# Hex Merge! vs TraceNum

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Hex Merge! at none against TraceNum's 1. Hex Merge! also leads on iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.1). TraceNum's advantage is update cadence (every 2 days vs every 10 months). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. TraceNum sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Hex Merge! asks for nothing beyond the download.

Hex Merge! ships an update every 10 months, TraceNum every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Hex Merge! | TraceNum |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.1 (18 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hex-merge/id1151098638/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **18** | — |
| Positive reviews | 33.3% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 10 months | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | — |
| Size | 104 MB | 88 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 15.1 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [春晖 姚](https://appshunter.io/developer/928945284) | [ISAO NAGATA](https://appshunter.io/developer/1883691211) |

## What reviewers say

### Hex Merge!

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hex-merge/id1151098638)

A hexagonal puzzle game where you merge numbered tiles to create higher numbers. Drag and rotate hexagon groups to connect three or more identical adjacent tiles, upgrading them to higher values. Enjoy smooth gameplay, auto-restore, and fun sound effects.

**Highlights:** Hexagonal tile merging, Drag and rotate controls, Merge three or more identical tiles, Upgrade tiles to higher numbers, Auto-restore board progress, Fun music and sound effects

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### TraceNum

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tracenum/id6760296584)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlock All Stages | $0.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Hex Merge! free?

Hex Merge! is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is TraceNum free?

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

### Do Hex Merge! or TraceNum have ads?

Both Hex Merge! and TraceNum show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Hex Merge! or TraceNum?

Hex Merge! ships an update every 10 months, and TraceNum every 2 days. Most recently, Hex Merge! was updated on November 2, 2026 and TraceNum on November 5, 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.*