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Gaming / Pokemon Storage · Tool Face-Off

Pokemon Home vs Pokemon Bank

Quick answer

Pokemon Home is the clear modern successor—cloud-based, Switch-compatible, and still actively supported. Pokemon Bank is a 3DS-only legacy service that Nintendo kept alive mainly out of mercy, but its free tier ended in 2024. For most trainers, Home wins easily.

Our pick
Pokemon Home
Cloud storage for the Sword-and-beyond era
4.2★
VS
Pokemon Bank
The 3DS vault that refused to die quietly
2.8★
Platform
Nintendo Switch + Mobile (iOS/Android)
Nintendo 3DS only
Free Tier
Yes – 30 boxes (limited features)
No – free period ended March 2024
Premium Price
~$2.99/month or ~$15.99/year
~$4.99/year (when available)
Box Storage
200 boxes (6,000 Pokémon) premium
100 boxes (3,000 Pokémon)
Compatible Games
Sword/Shield, BDSP, PLA, S/V, GO, and more
Gen 4–7 games (X/Y through US/UM)
GTS / Wonder Trade
GTS, Wonder Box, Room Trade included
No trading features
Pokédex Tracking
Yes – cross-game living dex tracker
No Pokédex feature
Judge Function (IVs)
Yes (premium)
Yes
Active Support
Yes – ongoing updates
Effectively sunset (no new updates)
Pokerus Preservation
Yes
Yes
Transfer to Home
Native – is the destination
One-way transfer to Home possible
Offline Access
No – requires internet
No – requires internet + 3DS servers

Pokemon Home

Pricing★★★½☆
Features★★★★☆
Ease of Use★★★★½
Storage Capacity★★★★☆
Trading & Social★★★★½
Game Compatibility★★★★½

Pokemon Bank

Pricing★★★★☆
Features★★½☆☆
Ease of Use★★★½☆
Storage Capacity★★★½☆
Trading & Social★½☆☆☆
Game Compatibility★★☆☆☆

Worth knowing

Nintendo kept Pokemon Bank servers running for free for over a year after the 3DS eShop closed—essentially paying to keep a dead storefront's lights on just so trainers wouldn't lose their Bidoofs.

If you want

You play on Nintendo Switch and want to manage your modern collection

Home is the only option that works with current-gen games and is actively supported.

→ Pick Pokemon Home
If you want

You have a massive Gen 4–6 legacy collection on a 3DS you still use

Bank can still hold and organize those old-gen Pokemon until you're ready to migrate them to Home.

→ Pick Pokemon Bank
If you want

You want trading features and social play

Home has GTS, Wonder Box, and Room Trade built in—Bank never had any trading tools.

→ Pick Pokemon Home
If you want

You're on the tightest possible budget and already own a 3DS

At ~$4.99/year (historically), Bank was cheaper—though Home's free tier is now the real budget play.

→ Pick Pokemon Bank
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