Cabinet No. 40 vs MineralDex - Mineral Management Software Comparison
A factual side-by-side of two different approaches to mineral cataloging: a deep collection-management platform vs a focused, mobile-first SaaS app with badges
"Mineral collection software" is a broad label. Some tools are full collection-management platforms; others are clean, focused mobile-first cataloging apps with a tight feature set. Cabinet No. 40 and MineralDex sit in those two different boxes, which makes them worth comparing on the merits rather than as direct rivals.
This article sticks to publicly verifiable facts from both platforms' websites. Where information is not public, we say so explicitly.
Why this comparison matters
If you have already filled a shoebox with little labels written in pencil, you know the moment is coming - you need software. The question is which kind. MineralDex picks a deliberately narrow scope and executes it cleanly. Cabinet No. 40 picks a wider one and trades a bit of simplicity for depth. Both are legitimate choices; they just answer different questions.
Cabinet No. 40 in a nutshell
Cabinet No. 40 (C40) is a collection-management platform for serious mineral collectors, built as a web app with full mobile support and an offline Field Mode. It was built by an IT-trained collector for her own collection first, then opened up to the wider community.
What defines C40:
OpenMindat API sync and automation. When you start typing a mineral name, the system pulls the chemical formula, hardness, crystal system, and IMA-validated classification directly from Mindat in real time. No manual lookup, no copy-paste, no stale data.
Developer API - full programmatic access to your collection. A REST API that lets you query your own specimens, cabinets, and wishlist programmatically. Build your own integrations, connect third-party tools, or use C40 as a headless CMS for a personal mineral website.
Advanced, fully customizable field sets per specimen. You decide which fields are visible on a card, on a label, in print, in a public share. Not a fixed form. You can create different field profiles for different collection types or display contexts.
Virtual cabinets (gabloty). Arrange specimens on virtual shelves the way they sit in your real cabinet, with drag and drop, multiple cabinets, and per-shelf layout. A spatial representation of your actual storage, not just a grid of thumbnails.
Wishlist with public sharing. A structured "what I am looking for" list that you can share with dealers and fellow collectors. Filterable, shareable, first-class entity inside your collection system.
Strict IMA nomenclature with built-in mineral knowledge base. Classes, groups, subclasses, and localities wired into autocomplete and validation, with 700+ minerals enriched by AI-assisted descriptions.
Field Mode. Offline drafts (photo + name + location) on mobile, which sync to the cloud when you are back online. Designed for field trips, mineral shows, and remote localities with no signal.
Print Layout Editor. A Figma-like editor for collection labels and catalog pages, with multiple paper sizes and per-card field selection. Museum-quality PDF labels from the same data you use for online sharing.
Bulk Excel and CSV import with fuzzy duplicate detection by full inventory ID, name plus location plus size signature, and a skip-or-overwrite dialog. Image extraction directly from the spreadsheet.
Cross-device sync with real-time updates and panel UI preferences stored in the cloud.
Provenance and sensitivity. Chain of ownership tracking, plus per-field sensitivity controls. Hide exact localities on public shares while keeping them in your private record.
Multi-language UI - Polish, English, Spanish, Italian. Interface, help center, and printed labels all respect your language.
Privacy by default. No EXIF leakage from uploaded photos, EU data residency (Supabase EU region), collector data isolated by Row-Level Security, no third-party trackers in the panel.
AI assistance - auto-generated specimen descriptions, AI alt text for photos, and SEO-optimized metadata for public shares.
MineralDex in a nutshell
MineralDex is a focused, mobile-first SaaS cataloging app built by Crystal Castle TX, an active US mineral dealer. The product is deliberately narrow: document a specimen, share a link, earn a badge, repeat. English-only, US-centric, very clean onboarding.
Publicly stated features:
Detailed specimen documentation - photos, measurements, color, crystal system, hardness.
One-click Mindat lookup that imports chemical formula, crystal system, hardness, and locality context directly into the specimen record.
Subcollections - custom groupings by theme, locality, mineral group, or any user-defined system.
Provenance tracking - locality, acquisition date, method, source/dealer, paid vs estimated value.
"Generate Specimen Card" - a shareable virtual specimen card with photo, key fields, and links.
Public specimen sharing via stable links, or fully private.
Badges across eight categories (Collector, Photographer, Curator, Globe Trotter, Mineral Diversity, Referral, Community Support, Community Sharer).
CSV export.
Pricing: Free forever with hard caps; Premium $4.99/month ($59.99/year) lifts the caps.
No public information on: PDF or printed labels, offline mode, multi-language UI, native mobile app in App Store/Google Play, AI features beyond the Mindat lookup, virtual cabinets, wishlist, bulk Excel/CSV import, public Developer API, server location, data residency, or RODO posture.
Feature comparison
Feature | Cabinet No. 40 | MineralDex |
|---|---|---|
Primary purpose | Deep collection management for serious collectors | Focused, mobile-first cataloging app |
OpenMindat / Mindat integration | Real-time OpenMindat API sync (formula, hardness, classification) | One-click Mindat lookup at save time |
Developer API (headless access) | Yes - public REST API for your collection | No public information |
Custom fields per specimen | Fully customizable sets, per-card, per-label, per-share | Fixed schema |
Photos per specimen | Configurable: main + gallery + macro | Free: 1 / Premium: 5 |
Virtual cabinets / shelves | Yes - multi-cabinet, drag-and-drop layout | No public information |
Wishlist (public, shareable) | Yes - structured, filterable, shareable | No public information |
Subcollections / groupings | Yes (cabinets, tags, smart filters) | Free: 3 / Premium: unlimited |
Print labels / PDF catalog | Yes - dedicated Print Layout Editor, 4 card layouts | Virtual "Specimen Card" (digital share); no PDF/print label documented |
Offline / field use | Yes - Field Mode with IndexedDB sync | No public information |
Bulk Excel / CSV import | Yes - fuzzy duplicate detection + image extraction | No public information |
Data export | Excel, PDF | CSV (Free: 3 lifetime / Premium: unlimited) |
IMA nomenclature + knowledge base | Yes - 700+ minerals, classes/subclasses/groups | Mindat lookup; no own knowledge base documented |
Provenance / chain of ownership | Yes, with per-field sensitivity controls | Yes (locality, date, method, source, value) |
Public sharing | Per specimen, per cabinet, per wishlist; field-level sensitivity | Per specimen via stable link / Specimen Card |
Gamification / badges | No | Yes - 8 badge categories |
Languages (UI) | PL, EN, ES, IT | EN only |
Native mobile app | No - mobile-optimized web with PWA-style Field Mode | No public information (web app, mobile-optimized) |
AI assistance (descriptions, alt text, SEO) | Yes | No public information |
Data residency / RODO | EU (Supabase EU region) | No public information (US-based vendor) |
Pricing
MineralDex: Free forever with caps - 25 specimens, 1 photo per specimen, 3 subcollections, 3 lifetime CSV exports, 5 research lookups per day. Premium $4.99/month (or $59.99/year) lifts the caps - unlimited specimens, 5 photos per specimen, unlimited subcollections, unlimited research lookups, unlimited CSV exports, advanced photo editing. 7-day free trial requires a credit card.
Cabinet No. 40: Hobbysta tier free (50 specimens, 5 AI credits, 3 PDF credits). Kustosz 49 PLN/month or 399 PLN/year (2,500 specimens, 50 AI credits, 100 PDF credits). Kustosz+ 99 PLN/month or 799 PLN/year (10,000 specimens, 500 PDF credits, Field Mode included). One-time PDF credit packs at 19/49/89 PLN. EU VAT applies.
If your collection is small and your only need is fast cataloging with a Mindat lookup, MineralDex's Premium is the simpler proposition. If you need print labels, multi-language UI, deeper Mindat automation, virtual cabinets, a wishlist, or offline field work, C40 covers ground MineralDex does not publicly document.
Who is it for?
MineralDex is a strong fit if you want:
The cleanest possible onboarding for a small to medium collection.
A predictable, low fixed cost ($4.99/month) with unlimited specimens once you upgrade.
Gamification (badges) to keep cataloging enjoyable.
A virtual specimen card as your main sharing format.
An English-only, US-centric tool with no extra knobs.
Cabinet No. 40 is a strong fit if you want:
Customizable field sets, virtual cabinets, a wishlist, and printed PDF labels.
OpenMindat API automation that fills mineral data as you type, not just at save time.
Developer API access to build your own integrations or frontends.
Strict IMA nomenclature with a built-in knowledge base wired into your catalog.
Offline Field Mode for shows, field trips, and remote localities.
Bulk Excel/CSV import with fuzzy duplicate detection - migrating from a spreadsheet without losing your photos or your sanity.
EU data residency, per-field privacy controls, no EXIF leakage.
Multi-language UI for international correspondents and dealers.
Shared strengths
Free entry point - both let you start cataloging without paying.
Privacy-first defaults - public sharing is opt-in, not opt-out.
Provenance taken seriously - both treat acquisition history as a first-class field.
Mindat as the reference truth for mineral data.
Stable, shareable specimen links.
Honest limitations
Cabinet No. 40:
No native iOS or Android app; Field Mode is a web-based offline experience.
More configuration upfront than a fixed-schema app - the customization is the cost of the customization.
No badges or gamification layer.
MineralDex:
Hard caps on the Free tier are tight (25 specimens, 1 photo, 5 research lookups/day, 3 lifetime CSV exports).
Fixed schema - no public information about custom fields or per-card field configuration.
English only; no public information about multi-language UI.
No public information about printed labels, offline mode, Excel/CSV import, public API, virtual cabinets, wishlist, or data residency.
Premium trial requires a credit card.
Bottom line
MineralDex is a focused cataloging app with a clean Mindat lookup and a friendly badge system. Cabinet No. 40 is a deeper collection-management platform with customizable fields, virtual cabinets, printed labels, offline Field Mode, multi-language UI, and a public Developer API. Pick by the job you actually need done.
If you have already outgrown a spreadsheet and want customizable fields, virtual cabinets, a wishlist, printed labels, OpenMindat API automation, Developer API access, and offline field work - C40 was built for exactly that. You can try the Collector Panel for free and see if it fits your collection.
Sources
mineraldex.app (homepage, /pricing, /auth)
cabinetno40.com (Collector Panel, /en/mineral-collection-manager, public changelog and help center)
Earthwonders 2026 comparison article (which lists MineralDex among "legacy desktop apps", though the current MineralDex is a modern web SaaS)