Comparison

Gen Con vs MagicCon

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

Head to head
About

Gen Con

Navigate and enhance your convention experience with this official guide. Discover events, manage your schedule, connect with friends, and utilize an interactive map to explore the venue. Event hosts can also use it for electronic badge scanning.

Highlights
  • Event browsing and searching
  • Ticket purchasing
  • Personal event schedule
  • Friend messaging
  • Interactive convention map
  • Electronic badge scanning
Features
Read full description

Make the most of your Gen Con experience with the Official Gen Con Mobile App: your handy electronic guide to The Best Four Days in Gaming. Browse and search for events, purchase tickets, view your event schedule, message with your friends, find your way with the interactive convention map, learn about what's happening at the convention, and more! Event hosts will also use this tool to scan badges for events using electronic ticketing. We're releasing new versions with added features and fixes often, so please keep your app up to date! Report issues or give us feedback through our Technical Support forum at gencon.com/forums

About

MagicCon

Navigate your convention experience with this official app. Access event schedules, detailed maps, guest information, and real-time updates. Activate your badge within the app to unlock exclusive features.

Highlights
  • Event schedule and programming
  • Detailed convention center maps
  • Guest and artist profiles
  • Real-time push notifications
  • Badge activation for immersive features
Features
Read full description

The official MagicCon mobile app is your ultimate companion for navigating through the entire event. Designed to enhance your weekend experience, this app delivers the event information you need right at your fingertips. What else can I use the app for? 1.) Event Schedule and Programming Plan your weekend by viewing all up-to-date schedules of events, including Panels, Ticketed Play Events, Meet and Greets, and many other show feature activities. Browse different stages, event types, and do not forget to select your favorites and set reminders, so you never miss a moment. 2.) Maps Easily find your way around the convention center and event spaces with our detailed show maps! Our maps include close details of important locations and show features like Magic Marketplace, Art of Magic, Free Play areas, and more! 3.) Guest and Artist information Check out profiles for all our guests and get more information on signing schedules, panel appearances, and meet and greet opportunities. 4.) Push Notifications and Updates Stay informed with real-time alerts about schedule changes, exhibitor exclusive announcements, and show updates throughout the weekend. 5.) Badge Activation and Gaming Easily activate your badge directly in the mobile app to unlock immersive features and exclusive show floor activities, and to play in the Game Hub, which includes the find Fblthp Scavenger Hunt.

Screenshots

Gen Con4 screens
MagicCon4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Gen Con at 3.0 against MagicCon's 2.3. Gen Con also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 4 months) and review sentiment (30% vs 13%). MagicCon's advantage is ratings volume (131 vs 41). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Gen Con holds the better App Store score, 3.0 against 2.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 41 and 131 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 30% of Gen Con's written reviews are positive against 13% of MagicCon's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Gen Con ships an update fortnightly, MagicCon every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Gen Con versus MagicCon: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterGen ConMagicCon
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.0 (41 ratings) — better2.3 (131 ratings)
Positive reviews30.0% of reviews — better13.3% of reviews
Number of ratings41131 — better
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterEvery 4 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree — betterAd-supported
DevicesiPhone, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.5 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size42 MB66 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperGen Con, LLC.Reed Elsevier Inc.

Customer experience

Gen Con

All ratings41 ratings
Positive39.0%
Neutral14.6%
Negative46.3%
Written reviews20 reviews
Positive30.0%
Neutral15.0%
Negative55.0%

MagicCon

All ratings131 ratings
Positive29.0%
Neutral6.1%
Negative64.9%
Written reviews30 reviews
Positive13.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative86.7%

In-app purchases

None

Gen Con

No in-app purchases

None

MagicCon

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Gen Con free?
Gen Con is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is MagicCon free?
MagicCon is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Gen Con or MagicCon?
Gen Con is rated higher. Gen Con averages 3.0 out of 5 from 41 ratings, while MagicCon averages 2.3 from 131 ratings.
Do Gen Con or MagicCon have ads?
Neither Gen Con nor MagicCon shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Gen Con or MagicCon?
Gen Con ships an update fortnightly, and MagicCon every 4 months. Most recently, Gen Con was updated on November 2, 2026 and MagicCon on November 3, 2026.

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