# Brutal.io vs String.io

The clearest difference is rating: String.io at 4.5 against Brutal.io's 3.9. Brutal.io's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.0). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. String.io sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per 7 days. Brutal.io asks for nothing beyond the download.

String.io holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 5.1K and 1.8K respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 58% and 58% positive.

Brutal.io ships an update every 2 months, String.io every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Brutal.io | String.io |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.9 (5.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brutalio/id1214758633/reviews) | **[4.5 (1.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stringio/id1243426580/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **5.1K** | 1.8K |
| Positive reviews | 57.5% of reviews | **58.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Subscription |
| Size | 23 MB | 339 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Think Alike, Lda](https://appshunter.io/developer/340657389) | [Metajoy](https://appshunter.io/developer/1436156282) |

## What reviewers say

### Brutal.io

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brutalio/id1214758633)

Engage in real-time 2D physics battles in an online arena. Control a car with a flail, outmaneuver opponents, and use strategic physics-based tactics to win. Avoid sentinels that steal energy.

**Highlights:** Real-time online battles, 2D physics gameplay, Car and flail control, Strategic combat, Global multiplayer

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Addictive gameplay
- 👍 Unique mechanics
- 🕹️ Fun and challenging
- 🌟 Great for passing time

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔍 Difficulty controlling flail
- 🤯 Can induce rage
- 🧱 Campers blocking middle area
- 🕸️ Laggy and glitchy at times
- 💰 Too many ads

**Reported bugs**

- Flail glitching and causing unintended deaths
- Invisible players and objects
- Freezing and unresponsive controls
- Inconsistent collision detection

**Requested features**

- Offline mode with bots
- Different game modes (team, battle royale)
- Ability to customize character/flail
- Leaderboard and achievements
- Improved matchmaking/skill-based pairing


### 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 Brutal.io free?

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

### Is String.io free?

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

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

String.io is rated higher. Brutal.io averages 3.9 out of 5 from 5.1K ratings, while String.io averages 4.5 from 1.8K ratings.

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

Both Brutal.io and String.io show ads.

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

Brutal.io ships an update every 2 months, and String.io every 3 months. Most recently, Brutal.io was updated on October 13, 2026 and String.io on October 7, 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.*