ManaBox vs Mythic Tools

Which MTG card scanner is better for you? A detailed comparison of features, accuracy, pricing, and more.

ManaBox and Mythic Tools get compared constantly, and they overlap more than their reputations suggest. ManaBox is a scanner-first app for cataloging and pricing a collection. Mythic Tools started as a multiplayer life counter and deck-stats app for Commander pods, and it also tracks your collection in boxes and binders, imports lists from ManaBox, Moxfield, Archidekt and Dragon Shield, and includes a camera scanner that identifies printings, foils and cards in many languages. Mythic Tools is rated about 4.8 on the App Store from more than 3,300 ratings. The real difference is where each app puts its focus: ManaBox on scanning cards into a collection, Mythic Tools on the whole game-night toolkit. Here is how they compare. Updated October 2026 after a correction from the Mythic Tools team.

Quick Overview

ManaBox

Ios, Android · Freemium (5 decks free)

ManaBox is a cross-platform MTG companion app with card scanning, deck building, and collection tracking. Its Quick Mode speeds up scanning, but the requirement for a white background and issues with foil cards are common user complaints.

Mythic Tools

Ios, Android · Core features free; Mythic+ subscription and optional extras

Mythic Tools is a Magic: The Gathering companion app with a multiplayer life counter, deck building, game and playgroup stats, a free collection tracker with boxes and binders, and a camera scanner that identifies printings, foils and many languages. It runs on the web, iOS and Android.

Detailed Comparison

Feature	ManaBox	Mythic Tools
Scanning Accuracy	3/5 Requires a white background for reliable scanning. Works adequately for standard cards but foils and reflective surfaces continue to be problem areas.	3/5 Mythic Tools describes its scanner as fast and accurate, and it identifies printings, handles foils and reads cards in multiple languages. We have not benchmarked it on a large batch, so treat this score as provisional.
Scanning Speed	4/5 Quick Mode provides decent throughput for scanning multiple cards in a row. White background setup adds time before each session.	4/5 Quick for a single lookup of price, oracle text and rulings, and scanned cards can be added to your collection. ManaBox is built around a continuous scan-and-file workflow, and we have not timed Mythic Tools on a large stack.
Price Tracking	4/5 Four marketplace sources including TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom, Star City Games, and Cardmarket give a comprehensive pricing picture.	3/5 Pulls prices from TCGPlayer and Cardmarket alongside oracle text and rulings in the same lookup. Fine for a quick check mid-game, thinner than ManaBox on source coverage.
Collection Management	4/5 Binder and list organization with cross-platform sync on iOS and Android. The 5-deck free limit is restrictive for multi-format players.	4/5 Collection tracking is free. You can organize cards in boxes and binders to mirror how they are stored at home, assign copies to decks, and import collections from Dragon Shield, Moxfield, ManaBox and Archidekt. It works on the web, iOS and Android with one account. Its FAQ lists no collection size limit.
Value for Money	3/5 The 5-deck free limit pushes multi-format players toward premium. Scanning issues persist even for paying customers.	4/5 Creating an account, tracking your collection, building decks and recording games are free. The free tier includes one Smart Deck, and the paid Mythic+ subscription lifts that limit and adds card recommendations and deck and card evaluation. Optional purchases such as life counter skins also exist.

Our Verdict

Both apps can track a collection, so the choice comes down to focus. ManaBox is built around scanning cards into binders and lists, and it prices them from four marketplaces, although it works best on a white background and caps the free tier at five decks. Mythic Tools covers more of the game night: a life counter, deck building, game and playgroup stats, and a free collection tracker with boxes, binders and imports, plus a scanner that identifies printings. If cataloging a physical collection fast is the main goal, ManaBox, Delver Lens or Lotus Scan are scanner-first options. If you play paper Commander and want one free app for life totals, decks and your collection, Mythic Tools is a strong choice, and it can import a ManaBox export if you want to use both.

How Does Lotus Scan Compare?

Before you decide, see how both apps stack up against Lotus Scan — the AI-powered MTG scanner built for iPhone that requires no white background.

Feature	ManaBox	Mythic Tools	Lotus Scan
Platform	Ios, Android	Ios, Android	iPhone (iOS)
White background required	Yes	No	No
Pricing	Freemium (5 decks free)	Core features free; Mythic+ subscription and optional extras	Free with Premium
Best for	Players who need a cross-platform app and primarily scan on a clean, well-lit desk	Commander players who want one free app for life totals, deck stats, their collection and card lookups	iPhone users who want fast, accurate scanning with comprehensive price tracking and collection management

Lotus Scan combines fast AI-powered recognition, real-time price tracking, and collection management without requiring a white background or subscription.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Mythic Tools track your collection?

Yes. Collection tracking in Mythic Tools is free. You organize cards in boxes and binders that mirror how they are stored at home, link physical copies to decks, and import collections from Dragon Shield, Moxfield, ManaBox and Archidekt. It runs on the web, iOS and Android under the same account. Its FAQ lists no collection size limit.

Is Mythic Tools a real collection scanner like ManaBox?

Mythic Tools has a camera scanner that identifies printings, handles foils and reads cards in many languages, and scanned cards can go into your collection. ManaBox is built around that workflow as its main feature, so it is the more specialized choice for scanning a large collection quickly, while Mythic Tools treats the scanner as one part of a wider toolkit.

Why does Mythic Tools have such high ratings?

It is rated about 4.8 on the App Store from more than 3,300 ratings. Players rate it as a full companion app: a multiplayer life counter, deck building, game and playgroup stats, a free collection tracker and a card scanner, with the core features free.

Can I import my ManaBox collection into Mythic Tools?

Yes. Mythic Tools says collection imports accept exports from Dragon Shield, Moxfield, ManaBox and Archidekt. For large imports of 1,000 cards or more, keep the tab open while it processes.

Can I use Mythic Tools and ManaBox together?

Yes. Some players scan with one app and run game night with the other, and because Mythic Tools imports ManaBox exports, moving a collection between them is straightforward. Which one you keep as your main collection depends on whether you prefer a scanner-first app or an all-in-one companion.

Is Mythic Tools free?

The core features are. Creating an account, tracking your collection, building decks and recording games cost nothing. The free tier includes one Smart Deck, and the paid Mythic+ subscription lifts that limit and adds card recommendations and deck and card evaluation. There are also optional purchases such as life counter skins.

Does Mythic Tools track card prices?

Its scanner shows price information with the oracle text and rulings in the same lookup. ManaBox pulls from four marketplaces, so it gives a wider pricing picture if comparison shopping across stores is what you need.