Comparison

MTG Guide vs Arcade Reference

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

Head to head
About

MTG Guide

Access comprehensive Magic: The Gathering rules, card text, and rulings in a searchable offline format. Stay updated with the latest expansions and tournament guidelines for all formats.

Highlights
  • Card text and FAQs/rulings
  • Complete Comprehensive Rules
  • Offline database access
  • Searchable card and rules database
  • Legality information for formats
  • Card price and image integration
Features
Read full description

MTG Guide gives you access to the latest Magic card text, card-specific FAQs/rulings and the complete Comprehensive Rules, Magic Tournament Rules and Infraction Procedure Guide, all in an easy-to-read, searchable format. Features: • Card text and FAQs/rulings for all Magic expansions. • Current text of all existing Magic cards, including tokens, Planechase, Archenemy and Vanguard cards. • App can be used completely offline (except for card images). • Download database updates for new sets and rules document changes from within the app (requires Premium) • Browse or search for cards from individual MTG expansions. • Card-specific FAQ entries (rulings) for cards are displayed, where available. Includes all rulings available in Gatherer. • All printings for cards (including promos) are displayed with expansion, rarity, and collector number. • Tapping these expands to show card images (required Premium), non-foil and foil prices from TCGplayer.com, and a link to the Gatherer page. • Legality information is included for all cards for the Standard, Modern, Legacy, Vintage and Commander formats. • Quickly and easily search for particular cards by title, card #, full card text or rulings text. • Complete text of the Comprehensive Rules, Magic Tournament Rules and Infraction Procedure Guide in an easily browsable and searchable format. • Search the rules documents and instantly find and browse all the matching sections, rules and sub-rules for your query. • View related rules (e.g. "See also rule 204.3h.") by tapping on them. • Decklist counter. • Supports Dynamic Type for altering text size. • Universal app for iPhone, iPad and Mac (as an iPad app) • Supports iPad multitasking. This app has been carefully designed to be simple and fast to use. If you have any suggestions for improvements, please suggest them from within the app. Terms of use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ This app is not produced or endorsed by Wizards of the Coast, Inc.

About

Arcade Reference

Access comprehensive information on classic arcade games from the 70s to the 2000s. This app provides a detailed guide with tips and data compiled from enthusiast communities, focusing on video games and excluding gambling machines.

Highlights
  • Extensive arcade game database
  • Information compiled from Mame data
  • Tips and reference material
  • Organized game data
  • Covers 70s-2000s titles
  • Excludes gambling machines
Features
Read full description

Every information about the "arcade" games just with a tap! Please note: this app does not contains any games, but information about games! This app takes all the data exported from Mame(c) and from various files created and updated by enthusiasts, it groups it together and it organizes it in order to have all the information in your device as a guide or simply as a reference for reading information and tips. Note: As a functional choice, only the "Parent" set are shown. In addition, all "mechanical" machines and all the "Gambling" games (Video Poker, Blackjack etc.) have been eliminated. The result is a list of about 3600 Arcade titles from the 70s to the 2000s. Credits: All trademarks used belong to their respective owners. See the section Info in the App for all details about the Credits.

Screenshots

MTG Guide4 screens
Arcade Reference4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: MTG Guide at 4.7 against Arcade Reference's 3.1. MTG Guide also leads on review sentiment (80% vs 46%) and ratings volume (722 vs 52). Arcade Reference's advantage is update cadence (every 5 days vs every 2 months) and monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs paid). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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. MTG Guide sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month and Arcade Reference sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

MTG Guide holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: MTG Guide has 722 ratings behind it against 52, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 80% of MTG Guide's written reviews are positive against 46% of Arcade Reference's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

MTG Guide ships an update every 2 months, Arcade Reference every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and June 10, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
MTG Guide versus Arcade Reference: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMTG GuideArcade Reference
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (722 ratings) — better3.1 (52 ratings)
Positive reviews79.7% of reviews — better46.2% of reviews
Number of ratings722 — better52
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 5 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.09.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size45 MB170 MB
Age rating9+4+
DeveloperMichael WybrowNicola Canali

Customer experience

MTG Guide

All ratings722 ratings
Positive91.8%
Neutral1.0%
Negative7.2%
Written reviews345 reviews
Positive79.7%
Neutral2.3%
Negative18.0%

Arcade Reference

All ratings52 ratings
Positive48.1%
Neutral9.6%
Negative42.3%
Written reviews65 reviews
Positive46.2%
Neutral6.2%
Negative47.7%

Bugs and requests

MTG Guide

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Slow loading of Gatherer text
  • Occasional crashes or freezes

Requested features

5 requests
  • Advanced search and filtering options
  • Ability to display full-screen card art
  • Integration of annotated IPG and MTR
  • Option to sort cards by various criteria
  • Display of rarity symbols for cards

Arcade Reference

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

2 purchases

MTG Guide

Subscriptions2
  • Premium Monthly1 Month trial$0.991 Month
  • Premium Yearly1 Month trial$6.991 Year
1 purchases

Arcade Reference

One-time1
  • Remove Ads$0.99

Questions

Is MTG Guide free?
MTG Guide is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Arcade Reference free?
Arcade Reference is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, MTG Guide or Arcade Reference?
MTG Guide is rated higher. MTG Guide averages 4.7 out of 5 from 722 ratings, while Arcade Reference averages 3.1 from 52 ratings.
Do MTG Guide or Arcade Reference have ads?
Neither MTG Guide nor Arcade Reference shows ads.
Which is updated more often, MTG Guide or Arcade Reference?
MTG Guide ships an update every 2 months, and Arcade Reference every 5 days. Most recently, MTG Guide was updated on September 25, 2026 and Arcade Reference on June 10, 2026.

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