MTG Arena’s built-in deck editor gets the job done for a first draft, but the moment you want to tune a mana curve properly, compare two builds side by side, or import a decklist from a stream, the seams show. Card search is sluggish, the filter panel hides the important toggles, and there is no way to run a proper hand-simulator without launching a match. Serious brewers keep a companion app open on a second monitor and treat Arena as the play surface, not the workshop.
We tested seven Windows and macOS companion apps for MTG Arena deck building, weighing search speed, format legality checks, netdeck import quality, hand simulation, and how cleanly each one round-trips with Arena’s own deck import string. The picks below all work with a running Arena client, most of them read Arena’s collection log so your builds only surface cards you actually own.
What to look for in an MTG Arena deck builder
- Collection sync. Reads Arena’s log file so search reflects the cards you own, not the whole card pool.
- Format legality. Standard, Alchemy, Historic, Explorer, Timeless — pick the format and the app filters accordingly.
- Netdeck import. Paste an Arena string, MTGGoldfish URL, or Moxfield link and the app rebuilds the deck.
- Mana curve and color pip counters. Live histograms as you build, not a post-hoc chart.
- Sideboard planning. Lets you jot matchup notes against known meta archetypes.
- Hand simulator. Draw seven, mulligan, redraw — outside the match queue.
Quick comparison
| App | Best for | Platforms | Free plan | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MTGA Pro Tracker | All-round tracker + builder | Windows, macOS | Yes, full | Free (donation) |
| Untapped.gg Companion | Data-driven builds | Windows, macOS | Yes | $4.99/mo Plus |
| MTGGoldfish | Meta reference + builder | Web (Windows/macOS/Linux) | Yes | $6.99/mo Premium |
| Moxfield | Cloud deck management | Web (all desktops) | Yes | $2.99/mo Patron |
| 17Lands | Limited format optimization | Windows, macOS | Yes, full | Free |
| Archidekt | Multi-format brewing | Web (all desktops) | Yes | $2/mo Pro |
| Scryfall | Card search reference | Web (all desktops) | Yes, full | Free |
The 7 best MTG Arena deck-building apps for desktop
1. MTGA Pro Tracker — Best all-round tracker plus builder
MTGA Pro Tracker installs a native Windows or macOS app that reads Arena’s log file and overlays a companion window during matches. Its deck editor lists the cards you already own, exposes a proper mana curve chart, and exports Arena-ready import strings with a single click. Deck-writer, hand simulator, and match-history tracker all live in the same app, which cuts context switching.
Where it falls short: The UI is dense and pulls no punches for first-time users. Some users on Reddit report the overlay conflicting with Arena’s own UI at 4K.
Pricing:
- Free: full functionality including builder, tracker, and stats
- Paid: donation-supported
- Platforms: Windows, macOS
Download: MTGA Pro Tracker for Windows and macOS
Bottom line: The default pick for anyone who wants a builder plus an in-match overlay in a single install.
2. Untapped.gg Companion — Best for data-driven build decisions
Untapped.gg built its reputation on aggregate win-rate and archetype data pulled from opt-in Arena players. The desktop companion overlays deck stats during matches and its builder ranks card choices by observed win rate in the current meta. If you brew based on evidence rather than intuition, this is the app that shows the receipts.
Where it falls short: Free tier limits historical replay depth. Some meta insights sit behind Plus.
Pricing:
- Free: tracker overlay, basic builder, recent-match stats
- Plus: $4.99/month for full match history, advanced meta reports, replay analysis
- Platforms: Windows, macOS
Download: Untapped.gg for MTG Arena
Bottom line: Right when you want to know that a card actually wins games, not that it feels strong.
3. MTGGoldfish — Best meta reference plus builder
MTGGoldfish is the closest thing MTG has to a canonical meta site. Its deck browser tracks winning lists from tournaments and MTGO leagues, and its builder converts any deck straight into an Arena import string. Because it is web-based, it runs identically on Windows, macOS, and Linux — a Firefox tab pinned next to Arena works fine.
Where it falls short: No collection sync. You see every possible card, not just what you own. Ads on the free tier are visible.
Pricing:
- Free: full deck browser, builder, and import/export
- Premium: $6.99/month for ad-free browsing, hypergeometric calculators, and access to premium content
- Platforms: web (works on any desktop OS)
Download: MTGGoldfish
Bottom line: The reference tab for what the field is playing this week.
4. Moxfield — Best cloud deck management
Moxfield is where a lot of serious brewers keep their deck folders. Cloud sync, revision history on every deck, and a clean sideboard workspace mean two builds of the same archetype live side by side without a text file in between. Its Arena export is one click, and the mobile web view means you can review a build during a break.
Where it falls short: No live match overlay. Not designed as an Arena companion; more as a deck library.
Pricing:
- Free: unlimited decks, cloud sync, revision history
- Patron: $2.99/month for advanced privacy, exports, and playtesting perks
- Platforms: web (any desktop OS)
Download: Moxfield
Bottom line: The library-and-workshop pick for brewers who maintain more than three decks at once.
5. 17Lands — Best for Limited and draft optimization
17Lands is the Limited specialist. It reads your Arena log during drafts and pack-one-pick-one, showing card-level pick win-rates, deck-color rates, and archetype signals in real time. For Sealed and Draft formats, this is the deck-building assistant that changes outcomes.
Where it falls short: Not aimed at Standard or Historic constructed. If you brew mainly for Constructed formats, this is not your primary tool.
Pricing:
- Free: every feature
- Platforms: Windows, macOS
- Data source: opt-in community draft telemetry
Download: 17Lands for MTG Arena
Bottom line: The must-install if you draft even a handful of packs per set.
6. Archidekt — Best for brewing across multiple formats
Archidekt treats the deck as a first-class object across every MTG format, including Commander, Pauper, and cube design. Its Arena export handles the formats Arena supports; for the ones it does not, the builder still helps you rough out ideas before rebuilding in-client. Multi-format brewers value that continuity.
Where it falls short: UI is denser than Moxfield’s. Arena-specific features (like collection sync via log parsing) are not the primary focus.
Pricing:
- Free: full deck creation and cloud storage
- Pro: $2/month for extra features and cosmetics
- Platforms: web (any desktop OS)
Download: Archidekt
Bottom line: The pick for players whose brewing spans Arena plus paper or MTGO.
7. Scryfall — Best card search reference
Scryfall is the reason serious builders open a browser tab even when their main builder is elsewhere. Its query language finds cards by texture — “creature cmc:3 pow>=3 tou>=3 legal:standard” is a valid search — faster than any built-in tool. Every builder above imports from Scryfall URLs, so keep it open as your card-search backbone.
Where it falls short: Not a deck builder itself, more a reference. Learning the query syntax takes a session.
Pricing:
- Free: everything
- Platforms: web (any desktop OS)
Download: Scryfall
Bottom line: The permanently open tab in every serious brewer’s browser.
How to pick the right one
- The simplest option: MTGA Pro Tracker. One install, everything works, and it stays out of the way.
- If data drives your brewing: Untapped.gg for live archetype win-rates; 17Lands for Limited.
- If you keep a large deck library: Moxfield for the cloud vault; Archidekt if that library crosses formats.
- If you want to know the current meta cold: MTGGoldfish reference tab.
- If your builder is fine but search is the bottleneck: Scryfall in a second tab.
- If you tried the in-client editor and hated it because search was slow: Any of the above. Pick MTGA Pro Tracker if you want that solved in one install.
FAQ
What is the best free MTG Arena deck builder for PC? MTGA Pro Tracker on Windows or macOS. It handles collection sync, mana curve, and Arena-ready export at zero cost. Moxfield is a strong free alternative if you prefer a web-based library.
Can I sync my Arena collection to these apps? Yes for MTGA Pro Tracker, Untapped.gg, and 17Lands — they parse Arena’s log file with your consent. Web-based tools like MTGGoldfish, Moxfield, and Archidekt do not sync collection; you enter or import it manually.
Do these apps work on macOS? MTGA Pro Tracker, Untapped.gg, and 17Lands ship native macOS builds. MTGGoldfish, Moxfield, Archidekt, and Scryfall are web-based and work in any macOS browser.
Is there a Linux deck builder for MTG Arena? Arena itself does not run natively on Linux, but the web-based builders (MTGGoldfish, Moxfield, Archidekt, Scryfall) work fine in a Linux browser if you play Arena via a compatibility layer.
Will using a deck-tracker app get me banned from Arena? Read-only log-based trackers like MTGA Pro Tracker, Untapped.gg, and 17Lands do not modify the game and have been widely used for years without action from Wizards of the Coast. Never install anything that automates gameplay or manipulates Arena’s memory.
