# Arcaea vs Sonolus

The clearest difference is rating: Arcaea at 4.8 against Sonolus's 3.8. Arcaea also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 8 days vs every 2 months). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and chart position there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Arcaea sells 3 one-off in-app purchases and Sonolus sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Arcaea holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Arcaea has 25K ratings behind it against 1K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 78% of Arcaea's written reviews are positive against 51% of Sonolus's.

Arcaea ships an update every 8 days, Sonolus every 2 months. Both last shipped on October 19, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Arcaea | Sonolus |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (25K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/arcaea/id1205999125/reviews)** | [3.8 (1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sonolus/id1637055220/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **25K** | 1K |
| Positive reviews | **78.3% of reviews** | 51.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 8 days** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | #63 | **#39** |
| Size | 1.2 GB | 151 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.4** | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [lowiro](https://appshunter.io/developer/1381393762) | [MACAU FOSFENES TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1516590315) |

## What reviewers say

### Arcaea

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/arcaea/id1205999125)

**Currently charting:** #63 Top Grossing · Music, #94 Top Free · Music (US App Store)

Experience a unique rhythm game that blends challenging gameplay with an immersive story. Progress through a narrative driven by your performance, unlock new difficulties, and compete with others online. Enjoy a vast library of music, with more available through content packs.

**Highlights:** Novel gameplay mechanics, Immersive sound and story, High difficulty ceiling, Over 350 songs, 3 rhythm difficulty levels per song, Real-time online multiplayer, Rich Main Story and Side Stories

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 100 Memories | $0.99 | one-time |
| 510 Memories | $4.99 | one-time |
| 1020 Memories | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Unique gameplay mechanics
- 🎨 Beautiful visuals and art
- 🎶 Excellent music selection
- 👍 Smooth and responsive controls
- 💯 Challenging yet rewarding difficulty

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Excessive paywall for content
- 🔁 Repetitive grind in World Mode
- 🐛 Occasional note registration issues
- 🔊 Audio desync when multitasking
- 🤖 Lack of practice mode or tutorial

**Reported bugs**

- Login issues and account sync problems
- Compatibility problems on certain devices
- Crashes and freezes during gameplay

**Requested features**

- Multiplayer mode to compete with friends
- Ability to earn premium currency through gameplay
- More free song options to explore the game
- Customizable note speed and offset settings
- Improved story mode and character development


### Sonolus

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sonolus/id1637055220)

**Currently charting:** #39 Top Free · Music, #113 Top Grossing · Music (US App Store)

Dive into a vibrant rhythm game community. Play solo, with friends, or compete against others. Create and share your own custom levels and replays.

**Highlights:** Rhythm game exploration, Multiplayer gameplay, Level creation, Replay sharing, Community connection

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Gem x500 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Gem x1000 | $9.99 | one-time |
| Gem x2200 | $19.99 | one-time |
| Gem x6000 | $49.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Amazing app
- 👍 Great rhythm game
- 👍 Lots of custom content
- 👍 Fantastic experience
- 👍 Awesome game

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Banned from server
- 🐛 Failed connections
- 🐛 Odd controls
- 🔒 Homophobic creators
- 🐛 Server issues

**Reported bugs**

- Chart preview keeps playing on loop
- Ads

**Requested features**

- More Project Sekai charts
- Kpop server


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Arcaea free?

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

### Is Sonolus free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Arcaea or Sonolus?

Arcaea is rated higher. Arcaea averages 4.8 out of 5 from 25K ratings, while Sonolus averages 3.8 from 1K ratings.

### Do Arcaea or Sonolus have ads?

Sonolus shows ads; Arcaea does not.

### Which is updated more often, Arcaea or Sonolus?

Arcaea ships an update every 8 days, and Sonolus every 2 months. Most recently, Arcaea was updated on October 19, 2026 and Sonolus on October 19, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Arcaea or Sonolus?

Arcaea currently peaks at #63 in the App Store charts, and Sonolus at #39. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*