# MTG Guide vs MTGCardStack

The clearest difference is ratings volume: MTG Guide at 722 against MTGCardStack's 2. MTG Guide also leads on iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.0). MTGCardStack's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.7) and monetization model (freemium vs paid). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. MTG Guide sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month and MTGCardStack sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

MTGCardStack holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: MTG Guide has 722 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

MTG Guide ships an update every 2 months, MTGCardStack every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | MTG Guide | MTGCardStack |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (722 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mtg-guide/id378754271/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mtgcardstack/id6475174851/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **722** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 79.7% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Paid | **Freemium** |
| Size | 45 MB | 14 MB |
| Requires iOS | **17.0** | 26.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** |
| Age rating | 9+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [Michael Wybrow](https://appshunter.io/developer/366746485) | [Nicholas Diodato](https://appshunter.io/developer/1723519725) |

## 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


### MTGCardStack

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mtgcardstack/id6475174851)

Manage your Magic the Gathering collection, build decks, and track game statistics. Discover new sets, monitor collection progress, and analyze deck performance with powerful search and customization options.

**Highlights:** Card search with powerful options, Deck and binder building, Collection completion tracking, Game history and win/loss statistics, Customizable interface, Import card lists, Trade balancing

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $0.99 | per month |
| Yearly | $9.99 | per year |
| Leave a Tip | $0.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime | $2.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is MTG Guide free?

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

### Is MTGCardStack free?

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

### Which has better reviews, MTG Guide or MTGCardStack?

MTGCardStack is rated higher. MTG Guide averages 4.7 out of 5 from 722 ratings, while MTGCardStack averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do MTG Guide or MTGCardStack have ads?

Neither MTG Guide nor MTGCardStack shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, MTG Guide or MTGCardStack?

MTG Guide ships an update every 2 months, and MTGCardStack every 3 months. Most recently, MTG Guide was updated on September 25, 2026 and MTGCardStack on September 24, 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.*