# String.io vs Bumper.io

The clearest difference is monetization model: Bumper.io at free with in-app purchases against String.io's subscription. Bumper.io also leads on ratings volume (196K vs 1.8K) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 3 months). String.io's advantage is review sentiment (58% vs 38%). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. String.io sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per 7 days and Bumper.io sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. 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 String.io against 4.6 for Bumper.io. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Bumper.io has 196K ratings behind it against 1.8K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 58% of String.io's written reviews are positive against 38% of Bumper.io's.

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

## The numbers

| Metric | String.io | Bumper.io |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (1.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stringio/id1243426580/reviews) | **[4.6 (196K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bumperio/id1402499966/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 1.8K | **196K** |
| Positive reviews | **58.4% of reviews** | 38.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 339 MB | 184 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **14.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Metajoy](https://appshunter.io/developer/1436156282) | [Voodoo](https://appshunter.io/developer/714804730) |

## What reviewers say

### 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


### Bumper.io

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bumperio/id1402499966)

Engage in an addictive battle royale where you knock opponents off a platform using your bumper. Grow larger and stronger by consuming ice cream to dominate the arena. Be the last player standing to claim victory.

**Highlights:** Knock players off the stage, Grow bigger and stronger, Eat ice cream to power up, Last player standing wins, Addictive gameplay

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| NO ADS | $2.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎮 Fun and addictive gameplay
- 👍 Simple and easy to understand
- 🚀 Smooth and responsive controls

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔍 Lack of real online multiplayer
- 🛑 Too many ads interrupting gameplay
- 🐛 Occasional glitches and bugs
- 🔋 High battery consumption

**Reported bugs**

- Falling off the map unexpectedly
- Unresponsive controls at times
- Incorrect kill attribution

**Requested features**

- Online multiplayer mode
- More game modes and levels
- Customization options for player avatars
- Ranking system and leaderboards
- Ability to play with friends


## Frequently asked questions

### Is String.io free?

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

### Is Bumper.io free?

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

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

Bumper.io is rated higher. String.io averages 4.5 out of 5 from 1.8K ratings, while Bumper.io averages 4.6 from 196K ratings.

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

Both String.io and Bumper.io show ads.

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

String.io ships an update every 3 months, and Bumper.io every 3 weeks. Most recently, String.io was updated on October 2, 2026 and Bumper.io on October 3, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*