Comparison

MTG Guide vs Magic Spellbook

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

Magic Spellbook

Instantly find Magic card information, including rulings, prices, and all printings. Manage your card lists, compare trade values, and even use voice commands for quick lookups. Explore cards by set and track game progress.

Highlights
  • Complex card search with Scryfall
  • Card printing and price checks
  • Save, import, and share card lists
  • Price difference calculation for trading
  • Card rulings and format legality
  • Browse cards by set
  • Voice search with Siri
Features
Read full description

The fastest way to look up Magic cards, rulings, and prices. - Search for cards with complex queries powered by Scryfall - Get powerful suggestions for advanced Scryfall queries - Check all printings and prices - Save, import, and share card lists - Calculate price differences between lists when trading - Look up card rulings and format legality - Browse all cards by set - Track progress in Dungeons and abilities for The One Ring - Use Siri to look up cards with your voice Spellbook is unofficial Fan Content permitted under the Fan Content Policy. Not approved/endorsed by Wizards. Portions of the materials used are property of Wizards of the Coast. ©Wizards of the Coast LLC.

Screenshots

MTG Guide4 screens
Magic Spellbook4 screens

Verdict

The call

MTG Guide and Magic Spellbook both sit at 4.7 stars, but that hides the real split: 94% of Magic Spellbook's written reviews are positive against 80% of MTG Guide's. Magic Spellbook also leads on monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs paid). MTG Guide's advantage is ratings volume (722 vs 87). On price, rating, update cadence 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. MTG Guide sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month and Magic Spellbook sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for MTG Guide against 4.8 for Magic Spellbook. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: MTG Guide has 722 ratings behind it against 87, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 80% of MTG Guide's written reviews are positive against 94% of Magic Spellbook's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

MTG Guide ships an update every 2 months, Magic Spellbook every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
MTG Guide versus Magic Spellbook: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMTG GuideMagic Spellbook
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (722 ratings)4.8 (87 ratings) — better
Positive reviews80.2% of reviews94.4% of reviews — better
Number of ratings722 — better87
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 5 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.017.0
Further details — not scored
Size45 MB33 MB
Age rating9+9+
DeveloperMichael WybrowJoshua Birnholz

Customer experience

MTG Guide

All ratings722 ratings
Positive91.8%
Neutral1.0%
Negative7.2%
Written reviews343 reviews
Positive80.2%
Neutral2.3%
Negative17.5%

Magic Spellbook

All ratings87 ratings
Positive95.4%
Neutral2.3%
Negative2.3%
Written reviews18 reviews
Positive94.4%
Neutral0.0%
Negative5.6%

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

Magic Spellbook

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
4 purchases

Magic Spellbook

One-time4
  • Common Tip$0.99
  • Uncommon Tip$2.99
  • Rare Tip$4.99
Show 1 more
  • Mythic Tip$9.99

Questions

Is MTG Guide free?
MTG Guide is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Magic Spellbook free?
Magic Spellbook is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, MTG Guide or Magic Spellbook?
Magic Spellbook is rated higher. MTG Guide averages 4.7 out of 5 from 722 ratings, while Magic Spellbook averages 4.8 from 87 ratings.
Do MTG Guide or Magic Spellbook have ads?
Neither MTG Guide nor Magic Spellbook shows ads.
Which is updated more often, MTG Guide or Magic Spellbook?
MTG Guide ships an update every 2 months, and Magic Spellbook every 5 weeks. Most recently, MTG Guide was updated on September 22, 2026 and Magic Spellbook on September 23, 2026.

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