# MTG Guide vs Arcade Reference

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.

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.

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | MTG Guide | Arcade Reference |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (722 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mtg-guide/id378754271/reviews)** | [3.1 (52 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/arcade-reference/id1178311507/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **722** | 52 |
| Positive reviews | **79.7% of reviews** | 46.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 45 MB | 170 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **9.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Michael Wybrow](https://appshunter.io/developer/366746485) | [Nicola Canali](https://appshunter.io/developer/939541887) |

## What reviewers say

### MTG Guide

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mtg-guide/id378754271)

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Monthly | $0.99 | per month |
| Premium Yearly | $6.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Excellent reference tool
- 🔒 Offline access to rules and cards
- 👍 Comprehensive and up-to-date database
- 👍 Intuitive and easy to use interface
- 👍 Helpful for judges and players

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔍 Limited search/filter options
- 📱 Lack of full-screen card art
- 🔍 Truncated search results

**Reported bugs**

- Slow loading of Gatherer text
- Occasional crashes or freezes

**Requested features**

- 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

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/arcade-reference/id1178311507)

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:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Ads | $0.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked 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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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*