# Paper.io vs Brutal.io

The clearest difference is rating: Paper.io at 4.5 against Brutal.io's 3.9. Paper.io also leads on ratings volume (156K vs 5.1K). Brutal.io's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 7) and review sentiment (58% vs 49%). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Paper.io sells 7 one-off in-app purchases. Brutal.io asks for nothing beyond the download.

Paper.io holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Paper.io has 156K ratings behind it against 5.1K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 49% of Paper.io's written reviews are positive against 58% of Brutal.io's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Paper.io | Brutal.io |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (156K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/paperio/id1171814682/reviews)** | [3.9 (5.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brutalio/id1214758633/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **156K** | 5.1K |
| Positive reviews | 48.6% of reviews | **57.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 232 MB | 23 MB |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 | **11.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Voodoo](https://appshunter.io/developer/714804730) | [Think Alike, Lda](https://appshunter.io/developer/340657389) |

## What reviewers say

### Paper.io

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/paperio/id1171814682)

Conquer territory by expanding your colored area. Outmaneuver opponents and avoid having your tail touched. Victory is achieved by claiming all available space in this simple yet strategic game.

**Highlights:** Conquer territory, Outmaneuver opponents, Strategic gameplay, Simple controls, No internet connection required

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

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| BEGINNER PACK | $0.99 | one-time |
| FAIR BUCKET | $2.99 | one-time |
| No Ads | $2.99 | one-time |
| CASE | $4.99 | one-time |
| Premium | $4.99 | one-time |
| BUNCH | $9.99 | one-time |
| TREASURE | $19.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎮 Fun and addictive gameplay
- 💫 Simple and easy to understand
- 🎨 Variety of cool avatars/skins
- 🕹️ Responsive controls
- 🏆 Challenging and rewarding

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤬 Excessive ads that interrupt gameplay
- 🐛 Glitches and bugs causing crashes or freezes
- 🤖 Unfair bot spawns/movements
- 🔍 Limited visibility due to ad placement
- 💰 Expensive ad-free upgrade

**Reported bugs**

- Challenges not registering progress
- Inconsistent avatar unlocking
- Freezing and crashing during gameplay
- Ads not removed after paid upgrade

**Requested features**

- Online multiplayer mode
- Customizable character creator
- Difficulty settings and map variations
- Achievements and progression system
- Better spawning mechanics


### Brutal.io

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brutalio/id1214758633)

Engage in real-time 2D physics battles in an online arena. Control a car with a flail, outmaneuver opponents, and use strategic physics-based tactics to win. Avoid sentinels that steal energy.

**Highlights:** Real-time online battles, 2D physics gameplay, Car and flail control, Strategic combat, Global multiplayer

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Addictive gameplay
- 👍 Unique mechanics
- 🕹️ Fun and challenging
- 🌟 Great for passing time

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔍 Difficulty controlling flail
- 🤯 Can induce rage
- 🧱 Campers blocking middle area
- 🕸️ Laggy and glitchy at times
- 💰 Too many ads

**Reported bugs**

- Flail glitching and causing unintended deaths
- Invisible players and objects
- Freezing and unresponsive controls
- Inconsistent collision detection

**Requested features**

- Offline mode with bots
- Different game modes (team, battle royale)
- Ability to customize character/flail
- Leaderboard and achievements
- Improved matchmaking/skill-based pairing


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Paper.io free?

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

### Is Brutal.io free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Paper.io or Brutal.io?

Paper.io is rated higher. Paper.io averages 4.5 out of 5 from 156K ratings, while Brutal.io averages 3.9 from 5.1K ratings.

### Do Paper.io or Brutal.io have ads?

Both Paper.io and Brutal.io show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Paper.io or Brutal.io?

Paper.io ships an update every 2 months, and Brutal.io every 2 months. Most recently, Paper.io was updated on October 30, 2026 and Brutal.io on October 29, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*