# TCGplayer vs MTG Scanner

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: TCGplayer at none against MTG Scanner's 13. TCGplayer also leads on ratings volume (18K vs 3.8K) and chart position (#27 vs #161). MTG Scanner's advantage is rating (4.6 vs 4.2) and review sentiment (44% vs 21%). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. MTG Scanner sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. TCGplayer asks for nothing beyond the download.

MTG Scanner holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 18K and 3.8K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 21% of TCGplayer's written reviews are positive against 44% of MTG Scanner's.

TCGplayer ships an update fortnightly, MTG Scanner every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 26, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | TCGplayer | MTG Scanner |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.2 (18K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tcgplayer/id1247645833/reviews) | **[4.6 (3.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mtg-scanner-dragon-shield/id1460657155/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **18K** | 3.8K |
| Positive reviews | 21.0% of reviews | **44.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#27** | #161 |
| Size | 69 MB | 230 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 9+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [TCGplayer, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1247645832) | [ARCANE TINMEN APS](https://appshunter.io/developer/1540066714) |

## What reviewers say

### TCGplayer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tcgplayer/id1247645833)

**Currently charting:** #27 Top Free · Card (US App Store)

Quickly scan and identify trading cards to track their market prices and manage your collection. Access your entire collection on the go and browse the extensive marketplace for seamless shopping.

**Highlights:** Blazingly fast card scanning, Effortless price tracking, Access collection anytime, anywhere, Seamless in-app shopping, Supports numerous TCGs

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast scanning
- 👍 Convenient for cataloging cards
- 💡 Integrated with TCGplayer website

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Inaccurate scanning
- 🐛 Buggy and laggy performance
- 🔒 Poor account/login management
- 👎 Limited sorting/organization options

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes on startup
- Incorrect card information displayed
- Inability to properly scan certain card types (foils, black cards, etc.)

**Requested features**

- Ability to sync collection across devices
- More sorting/filtering options for collections
- Support for additional card games beyond MTG, Pokemon, and Yu-Gi-Oh


### MTG Scanner

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mtg-scanner-dragon-shield/id1460657155)

**Currently charting:** #161 Top Grossing · Board (US App Store)

This app helps Magic: The Gathering players scan, value, and organize their card collections. Build decks, track card prices, and connect with friends for trading. It's designed for both collectors and competitive players to enhance their game experience.

**Highlights:** Scan Magic cards in any language, Real-time card price tracking, Organize cards into custom folders, Build and export MTG decks, Compare trade values with friends, Track top card movers, Weekly collection statistics emails

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (12)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Mythic Monthly | $1.99 | per month |
| Rare Monthly | $1.99 | per month |
| Common Monthly | $1.99 | per month |
| Uncommon Monthly | $3.99 | per month |
| Premium Monthly | $3.99 | per month |
| Premium Monthly | $3.99 | per month |
| Mythic Yearly | $9.99 | per year |
| Premium Yearly | $29.99 | per year |
| Common Yearly | $39.99 | per year |
| Uncommon Yearly | $39.99 | per year |
| Premium Yearly | $39.99 | per year |
| Premium Yearly | $39.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast scanning
- 👍 Good for organizing collection
- 💰 Useful price tracking
- 🗂️ Customizable folders/decks

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Inconsistent card recognition
- 💰 Expensive subscription model
- 🔍 Limited search/filter options
- 🔗 Lack of integration with other apps

**Reported bugs**

- Login issues
- Incorrect card identification
- Scanning bugs with certain card types

**Requested features**

- Ability to import/export deck lists
- Display deck value in collection
- Improved scanning for special cards
- More comprehensive filtering options


## Frequently asked questions

### Is TCGplayer free?

TCGplayer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is MTG Scanner free?

MTG Scanner is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, TCGplayer or MTG Scanner?

MTG Scanner is rated higher. TCGplayer averages 4.2 out of 5 from 18K ratings, while MTG Scanner averages 4.6 from 3.8K ratings.

### Do TCGplayer or MTG Scanner have ads?

Neither TCGplayer nor MTG Scanner shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, TCGplayer or MTG Scanner?

TCGplayer ships an update fortnightly, and MTG Scanner every 2 weeks. Most recently, TCGplayer was updated on October 27, 2026 and MTG Scanner on October 26, 2026.

### Which is more popular, TCGplayer or MTG Scanner?

TCGplayer currently peaks at #27 in the App Store charts, and MTG Scanner at #161. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*