# Hearthstone vs Magic

The clearest difference is rating: Magic at 4.6 against Hearthstone's 4.1. On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Hearthstone sells 21 one-off in-app purchases and Magic sells 17 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Magic holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 122K and 154K respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 36% of Hearthstone's written reviews are positive against 35% of Magic's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Hearthstone ships an update fortnightly, Magic weekly. Both last shipped on September 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Hearthstone | Magic |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.1 (122K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hearthstone/id625257520/reviews) | **[4.6 (154K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/magic-the-gathering-arena/id1496227521/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 122K | **154K** |
| Positive reviews | **35.9% of reviews** | 34.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | #47 | **#22** |
| Size | 855 MB | 261 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Blizzard Entertainment, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/306862900) | [Wizards of the Coast](https://appshunter.io/developer/491192018) |

## What reviewers say

### Hearthstone

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hearthstone/id625257520)

**Currently charting:** #47 Top Grossing · Card, #63 Top Grossing · Strategy, #206 Top Free · Card, #207 Top Free · Strategy (US App Store)

Engage in a strategic card battle game where you collect powerful cards, build custom decks, and outwit opponents. Explore various game modes, from competitive PvP to solo adventures, all within the iconic Warcraft universe.

**Highlights:** Collectible battle cards, Deck building and customization, Strategic card battles, Multiple game modes (Standard, Wild, Battlegrounds), PvP and PvE challenges, Warcraft universe integration

**In-app purchases (21)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Arena Admission | $1.99 | one-time |
| Bundle of 2 Classic Packs | $2.99 | one-time |
| Welcome Bundle | $4.99 | one-time |
| Welcome Bundle of 10 Classic Packs + Classic Legendary Card | $4.99 | one-time |
| 500 Runestones | $4.99 | one-time |
| Hero Skin | $6.99 | one-time |
| Bundle of 7 Grand Tournament Packs | $9.99 | one-time |
| Bundle of 7 Classic Packs | $9.99 | one-time |
| Bundle of 7 "Whispers of the Old Gods" Packs | $9.99 | one-time |
| Hero Skin Bundle | $9.99 | one-time |
| Packs Bundle | $14.99 | one-time |
| BG Season Pass | $14.99 | one-time |
| Tavern Pass | $19.99 | one-time |
| BG Season Pass | $19.99 | one-time |
| Bundle of 15 Classic Packs | $19.99 | one-time |
| Bundle: All 4 League of Explorers Wings | $19.99 | one-time |
| Packs Bundle | $24.99 | one-time |
| Packs Bundle | $39.99 | one-time |
| Bundle of 40 Classic Packs | $49.99 | one-time |
| Packs Bundle | $59.99 | one-time |
| Hero Skin Bundle | $89.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Smooth gameplay
- 🎨 Stunning visuals and animations
- 🕹️ Engaging strategic gameplay
- 🎁 Generous free-to-play model
- 🕰️ Endless replayability

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive to stay competitive
- 🔁 Repetitive meta decks
- 🎲 Excessive RNG elements
- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 🕰️ Slow progression for free players

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes during gameplay
- Connectivity issues after updates
- Reward system not working as intended
- Unresponsive UI on certain devices

**Requested features**

- Improved matchmaking system
- More cooperative game modes
- Ability to trade or disenchant unwanted cards
- Reduced cost of new expansions
- Faster gold/dust earning for free players


### Magic

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

**Currently charting:** #22 Top Grossing · Card, #25 Top Grossing · Strategy, #44 Top Free · Strategy, #55 Top Free · Card, #118 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 Hearthstone free?

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

### Is Magic free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Hearthstone or Magic?

Magic is rated higher. Hearthstone averages 4.1 out of 5 from 122K ratings, while Magic averages 4.6 from 154K ratings.

### Do Hearthstone or Magic have ads?

Neither Hearthstone nor Magic shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Hearthstone or Magic?

Hearthstone ships an update fortnightly, and Magic weekly. Most recently, Hearthstone was updated on September 24, 2026 and Magic on September 24, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Hearthstone or Magic?

Hearthstone currently peaks at #47 in the App Store charts, and Magic at #22. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*