# Paper.io vs Join Numbers

The clearest difference is update cadence: Join Numbers at every 4 weeks against Paper.io's every 2 months. Paper.io's advantage is ratings volume (156K vs 19K) and review sentiment (49% vs 41%). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Paper.io sells 7 one-off in-app purchases and Join Numbers sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.5 for Paper.io against 4.6 for Join Numbers. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Paper.io has 156K ratings behind it against 19K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 49% of Paper.io's written reviews are positive against 41% of Join Numbers's.

Paper.io ships an update every 2 months, Join Numbers every 4 weeks. Both last shipped on September 25, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Paper.io | Join Numbers |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (156K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/paperio/id1171814682/reviews) | **[4.6 (19K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/join-numbers/id1600488366/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **156K** | 19K |
| Positive reviews | **48.7% of reviews** | 40.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 4 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 232 MB | 313 MB |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Voodoo](https://appshunter.io/developer/714804730) | [SUPERSONIC STUDIOS LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/1499845738) |

## 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


### Join Numbers

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/join-numbers/id1600488366)

Collect digits to form the largest number and earn virtual currency. Use your earnings to construct new barracks and train soldiers for a strategic card battle game. Enjoy a unique blend of number collection and combat gameplay.

**Highlights:** Collect digits, Form the largest number, Earn virtual currency, Build tower barracks, Fight in card battles, Use soldiers in combat

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| No Ads | $2.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 💡 Educational and fun
- 🚀 Engaging gameplay
- 👍 Good for kids

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔍 Too many ads
- 🐛 Bugs and glitches
- 🤔 Unbalanced gameplay

**Reported bugs**

- Frequent crashes
- Gameplay issues (e.g. numbers changing unexpectedly)
- Connectivity problems

**Requested features**

- Reduce ads or offer ad-free version
- Fix bugs and glitches
- Improve gameplay balance


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Paper.io free?

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

### Is Join Numbers free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Paper.io or Join Numbers?

Join Numbers is rated higher. Paper.io averages 4.5 out of 5 from 156K ratings, while Join Numbers averages 4.6 from 19K ratings.

### Do Paper.io or Join Numbers have ads?

Both Paper.io and Join Numbers show ads.

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

Paper.io ships an update every 2 months, and Join Numbers every 4 weeks. Most recently, Paper.io was updated on September 25, 2026 and Join Numbers on September 25, 2026.

---

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