# Candleman vs Matrix Shift

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Matrix Shift at none against Candleman's 1. Matrix Shift also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs every 11 months). Candleman's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). On price and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Candleman sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Matrix Shift asks for nothing beyond the download.

Candleman ships an update every 11 months, Matrix Shift every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and September 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Candleman | Matrix Shift |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (41 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/candleman/id1137143735/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **41** | — |
| Positive reviews | 87.5% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 11 months | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 1.3 GB | 194 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Beijing Jiao Dian Chuang Yi digital technology Co.,Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/654637118) | [Code Chimie Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/755822891) |

## What reviewers say

### Candleman

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/candleman/id1137143735)

Embark on an action-adventure journey as a small candle with a limited light source. Navigate challenging levels in darkness, utilizing light and shadow mechanics to overcome obstacles and uncover hidden treasures in an enchanting fairytale world.

**Highlights:** 10-second light mechanic, Light and shadow gameplay, Challenging levels, Enchanted environments, Fairytale story

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Game Controller support, iMessage stickers

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Candleman full game | $4.99 | one-time |


### Matrix Shift

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/matrix-shift/id6761763189)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Candleman free?

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

### Is Matrix Shift free?

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

### Do Candleman or Matrix Shift have ads?

Matrix Shift shows ads; Candleman does not.

### Which is updated more often, Candleman or Matrix Shift?

Candleman ships an update every 11 months, and Matrix Shift every 4 days. Most recently, Candleman was updated on October 13, 2026 and Matrix Shift on September 29, 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.*