# X vs Core Arcade

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: X at none against Core Arcade's 4. X also leads on ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 17.0). On price, update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Core Arcade sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. X asks for nothing beyond the download.

X ships an update monthly, Core Arcade every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | X | Core Arcade |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Size | 22 MB | 19 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Observis Oy](https://appshunter.io/developer/546331465) | [Jose Blanco](https://appshunter.io/developer/1643690946) |

## What reviewers say

### X

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/x-routes/id1204944402)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Core Arcade

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/core-arcade/id6760246123)

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Arcade Plus Monthly | $2.99 | per month |
| Arcade Plus Yearly | $19.99 | per year |
| 14 Day Free Trial | Free | one-time |
| Remove Ads Lifetime | $9.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is X free?

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

### Is Core Arcade free?

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

### Do X or Core Arcade have ads?

Core Arcade shows ads; X does not.

### Which is updated more often, X or Core Arcade?

X ships an update monthly, and Core Arcade every 3 weeks. Most recently, X was updated on October 15, 2026 and Core Arcade on October 23, 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.*