# The Great Machine vs The Big Joker

The clearest difference is ads: The Big Joker at none against The Great Machine's shown. The Big Joker also leads on monetization model (free vs ad-supported). The Great Machine's advantage is update cadence (daily vs every 3 weeks). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for The Great Machine against 5.0 for The Big Joker. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 5 and 3 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

The Great Machine ships an update daily, The Big Joker every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | The Great Machine | The Big Joker |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-great-machine/id1036522234/reviews) | [5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-big-joker/id1550976216/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **5** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Daily** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | **Free** |
| Size | 406 MB | 209 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.8 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Amalh Mendelsohn](https://appshunter.io/developer/1036522233) | [Joanne Spruill](https://appshunter.io/developer/1529159141) |

## What reviewers say

### The Great Machine

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-great-machine/id1036522234)

Control a paddle to keep a ball in play and break mechanical capsules across challenging levels. Utilize device motion for ball control, collect power-ups, and unlock new content. This game offers offline play for on-the-go entertainment.

**Highlights:** Paddle control, Ball breaking mechanics, Device motion controls, Power-up collection, Level unlocking, Achievement system, Offline play

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### The Big Joker

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-big-joker/id1550976216)

Experience a virtual interactive spades game with integrated video chat. Connect with friends and family while playing, discussing strategies, and keeping track of scores. Features include camera and microphone controls, and recognition of game-specific rules.

**Highlights:** Virtual interactive spades gameplay, Integrated video chat, Camera and microphone controls, Trump card recognition (Big Joker, Little Joker, deuce of spades), Score and bid discussion, Reneges recognition, Spades lead option

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is The Great Machine free?

The Great Machine is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is The Big Joker free?

The Big Joker is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, The Great Machine or The Big Joker?

The Great Machine and The Big Joker are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 5 and 3 ratings respectively.

### Do The Great Machine or The Big Joker have ads?

The Great Machine shows ads; The Big Joker does not.

### Which is updated more often, The Great Machine or The Big Joker?

The Great Machine ships an update daily, and The Big Joker every 3 weeks. Most recently, The Great Machine was updated on November 6, 2026 and The Big Joker on November 3, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*