# MTG Builder vs Helvault

The clearest difference is rating: Helvault at 4.2 against MTG Builder's 3.2. Helvault also leads on ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (279 vs 5). MTG Builder's advantage is review sentiment (67% vs 32%) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 18.0). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. MTG Builder sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $2.49 per month and Helvault sells 6 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Helvault holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 3.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Helvault has 279 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 67% of MTG Builder's written reviews are positive against 32% of Helvault's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

MTG Builder ships an update every 2 months, Helvault fortnightly. Both last shipped on October 14, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | MTG Builder | Helvault |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.2 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mtg-builder/id1486535102/reviews) | **[4.2 (279 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/helvault-mtg-scanner/id6451158920/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 5 | **279** |
| Positive reviews | **66.7% of reviews** | 31.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 254 MB | 58 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 12+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [Yuki Abe](https://appshunter.io/developer/1486535101) | [Vitor Cesco](https://appshunter.io/developer/1466963200) |

## What reviewers say

### MTG Builder

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mtg-builder/id1486535102)

This app helps Magic: The Gathering players manage their decks. It offers card searching, deck building, and export options for popular platforms like MTG Arena. Share your deck lists and registration sheets with friends or use them for tournaments.

**Highlights:** Card search by multiple parameters, Deck management and editing, MTG Arena deck list export, Tournament deck registration sheet output, Card image download, Multi-language support

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| MTG Builder Pro | $2.49 | per month |


### Helvault

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/helvault-mtg-scanner/id6451158920)

Effortlessly manage your Magic: The Gathering card collection with an AI-powered scanner. Organize, filter, and analyze your cards with detailed stats and pricing information. Sync across devices and export your collection.

**Highlights:** AI-powered MTG card scanner, Unlimited card collection storage, Detailed collection statistics, Card pricing and details, CSV collection export, iCloud syncing

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

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Common Donation | $0.99 | one-time |
| Rare Donation | $4.99 | one-time |
| iCloud Syncing | $4.99 | one-time |
| Advanced Card Export/Import | $6.99 | one-time |
| MTG Card Scanner - Lifetime | $9.99 | one-time |
| Mythic Donation | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Excellent scanning and recognition
- 👍 Versatile product for managing collections
- 🚀 Quick and easy to use
- 👍 Dedicated developer with good customer service

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Inconsistent card scanning, struggles with certain card types
- 💰 Expensive, especially for users who already paid for the legacy app
- 🔍 Limited search and filtering options
- 🔀 Difficulty moving cards between binders
- 🔒 No way to restore scans/data on new devices

**Reported bugs**

- Keypad issues when searching
- Disappearing settings icons
- Incorrect set identification for some cards
- Missing card prices and details

**Requested features**

- Deck building and management tools
- Advanced search and filtering options
- Bulk card management and transfer
- Improved support for special card versions and frames
- Seamless data migration from legacy app


## Frequently asked questions

### Is MTG Builder free?

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

### Is Helvault free?

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

### Which has better reviews, MTG Builder or Helvault?

Helvault is rated higher. MTG Builder averages 3.2 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while Helvault averages 4.2 from 279 ratings.

### Do MTG Builder or Helvault have ads?

MTG Builder shows ads; Helvault does not.

### Which is updated more often, MTG Builder or Helvault?

MTG Builder ships an update every 2 months, and Helvault fortnightly. Most recently, MTG Builder was updated on October 14, 2026 and Helvault on October 14, 2026.

---

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