# Smart Ball vs Sticky Struggles

The clearest difference is rating: Sticky Struggles at 5.0 against Smart Ball's 4.7. Sticky Struggles also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). Smart Ball's advantage is ratings volume (14 vs 1) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 12.0). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Smart Ball sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Sticky Struggles sells 6 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Sticky Struggles holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Smart Ball has 14 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

Smart Ball ships an update every 2 months, Sticky Struggles every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Smart Ball | Sticky Struggles |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (14 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smart-ball/id1189468697/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sticky-struggles/id1658302212/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **14** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 48 MB | 173 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 12.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [FORE STUDIO LTD.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1189468696) | [Paction Games ApS](https://appshunter.io/developer/1585863957) |

## What reviewers say

### Smart Ball

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smart-ball/id1189468697)

A relaxing puzzle game where players sort colored balls into matching tubes. Simple one-finger controls make it easy to pick up and play. The goal is to get all balls of the same color into their respective tubes.

**Highlights:** Relaxing puzzle gameplay, Mind-bending challenges, One-finger control, Easy to play, Color sorting mechanics

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove advertising | $0.99 | one-time |


### Sticky Struggles

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sticky-struggles/id1658302212)

This puzzle game challenges players to strategically move blocks that stick to them until placed correctly. With over 50 levels, achievements, and both 2D and 3D views, it offers a relaxing yet engaging experience. Play offline and enjoy a minimalist design with calming music.

**Highlights:** Sticky block mechanics, 50+ challenging levels, Unlockable bonus levels, Achievements to earn, Minimalist design with relaxing music, 2D and 3D view toggle, Offline play

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Bundle 1 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Premium Bundle 2 | $2.99 | one-time |
| Premium Bundle 3 | $5.99 | one-time |
| Premium Bundle 4 | $12.99 | one-time |
| Premium Bundle 5 | $19.99 | one-time |
| Premium Bundle 6 | $39.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Smart Ball free?

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

### Is Sticky Struggles free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Smart Ball or Sticky Struggles?

Sticky Struggles is rated higher. Smart Ball averages 4.7 out of 5 from 14 ratings, while Sticky Struggles averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Smart Ball or Sticky Struggles have ads?

Both Smart Ball and Sticky Struggles show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Smart Ball or Sticky Struggles?

Smart Ball ships an update every 2 months, and Sticky Struggles every 3 weeks. Most recently, Smart Ball was updated on November 2, 2026 and Sticky Struggles on November 3, 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.*