Magic card database (MTG) vs Bugko
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Magic card database (MTG)
This app serves as a comprehensive database for a popular trading card game, offering advanced search, deck building, and price tracking. It features a user-friendly interface with customizable options and offline capabilities. Premium features unlock access to the latest sets and unlimited deck collections.
- Advanced card search and browsing
- Deck building and management
- Card price guide
- Life counter with multiplayer support
- Offline mode
- Full-screen image viewer
Read full descriptionHide full description
Magic trading card game database is the premier iOS application for everything Magic. With its advanced grid view you can browse cards quicker than any other application. Now updated for iOS 26 with the new Liquid Glass design, dark mode, and improved performance throughout. MTG allows for editing and saving multiple searches, saving you from having to re-enter them each time you launch the app. FREE FEATURES: - Advanced search & browse options. - Life counter with player customization, textured backgrounds, undo/redo history, and multiplayer support. - Searchable by name, description, expansion, rarity, colors, artist & others. - Sort by name, price, rarity, collector number, and more. - Browse keyword abilities with quick-jump section index. - Small app size & image caching for improved performance. - Offline mode by pre-caching images. - Large grid for multiple card viewing. - Details laid out in an easy access view with all printings available. - Full-screen image viewer with pinch zoom and swipe-to-dismiss. - Bulk import — paste a card list to quickly build a deck. - Deck collections with 2-column card grid, mana curve stats, average CMC, and land counts. - Accessibility support with VoiceOver labels and hints. - Light and dark mode support. PREMIUM FEATURES (Requires IAP): - Access to the latest five sets. - Price guide that is updated often with stale cache detection. - Automatic updating card database with version tracking. - Unlimited deck collections. - Monthly and yearly subscription options. All prices are courtesy of TCGplayer.com Terms of Use: https://termify.io/terms-and-conditions/1637763460 Privacy Policy: https://termify.io/privacy-policy/1637856824
Bugko
This fan-made app serves as an all-in-one companion for Magic: The Gathering players and judges. It offers news aggregation, spoiler alerts, deck building tools, and an offline card database with pricing. It also includes specialized features for judges, such as rule references and timers.
- News aggregation from 40+ sources
- Spoiler alerts with push notifications
- Offline card database with syntax search
- Card pricing from TCGPlayer and Cardmarket
- Life counter for 2-8 players
- Deck builder with winning decklists
- Tools for MTG judges (IPG, MTR, timers)
Read full descriptionHide full description
Bugko is an unofficial app (fan made) all-in-one companion app designed for Magic: The Gathering (MTG) players and judges. Bugko focused on offering unique core features such as news aggregation, spoiler alert, tournament deck list update, card syntax search and many more. Other familiar features like life counter, wish list, collection tracker, offline card search, random card, comprehensive rule, deck building are also built inside Bugko for a complete experience. Bugko will be the first modern designed MTG app you will truly enjoy. Bugko is the only app that bring together all favorite MTG, MTGO and Arena news sources into one place. News channel currently available including Channel Fireball, MTG Goldfish, Mythic Spoiler, Star City Games and 40+ news sources. You can scroll through all news and spoilers happening right now once you open the app. With push notification in app, you surely will never miss a single important news update from your favorite news channels. Latest spoiled card? Bugko got you covered. Bugko is built with a powerful yet offline accessible cards database. You can choose to search through 30,000+ cards using our blazing fast syntax search designed for power users or simply use the search filter available with user friendly interface. With latest card pricing directly from TCGPlayer and Cardmarket, you can check, buy, trade, or track your collection wherever you are. Are you a Magic judge? Bugko has tools specially designed for judges. Scripted draft timer, Infraction Procedure Guide (IPG) reference, Magic Tournament Rule (MTR) document, offline comprehensive rule with complete search functionality inside etc. Many of the features in Bugko are carefully designed to cater to the needs of judges as well. For example, an offline card database, card text in multiple languages, judge blog or news update and more. Great for judges that travel around the world for events. Features: - Latest MTG news and spoiler from 40+ popular news channels with notification alert. - Life counter support 2-8 players, 15 different counters, counter changes history, mana pool and modern design. - Offline complete database including all latest cards printed, promo cards, 11+ printed languages, 20+ formats banlist, card rulings, reserved list and etc. - Powerful card search engine that support syntax search, 25+ card properties filter, random card and etc. - Latest card pricing including all promo cards, foil cards, different art variety directly from TCGPlayer or Cardmarket. - Auto currency converter available in 30+ currencies. - Track your collection, trading and wish list with up-to-date price wherever you go. - Deck builder with winning decklist from Standard, Modern and Legacy formats. - Tools for judges like offline searchable comprehensive rule, MTG, IPG, quick reference, scripted draft timer, decklist counter, offline documents and etc. Disclaimer: Magic: The Gathering (also known as MTG) card design, text, images, expansions, and symbols are trademark and copyright of Wizards of the Coast, Hasbro, LLC. Bugko is not affiliated with, endorsed, sponsored, or specifically approved by Wizards of the Coast LLC.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Bugko at 4.8 against Magic card database (MTG)'s 3.7. Bugko also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 2) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 26.0). Magic card database (MTG)'s advantage is ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (84% vs 73%). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and monetization model 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
Both are free to download. Magic card database (MTG) sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Bugko asks for nothing beyond the download.
Bugko holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 122 and 89 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 84% of Magic card database (MTG)'s written reviews are positive against 73% of Bugko's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
Magic card database (MTG) ships an update every 11 days, Bugko every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Magic card database (MTG) | Bugko |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.7 (122 ratings) | 4.8 (89 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 84.3% of reviews — better | 73.3% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 122 — better | 89 |
| Update frequency | Every 11 days — better | Every 2 weeks |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 237 MB | 498 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 9+ |
| Developer | Nicole Hankinson | Keng Siang Ooi |
Customer experience
Magic card database (MTG)
Bugko
In-app purchases
Magic card database (MTG)
- Premium3 Days trial$3.991 Month
- Premium (Yearly)7 Days trial$29.991 Year
Bugko
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Magic card database (MTG) free?
Is Bugko free?
Which has better reviews, Magic card database (MTG) or Bugko?
Do Magic card database (MTG) or Bugko have ads?
Which is updated more often, Magic card database (MTG) or Bugko?
Other comparisons















