# MTG Scanner vs Decksmith

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Decksmith at 100% against MTG Scanner's 44%. Decksmith also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 13) and rating (5.0 vs 4.6). MTG Scanner's advantage is ratings volume (3.8K vs 1). 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. Decksmith asks for nothing beyond the download.

Decksmith holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: MTG Scanner has 3.8K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 44% of MTG Scanner's written reviews are positive against 100% of Decksmith's.

MTG Scanner ships an update every 2 weeks, Decksmith every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and August 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | MTG Scanner | Decksmith |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (3.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mtg-scanner-dragon-shield/id1460657155/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/decksmith-mtg-deck-builder/id6756268708/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **3.8K** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 44.3% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 230 MB | 24 MB |
| Requires iOS | **17.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 9+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [ARCANE TINMEN APS](https://appshunter.io/developer/1540066714) | [Waldemar Schneider](https://appshunter.io/developer/1859657539) |

## What reviewers say

### MTG Scanner

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

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


### Decksmith

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/decksmith-mtg-deck-builder/id6756268708)

Effortlessly manage your Magic: The Gathering collection with real-time card scanning and price tracking. Build and validate decks for various formats, analyze their composition, and connect with a community of players. Enjoy offline access and robust privacy controls.

**Highlights:** Real-time card scanning, Automatic price tracking, Format-aware deck building, Collection inventory management, Offline access, Community features, Privacy controls

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is MTG Scanner free?

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

### Is Decksmith free?

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

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

Decksmith is rated higher. MTG Scanner averages 4.6 out of 5 from 3.8K ratings, while Decksmith averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do MTG Scanner or Decksmith have ads?

Neither MTG Scanner nor Decksmith shows ads.

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

MTG Scanner ships an update every 2 weeks, and Decksmith every 3 weeks. Most recently, MTG Scanner was updated on September 25, 2026 and Decksmith on August 21, 2026.

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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.*