Magic card database (MTG) vs Magic Spellbook
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
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.
- 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
Read full descriptionHide 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
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Magic Spellbook at 4.8 against Magic card database (MTG)'s 3.7. Magic Spellbook also leads on review sentiment (94% vs 84%) and iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.0). Magic card database (MTG)'s advantage is update cadence (every 11 days vs every 5 weeks). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases 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 and Magic Spellbook sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Magic Spellbook holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 122 and 87 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 84% of Magic card database (MTG)'s written reviews are positive against 94% of Magic Spellbook's.
Magic card database (MTG) ships an update every 11 days, Magic Spellbook every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Magic card database (MTG) | Magic Spellbook |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.7 (122 ratings) | 4.8 (87 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 84.3% of reviews | 94.4% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 122 — better | 87 |
| Update frequency | Every 11 days — better | Every 5 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | 17.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 237 MB | 33 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 9+ |
| Developer | Nicole Hankinson | Joshua Birnholz |
Customer experience
Magic card database (MTG)
Magic Spellbook
In-app purchases
Magic card database (MTG)
- Premium3 Days trial$3.991 Month
- Premium (Yearly)7 Days trial$29.991 Year
Magic Spellbook
- Common Tip$0.99
- Uncommon Tip$2.99
- Rare Tip$4.99
Show 1 moreShow fewer
- Mythic Tip$9.99
Questions
Is Magic card database (MTG) free?
Is Magic Spellbook free?
Which has better reviews, Magic card database (MTG) or Magic Spellbook?
Do Magic card database (MTG) or Magic Spellbook have ads?
Which is updated more often, Magic card database (MTG) or Magic Spellbook?
Other comparisons















