# Join4 for iMessage vs Diagonal Duel

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Diagonal Duel at 86% against Join4 for iMessage's 38%. Diagonal Duel also leads on price (Free vs $0.99) and rating (4.8 vs 2.3). Join4 for iMessage's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Diagonal Duel is free to download; Join4 for iMessage costs $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Diagonal Duel holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 2.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Diagonal Duel has 20 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 38% of Join4 for iMessage's written reviews are positive against 86% of Diagonal Duel's.

Join4 for iMessage ships an update every 59 months, Diagonal Duel every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 29, 2026 and September 27, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Join4 for iMessage | Diagonal Duel |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $0.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [2.3 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/join4-for-imessage/id1151985603/reviews) | **[4.8 (20 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/diagonal-duel/id1532290974/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 3 | **20** |
| Positive reviews | 37.5% of reviews | **85.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 59 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 5 MB | 21 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Matthew Cotton](https://appshunter.io/developer/723888565) | [Brian Savidge](https://appshunter.io/developer/1532290976) |

## What reviewers say

### Join4 for iMessage

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/join4-for-imessage/id1151985603)

Challenge friends in a classic connect four game directly through iMessage. Strategically place your colored counters to be the first to achieve four in a row and win the game.

**Highlights:** Play via iMessage, Turn-based gameplay, Strategic counter placement, Challenge friends, Connect four win condition

**In-app purchases:** none


### Diagonal Duel

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/diagonal-duel/id1532290974)

Engage in a strategic board game similar to Connect Four, but with a unique 45-degree rotated board. Challenge a computer opponent, play with a friend on the same device, or compete in online ranked matches.

**Highlights:** 45-degree rotated board gameplay, Play against AI (levels 0-100), Local two-player mode, Online ranked matches, Similar to Connect Four

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Join4 for iMessage free?

Join4 for iMessage costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Diagonal Duel free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Join4 for iMessage or Diagonal Duel?

Diagonal Duel is rated higher. Join4 for iMessage averages 2.3 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while Diagonal Duel averages 4.8 from 20 ratings.

### Do Join4 for iMessage or Diagonal Duel have ads?

Diagonal Duel shows ads; Join4 for iMessage does not.

### Which is updated more often, Join4 for iMessage or Diagonal Duel?

Join4 for iMessage ships an update every 59 months, and Diagonal Duel every 2 weeks. Most recently, Join4 for iMessage was updated on September 29, 2026 and Diagonal Duel 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.*