# Gauntlet vs TCG Archivist

The clearest difference is rating: Gauntlet at 4.9 against TCG Archivist's 4.2. Gauntlet also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and review sentiment (83% vs 55%). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. TCG Archivist sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $4.99 per month. Gauntlet asks for nothing beyond the download.

Gauntlet holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Gauntlet has 309 ratings behind it against 46, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 83% of Gauntlet's written reviews are positive against 55% of TCG Archivist's.

Gauntlet ships an update weekly, TCG Archivist every 10 days. Both last shipped on October 25, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Gauntlet | TCG Archivist |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (309 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gauntlet-mtg-tracker/id1466578932/reviews)** | [4.2 (46 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tcg-archivist/id6751176846/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **309** | 46 |
| Positive reviews | **83.3% of reviews** | 54.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 10 days |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 18 MB | 486 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.4 | **15.5** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Scott Campbell](https://appshunter.io/developer/1266366249) | [TCG Archivist LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1833836395) |

## What reviewers say

### Gauntlet

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gauntlet-mtg-tracker/id1466578932)

This app helps Magic: The Gathering players track game lives, build and customize decks, and record game history. It offers detailed stats for players and decks, supports multiple players, and includes a powerful hand simulator.

**Highlights:** Life tracking for up to 6 players, Deck building and importing, Game history and stats, Hand simulator, Deck customization with card art, Deck organization with folders

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great deck builder
- 👍 Excellent life tracker
- 👍 Covers player profiles and match records
- 👍 Useful for tracking win/loss records
- 👍 Good for looking at card collections

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Search engine requires precise typing
- 🐛 General load time for cards is slow
- 🐛 Scrolling on the board can be annoying
- 🐛 App appears small on iPad Pro
- 🐛 Does not track win-rate for non-primary deck in matches

**Reported bugs**

- Developers have seemingly given up (according to one review)
- App ruined for jailbroken phones (iOS 14 and up)
- Board scrolls every time life or counters are moved
- Does not track win-rate for the deck not shown as primary in a match
- App is very small on iPad Pro

**Requested features**

- Scan cars to make adding decks easier
- More precise search engine
- Faster card loading times
- Display card prices
- Scan cards in deck building


### TCG Archivist

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tcg-archivist/id6751176846)

Digitize and manage your Magic: The Gathering card collection effortlessly. Scan cards instantly, track their values, and locate any card in your storage. Keep your entire collection accessible anywhere.

**Highlights:** Digitize card collection, Scan cards instantly, Track card values, Locate cards in storage, Manage entire collection, Accessible anywhere

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Sub | $4.99 | per month |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Gauntlet free?

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

### Is TCG Archivist free?

TCG Archivist is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Gauntlet or TCG Archivist?

Gauntlet is rated higher. Gauntlet averages 4.9 out of 5 from 309 ratings, while TCG Archivist averages 4.2 from 46 ratings.

### Do Gauntlet or TCG Archivist have ads?

Neither Gauntlet nor TCG Archivist shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Gauntlet or TCG Archivist?

Gauntlet ships an update weekly, and TCG Archivist every 10 days. Most recently, Gauntlet was updated on October 25, 2026 and TCG Archivist on October 25, 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.*