Comparison

Abra Magic vs CertPrep

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Abra Magic

This app enhances card magic by tracking the position of every card in a special deck. It offers stand-alone scanning, server mode for sharing results across WiFi, and client mode to view remote scans. Features include various code formats, camera selection, and confidence reporting.

Highlights
  • Track card positions in a special deck
  • Stand-alone, server, and client modes
  • Share scan results over WiFi
  • Supports various code formats
  • Visual scanning confidence reporting
  • Automatic pause on high-confidence scans
  • Evaluate marked deck quality
Features
Read full description

This app is part of the Nettle Magic Project (https://github.com/nettlep/magic). Take your card magic ot the next level. With Abra and a special deck of cards, you'll know the exact position of every card in the deck (or not in the deck, if cards are missing.) Abra can run in three different modes: 1. Stand-alone (Local server) - In this mode, Abra will scan the deck and show you the order of all cards in the deck. 2. Server (Advertised) - In this mode, Abra works similar to stand-alone with the addition of allowing other devices running Abra in Client mode on the same WiFi network to connect and view the scanning results of the server. Multiple clients can connect to the same server, providing unlimited of options for trick setup. 3. Client - In this mode, Abra will not scan the deck but will instead automatically detect and connect to a remote scanning server device on the same WiFi network. The Abra client will display the results of and configure that remote server. Features include: * Select from a number of supported code formats, including reversible and error-correctible codes. * Select from all available cameras on the device. * Long-tap on the deck to toggle display layouts. * Abra uses multiple scans from a continuous video feed to build a single confident scanning result. * Scanning confidence is reported to the user visually, with Red being low confidence and Green being high confidence. * Make sure your results aren't lost - automatically pause scanning as soon as a high-confident scan is capturd. * Automatically recognize decks in New Deck Order (NDO) for quick verification of tests. * Send an alert (vibration pulse) to all connected devices. * Use Abra to evaluate the quality of your marked deck by showing which cards scan well and which ones are difficult to scan. * Fully configure the server remotely, from scanning resolution to decoding options to scanning grid density. You're in complete control. IMPORTANT: To get real value from Abra, you will need access to an edge-marked deck of playing cards. As this is a hobbyist project, this probably means making one yourself. Documentation for applying edge-marks to a standard deck of playing cards can be found here: https://nettlep.github.io/magic/#marking.

About

CertPrep

Read full description

Security+ Cert Companion is your all-in-one study tool for the CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701) certification exam. PASSIVE LEARNING Receive CompTIA Security+ questions throughout your day via notifications. Set how many per day and your preferred time window. Build certification knowledge during commutes, breaks, and downtime without opening the app. PRACTICE YOUR WAY Choose how many questions per session and study at your own pace. Every question includes a detailed explanation so you understand the concept, not just memorize the answer. 450+ questions covering security concepts, threats, architecture, operations, and program management. REALISTIC MOCK EXAMS Simulate the real exam with 90 questions and an 83% pass mark. Choose from three modes: - Timed: 90 minutes, just like the real exam - Untimed: No time pressure, focus on accuracy - Sudden Death: One wrong answer and it's over Answers are hidden until you finish, then reviewed with full explanations. SMART ANALYTICS Track your accuracy, streaks, study time, and score trends. See your most missed questions and weakest topics so you know exactly where to focus. PRIVACY FIRST No accounts, no servers, no tracking. All your data stays on your device. Zero data collection. PREMIUM Free version includes 10 practice questions per session and 1 passive learning question per day. Upgrade once to unlock unlimited practice, extra passive learning, hide mastered questions, and practice most missed questions. No subscription — pay once, keep forever. This app is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by CompTIA, Inc. CompTIA Security+ is a registered trademark of CompTIA, Inc. All content is independently authored for educational purposes.

Screenshots

Abra Magic4 screens
CertPrep4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Abra Magic at none against CertPrep's 1. Abra Magic also leads on device support (4 vs 2) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price and ads there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. CertPrep sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Abra Magic asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard3 real differences · 5 level
Abra Magic versus CertPrep: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAbra MagicCertPrep
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings1 — better—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size12 MB3 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPaul NettleJan Roldan Hernandez

In-app purchases

None

Abra Magic

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

CertPrep

One-time1
  • Security+ Premium$3.99

Questions

Is Abra Magic free?
Abra Magic is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is CertPrep free?
CertPrep is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Abra Magic or CertPrep have ads?
Neither Abra Magic nor CertPrep shows ads.

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