Comparison

Planktoons vs Shoebill

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Planktoons

Features
Read full description

Something tiny is about to become something massive. Deep beneath the surface, a world of color, strategy, and surprisingly satisfying tile-merging awaits. Planktoons is a cozy ocean puzzle game where you start with the smallest creature in the sea - and evolve your way to the top of the food chain, one merge at a time. This is your underwater kingdom. Build it wisely. HOW IT WORKS Slide tiles across the grid. Match identical sea creatures to merge them into something bigger, rarer, and more magnificent. Tiny plankton becomes a quirky fish. That fish becomes something grander. And on it goes - until you're commanding the giants of the deep. Every move matters. Every choice shapes your ocean. It's the kind of mind game you pick up for five minutes and put down an hour later. UNLEASH THE WHIRLPOOL When your grid gets crowded, it's time to make a bold move: trigger the Whirlpool. This signature twist reshuffles your entire board - a tactical power-up that can completely flip your strategy. Use it at the right moment and watch your game transform. Use it carelessly and... well, that's what makes it interesting. TAKE YOUR TIME Changed your mind? Undo your last move and rethink your strategy. Planktoons rewards calm thinking over speed - it's a casual game built for players who enjoy being smart about it. FEATURES Global Leaderboard - Compete with players worldwide and climb the ranks Achievements - Your progress syncs across all your devices via your account Personal Stats - Track how far you've come in your ocean journey Charming Animations - Every sea creature has its own personality and flair Fully Offline - No Wi-Fi? No problem. Play anywhere, anytime 11 Languages - Arabic, English, French, German, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, Thai, Vietnamese WHO IS PLANKTOONS FOR? For anyone who loves a cozy, no-pressure puzzle experience. For fans of ocean games and fish games who want something with actual strategic depth. For casual game lovers who enjoy the "just one more move" feeling. For the thinker, the explorer, and everyone who's ever looked at the ocean and wondered what's going on down there. Dive in. The food chain is waiting.

About

Shoebill

Control a shoebill in the Ugandan wetlands, swiping to move and tapping to eat. Battle creatures to become king of the swamp and upgrade your beak. Discover information about wetland animals.

Highlights
  • Swipe to control shoebill movement
  • Tap to eat animals
  • Battle large creatures
  • Upgradable beak strength
  • Unlockable beak skins
  • Animal information
Features
Read full description

Control the shoebill by swiping left or right. Tap to eat the various animals in the swamps of Uganda. Fight off various large creatures that would take you crown as king of the swamp! Featuring upgradable beak strength. Unlockable beak skins and information about all the animals in the wetlands. Take care of the shoebill and start eating now!

Screenshots

Planktoons4 screens
Shoebill4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Shoebill at Free against Planktoons's $2.99. Shoebill also leads on ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (10.0 vs 15.0). Planktoons's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1). On update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Shoebill is free to download; Planktoons costs $2.99 up front. Shoebill sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Planktoons asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Planktoons ships an update every 4 months, Shoebill every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 5 level
Planktoons versus Shoebill: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPlanktoonsShoebill
Price$2.99Free — better
Rating—5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—2 — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 3 months — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
Monetization—Free with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.010.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size275 MB24 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSMOOTHICS e.U.Rik Leja

In-app purchases

None

Planktoons

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Shoebill

One-time1
  • Full Version Of Shoebill$0.99

Questions

Is Planktoons free?
Planktoons costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Shoebill free?
Shoebill is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Planktoons or Shoebill have ads?
Planktoons shows ads; Shoebill does not.
Which is updated more often, Planktoons or Shoebill?
Planktoons ships an update every 4 months, and Shoebill every 3 months. Most recently, Planktoons was updated on November 2, 2026 and Shoebill on November 4, 2026.

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