# Helvault vs MTG Compendium

The clearest difference is rating: Helvault at 4.2 against MTG Compendium's 3.4. Helvault also leads on ratings volume (289 vs 5) and iOS requirement (18.0 vs 26.0). MTG Compendium's advantage is review sentiment (57% vs 32%). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Helvault sells 6 one-off in-app purchases and MTG Compendium sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Helvault holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 3.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Helvault has 289 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 32% of Helvault's written reviews are positive against 57% of MTG Compendium's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Helvault ships an update fortnightly, MTG Compendium weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 17, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Helvault | MTG Compendium |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.2 (289 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/helvault-mtg-scanner/id6451158920/reviews)** | [3.4 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mtg-compendium-deck-builder/id6746125584/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **289** | 5 |
| Positive reviews | 31.8% of reviews | **57.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 58 MB | 74 MB |
| Requires iOS | **18.0** | 26.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Vitor Cesco](https://appshunter.io/developer/1466963200) | [Mark Webb](https://appshunter.io/developer/1331970256) |

## What reviewers say

### Helvault

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/helvault-mtg-scanner/id6451158920)

Effortlessly manage your Magic: The Gathering card collection with an AI-powered scanner. Organize, filter, and analyze your cards with detailed stats and pricing information. Sync across devices and export your collection.

**Highlights:** AI-powered MTG card scanner, Unlimited card collection storage, Detailed collection statistics, Card pricing and details, CSV collection export, iCloud syncing

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Common Donation | $0.99 | one-time |
| Rare Donation | $4.99 | one-time |
| iCloud Syncing | $4.99 | one-time |
| Advanced Card Export/Import | $6.99 | one-time |
| MTG Card Scanner - Lifetime | $9.99 | one-time |
| Mythic Donation | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Excellent scanning and recognition
- 👍 Versatile product for managing collections
- 🚀 Quick and easy to use
- 👍 Dedicated developer with good customer service

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Inconsistent card scanning, struggles with certain card types
- 💰 Expensive, especially for users who already paid for the legacy app
- 🔍 Limited search and filtering options
- 🔀 Difficulty moving cards between binders
- 🔒 No way to restore scans/data on new devices

**Reported bugs**

- Keypad issues when searching
- Disappearing settings icons
- Incorrect set identification for some cards
- Missing card prices and details

**Requested features**

- Deck building and management tools
- Advanced search and filtering options
- Bulk card management and transfer
- Improved support for special card versions and frames
- Seamless data migration from legacy app


### MTG Compendium

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mtg-compendium-deck-builder/id6746125584)

This app is a comprehensive companion for Magic: The Gathering players. It allows you to scan and collect cards, build and analyze decks with detailed statistics, track your game history, and get personalized advice from an AI deck coach. It also provides tools for exploring game sets and preconstructed decks.

**Highlights:** Card scanning and collection management, Advanced deck building and analysis, Life counter and game log, AI-powered deck advice and insights, Price tracking and history, Set exploration and deck comparison

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlimited Evals and Chat | $2.99 | per month |
| Annual Pro Subscription | $34.99 | per year |
| Compendium 3 Deck Evaluations | $1.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Helvault free?

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

### Is MTG Compendium free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Helvault or MTG Compendium?

Helvault is rated higher. Helvault averages 4.2 out of 5 from 289 ratings, while MTG Compendium averages 3.4 from 5 ratings.

### Do Helvault or MTG Compendium have ads?

Neither Helvault nor MTG Compendium shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Helvault or MTG Compendium?

Helvault ships an update fortnightly, and MTG Compendium weekly. Most recently, Helvault was updated on October 27, 2026 and MTG Compendium on October 17, 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.*