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Set up your account

Creating an account takes a minute or two: register, confirm your email, pick a username, and you're in. This page walks through each step, then shows how to lock the account down and choose the right plan.

The RetroTechCollector registration screen with fields for email and password and a Google sign-in optionThe RetroTechCollector registration screen with fields for email and password and a Google sign-in option

Register​

You can sign up with an email address and password, with your Google account, or, in the iOS app, with Apple.

  1. Open retrotechcollector.app and go to Register.
  2. To use email and password, enter your Email, a Username and a Password of at least 10 characters, then agree to the terms and select Create account. First and last name are optional. Passwords are hashed and never stored in plain text, and are checked against known breach lists. A match is a warning, not a block.
  3. To use Google instead, select Sign up with Google and choose your account. There's nothing more to set, and you'll skip straight past email verification.
  4. In the iOS app you can also choose Sign up with Apple, including Apple's private relay email. The Apple button appears on iOS only; on Android and the web you'll see Google and the email form.

You start on the free Hobbyist plan, so there's no card to enter to get going.

Verify your email​

If you registered with email and password, we email you a six-digit code to confirm the address is yours. You can't sign in until it's verified, so this is the one step you can't put off.

The email verification screen prompting the user to check their inbox for a confirmation linkThe email verification screen prompting the user to check their inbox for a confirmation link
  1. Open the email from RetroTechCollector and type the six digits into the verification screen. On a phone the code usually autofills from the notification.
  2. The code lasts 15 minutes. If it expires, or it hasn't arrived, check your spam folder and then use Resend for a fresh one.

:::tip Signed up with Google or Apple? Those accounts arrive already verified, so there's no email step at all. :::

Choose a username​

Your username is how other collectors find and tag you across the social feed and marketplace. The email sign-up form asks for it up front; if you signed up with Google or Apple you're prompted to pick one the first time you sign in. You can change your profile later in Account & Settings.

Secure your account​

Once you're in, take a moment to harden the account. Everything below lives under Settings → Security.

The account security settings showing options for password, two-factor authentication, passkeys and active sessionsThe account security settings showing options for password, two-factor authentication, passkeys and active sessions

At a minimum, turn on two-factor authentication: a TOTP code from an authenticator app, backed up with recovery codes.

Setting up two-factor authentication with an authenticator-app QR code and backup codesSetting up two-factor authentication with an authenticator-app QR code and backup codes

You can also add a passkey for password-free sign-in on the web, set up biometric unlock (Face, Touch or fingerprint) on mobile, and review your active sessions and devices. For the full walkthrough, see Security.

Pick a plan​

You can stay on the free Hobbyist plan for as long as you like. It's a real collection tracker: items are unlimited, and buying, selling, the social feed and export are all included. Upgrading to Collector or Enthusiast buys extra capability: aggregate analytics, unlimited photos and storage locations, and a larger monthly AI allowance.

The plan selection screen comparing the Hobbyist, Collector and Enthusiast tiersThe plan selection screen comparing the Hobbyist, Collector and Enthusiast tiers
PlanPriceItemsPhotos/itemStorage locationsAnalyticsAI identifications/month
HobbyistFreeUnlimited103—20
Collector£5/mo or £50/yrUnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimitedYes60
Enthusiast£15/mo or £150/yrUnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimitedYes200

Enthusiast additionally unlocks bulk operations and the Data API. AI condition grading has its own separate monthly allowance of 3, 20 and 100.

RTC Bot's photo identification is included on every plan, the free one included. A paid plan buys a bigger monthly allowance, never permission to use it at all.

Browsing, buying and selling are open on every plan, including the free one. Selling currently costs 0% on every plan during the launch fee holiday, so no tier buys you a cheaper sale. See Fees.

Paid plans come with a 14-day free trial, available once per account the first time you subscribe. Depending on where you start it, a card may be collected up front, but nothing is charged during the 14 days; if no valid payment method is on file when the trial ends, the subscription cancels and you aren't charged. Billing is in GBP through Stripe on the web, or through Apple or Google in-app purchase in the native apps. For the full comparison, and for upgrading, downgrading or cancelling, see Plans and billing.

:::info Next step Account ready? Head to Adding items to catalogue your first piece with a photo, a barcode, or the catalogue. :::