# Protocol vs Arcaea

The clearest difference is rating: Arcaea at 4.8 against Protocol's 4.2. Arcaea also leads on update cadence (every 8 days vs every 3 months) and ratings volume (25K vs 53). Protocol's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 12.4). On price, review sentiment, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Arcaea sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Protocol asks for nothing beyond the download.

Arcaea holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Arcaea has 25K ratings behind it against 53, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 79% and 78% positive.

Protocol ships an update every 3 months, Arcaea every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 27, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Protocol | Arcaea |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.2 (53 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/protocolhyperspace-diver/id1124788464/reviews) | **[4.8 (25K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/arcaea/id1205999125/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 53 | **25K** |
| Positive reviews | **78.5% of reviews** | 78.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 8 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#66** |
| Size | 274 MB | 1.2 GB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 12.4 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [LINE Games](https://appshunter.io/developer/447309128) | [lowiro](https://appshunter.io/developer/1381393762) |

## What reviewers say

### Protocol

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/protocolhyperspace-diver/id1124788464)

Experience a unique rhythm game set in a musical hyperspace. Enjoy tense 3D note patterns synchronized with music from famous artists and popular game soundtracks. Optimized for smartphones and tablets.

**Highlights:** Unique 3D visual note patterns, Music from famous artists, Soundtracks from popular games, Optimized for smartphone/tablet, Tense rhythm gameplay

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Arcaea

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/arcaea/id1205999125)

**Currently charting:** #66 Top Grossing · Music, #88 Top Free · Music (US App Store)

Experience a unique rhythm game that blends challenging gameplay with an immersive story. Progress through a narrative driven by your performance, unlock new difficulties, and compete with others online. Enjoy a vast library of music, with more available through content packs.

**Highlights:** Novel gameplay mechanics, Immersive sound and story, High difficulty ceiling, Over 350 songs, 3 rhythm difficulty levels per song, Real-time online multiplayer, Rich Main Story and Side Stories

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 100 Memories | $0.99 | one-time |
| 510 Memories | $4.99 | one-time |
| 1020 Memories | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Unique gameplay mechanics
- 🎨 Beautiful visuals and art
- 🎶 Excellent music selection
- 👍 Smooth and responsive controls
- 💯 Challenging yet rewarding difficulty

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Excessive paywall for content
- 🔁 Repetitive grind in World Mode
- 🐛 Occasional note registration issues
- 🔊 Audio desync when multitasking
- 🤖 Lack of practice mode or tutorial

**Reported bugs**

- Login issues and account sync problems
- Compatibility problems on certain devices
- Crashes and freezes during gameplay

**Requested features**

- Multiplayer mode to compete with friends
- Ability to earn premium currency through gameplay
- More free song options to explore the game
- Customizable note speed and offset settings
- Improved story mode and character development


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Protocol free?

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

### Is Arcaea free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Protocol or Arcaea?

Arcaea is rated higher. Protocol averages 4.2 out of 5 from 53 ratings, while Arcaea averages 4.8 from 25K ratings.

### Do Protocol or Arcaea have ads?

Neither Protocol nor Arcaea shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Protocol or Arcaea?

Protocol ships an update every 3 months, and Arcaea every 8 days. Most recently, Protocol was updated on September 23, 2026 and Arcaea on September 27, 2026.

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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.*