A Complete List of Every Commander and MTG Life Counter Option
Do you play Magic: The Gathering, either 1v1 or Commander?
Awesome. So do we 🙂
Are you looking for a new magic the gathering life counter?
Great.
This post is for you.
Lists pretty much every choice you can make.
Both physical and digital.
Let’s you know what you’re dealing with.
Of course, we are MatchPunk… we prefer you choose us.
But it’s still good to know your options… right?
First, some definitions, and then scroll away!
What is a life tracker and why do you need one?
A life tracker is any tool used to keep a running tally of each player’s life total during a game of Magic: The Gathering. It’s a simple counting device, starting at 20 for 1v1 and 40 for Commander.
Why do you need a life tracker?
As players cast spells and attack, life totals change. You lose/forget the life total? Sorry… you just ruined the game. A reliable magic the gathering life counter ensures everyone understands exactly where they are in the match.
What else do you track in Commander?
In the multiplayer format of Commander, tracking becomes more complex. You not only have your own life to worry about but also the life totals of three (or more) other players. Plus, you need to track commander damage from each opponent’s commander and the “commander tax” for recasting your own.
Physical Life Counter Options
Spindown Dice
Spindown dice are twenty-sided dice (d20s) specifically designed to be an mtg life tracker. Unlike a standard d20 where the numbers are randomized for fair rolling, a spindown die has its numbers arranged in sequential order.
Many players receive their first spindown dice from Prerelease kits or Bundles. They come in countless colors and styles, including premium metal dice versions that have a satisfying weight and feel. But they can also be knocked over, potentially losing your life total.
“Are there any other specialty MTG tracker dice?”
Yep. Many local game stores and online retailers (like this one) sell specialty d6 dice you can use as positive and negative counters. Usually come in big enough packs to share with a friend. And always are offered in a variety of resin and color designs.
image is not property of Match Punk (image source)
Wheel Counters
Wheel counters are devices that feature one or more numbered wheels you turn to show your life total. They often display numbers from 00 to 99. You can use separate wheel counters to keep a tally of experience counters, commander damage, or other persistent totals throughout a game of MTG.
Wheel counters are very popular, probably the most popular physical life counter device. You see them everywhere. Partly because they are stylish with different colors and intricate designs and motifs. But they are also satisfying… while some are plastic, a lot are made of metal and quite heavy, and the “click” it makes when you adjust just, I dunno, it just feels GOOD.
image is not property of Match Punk (image source)
Radial Dial Life Trackers
Ok… so a lot of different designs fall into the “dial” category. But they all share the following basic mechanic: some numbers are visible, and you shift the gear to change the numbers. Usually a sturdy and satisfying “click” every time it moves.
The above picture would track life… and only life… for a single player. Its design goes from 0-99. Others have multiple slots, allowing you to track life, commander damage, poison, and more on a single device.
image is not property of Match Punk
Abacus Slider Devices
Honestly… this might be the true “original gangsta” of magic the gathering life counters. Older than even a pen and paper! As you score, slide over a lil’ bead to the other side. Great for visual learners who want context for how much damage they have done. But all the MTG branded ones only have two slides and can only work for duels.
Fun fact: the abacus was probably invented 4500 years ago somewhere in Mesopotamia. And now, you can get one to help track damage when your play Gulgalanna to destroy your opponents Nebuchadnezzar creature on an Ancient Ziggarat land card. The ancient Akkadians would be so proud…
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Command Trays
These are life counters specific to Commander. They do not just track life, but EVERYTHING all in one place. Commander cast tracker. Life total tracker. Even damage dealt by your Commander.
Some are made of balsa wood. Others are high-end plastic. Some have all dials and others hold other forms of life trackers. Custom paint yours to match your commander card. A handy, aesthetic, practical luxury to make the games a little more fun :).
Spinner
The above example is on the Magic official website, so I assume it’s the “preferred” physical life counter of WotC…? Maybe? I dunno.
The positives. Heavy, embossed metal. REALLY cool design of the 5 colors. Crazy simple. Goes from 40-21 on one side and 20-1 on the other. Feels like you are changing a grandfather clock.
The negatives. It’s a big, heavy dial. It tracks literally nothing else. Unless you are the cats pajamas playing against the bees knees in a tournament, some might think you take yourselves too seriously. And despite appearances, it does not make a “gong” sound when the clock strikes 12.
image is not property of Match Punk (image source)
Tokens
The above are just math tokens for kids, but work perfect for damage tokens. There are also some dry erase ones out there if you need more flexibility. But I am reserving this category for things using ANYTHING physical to symbolize damage. Glass beads. Poker chips. Space Marines you SWEAR you will paint this weekend.
You simply have a pile representing your life total and remove tokens as you take damage or add them as you gain life. While it might be less precise for rapid life total changes, the token method is an intuitive, visual, hands-on approach.
image is not property of Match Punk
Handwritten Options
At the end of the day, all of these other forms of scorekeeping are just improvements of the simplest tool of all: handwritten scorekeeping. This category includes everything from a smart tablet with a stylus to a dry erase board to a quill with inkwell and parchment.
At the end of the day, you can bust out a pen and piece of paper just mark down and cross out your score as you play. Just create columns for each player and write down the new total every time the life changes. Plus, you can doodle monsters, spells, or whatever in the margins!
Digital Life Counters for MTG
Physical magic the gathering life counters have their benefits… and limitations. But now let’s survey the digital options. For more information, you can read more about physical vs digital life counters here.
image is not property of Match Punk (source)
Non-Smart Phone Digital Life Counters
But before I get to the apps…
I was going to make a joke about how this isn’t 1996 and no one makes micro-game electronic devices like the they did for Star Wars when it was released when I was a wee-lad….. (deep breath)... buuuuut I did some research and boy was I wrong!
There is this handheld digital score keeper by D1 Games. It is not specific to Magic but it will get the job done. Its small enough to fit in your deck box (7cm by 10 cm), runs forever (they claim 2 months), and if you drop it you don’t have to buy a new $800 i-phone.
Center of Table Smart Phone Apps
99% of all digital life trackers are apps. Search on the App Store or Google Play, and dozens will pop up. Since pretty much every single magic the gathering life counter app can be used on tablet or PC, we’re not going to hash out which is best for which format (that can be covered in THIS post).
A “center of table” app is designed to be placed in the middle of the play area for all players to see and use. They typically feature layouts that give each player their own section of the screen. These apps work for large group multiplayer games… but have some downsides. Most notably:
- Players have to reach across the table every time they want to make an adjustment
- Depending on the angle, it can be hard to see your or your opponents remaining life, not to mention commander damage and other trackers.
As a result, these apps are better on a tablet instead of a smartphone. Visuals aside, many apps offer additional features like dice rollers, turn timers, and trackers for poison or experience counters. Some of these apps even include fun animations or sound effects when a player is eliminated, adding a bit of extra excitement to your MTG games.
Wizard’s Companion App
We couldn’t just lump the companion app with all the other ones. And that’s for two reasons: 1) it’s the official app, and many competitions require it. And 2) it’s the worst-performing high-budget app.
We could pick it apart, but that is a blog post in and of itself. Long story short, the reason there are SO MANY Magic apps is because the Companion app is so substandard. It’s ambitious, trying to be everything… but each element is mediocre at best.
Also, all officially sanctioned competitions require it. Which sucks because it crashes all the time and you lose your score. And when you win or lose, it doesn’t record anything; you have to tell the event coordinator who enters in the match results manually.
Match Punk: Your Personal Magic the Gathering Life Counter App
Finally… we get to OUR contribution to MTG life counters. Here is what makes Match Punk different than other apps:
- Each player keeps their own score. The phone is right next to you, instead of awkwardly in the center of the table
- We designed everything ourselves from the ground up. We didn’t just steal a format like so many copycats.
- We focused on GROUPS as well as games. Create groups among your friends, FLGS, or community.
- Wins + losses are not only automatically tracked… but RANKED. Players are given ELO scores based on the skill of their opponents.
- Because of our player ratings, events are effortlessly easy. Anyone can make any number of events, and any games within the group count.
- In other words, Match Punk doesn’t just keep score, but encourages healthy, fun competition 🙂
- We keep it simple. Rather than trying to be a “jack of all trades”, we excel in our areas of expertise.
- We are free for 2026, and we don’t sell your data. A teeny tiny monthly payment is being considered for 2027, but we want user input first.
Match Punk offers functionality with innovation for better gameplay
Try Match Punk Now
BONUS: Fancy Smartwatch Option
What if a phone right next to you is still too far away? Like, what if you need your life tracking device ON you? In that case, there is only one good (emphasis on good) smartwatch option: MTG wrist counter.
While the small screen limits functionality—you won’t be tracking complex commander damage for four players—it’s perfect for a one-on-one game. You can discreetly tap your wrist to update your life total, keeping the gameplay moving quickly.
Of course, smart watches are not as ubiquitous as smartphones. And a life tracker is hardly a reason to fork over hundreds of bucks for a wrist computer. But if you got one and want to use it, have at it!
Conclusion: What Will YOU Choose?
So what will you choose?
First of all, think about the kinds of games you play. If you are Commander first, then you’ll need something that can go to 40 for your Commander damage.
Also, you have to decide how you will keep track of stuff other than life. What about experience and poison counters? Do you your life tracker to also know how much mana is floating in your mana pool? At the end of the day, your ideal magic the gathering life counter should take care of whatever you need tracked.
All in all, the perfect mtg life tracker for you depends entirely on your personal preferences and how you play:
- Prefer tactile feel of components? Then try a spinner or wheel clicker.
- Detailed and flexible record keeping? Go handwritten.
- Need something you always have with you? Try a free digital life counter.
- Want an all-in-one device that also has a card database? Then the companion app or Mythic Tools might work best.
- Want a device that works for events AND tracks wins and losses AND keeps score? Then you have to use Match Punk.
Ultimately, the right tracker is one that feels intuitive to you and clearly communicates your life total to everyone at the table. It comes down to clarity, reliability, and functionality. Your chosen tracker should keep the game clear and smooth, not slow it down with questions of “wait… whats your Commander’s damage again?”
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: “What features should I look for in a good MTG life tracker?”
A: When selecting a good life counter, you should look for features such as clear visibility, ease of use, portability, durability, and the ability to track multiple players if needed. Some life counters also offer additional features like a poison counter tracker or commander damage tracking, which can be particularly helpful for certain formats like Commander.
Q: “Can I use digital life counters in official Magic tournaments?”
A: Yes, in most cases. A digital magic the gathering life counter is generally acceptable in a tournament as long as it is clearly visible to both players and doesn’t slow down the game. However, a paper record is still the official method, and a judge may ask you to use it instead.
Q: “Where can I buy reliable physical life trackers for Magic?”
A: Etsy. Amazon. Your local game store. TCG player. Nerd Gaming gear. Google search and pick your poison. Y
Q: “How do I identify trustworthy digital life counter apps?”
A: This is such a good question that we wrote a whole blog post about it. But long story short, make sure the app 1) doesn’t crash, 2) is intuitive, 3) won’t sell your information, 4) you can try it for free, 5) has all the functions you are looking for.
Q: “How do I identify unknown digital life counters for Magic: The Gathering?”
A: If you see a strange device with numbers that are being adjusted, you can politely ask the player across from you if what they are using is a life counter or a ticking time bomb. Or just run. Up to you.
Q: “How do most players keep track of life in Magic: The Gathering Tournaments?”
A: Depends on the tournament. Players will use whatever is their favorite sanctioned method for a particular event. That said, they often must also use the Companion App in some way for official competitions.
Ditch the Amazon Fidget Spinner Lookalike Alternatives Lifetap
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Learn more about The Best Free Magic The Gathering Life Counter App Online
Best Free MTG Life Counter Apps Online (2026 Comparison)
Want the side-by-side? We’ve spent the last year testing every free MTG life counter app worth opening, playing across hundreds of Commander games, weekly FNMs, and kitchen-table sessions. The short version: the best free MTG life counter apps in 2026 are Match Punk, Lifetap, Lotus, and MTGLifeCounter.online. Each has different strengths, covered below. Or skip straight to the free MTG life counter we built ourselves.
What to look for in a free MTG life counter app
Not every life counter app does the same thing. After testing across formats and player counts, here’s what actually matters when you’re choosing one for your pod.
Players supported. A 1v1 Standard app and a 4-player Commander app are different animals. If your group is ever bigger than two, pick something built for pods.
Commander damage tracking. Per the Comprehensive Rules, commander damage is tracked per source. Good apps track it independently for every commander at the table, including partner commanders.
Counter types. Poison, energy, experience, storm, and the occasional custom counter. The more formats you play, the more of these you’ll need.
Match history and scorekeeping. Most apps reset when the game ends. A few (Match Punk included) remember who won, who lost, and how often.
Ads, paywalls, and account requirements. Free should mean free. Watch for premium tiers hiding features you’d expect in any 2026 app.
Platform. iOS, Android, browser, or all three. If your pod plays across devices, pick something that travels.
The best free MTG life counter apps, ranked and compared
Here’s the side-by-side. Every claim below was verified at publish time across iOS, Android, and browser play. We’ve kept Match Punk’s row honest: the same column rules apply to every app on the list.
| App | Free? | Max Players | Cmdr Damage / Partner | Match History | Platforms | Ads? | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match Punk | Yes (free for 2026) | 4+ pod support | Yes / Yes | Yes, full match plus ELO ranks | iOS, Android, web | No | Groups plus scorekeeping |
| Lifetap | Yes | 6 | Yes / Yes | No (life only) | iOS, Android | No | Minimalist Commander |
| Lotus (LifeCounter.app) | Yes | 10 | Yes / Yes | Limited | iOS, Android, web | No | Card search in-app |
| MTGLifeCounter.online | Yes | 10 | Yes / Partial | No | Web PWA | No | No-download play |
| MTG Companion (WotC) | Yes | 8 | Yes / Yes | Event-level only | iOS, Android | No | Official event check-in |
| Carbon MTG | Yes | 6 | Yes / Yes | Limited | iOS, Android | No | Clean, established UX |
| Life Trinket | Yes | 6 | Yes / Yes | Limited | Web PWA | No | QR-shared games |
| Mythic Tools | Freemium | 8 | Yes / Yes | Yes (with account) | iOS, Android | No (basic plan) | Card scanner combo |
Match Punk: Best for groups, match history, and ranked play
Match Punk is a free MTG life counter and scorekeeping app built for groups that play together regularly. It tracks life totals, commander damage from each source independently (partner commanders included), and every counter type that comes up in Commander: poison, energy, experience, commander tax. After the game ends, Match Punk saves the result, tracks win/loss records across your playgroup, and assigns ELO ratings so your pod can run informal leagues without spreadsheets. iOS, Android, and browser. No ads. No paywall on core features. Try Match Punk Free →
Lifetap: Best minimalist counter for Commander
Lifetap is a clean, well-built life counter that handles up to six players. It’s fast to open, easy to read across a table, and covers the counter types most Commander pods need. What it doesn’t do is remember anything. Once your game ends, Lifetap forgets it. Match Punk goes further with match-level scorekeeping and ranked play, but if all you want is life and counters in a tidy interface, Lifetap is a solid pick.
Lotus (LifeCounter.app): Best for in-app card search
Lotus packs a lot into one app: ten-player support, commander damage with partners, multiple counter types, and an in-app card search that pulls from Scryfall. That last feature makes it useful when a rules question comes up mid-game. Match history is limited, so Lotus is more game-tracker than scorekeeper. If you frequently need to look up cards without leaving your life counter, Lotus earns its install.
MTGLifeCounter.online: Best for no-download play
MTGLifeCounter.online is a browser-based progressive web app. No App Store, no Google Play, just open the URL and go. It handles up to ten players and the major counter types. Partner commander tracking is partial, and there’s no match history. The trade-off is portability: it works on any phone, tablet, or laptop with a browser, which makes it handy when someone in the pod forgot their charger and needs to borrow a screen.
MTG Companion (Wizards of the Coast): Best for official event check-in
Companion is the official app from Wizards of the Coast. It’s required for some sanctioned events at your local game store, and that’s where it shines: pairings, decklist submission, and event reporting all live here. As a day-to-day life counter outside of official events, Companion is heavier than most alternatives, both visually and in load time. For FNM check-in, install it. For your weekly Commander pod, Match Punk and Lifetap are leaner picks.
Carbon MTG, Life Trinket, and Mythic Tools: Also worth knowing
Carbon MTG is an established, well-designed life counter app with six-player support and clean visuals. A reliable pick for players who want something predictable.
Life Trinket is a browser-based PWA with a clever twist: you can share a game state via QR code, which is useful for spectator setups or streamed games.
Mythic Tools combines a life counter with a card scanner that recognizes cards through your phone’s camera. Core counter features are free; some scanner features are gated behind a paid account.
How to choose, by play style
Different players need different things from a life counter app. Here’s where each option fits.
Casual kitchen-table Commander. You want fast setup, four-player pods, and zero friction. Match Punk, Lifetap, and Lotus all qualify. Pick the one that loads fastest on your phone.
Competitive cEDH and FNM. Speed and accuracy matter more than features. Match Punk’s match history is useful for tracking your meta over time. For sanctioned events, you’ll need Companion alongside whatever life counter you prefer.
Streaming and on-screen overlays. Lotus and MTGLifeCounter.online both run in a browser, which makes them easy to capture in OBS. Match Punk’s web version works the same way.
New players coming in from Final Fantasy or Marvel sets. Pick something that doesn’t ask for an account. Browser PWAs (MTGLifeCounter.online, Life Trinket) and Match Punk’s web app all let you start a game in seconds.
Why Match Punk built a different kind of life counter app
Match Punk was built because every other free MTG life counter app stops at the life total. We didn’t.
Our brand promise is simple: always free, always fast, always built for the player. That guides every decision, and it works out to four things that make Match Punk different.
Completely free. Every feature, every format, zero cost. No ads. No paywall on the core experience. No premium tier hiding what you actually need.
More than a counter. Match Punk tracks full games, not just life totals. Match history, win/loss records, and session data all save automatically, so your pod can settle the “who’s actually winning the most” debate with real numbers.
Built for Commander. Independent per-source commander damage. Partner commander tracking. Poison, energy, and experience counters out of the box. Match Punk was designed for pods, not retrofitted for them.
Made by players. We’re an independent team of MTG players, not a studio. Every feature we shipped exists because someone in our community asked for it, and our roadmap is built the same way.
That’s scorekeeping and so much more. Start Tracking Your Games. Match Punk is Free.
More frequently asked questions
What is the best free MTG life counter app in 2026?
There isn’t a single right answer. It depends on what you actually want to track. For Commander pods of 3+ players, Match Punk, Lifetap, and Lotus all handle life and commander damage well. Match Punk is the only one that also tracks match history, win/loss records, and ranked play across your playgroup. For solo or 1v1 use, the lightest options (Lifetap, Carbon MTG, or any browser-based PWA like MTGLifeCounter.online) are easier to open and forget.
Is the official Wizards of the Coast Companion app free?
Yes. The Companion app is free and required for some sanctioned event check-in and reporting. For day-to-day life counting outside official events, most players find a dedicated life counter app faster and easier to use.
Can I use an online MTG life counter without downloading an app?
Yes. Browser-based PWAs like MTGLifeCounter.online and Life Trinket work in any modern phone or tablet browser, and can be added to your home screen for app-like access. Match Punk also runs in the browser at app.matchpunk.com, so you can start a game without downloading anything from the App Store or Google Play.
What’s the difference between a life counter and a scorekeeping app?
A life counter tracks the current state of one game: life totals, commander damage, poison counters, and the like. A scorekeeping app tracks across games: who won, who lost, how often, against whom. Most MTG apps are pure life counters. Match Punk does both.
Does Match Punk support 4-player Commander pods and partner commanders?
Yes. Match Punk handles 4+ player pods and tracks commander damage from each source independently, including partner commanders. Every counter type that matters in Commander (poison, energy, experience, commander tax) is included free.
The bottom line
There isn’t a single best MTG life counter app for every player. But there is a best one for how you actually play.
- If you primarily play Commander with the same group every week: Match Punk. Match history and ELO ranking turn casual pods into ongoing playgroups.
- If you primarily want a minimalist life counter and nothing more: Lifetap. Clean, fast, no extras.
- If you primarily play across devices and don’t want to install anything: MTGLifeCounter.online or Match Punk’s web app. Both run in the browser.
- If you primarily attend sanctioned events: Install Companion for check-in. Pair it with Match Punk for actual play.
Try Match Punk. It’s free, and we built it for exactly this. Get Match Punk Free →