# MTGCardStack vs Shiny

The clearest difference is update cadence: Shiny at weekly against MTGCardStack's every 3 months. Shiny also leads on ratings volume (3.5K vs 2) and chart position (#140 vs unranked). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. MTGCardStack sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month and Shiny sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for MTGCardStack against 4.9 for Shiny. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Shiny has 3.5K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

MTGCardStack ships an update every 3 months, Shiny weekly. Both last shipped on September 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | MTGCardStack | Shiny |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mtgcardstack/id6475174851/reviews)** | [4.9 (3.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shiny-card-value-scanner/id6593663349/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 2 | **3.5K** |
| Positive reviews | — | 95.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#140** |
| Size | 14 MB | 119 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **16.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 9+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Nicholas Diodato](https://appshunter.io/developer/1723519725) | [Shiny Cardboard LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1760262290) |

## What reviewers say

### MTGCardStack

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mtgcardstack/id6475174851)

Manage your Magic the Gathering collection, build decks, and track game statistics. Discover new sets, monitor collection progress, and analyze deck performance with powerful search and customization options.

**Highlights:** Card search with powerful options, Deck and binder building, Collection completion tracking, Game history and win/loss statistics, Customizable interface, Import card lists, Trade balancing

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $0.99 | per month |
| Yearly | $9.99 | per year |
| Leave a Tip | $0.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime | $2.99 | one-time |


### Shiny

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shiny-card-value-scanner/id6593663349)

**Currently charting:** #140 Top Grossing · Reference (US App Store)

Instantly scan and value trading cards from popular games like Pokemon, MTG, and YuGiOh!. Organize your collection, track prices, and discover new cards with a vast database. Features include price alerts, unlimited collection management, and a centering tool for grading checks.

**Highlights:** Instant card scanning and valuation, Price change alerts, Unlimited collection management, Real-time and historical TCG prices, Advanced search and filtering, Card centering tool for grading, Cross-device collection syncing

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

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Shiny Pro Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Shiny Pro - Collector Tools | $7.99 | per month |
| Shiny Pro - Collector Tools | $59.99 | per year |
| Shiny Pro | $9.99 | one-time |
| Collector Pro Gift Pass | $34.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime Collector Pro Pass | $99.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime Collector Pro Pass | $119.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 User friendly
- 🚀 Efficient and responsive
- 💎 Excellent customer service
- 🔍 Comprehensive database
- 📊 Helpful tracking and analytics

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Some missing/incomplete data
- 🔍 Difficulty finding certain products

**Reported bugs**

- Occasional crashes or freezes
- Compatibility issues on older devices

**Requested features**

- Wishlist feature
- Grading recommendation system
- Set-based organization
- Total collection value tracking


## Frequently asked questions

### Is MTGCardStack free?

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

### Is Shiny free?

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

### Which has better reviews, MTGCardStack or Shiny?

MTGCardStack is rated higher. MTGCardStack averages 5.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Shiny averages 4.9 from 3.5K ratings.

### Do MTGCardStack or Shiny have ads?

Neither MTGCardStack nor Shiny shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, MTGCardStack or Shiny?

MTGCardStack ships an update every 3 months, and Shiny weekly. Most recently, MTGCardStack was updated on September 24, 2026 and Shiny on September 24, 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.*