Magic card database (MTG) vs Archivist
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
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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
Archivist
Digitize your Magic: The Gathering card collection quickly and easily. Scan cards to read details, organize your collection, build decks, and track prices. Connect with other collectors and manage your wishlist.
- Scan cards with camera
- Organize by box, condition, foil, language
- Build decks with mana curve
- Track card prices and set alerts
- Wishlist cards with TCGplayer integration
- Follow other collectors
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Archivist is the fastest way to digitize your Magic: The Gathering collection. Point your phone at any card and the scanner reads the name, set, and collector number in under a second. WHAT YOU CAN DO • Scan cards with your camera — works in most lighting • Organize by box, condition, foil, and language • Build decks with section-aware quantities and a live mana curve • Track card prices and get alerts when a card hits your target • Wishlist cards and check out on TCGplayer in one tap • Follow other collectors and see their public lists ARCHIVIST PLUS Cloud sync across iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Per-card price alerts. Upgrade suggestions for any Commander deck powered by EDHREC. Plus is available as an auto-renewing subscription — Monthly ($4.99) or Yearly ($39.99) — or as a one-time Lifetime purchase ($99.99). Subscriptions renew unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the period ends. Magic: The Gathering, its logos, mana symbols, and card text are trademarks and copyrights of Wizards of the Coast LLC. Archivist is unofficial Fan Content permitted under Wizards' Fan Content Policy and is not approved or endorsed by Wizards. Terms of Use: https://getarchivist.app/terms Privacy Policy: https://getarchivist.app/privacy
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Archivist at 5.0 against Magic card database (MTG)'s 3.7. Archivist also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 84%) and iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.0). Magic card database (MTG)'s advantage is ratings volume (122 vs 1). On price, update cadence, 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 Archivist sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Archivist holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Magic card database (MTG) has 122 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 84% of Magic card database (MTG)'s written reviews are positive against 100% of Archivist's.
Magic card database (MTG) ships an update every 11 days, Archivist every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Magic card database (MTG) | Archivist |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.7 (122 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 84.3% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 122 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 11 days | Every 9 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | 17.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 237 MB | 12 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Nicole Hankinson | Ryan Fontenot |
Customer experience
Magic card database (MTG)
Archivist
In-app purchases
Magic card database (MTG)
- Premium3 Days trial$3.991 Month
- Premium (Yearly)7 Days trial$29.991 Year
Archivist
- Archivist Plus (Monthly)$4.991 Month
- Archivist Plus (Yearly)$39.991 Year
- Archivist Lifetime$99.99
Questions
Is Magic card database (MTG) free?
Is Archivist free?
Which has better reviews, Magic card database (MTG) or Archivist?
Do Magic card database (MTG) or Archivist have ads?
Which is updated more often, Magic card database (MTG) or Archivist?
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