# MasterDex vs ShinyDex

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: ShinyDex at none against MasterDex's 2. ShinyDex also leads on ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (100% vs 87%). MasterDex's advantage is ratings volume (1.8K vs 10) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, rating, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. MasterDex sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. ShinyDex asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for MasterDex against 4.9 for ShinyDex. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: MasterDex has 1.8K ratings behind it against 10, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 87% of MasterDex's written reviews are positive against 100% of ShinyDex's.

MasterDex ships an update every 3 weeks, ShinyDex every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | MasterDex | ShinyDex |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (1.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/masterdex-complete-guide/id1621464261/reviews) | **[4.9 (10 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shinydex-shiny-tracker/id6504899853/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1.8K** | 10 |
| Positive reviews | 86.6% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 196 MB | 311 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.6** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, Vision Pro** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Lorenzo Greco](https://appshunter.io/developer/480768196) | [Danielle Lewis](https://appshunter.io/developer/1703420073) |

## What reviewers say

### MasterDex

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/masterdex-complete-guide/id1621464261)

This app serves as a comprehensive guide for fans and trainers, offering detailed information on creatures, team building, and the trading card game. It features offline access, advanced search, and tracking for favorite creatures and shinies, updated for the latest generation.

**Highlights:** Updated creature information, Team builder tool, Trading Card Game details, Offline functionality, Shiny creature tracker, Advanced search filters

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Masteredex - Sale | $1.99 | one-time |
| Masterdex PRO | $2.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fantastic app
- 👍 Great Pokédex
- 🔒 No ads
- 💡 One-time purchase
- 👍 Aesthetically pleasing

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashing and slow loading
- 🐛 Bugs with team builder
- 🐛 Missing Pokémon forms and gender differences
- 🐛 Incorrect or outdated information
- 💡 Lack of Pokémon location filters

**Reported bugs**

- Shiny toggle not working in team builder
- Pokémon 3D models and artwork not displaying
- Johto region locations missing
- Crashes when adding Pokémon to teams
- Incorrect information for some Pokémon (e.g., Necrozma's ability, Pikachu's classification)

**Requested features**

- Add Pokémon location filters
- Implement ability to mark Pokémon as caught/seen
- Add damage calculator
- Allow reorganizing of teams
- Include Pokémon cries and Dynamax/Gigantamax forms


### ShinyDex

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shinydex-shiny-tracker/id6504899853)

This app helps users track their creature collection with detailed information, artwork, and evolution chains. It offers offline access, search functionality, and Siri integration for a smooth user experience. Perfect for enthusiasts to expand their knowledge and track progress.

**Highlights:** Offline functionality, Detailed creature information, Capture tracking, High-quality artwork, Intuitive interface, Search and evolution chains, Siri integration

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is MasterDex free?

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

### Is ShinyDex free?

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

### Which has better reviews, MasterDex or ShinyDex?

ShinyDex is rated higher. MasterDex averages 4.8 out of 5 from 1.8K ratings, while ShinyDex averages 4.9 from 10 ratings.

### Do MasterDex or ShinyDex have ads?

MasterDex shows ads; ShinyDex does not.

### Which is updated more often, MasterDex or ShinyDex?

MasterDex ships an update every 3 weeks, and ShinyDex every 2 months. Most recently, MasterDex was updated on November 3, 2026 and ShinyDex on November 4, 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.*