# Protocol vs Cytus II

The clearest difference is price: Protocol at Free against Cytus II's $1.99. Protocol also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 10) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 15.2). Cytus II's advantage is rating (4.8 vs 4.2) and ratings volume (9.4K vs 54). On review sentiment, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Protocol is free to download; Cytus II costs $1.99 up front. Cytus II sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Protocol asks for nothing beyond the download.

Cytus II holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Cytus II has 9.4K ratings behind it against 54, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 79% of Protocol's written reviews are positive against 73% of Cytus II's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Protocol ships an update every 3 months, Cytus II monthly. Both last shipped on November 6, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Protocol | Cytus II |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $1.99 |
| Rating | [4.2 (54 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/protocolhyperspace-diver/id1124788464/reviews) | **[4.8 (9.4K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cytus-ii/id1290687550/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 54 | **9.4K** |
| Positive reviews | **78.5% of reviews** | 73.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#8** |
| Size | 274 MB | 3.3 GB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 15.2 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [LINE Games](https://appshunter.io/developer/447309128) | [Rayark International Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/483529071) |

## 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


### Cytus II

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cytus-ii/id1290687550)

**Currently charting:** #8 Top Paid · Music, #39 Top Paid · Casual, #53 Top Grossing · Music (US App Store)

Immerse yourself in a futuristic music rhythm game where you tap along to the beat. Explore a virtual internet world and uncover a compelling story through engaging gameplay and a vast library of songs.

**Highlights:** Active Judgement Line rhythm gameplay, 250+ high-quality songs, Over 800 different charts, Story system 'iM', Cinematic visual experience

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Marvelous Mix vol. 1 | $4.99 | one-time |
| ConneR | $9.99 | one-time |
| Xenon | $9.99 | one-time |
| Cherry | $9.99 | one-time |
| Nora | $9.99 | one-time |
| Neko | $9.99 | one-time |
| CAPSO | $9.99 | one-time |
| Kizuna AI | $9.99 | one-time |
| Miku | $9.99 | one-time |
| 9 Characters | $34.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎨 Stunning visuals and art style
- 🎶 Diverse and high-quality music
- 🔍 Compelling story and character interactions
- 🎮 Smooth and responsive gameplay
- 🕹️ Challenging difficulty progression

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive DLC characters and song packs
- 🐛 Occasional bugs and performance issues
- 🤔 Confusing tutorial and learning curve
- 🔍 Incomplete story and lack of content

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes and freezes on certain devices
- Missed notes despite accurate timing
- Glitched level progression and unlocks

**Requested features**

- Practice mode for difficult songs
- More free content and story updates
- Optimization for older devices
- Ability to create custom songs/levels


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Protocol free?

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

### Is Cytus II free?

Cytus II costs $1.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Protocol or Cytus II?

Cytus II is rated higher. Protocol averages 4.2 out of 5 from 54 ratings, while Cytus II averages 4.8 from 9.4K ratings.

### Do Protocol or Cytus II have ads?

Neither Protocol nor Cytus II shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Protocol or Cytus II?

Protocol ships an update every 3 months, and Cytus II monthly. Most recently, Protocol was updated on November 6, 2026 and Cytus II on November 6, 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.*