# String.io vs Pixie Glow

The clearest difference is monetization model: Pixie Glow at free with in-app purchases against String.io's subscription. Pixie Glow also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.5) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.0). String.io's advantage is ratings volume (1.8K vs 1). On price, update cadence, 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 Pixie Glow sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Pixie Glow holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: String.io has 1.8K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on August 26, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | String.io | Pixie Glow |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (1.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stringio/id1243426580/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pixie-glow/id1535748403/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1.8K** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 58.4% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 339 MB | 65 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **11.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Metajoy](https://appshunter.io/developer/1436156282) | [APP CENTRAL LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/1509075661) |

## 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


### Pixie Glow

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pixie-glow/id1535748403)

Guide a character through a forest, collecting lights and avoiding hazards. Upgrade items to enhance gameplay and achieve high scores. Compete with friends on leaderboards.

**Highlights:** Tap and slide controls, Collect lights, Upgrade items, Avoid hazards, Highscore mode, Game Center Leaderboard

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Access All Levels | $0.99 | per month |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is String.io free?

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

### Is Pixie Glow free?

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

### Which has better reviews, String.io or Pixie Glow?

Pixie Glow is rated higher. String.io averages 4.5 out of 5 from 1.8K ratings, while Pixie Glow averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do String.io or Pixie Glow have ads?

Both String.io and Pixie Glow show ads.

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

String.io ships an update every 3 months, and Pixie Glow every 3 months. Most recently, String.io was updated on August 26, 2026 and Pixie Glow on September 30, 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.*