# Scry MTG vs Archivist

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Scry MTG at none against Archivist's 3. Scry MTG also leads on ratings volume (282 vs 1). Archivist's advantage is update cadence (every 9 days vs every 2 months). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Archivist sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Scry MTG asks for nothing beyond the download.

Archivist holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Scry MTG has 282 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

Scry MTG ships an update every 2 months, Archivist every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Scry MTG | Archivist |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (282 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scry-mtg/id1511551792/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/archivist-mtg-scanner/id6770096041/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **282** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Freemium |
| Size | 24 MB | 12 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | **17.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Roudique Software Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1829270722) | [Ryan Fontenot](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896715332) |

## What reviewers say

### Scry MTG

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scry-mtg/id1511551792)

Stay updated with Magic: The Gathering cards and news. Access a powerful search engine for card information, including rulings, prices, and legalities. Get details on upcoming set rotations and cards leaving Standard.

**Highlights:** Latest set news, Card lookup, Powerful search engine, Card rulings and prices, Format legalities, Standard rotation information

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Archivist

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/archivist-mtg-scanner/id6770096041)

Digitize your Magic: The Gathering card collection quickly and easily. Scan cards to read details, organize your collection, build decks, and track prices. Connect with other collectors and manage your wishlist.

**Highlights:** Scan cards with camera, Organize by box, condition, foil, language, Build decks with mana curve, Track card prices and set alerts, Wishlist cards with TCGplayer integration, Follow other collectors

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Archivist Plus (Monthly) | $4.99 | per month |
| Archivist Plus (Yearly) | $39.99 | per year |
| Archivist Lifetime | $99.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Scry MTG free?

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

### Is Archivist free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Scry MTG or Archivist?

Archivist is rated higher. Scry MTG averages 4.8 out of 5 from 282 ratings, while Archivist averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Scry MTG or Archivist have ads?

Neither Scry MTG nor Archivist shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Scry MTG or Archivist?

Scry MTG ships an update every 2 months, and Archivist every 9 days. Most recently, Scry MTG was updated on October 29, 2026 and Archivist on October 31, 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.*