If you’re comparing proxy sites, you’re really comparing three things:
- How fast you can go from “deck idea” to “cards in sleeves.”
- Whether the deck shuffles cleanly and feels consistent.
- What it costs after shipping.
Across the sites we reviewed, ProxyMTG.com is the best “default pick” for most players because it nails all three. It has a genuinely MTG-first ordering flow, very clear quality commitments (stock + UV + cutting + print clarity), and the best bulk pricing we saw once you get into real deck / cube / group-buy quantities.
Below is the full breakdown.
The quick “who should pick what” summary
- ProxyMTG.com: Best overall for most people. Especially strong for full decks, cube updates, and bulk orders. Clear quality specs, great price tiers, free shipping over $75, and “decklist-to-print” is the whole point.
- PrintMTG.com: Also MTG-first and very transparent about process. Good option if you like their tools/ecosystem. But the published per-card tiers are higher than ProxyMTG at most meaningful quantities.
- PrintingProxies.com: Works fine, and they publish simple tiers and fast shipping claims. But the UX is more tool-heavy and their primary pricing doesn’t go nearly as deep for bulk. Their quality claims lean more on “S33 + smooth/gloss” without the same explicit “UV + precision die cut + 300 DPI” stack.
- MythicBlackCore.com: Basically PrintingProxies’ cousin. Same pricing structure, adds a foil add-on, and the site literally routes login/signup through PrintingProxies, which strongly suggests shared platform/admin.
- ProxyKing.biz: Best if you want a few specific singles and don’t care about per-card cost. It’s priced like a singles shop (often ~$4–$6 per card).
- MakePlayingCards (MPC) + MPCFill/MPC Autofill: The DIY-heavy option. You can chase low raw print costs, but you’ll do more setup and shipping from Hong Kong can be a real cost swing for US buyers.
- DIY PDF tools (MTGPrint.net): Great if you want “tonight” and don’t care about true card feel. It’s a home printer workflow.
What ProxyMTG does better than everyone else
1) The pricing tiers actually match how people order proxies
A lot of proxy sites are fine for “I need 10 staples.” Then they get messy or expensive when you print a full Commander list, a 540 cube update, or a group buy.
ProxyMTG’s tiers are built for those real-world orders. It steps down aggressively:
- $2.00 (2–9)
- $1.50 (10–29)
- $1.25 (30–49)
- $1.00 (50–74)
- $0.80 (75–99)
- $0.55 (100–199)
- $0.45 (200–499)
- $0.35 (500–999)
- $0.30 (1000+)
That last one is the big deal. It’s the lowest published bulk tier we saw among the MTG-first print services. And ProxyMTG also advertises free shipping over $75, so the “shipped cost” math is often better than it looks at first glance.
2) The quality stack is explicit (and it’s the right stack)
ProxyMTG doesn’t just say “high quality.” It spells out the exact stuff that affects shuffle feel and readability:
- S33 German black-core cardstock
- UV coating
- precision die cutting
- print files enhanced to a minimum of 300 DPI
- proper handling for double-faced cards (prints both sides)
That combination is basically the “this will feel consistent in sleeves” checklist.
3) The UX is built around MTG, not around “printing”
This part matters more than people expect.
With ProxyMTG, the site copy and structure are clearly oriented around:
- browsing/searching the card library
- building/refining a list
- choosing versions/art
- checking out with predictable tier pricing
That’s a smoother mental model than “upload files, manage assets, fight templates, hope it lines up.”
ProxyMTG vs PrintMTG.com
These two are the closest match in philosophy. Both are MTG-first sites. Both talk about readability, consistency in sleeves, and printing/cutting like a real product.
Where ProxyMTG wins: bulk pricing.
PrintMTG publishes these tiers:
- $2.00 (2–9)
- $1.50 (10–49)
- $1.00 (50–99)
- $0.85 (100–199)
- $0.75 (200–499)
- $0.60 (500–999)
- $0.40 (1000–4999)
ProxyMTG is cheaper at every comparable bulk step, and much cheaper once you’re printing 500+ or 1000+.
Where PrintMTG is strong: process transparency.
Their “How We Print” page is very clear about materials (S33), a UV satin finish, and why cutting consistency matters. If you like buying from a shop that explains every step in plain English, PrintMTG does that well.
Real-world call:
If you’re ordering hundreds or thousands of cards, ProxyMTG is the better deal based on published pricing. If you’re ordering smaller batches and you strongly prefer PrintMTG’s tools/ecosystem, it’s still a solid option.
ProxyMTG vs PrintingProxies.com
This is where ProxyMTG feels like the clear upgrade.
UX: ProxyMTG is simply easier
PrintingProxies is functional, but it feels more like a multi-use proxy tool than a clean MTG ordering flow. Their ecosystem leans heavily on “community, tools, guides, galleries,” and the ordering experience tends to feel busier.
ProxyMTG is more “do the job”:
- clear tiers on one page
- clear material/finish/cutting commitments
- MTG-first browsing + list building
Quality: ProxyMTG commits to more (in writing)
PrintingProxies highlights S33 German black core and describes an “extra smooth finish” and “gloss.” That can be fine. But on their core pages, they don’t make the same direct, concrete commitments ProxyMTG does about UV coating, precision die cutting, and a minimum DPI enhancement standard.
In practice, those specifics are the difference between:
- “looks good in a photo”
- and “feels normal when you shuffle 99 cards”
Pricing: ProxyMTG crushes it at scale
PrintingProxies’ public price breaks bottom out at $0.75/card for 200+, and they list $5 US shipping with tracking. That’s decent for mid-size orders. But it’s not competitive with ProxyMTG once you’re doing 200–1000+.
ProxyMTG vs Mythic Black Core
Mythic Black Core is basically PrintingProxies with a different coat of paint and a foil add-on.
Here’s why that’s not just a guess:
- Mythic Black Core’s UI includes login-gated features (“continue with your previous selection”) and the LOGIN/SIGNUP link points to PrintingProxies.
That strongly suggests shared platform/admin/back-end.
Mythic also publishes the same core pricing tiers:
- $2 (1–9), $1.5 (10–49), $1 (50–199), $0.75 (200+)
And it adds foil pricing as an add-on.
So what’s the decision?
- If you specifically want their foil add-on workflow, Mythic is the one in this set.
- If you want the cleanest UX and the best bulk price (and still want premium feel), ProxyMTG is the better pick.
ProxyMTG vs ProxyKing.biz
ProxyKing is not really playing the same game.
It’s a singles storefront model. A typical card listing is around $4 (and foils are often more). That can make sense if you want:
- a handful of iconic cards
- quick US shipping options
- and you don’t mind paying singles-style pricing
But if you’re printing a whole deck, ProxyKing gets expensive fast.
Simple way to think about it:
- ProxyKing is for “I need 5–20 cards.”
- ProxyMTG is for “I need a deck. Or three decks. Or a cube update.”
ProxyMTG vs MakePlayingCards (MPC) + MPCFill / MPC Autofill
MPC is still popular for one reason: you can push the raw print cost low if you’re willing to do more work.
But MPC is a general game card printer. So you’re dealing with:
- more setup
- more file handling
- and international shipping math
The “shipped cost” point you raised is real
MPC is headquartered in Hong Kong, and shipping costs vary by method and destination. In the proxy community, it’s common to see shipping for a 612-card “brick” land in the ~$25–$40 range depending on the order and location.
That’s the hidden lever.
ProxyMTG’s bulk tiers plus free shipping over $75 can absolutely beat MPC for some high-quantity orders, especially if MPC shipping/import pushes your total up.
A concrete example (using published tiers + community-reported MPC totals)
- ProxyMTG (612 cards): 612 × $0.35 = $214.20 (and you’re well past the free shipping threshold)
- MPC community example (612 cards, S33): reported totals like $279 shipped/imported for a 612-card order show up in the wild
Is MPC always more expensive? No. If you stack multiple bricks, MPC shipping per card often drops. But the point stands: shipping can erase the “MPC is always cheapest” assumption. ProxyMTG’s pricing is already competitive before you add international shipping friction.
Why ProxyMTG still wins for most people
Even if MPC is cheaper for your specific cart, ProxyMTG is:
- less work
- less fiddly
- more predictable
- and built for MTG version selection without you doing production tasks
If you enjoy the DIY process, MPC is great. If you want to order proxies like you order cards, ProxyMTG is the better experience.
ProxyMTG vs DIY PDF tools (MTGPrint.net)
MTGPrint.net is a home printer solution: paste a decklist, download a PDF, cut it out.
It’s useful if:
- you need something fast
- you’re testing tonight
- you don’t care about real shuffle feel
But if you want a deck that actually feels consistent in sleeves, you move to a real printing service. That’s where ProxyMTG (and PrintMTG) sit.
Where ProxyMTG is the best option (the “just tell me what to pick” part)
ProxyMTG is the best choice when you care about any of these:
- You want the easiest ordering experience (decklist → versions → checkout)
- You care about real shuffle feel (S33 + UV coating + precision die cutting)
- You’re printing bulk (cube updates, multiple decks, group buys)
- You want predictable, transparent pricing (the tier list is clear and deep)
- You don’t want shipping to be a surprise (free shipping over $75, and shipping is explained like a normal person would explain it)
And yeah: if you’re comparing to MPC, ProxyMTG is also the best option when you don’t want to gamble that international shipping will still make MPC “the cheapest” after checkout.
