €5 |
9% | €30 |
1% | €200 |
To calculate the expected value, multiply each card value by its probability, then add the results: (90% × €5) + (9% × €30) + (1% × €200) = €9.20
So, although the pack costs €20, its expected card value is only €9.20. That doesn't mean you'll receive a card worth exactly €9.20 – it's an average across many hypothetical openings.
Keep in mind that you can only calculate a reliable, expected card value if the platform provides accurate odds and valuations for the entire collection.
Not necessarily. Retail packs contain cards distributed by the manufacturer, while ripping apps may use their own card collections and set different odds.
For example, a digital pack might include professionally graded cards already held in storage, rather than cards from a newly opened retail pack.
Even if the cards look familiar, the chances of receiving them may be different. Check the app's published odds before opening a pack.
Some card ripping platforms use blockchain technology to link digital tokens to physical trading cards. This is known as real-world asset (RWA) tokenisation.
A card could stay in a physical vault while its linked token is transferred between collectors. The blockchain keeps a record of these transfers, so it's easier to track the card's trading history without having to ship it each time.
However, owning the token doesn't necessarily mean you legally own the physical card. Check what rights come with it, including whether you can request delivery.
Blockchains can make the pack opening process more transparent. Some Web3 ripping platforms use a verifiable random function (VRF), which allows others to check that a card was selected using a properly generated random result.
This makes it harder for a platform to manipulate the selection, although it doesn't prove that the advertised cards exist or that the published odds are accurate.
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There are legitimate online ripping apps that offer virtual cards or real trading cards and physical delivery. However, not every platform is trustworthy. Look for established providers with a verifiable card inventory and a good track record. Just because a platform offers real cards doesn't automatically mean it meets every applicable legal or regulatory requirement.
Look for clear photos and information about the cards' condition. If they're professionally graded, you can check their certification numbers with the grading company. A certification number alone doesn't prove authenticity, so it's also worth checking the platform's track record with physical deliveries.
The best card ripping app for Pokémon depends on which sets you're interested in and whether you want physical or virtual cards. Some platforms focus on graded collectibles, while others offer a wider selection of Pokémon cards. Crypto.com Rips offers Pokémon TCG collectibles.
Delivery depends on the platform and your location. Some services may restrict certain countries or require extra verification before shipping. Check the provider's delivery policies before opening a pack.
Some platforms automatically sell your card when the decision window expires, while others allow it to remain in storage.
Selling trading cards may create taxable gains. If you sell a personal collectible for less than you paid, the loss is generally not deductible. Consult a qualified tax professional if you're unsure about your obligations.
Certain platforms accept cryptocurrency, while others only use traditional payments or platform credits. Available payment and withdrawal methods depend on the provider. Make sure you understand all transaction fees and whether any credits can be converted back into cash.
Important information: This is informational content sponsored by Crypto.com and should not be construed as investment advice.
The Crypto.com Rips service is provided by Foris Inc. subject to the Crypto.com Rips Terms and Conditions and the Crypto.com App Terms and Conditions. You must be 18+.
