# 18XXc vs BoardGameRef

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: BoardGameRef at none against 18XXc's 4. BoardGameRef also leads on update cadence (every 3 days vs monthly). 18XXc's advantage is ratings volume (17 vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.0). On price, rating, ads and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. 18XXc sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. BoardGameRef asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for 18XXc against 5.0 for BoardGameRef. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: 18XXc has 17 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

18XXc ships an update monthly, BoardGameRef every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | 18XXc | BoardGameRef |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.9 (17 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/18xxc/id1536385450/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/boardgameref/id6759653662/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **17** | 1 |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 19 MB | 5 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Magnus Orn Gylfason](https://appshunter.io/developer/1536385452) | [Haocheng Bai](https://appshunter.io/developer/1880038344) |

## What reviewers say

### 18XXc

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/18xxc/id1536385450)

This app assists players of 18XX board games by providing specialized calculators for fundraising, routes, and game results. It supports a vast number of 18XX games and includes a game editor for unsupported titles.

**Highlights:** Fundraising calculator, Route calculator, Result calculator, Game editor, Supports numerous 18XX games, Upload results to BoardGameGeek

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly subscription | $4.99 | per month |
| Yearly subscription | $4.99 | per year |
| Monthly subscription | $9.99 | per month |
| Yearly subscription | $9.99 | per year |


### BoardGameRef

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/boardgameref/id6759653662)

Quickly find reliable rule clarifications for board games. Get clear answers for setup, turns, actions, and edge cases to keep your game night flowing smoothly. Features include instant Q&A, conversation history, and feedback tools.

**Highlights:** Instant rule Q&A, Clear edge case explanations, Conversation history, Feedback tools for answer improvement, Focus on real gameplay scenarios

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is 18XXc free?

18XXc is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is BoardGameRef free?

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

### Which has better reviews, 18XXc or BoardGameRef?

BoardGameRef is rated higher. 18XXc averages 4.9 out of 5 from 17 ratings, while BoardGameRef averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do 18XXc or BoardGameRef have ads?

Neither 18XXc nor BoardGameRef shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, 18XXc or BoardGameRef?

18XXc ships an update monthly, and BoardGameRef every 3 days. Most recently, 18XXc was updated on November 3, 2026 and BoardGameRef 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.*