# MTGCardStack vs MTG Card Scanner

The clearest difference is ads: MTGCardStack at none against MTG Card Scanner's shown. MTGCardStack also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.6) and device support (3 vs 1). MTG Card Scanner's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs every 3 months) and ratings volume (287 vs 2). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. MTGCardStack sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month and MTG Card Scanner sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

MTGCardStack holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: MTG Card Scanner has 287 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

MTGCardStack ships an update every 3 months, MTG Card Scanner every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | MTGCardStack | MTG Card Scanner |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mtgcardstack/id6475174851/reviews)** | [4.6 (287 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mtg-card-scanner-mana-vault/id6737373878/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 2 | **287** |
| Positive reviews | — | 44.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 14 MB | 251 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | 26.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Nicholas Diodato](https://appshunter.io/developer/1723519725) | [Giuseppe Lupo](https://appshunter.io/developer/1536647610) |

## 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 |


### MTG Card Scanner

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mtg-card-scanner-mana-vault/id6737373878)

Instantly scan Magic: The Gathering cards with your camera to check live market values and track price changes. Organize your entire collection, build and analyze decks, and explore MTG sets. Make informed decisions for trading, selling, or investing.

**Highlights:** Instant card scanning, Live market value detection, Price change tracking, Smart collection management, Deck balance analysis, MTG set exploration

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| Premium | $29.99 | per month |
| Premium | $49.99 | per year |
| Premium | $99.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Accurate pricing information
- 👍 Comprehensive search capabilities
- 🔍 Impressive AI-powered identification

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Purchasing issues (e.g., unable to complete transactions)
- 🤔 Unclear pricing/subscription model
- 🌍 Limited availability in certain regions

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes/freezes during onboarding
- Camera functionality not working as expected

**Requested features**

- Option to view sell-through rates
- Ability to analyze both sides of a card
- Export data to CSV/Excel


## Frequently asked questions

### Is MTGCardStack free?

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

### Is MTG Card Scanner free?

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

### Which has better reviews, MTGCardStack or MTG Card Scanner?

MTGCardStack is rated higher. MTGCardStack averages 5.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while MTG Card Scanner averages 4.6 from 287 ratings.

### Do MTGCardStack or MTG Card Scanner have ads?

MTG Card Scanner shows ads; MTGCardStack does not.

### Which is updated more often, MTGCardStack or MTG Card Scanner?

MTGCardStack ships an update every 3 months, and MTG Card Scanner every 3 days. Most recently, MTGCardStack was updated on September 24, 2026 and MTG Card Scanner on September 23, 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.*