# Screaming Cactus vs Bubblarium

The clearest difference is rating: Bubblarium at 5.0 against Screaming Cactus's 4.5. Bubblarium also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 28 months). Screaming Cactus's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 6) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.6). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Bubblarium sells 6 one-off in-app purchases. Screaming Cactus asks for nothing beyond the download.

Bubblarium holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 8 and 5 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

Screaming Cactus ships an update every 28 months, Bubblarium every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Screaming Cactus | Bubblarium |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/screaming-cactus/id1175645945/reviews) | **[5.0 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bubblarium/id6781827817/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **8** | 5 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 28 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 133 MB | 638 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 17.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Mycah Krason](https://appshunter.io/developer/1102643592) | [Charles Condron](https://appshunter.io/developer/1877022641) |

## What reviewers say

### Screaming Cactus

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/screaming-cactus/id1175645945)

Protect a cactus from invading bugs by smashing them before they consume it. As you defeat enemies and earn currency, the cactus's appearance becomes more stylish.

**Highlights:** Smash bugs, Protect the cactus, Collect money, Customize cactus appearance, Fast-paced gameplay

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Bubblarium

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bubblarium/id6781827817)

Immerse yourself in a vibrant underwater world with two distinct play modes. Enjoy a relaxing screensaver experience or engage in a fast-paced arcade challenge. Customize your aquatic environment with various creatures and decorative elements.

**Highlights:** Animated underwater world with diverse sea life, Zen Mode for relaxation and screensaver, Bubble Rush arcade mode with timers and scores, Customizable aquarium with creature toggles, Unlockable difficulty tiers in Bubble Rush, Optional cosmetic and gameplay add-ons

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Game Add On - Submarine Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Game Add On - Torpedo Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Old Rusty Submarine | $0.99 | one-time |
| Scenery Sub 2 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Shipwreck Scenery | $0.99 | one-time |
| Squid Pack | $0.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Screaming Cactus free?

Screaming Cactus is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Bubblarium free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Screaming Cactus or Bubblarium?

Bubblarium is rated higher. Screaming Cactus averages 4.5 out of 5 from 8 ratings, while Bubblarium averages 5.0 from 5 ratings.

### Do Screaming Cactus or Bubblarium have ads?

Neither Screaming Cactus nor Bubblarium shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Screaming Cactus or Bubblarium?

Screaming Cactus ships an update every 28 months, and Bubblarium every 2 weeks. Most recently, Screaming Cactus was updated on November 2, 2026 and Bubblarium 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.*