“The best proxy is the one your playgroup actually plays with.” That line sticks with me whenever I compare services. In this review I look at PrintMTG vs PrintingProxies from a buyer’s point of view. I focused on print quality and resolution, card stock feel, card backs and policy, website flow, shipping time, and pricing tiers. I also ran through public specs and recent third‑party reviews. Short version: both are usable, but PrintMTG takes the overall edge on print clarity, website flow, and big‑order discounts, while PrintingProxies earns a slight nod on how the material feels in hand.
I’ll call out the key differences, then give clear pros and cons for each.
PrintMTG.com
PrintProxies.com
What each service is and isn’t
Both PrintMTG and PrintingProxies print MTG proxy cards for casual play. Neither is designed to replicate originals with ultra realism like ProxyKing. ProxyKing itself says its house cards are built to be close to indistinguishable, while PrintMTG’s on‑demand service aims for accessibility and coverage, not perfection. That context matters when you judge results.
Print quality and resolution
If you care most about crisp text and consistent color, PrintMTG has the edge. The site talks up high‑resolution printing and color accuracy across its product pages and templates, and recent hands‑on reviews say the card art met expectations. In my assessment of samples and statements, fonts and line art tend to look a touch cleaner from PrintMTG, especially on modern frames and full‑art designs. You can still make PrintingProxies look good, but users occasionally report color variance, and Draftsim’s latest write‑up describes cards that feel slightly different than originals when unsleeved.
A note that helps both services: the artwork you choose matters. Low‑res uploads lead to soft results, no matter who prints it. Both sites warn you about blurry images when you pick art.
Takeaway: For consistent resolution and legibility, PrintMTG is a safer pick.
Card stock, thickness, and “in‑hand” feel
This is where PrintingProxies pulls slightly ahead. PrintingProxies leans hard on S33 German black core stock and positions it as a 1‑to‑1 match to MTG’s feel. Community comments often mention that their cards are a bit slicker or thicker than originals, but once sleeved they blend in fine. PrintMTG also uses S33 black core stock and says it’s the closest match, but even their partner ProxyKing notes that PrintMTG’s on‑demand prints are based on scans and won’t have the exact texture or extras like holo stamps. In sleeves, both pass the shuffle test. If you are sensitive to surface feel out of a sleeve, PrintingProxies may feel a touch closer.
Takeaway: Slight edge to PrintingProxies on tactile similarity, especially if you care about S33’s smoothness.
Card backs and policy
This is the biggest policy difference and it affects how your deck looks in a sleeve.
- PrintingProxies will not print the official MTG back. It lets you choose from in‑house backs or upload your own, but orders with the classic Magic back are canceled. That stance is repeated in both the site’s policy pages and recent reviews.
- PrintMTG allows you to upload front and back artwork. The homepage even states that its card backs match Magic cards, and the tool supports custom backs per order. If your playgroup prefers “original‑style” backs to avoid tells in clear sleeves, PrintMTG is the only one of the two that accommodates that.
Takeaway: If you want original‑style backs, PrintMTG is the clear choice.
Pricing and quantity discounts
Both use simple tiers and end up similar for small and medium orders. The difference shows up at high volume.
- PrintingProxies publicly lists price breaks at $2 per card for singles, $1.50 for 10+, $1.00 for 50+, and $0.75 for 200+.
- PrintMTG mirrors those tiers and adds a deeper break at $0.60 for 500+ cards. That extra tier makes large cubes or group buys cheaper.
Shipping is comparable on speed. PrintingProxies claims next‑day ready with 2 to 5 days delivery in the US. PrintMTG says it targets printing and shipping within 2 business days, and recent reviews saw cards in about a week.
Takeaway: Pricing is similar for most baskets, but PrintMTG offers a better discount above 500 cards.
Website and ordering flow
Here’s where PrintMTG is simply easier for most people. The entire flow is on one page: paste a deck list, pick arts, see a live price indicator, and check out. Draftsim called out the ordering process as extremely easy and intuitive. PrintingProxies is also easy to navigate and supports deck import and custom uploads. It flags low‑resolution images, lets you group cards for different backs, and the UI is fine. That said, the extra steps around card backs and the deck import quirks can slow you down.
Takeaway: Both are usable. PrintMTG feels faster and simpler from first click to checkout.
MTG formats, sleeves, and realism expectations
Both services and reviewers stress the same ground rules. Proxies are for casual tables, not sanctioned events. Sleeve your decks. If you mix real cards and proxies, use opaque sleeves to avoid tells. If you want realistic down to texture, rosettes, and foil stamps, ProxyKing is the specialist. PrintMTG and PrintingProxies aim for playable, readable, and affordable, not museum‑grade replicas.
PrintMTG vs PrintingProxies at a glance
PrintMTG pros
- Best print clarity and resolution in this head‑to‑head
- Allows any back, including original‑style backs
- Clean one‑page order flow with running price indicator
- Extra bulk tier at 500+ cards for lower cost per card
PrintMTG cons
- Not built for ultra realism like ProxyKing
- Some older reviews mention occasional packaging scuffs
PrintingProxies pros
- S33 German black core with a feel many players like
- Straightforward site with deck import, grouping, and custom backs
- Clear pricing tiers to 200+, fast US turnaround
PrintingProxies cons
- No official MTG back allowed
- Some variation reports on color and thickness from community posts
- No extra discount tier beyond 200+ shown publicly
So which should you pick?
If your priority is crisp printing, easy ordering, and flexibility on card backs, choose PrintMTG. You also save more if you are printing 500 or more cards. If you care a bit more about how the stock feels out of sleeves, and you are fine with non‑official backs, PrintingProxies is a reasonable option.
In my opinion, for most Commander decks, cubes, and casual testing, PrintMTG wins this matchup. The prints look cleaner, the process is simpler, and the extra high‑volume discount helps. PrintingProxies remains a solid B‑plus choice and may feel a hair closer in hand, but the back policy alone will push many players toward PrintMTG.
Conclusion
Both PrintMTG and PrintingProxies are viable for casual MTG proxy printing. PrintMTG’s better resolution, easier checkout, original‑style back support, and deeper bulk break give it the overall edge. PrintingProxies gets a small nod on material feel, but its back policy is a deal‑breaker for some. Pick based on your table, your sleeve choice, and whether you plan to make big, recurring orders. If you want my call: PrintMTG by a nose.