# Hexar.io vs String.io

The clearest difference is monetization model: Hexar.io at free with in-app purchases against String.io's subscription. Hexar.io also leads on update cadence (every 11 days vs every 3 months) and review sentiment (82% vs 58%). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Hexar.io sells 6 one-off in-app purchases and String.io sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per 7 days. 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 Hexar.io against 4.5 for String.io. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Hexar.io has 11K ratings behind it against 1.8K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 82% of Hexar.io's written reviews are positive against 58% of String.io's.

Hexar.io ships an update every 11 days, String.io every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on November 5, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Hexar.io | String.io |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (11K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hexario-1-in-io-games/id1175871181/reviews) | **[4.5 (1.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stringio/id1243426580/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **11K** | 1.8K |
| Positive reviews | **81.6% of reviews** | 58.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 11 days** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Size | 180 MB | 339 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [MochiBits, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/351678910) | [Metajoy](https://appshunter.io/developer/1436156282) |

## What reviewers say

### Hexar.io

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hexario-1-in-io-games/id1175871181)

Enclose areas to capture blocks and expand your territory in this engaging .io game. Avoid being hit by other players and collect power-ups to gain an advantage. Customize your avatar and base, and complete missions for rewards.

**Highlights:** Enclose areas to capture blocks, Defend territory, Collect power-ups, Customize avatar and base, Complete missions, Smooth controls

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

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 400 Coins | $2.99 | one-time |
| Remove Ads | $4.99 | one-time |
| 800 Coins | $4.99 | one-time |
| 2000 Coins | $9.99 | one-time |
| 5000 Coins | $19.99 | one-time |
| 15000 Coins | $49.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎉 Satisfying gameplay
- 🕹️ Addictive and fun
- 👥 Ability to play with real people
- 🎨 Customizable avatar
- ⚡ Smooth performance

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤖 Opponents are mostly bots
- 🐢 Slow movement speed
- 💰 Expensive customization options
- 🔍 Difficulty finding other players
- 🔁 Repetitive gameplay

**Reported bugs**

- Game crashes after watching ads
- Respawning near map borders leads to instant death
- Incorrect map completion percentage displayed

**Requested features**

- Online multiplayer mode
- Horizontal screen orientation
- Ability to see remaining gems/coins
- More challenging AI opponents
- Additional game modes


### String.io

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stringio/id1243426580)

Capture territory by enclosing areas with your string. Attack opponents by hitting their tails. Unlock avatars and enjoy minimalist graphics in this competitive .io game.

**Highlights:** Enclose areas to capture territory, Attack players by hitting tails, Unlock over 30 avatars, Minimalist graphics, Multiple control methods

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Subscribe For 1 Week | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| Subscribe For 1 Month | $19.99 | per month |
| Subscribe For 1 Year | $99.99 | per year |
| Remove Ads | $1.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and addictive gameplay
- 👍 Variety of skins and characters
- 💡 Creative game concept
- 🎨 Colorful and visually appealing

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔍 Opponents are AI, not real players
- 💰 Expensive in-app purchases for skins
- 📢 Excessive ads and ad interruptions
- 🐛 Occasional crashes and glitches

**Reported bugs**

- Game freezes at 24% loading
- Missions not registering as completed
- Inconsistent collision detection

**Requested features**

- Online multiplayer mode
- Ability to play with friends
- More levels and game modes
- Improved mission system


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Hexar.io free?

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

### Is String.io free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Hexar.io or String.io?

String.io is rated higher. Hexar.io averages 4.5 out of 5 from 11K ratings, while String.io averages 4.5 from 1.8K ratings.

### Do Hexar.io or String.io have ads?

Both Hexar.io and String.io show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Hexar.io or String.io?

Hexar.io ships an update every 11 days, and String.io every 3 months. Most recently, Hexar.io was updated on November 5, 2026 and String.io on November 6, 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.*