Comparison

Bugko vs Magic Spellbook

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

Head to head
About

Bugko

This fan-made app serves as an all-in-one companion for Magic: The Gathering players and judges. It offers news aggregation, spoiler alerts, deck building tools, and an offline card database with pricing. It also includes specialized features for judges, such as rule references and timers.

Highlights
  • News aggregation from 40+ sources
  • Spoiler alerts with push notifications
  • Offline card database with syntax search
  • Card pricing from TCGPlayer and Cardmarket
  • Life counter for 2-8 players
  • Deck builder with winning decklists
  • Tools for MTG judges (IPG, MTR, timers)
Features
Read full description

Bugko is an unofficial app (fan made) all-in-one companion app designed for Magic: The Gathering (MTG) players and judges. Bugko focused on offering unique core features such as news aggregation, spoiler alert, tournament deck list update, card syntax search and many more. Other familiar features like life counter, wish list, collection tracker, offline card search, random card, comprehensive rule, deck building are also built inside Bugko for a complete experience. Bugko will be the first modern designed MTG app you will truly enjoy. Bugko is the only app that bring together all favorite MTG, MTGO and Arena news sources into one place. News channel currently available including Channel Fireball, MTG Goldfish, Mythic Spoiler, Star City Games and 40+ news sources. You can scroll through all news and spoilers happening right now once you open the app. With push notification in app, you surely will never miss a single important news update from your favorite news channels. Latest spoiled card? Bugko got you covered. Bugko is built with a powerful yet offline accessible cards database. You can choose to search through 30,000+ cards using our blazing fast syntax search designed for power users or simply use the search filter available with user friendly interface. With latest card pricing directly from TCGPlayer and Cardmarket, you can check, buy, trade, or track your collection wherever you are. Are you a Magic judge? Bugko has tools specially designed for judges. Scripted draft timer, Infraction Procedure Guide (IPG) reference, Magic Tournament Rule (MTR) document, offline comprehensive rule with complete search functionality inside etc. Many of the features in Bugko are carefully designed to cater to the needs of judges as well. For example, an offline card database, card text in multiple languages, judge blog or news update and more. Great for judges that travel around the world for events. Features: - Latest MTG news and spoiler from 40+ popular news channels with notification alert. - Life counter support 2-8 players, 15 different counters, counter changes history, mana pool and modern design. - Offline complete database including all latest cards printed, promo cards, 11+ printed languages, 20+ formats banlist, card rulings, reserved list and etc. - Powerful card search engine that support syntax search, 25+ card properties filter, random card and etc. - Latest card pricing including all promo cards, foil cards, different art variety directly from TCGPlayer or Cardmarket. - Auto currency converter available in 30+ currencies. - Track your collection, trading and wish list with up-to-date price wherever you go. - Deck builder with winning decklist from Standard, Modern and Legacy formats. - Tools for judges like offline searchable comprehensive rule, MTG, IPG, quick reference, scripted draft timer, decklist counter, offline documents and etc. Disclaimer: Magic: The Gathering (also known as MTG) card design, text, images, expansions, and symbols are trademark and copyright of Wizards of the Coast, Hasbro, LLC. Bugko is not affiliated with, endorsed, sponsored, or specifically approved by Wizards of the Coast LLC.

About

Magic Spellbook

Instantly find Magic card information, including rulings, prices, and all printings. Manage your card lists, compare trade values, and even use voice commands for quick lookups. Explore cards by set and track game progress.

Highlights
  • Complex card search with Scryfall
  • Card printing and price checks
  • Save, import, and share card lists
  • Price difference calculation for trading
  • Card rulings and format legality
  • Browse cards by set
  • Voice search with Siri
Features
Read full description

The fastest way to look up Magic cards, rulings, and prices. - Search for cards with complex queries powered by Scryfall - Get powerful suggestions for advanced Scryfall queries - Check all printings and prices - Save, import, and share card lists - Calculate price differences between lists when trading - Look up card rulings and format legality - Browse all cards by set - Track progress in Dungeons and abilities for The One Ring - Use Siri to look up cards with your voice Spellbook is unofficial Fan Content permitted under the Fan Content Policy. Not approved/endorsed by Wizards. Portions of the materials used are property of Wizards of the Coast. ©Wizards of the Coast LLC.

Screenshots

Bugko4 screens
Magic Spellbook4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Bugko at none against Magic Spellbook's 4. Bugko also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 5 weeks) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.0). Magic Spellbook's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (94% vs 73%). On price, rating, ratings volume and monetization model 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

Both are free to download. Magic Spellbook sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Bugko asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Bugko against 4.8 for Magic Spellbook. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 89 and 87 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 73% of Bugko's written reviews are positive against 94% of Magic Spellbook's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Bugko ships an update every 2 weeks, Magic Spellbook every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Bugko versus Magic Spellbook: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBugkoMagic Spellbook
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (89 ratings)4.8 (87 ratings)
Positive reviews73.3% of reviews94.4% of reviews — better
Number of ratings89 — better87
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterEvery 5 weeks
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS13.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size498 MB33 MB
Age rating9+9+
DeveloperKeng Siang OoiJoshua Birnholz

Customer experience

Bugko

All ratings89 ratings
Positive96.6%
Neutral0.0%
Negative3.4%
Written reviews15 reviews
Positive73.3%
Neutral6.7%
Negative20.0%

Magic Spellbook

All ratings87 ratings
Positive95.4%
Neutral2.3%
Negative2.3%
Written reviews18 reviews
Positive94.4%
Neutral0.0%
Negative5.6%

In-app purchases

None

Bugko

No in-app purchases

4 purchases

Magic Spellbook

One-time4
  • Common Tip$0.99
  • Uncommon Tip$2.99
  • Rare Tip$4.99
Show 1 more
  • Mythic Tip$9.99

Questions

Is Bugko free?
Bugko is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Magic Spellbook free?
Magic Spellbook is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Bugko or Magic Spellbook?
Bugko and Magic Spellbook are both rated 4.8 out of 5 on the App Store, from 89 and 87 ratings respectively.
Do Bugko or Magic Spellbook have ads?
Bugko shows ads; Magic Spellbook does not.
Which is updated more often, Bugko or Magic Spellbook?
Bugko ships an update every 2 weeks, and Magic Spellbook every 5 weeks. Most recently, Bugko was updated on September 22, 2026 and Magic Spellbook on September 23, 2026.

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