# Pokémon GO vs TCGplayer

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: TCGplayer at none against Pokémon GO's 10. TCGplayer also leads on ads (none vs shown) and rating (4.3 vs 4.0). Pokémon GO's advantage is review sentiment (44% vs 22%) and ratings volume (657K vs 18K). On price, update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Pokémon GO sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. TCGplayer asks for nothing beyond the download.

TCGplayer holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Pokémon GO has 657K ratings behind it against 18K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 44% of Pokémon GO's written reviews are positive against 22% of TCGplayer's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Pokémon GO ships an update weekly, TCGplayer fortnightly. Both last shipped on November 8, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Pokémon GO | TCGplayer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.0 (657K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pokemon-go/id1094591345/reviews) | **[4.3 (18K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tcgplayer/id1247645833/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **657K** | 18K |
| Positive reviews | **43.7% of reviews** | 21.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Fortnightly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#1** | #18 |
| Size | 390 MB | 70 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 9+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [Scopely Explore, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1037205060) | [TCGplayer, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1247645832) |

## What reviewers say

### Pokémon GO

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pokemon-go/id1094591345)

**Currently charting:** #1 Top Free · Role Playing, #1 Top Grossing · Role Playing, #3 Top Grossing · Strategy, #9 Top Grossing · Games, #12 Top Free · Strategy, #37 Top Grossing, #89 Top Free · Games (US App Store)

Explore your surroundings to discover and catch virtual creatures. Journey with your companions, battle in gyms, and team up with others for powerful raids. Get moving for real-life adventures!

**Highlights:** Discover Pokémon in the real world, Catch Pokémon to complete Pokédex, Journey with Buddy Pokémon, Compete in Gym battles, Team up for Raid Battles, Utilize Adventure Sync for walking distance

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 100 PokéCoins | $0.99 | one-time |
| Event Bonus | $0.99 | one-time |
| Evergreen Ticket 1 | $1.99 | one-time |
| 550 PokéCoins | $4.99 | one-time |
| Ticket | $4.99 | one-time |
| Event Ticket | $4.99 | one-time |
| 1,200 PokéCoins | $9.99 | one-time |
| 2,500 PokéCoins | $19.99 | one-time |
| 5,200 PokéCoins | $39.99 | one-time |
| 14,500 PokéCoins | $99.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Addictive and fun gameplay
- 👍 Encourages outdoor activity
- 🚀 Frequent updates and new content
- 👍 Brings people together
- 🚀 Innovative AR features

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and glitches
- 🔋 Drains battery quickly
- 🔒 Privacy concerns with data collection
- 💰 Expensive in-app purchases
- 🚫 Inaccessible for rural/disabled players

**Reported bugs**

- GPS/location issues causing gameplay problems
- Bugs with egg hatching and buddy Pokémon
- Inconsistent performance across devices
- Glitches with raid battles and rewards

**Requested features**

- In-game chat/communication system
- Ability to trade items between players
- More customization options for avatars
- Improved tracking and spawn system
- Easier access to rare/legendary Pokémon


### TCGplayer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tcgplayer/id1247645833)

**Currently charting:** #18 Top Free · Card, #206 Top Free · Games (US App Store)

Quickly scan and identify trading cards to track their market prices. Organize your collection, browse a vast marketplace, and shop for cards from thousands of sellers. Access your collection anytime, anywhere.

**Highlights:** Blazingly fast card scanning, Effortless price tracking, Organize your entire collection, Seamless in-app shopping, Access collection anywhere, Supports numerous TCGs

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast scanning
- 👍 Convenient for cataloging cards
- 💡 Integrated with TCGplayer website

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Inaccurate scanning
- 🐛 Buggy and laggy performance
- 🔒 Poor account/login management
- 👎 Limited sorting/organization options

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes on startup
- Incorrect card information displayed
- Inability to properly scan certain card types (foils, black cards, etc.)

**Requested features**

- Ability to sync collection across devices
- More sorting/filtering options for collections
- Support for additional card games beyond MTG, Pokemon, and Yu-Gi-Oh


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Pokémon GO free?

Pokémon GO is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is TCGplayer free?

TCGplayer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Pokémon GO or TCGplayer?

TCGplayer is rated higher. Pokémon GO averages 4.0 out of 5 from 657K ratings, while TCGplayer averages 4.3 from 18K ratings.

### Do Pokémon GO or TCGplayer have ads?

Pokémon GO shows ads; TCGplayer does not.

### Which is updated more often, Pokémon GO or TCGplayer?

Pokémon GO ships an update weekly, and TCGplayer fortnightly. Most recently, Pokémon GO was updated on November 8, 2026 and TCGplayer on November 8, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Pokémon GO or TCGplayer?

Pokémon GO currently peaks at #1 in the App Store charts, and TCGplayer at #18. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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