Comparison

MTG Guide vs MTG Ref

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

MTG Ref

Features
Read full description

Check the MTG rules anytime, anywhere. Feature: 1. Hierarchical display. Support both Chinese and English. 2. Search and highlight keywords. This app is not produced or endorsed by Wizards of the Coast, Inc. This app conform to https://company.wizards.com/en/legal/fancontentpolicy 【Privacy Policy】 https://docs.qq.com/doc/DSVRES0d5VlBySU1y 【User Agreement】 https://docs.qq.com/doc/DSVdBb1JoSHpYSmhR 【Terms of Use】 https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

MTG Guide4 screens
MTG Ref3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: MTG Guide at Free against MTG Ref's $2.99. MTG Ref's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2). On update cadence, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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

MTG Guide is free to download; MTG Ref costs $2.99 up front. MTG Guide sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. MTG Ref asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

MTG Guide ships an update every 2 months, MTG Ref every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 22, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
MTG Guide versus MTG Ref: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMTG GuideMTG Ref
PriceFree — better$2.99
Rating4.6 (726 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews79.6% of reviews—
Number of ratings726 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 4 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationPaid—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.016.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size45 MB2 MB
Age rating9+4+
DeveloperMichael Wybrow宇 曹

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

MTG Ref

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
None

MTG Ref

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is MTG Guide free?
MTG Guide is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is MTG Ref free?
MTG Ref costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do MTG Guide or MTG Ref have ads?
Neither MTG Guide nor MTG Ref shows ads.
Which is updated more often, MTG Guide or MTG Ref?
MTG Guide ships an update every 2 months, and MTG Ref every 4 months. Most recently, MTG Guide was updated on October 22, 2026 and MTG Ref on October 6, 2026.

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