Comparison

SD Poker vs VRTX

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

SD Poker

This app is a specialized tool for magicians, designed to assist in performing a specific poker-themed magic trick. It analyzes card stacks to help you deal any requested poker hand, with features for customization and presentation.

Highlights
  • Analyzes card stacks for poker hands
  • Supports user-defined stacks
  • Optimizes for fewest moves
  • Stealth mode for hidden assistance
  • Proximity sensor for shuffle sound
  • Export results via email
  • Continuous dealing mode
Features
Read full description

IMPORTANT! THIS APP IS FOR MAGICIANS ONLY! IT IS BASED ON PIT HARTLING'S EFFECT 'THE POKER FORMULAS' FROM HIS WONDERFUL BOOK 'IN ORDER TO AMAZE' PUBLISHED IN 2016 (PAGE 102). YOU HAVE TO BE FAMILIAR WITH HIS TRICK TO UNDERSTAND/USE THIS APP. IF YOU ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH IT, YOU SHOULD ORDER HIS BOOK HERE: www.inordertoamaze.com The App will analyze any stack and tell you when to use SD's in order to receive any poker hand asked for. I refer you to Pit Hartling's book for the general concept. Features: - No internet connection needed Stacks: - Aronson and Tamariz already built in - Up to 10 User-defined stacks can be stored / used Optimizations: - Fewest SD's - 0-SD Rounds - 0-SD's on last Round of Dealing Export Function - Results can be exported and sent by e-mail for further use in different forms Full-House-Coding: - Different Styles on how to indicate the Two-of-a-Kind Continuous Mode - Allows you to continue dealing Poker hands without undoing the last deal. The Programm recalculates the Stack by using the last dealt poker hand. ------------------------ Version 1.1: Stealth-Mode In this mode, the playing cards show the chosen poker hand. The code is secretly hidden inside the playing cards. So the whole presentation can be changed and the iPhone/iPad is only a 'tool' to explain the poker hands, but in reality it helps you to perform the effect. Proximity Shuffle: If the Proximity Sensor of the iPhone is covered in portrait mode (by e.g. the playing cards), the sound of a riffle-shuffle is played. This can be used for the presentation. Disclaimer I have built the app to my best knowledge and it is provided as is without any guarantees or warranty of any kind! If you find a problem / mistake, please let me know and I’ll do my best to fix it. Version 1.1 uses: --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Vectorized Playing Cards 2.0 - http://sourceforge.net/projects/vector-cards/ Copyright 2015 - Chris Aguilar - conjurenation@gmail.com Licensed under LGPL 3 - www.gnu.org/copyleft/lesser.html --------------------------------------------------------------------------- I hope you have a lot of fun with this App and great performances! Martin Eisele P.S. I’d love to get some Feedback from you under sd-poker@martineisele.de

About

VRTX

This tool instantly generates acrostics for any word, perfect for creating unique storytelling routines in magic tricks. It offers easy export options and integrates with other magic applications for advanced functionality.

Highlights
  • Instant acrostic generation
  • Creative storytelling routines
  • Easy export to notes or sharing
  • Seamless API integration with magic apps
  • Dice-controlled acrostic selection
  • Expanded dictionary options
Features
Read full description

------------------------- • WELCOME TO VRTX • ------------------------- Created by Eddy Bouchenak and Guillaume 'GB' Bellut VRTX (pronounced vertex) is an acrostic generator design for magic tricks. ------------------------- Core Features (Included) ------------------------- • Instant Acrostic Generation – Generate an acrostic for any word with a single tap. • Creative Freedom – Use generated words to craft unique storytelling routines. • Easy Export – Save acrostics directly into a note or share them effortlessly. ------------------------- Powerful Add-Ons (Available Separately) ------------------------- • Seamless API Integration – Connect VRTX with other magic apps like Inject, Elips, WikiTest, and more. • Dice-Controlled Acrostics – Manually select a dice value or sync with Kinetic Mental Dice for automatic positioning. • Custom API Output – Export generated acrostics to any app or system of your choice (Glyphs, Voila, Hydra...). • Expanded Dictionaries – Unlock additional word lists to refine and customize your acrostic possibilities. VRTX is part of the new "In The Middle" (ITM) generation of magic apps, acting as a seamless bridge between applications—receiving input from one app, transforming it, and sending it to another. Please note: TV & Internet rights are not included with any of our products.

Screenshots

SD Poker2 screens
VRTX4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: VRTX at Free against SD Poker's $59.99. VRTX also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 8 months). SD Poker's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 23) and device support (4 vs 2). On rating, review sentiment, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

VRTX is free to download; SD Poker costs $59.99 up front. VRTX sells 23 one-off in-app purchases. SD Poker asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for SD Poker against 5.0 for VRTX. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 1 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SD Poker ships an update every 8 months, VRTX every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
SD Poker versus VRTX: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSD PokerVRTX
Price$59.99Free — better
Rating5.0 (2 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings2 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 8 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS12.0 — better16.6
Further details — not scored
Size27 MB99 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMartin EiseleGuillaume Bellut

Customer experience

SD Poker

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

VRTX

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

SD Poker

No in-app purchases

23 purchases

VRTX

One-time23
  • Dizionario delle destinazioniFree
  • Dicionário de DestinoFree
  • ReisezielwörterbuchFree
Show 20 more
  • Dictionnaire de destinationsFree
  • Destinations DictionaryFree
  • Dizionario dei marchi$4.99
  • Dizionario degli animali$4.99
  • Dizionario degli oggetti$4.99
  • Dicionário de Objetos$4.99
  • Woordenboek van beroemdheden$4.99
  • Dicionário de Marcas$4.99
  • Dicionário de nomes$4.99
  • Dicionário de celebridades$4.99
  • Promi-Wörterbuch$4.99
  • Tierlexikon$4.99
  • Dictionnaire de prénoms$4.99
  • Dictionnaire d'objets$4.99
  • Animals Dictionary$4.99
  • Names Dictionary$4.99
  • Dictionnaire de marques$4.99
  • Celebrities Dictionary$4.99
  • Objects Dictionary$4.99
  • Full Version$134.99

Questions

Is SD Poker free?
SD Poker costs $59.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is VRTX free?
VRTX is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, SD Poker or VRTX?
SD Poker and VRTX are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 2 and 1 ratings respectively.
Do SD Poker or VRTX have ads?
Neither SD Poker nor VRTX shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SD Poker or VRTX?
SD Poker ships an update every 8 months, and VRTX every 3 weeks. Most recently, SD Poker was updated on October 18, 2026 and VRTX on October 14, 2026.

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