# Tools For MTG vs Magic

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Tools For MTG at none against Magic's 24. Tools For MTG also leads on review sentiment (54% vs 34%) and iOS requirement (9.1 vs 15.0). Magic's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 3 months) and ratings volume (156K vs 17). On price, rating, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Magic sells 17 one-off in-app purchases. Tools For MTG asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for Tools For MTG against 4.6 for Magic. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Magic has 156K ratings behind it against 17, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 54% of Tools For MTG's written reviews are positive against 34% of Magic's.

Tools For MTG ships an update every 3 months, Magic weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Tools For MTG | Magic |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (17 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tools-for-mtg/id469541179/reviews)** | [4.6 (156K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/magic-the-gathering-arena/id1496227521/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 17 | **156K** |
| Positive reviews | **53.8% of reviews** | 34.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#15** |
| Size | 12 MB | 265 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.1** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 17+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Michael Dresser](https://appshunter.io/developer/334924451) | [Wizards of the Coast](https://appshunter.io/developer/491192018) |

## What reviewers say

### Tools For MTG

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tools-for-mtg/id469541179)

This app provides essential tools for Magic: The Gathering players, including life and poison counters, match timers, a terminology glossary, and direct links to official news and video content.

**Highlights:** Life and poison counter tracking, Match timer, MTG terminology glossary, Wizards of the Coast news feed, Wizards of the Coast YouTube videos

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Magic

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/magic-the-gathering-arena/id1496227521)

**Currently charting:** #15 Top Grossing · Card, #20 Top Grossing · Strategy, #46 Top Free · Card, #52 Top Free · Strategy, #87 Top Grossing · Games (US App Store)

Experience the original fantasy collectible card game digitally. Discover strategies, build unique decks, and battle friends worldwide. Offers a comprehensive tutorial for new players and various game modes for seasoned veterans.

**Highlights:** Digital collectible card game, Deck building and strategy, Online multiplayer battles, Tutorial for new players, Multiple game formats, Cosmetic customization

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (17)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 750 Gems | $4.99 | one-time |
| Starter Bundle | $4.99 | one-time |
| Jurassic World Lands | $9.99 | one-time |
| Fallout Companion Bundle | $9.99 | one-time |
| 1,600 Gems | $9.99 | one-time |
| 4x Rare Wildcards | $9.99 | one-time |
| Adventurer Bundle | $14.99 | one-time |
| Pre-order: Pass Bundle | $14.99 | one-time |
| 3,400 Gems | $19.99 | one-time |
| 4x Mythic Wildcards | $19.99 | one-time |
| Spark Bundle | $24.99 | one-time |
| Massacre Girl Pack Pre-order | $49.99 | one-time |
| Pre-order: Oko Pack Bundle | $49.99 | one-time |
| Pre-order: Pack Bundle | $49.99 | one-time |
| 9,200 Gems | $49.99 | one-time |
| Pre-order: Sorin Pack Bundle | $49.99 | one-time |
| 20,000 Gems | $99.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great way to play Magic on the go
- 🎨 Excellent visual representation of the game
- 💰 Generous free-to-play model
- 🕹️ Smooth and intuitive gameplay
- 🕰️ Convenient for players who can't meet in person

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and stability issues
- 🕹️ Clunky UI and navigation
- 💰 Aggressive monetization and pay-to-win concerns
- 🔀 Rigged matchmaking and unfair shuffling algorithm
- 🕰️ Slow performance on older devices

**Reported bugs**

- Cards not working as intended
- Inability to select or interact with certain game elements
- Inconsistent behavior when app crashes during matches
- Sync issues between mobile and desktop accounts

**Requested features**

- Ability to trade or recycle unwanted cards
- Improved deck building tools and organization
- Support for multiplayer formats like Commander and Two-Headed Giant
- Option to disable animations and speed up gameplay
- Better integration between mobile and desktop versions


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Tools For MTG free?

Tools For MTG is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Magic free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Tools For MTG or Magic?

Tools For MTG is rated higher. Tools For MTG averages 4.6 out of 5 from 17 ratings, while Magic averages 4.6 from 156K ratings.

### Do Tools For MTG or Magic have ads?

Neither Tools For MTG nor Magic shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Tools For MTG or Magic?

Tools For MTG ships an update every 3 months, and Magic weekly. Most recently, Tools For MTG was updated on October 23, 2026 and Magic on October 25, 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.*