# The Prison Simulator vs Balloon

The clearest difference is rating: Balloon at 5.0 against The Prison Simulator's 4.1. Balloon also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 15) and iOS requirement (10.0 vs 12.4). The Prison Simulator's advantage is ratings volume (280 vs 1) and device support. On price there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. The Prison Simulator sells 15 one-off in-app purchases. Balloon asks for nothing beyond the download.

Balloon holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: The Prison Simulator has 280 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

## The numbers

| Metric | The Prison Simulator | Balloon |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.1 (280 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-prison-simulator/id1245577011/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/balloon-keep-up/id1524257909/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **280** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 18.1% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | — |
| Update frequency | Every 11 days | — |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 135 MB | 127 MB |
| Requires iOS | 12.4 | **10.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | — |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Appscraft](https://appshunter.io/developer/1652334821) | [Ciuta Ciprian](https://appshunter.io/developer/1501591616) |

## What reviewers say

### The Prison Simulator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-prison-simulator/id1245577011)

Experience life as a prison warden, managing every aspect of your correctional facility. Balance inmate needs, staff, and external pressures to maintain order and prevent riots. Grow your prison from humble beginnings into a thriving, efficient institution.

**Highlights:** Build and expand prison infrastructure, Manage prison economy and resources, Maintain order and prevent riots, Balance inmate, staff, and external pressures, Hire staff and set rules, Make strategic decisions with consequences

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (15)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 10000 coins | $0.99 | one-time |
| 5 tickets | $0.99 | one-time |
| Premium building | $0.99 | one-time |
| Premium room | $0.99 | one-time |
| Second chance | $0.99 | one-time |
| Disable advertisement | $0.99 | one-time |
| 30000 coins | $1.99 | one-time |
| 15 tickets | $1.99 | one-time |
| 22000 coins | $1.99 | one-time |
| Special offer | $2.99 | one-time |
| Starter pack | $2.99 | one-time |
| Supper Pack | $2.99 | one-time |
| 40000 coins | $2.99 | one-time |
| 50 tickets | $3.99 | one-time |
| 100000 coins | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎮 Engaging gameplay concept with prison management theme
- 🎨 Good graphics and visual design
- 🌍 Multi-language support available
- 💰 Free-to-play model with optional purchases

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💸 Aggressive monetization and pay-to-win mechanics
- 🐛 Frequent and game-breaking bugs throughout
- ⏱️ Stressful timed missions with no restart option
- ❌ Broken in-app purchase system that charges without delivering
- 🆘 Non-functional customer support and contact options

**Reported bugs**

- In-app purchases charge money but don't deliver items/currency
- Restore purchases button doesn't function
- Mission 34: Sewing workshop income cap at 60 instead of required 65
- Mission 16: Prisoner won't disappear or die as required
- Mission 20: Canteen feeding progress not registering (0/10)

**Requested features**

- Mission restart button without waiting for timer expiration
- Ability to change language in-game settings
- Auto-fill features for repetitive tasks (feeding, work assignments)
- Freedom to manage prison without strict mission constraints
- Better tutorial and on-screen guidance for new players


### Balloon

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/balloon-keep-up/id1524257909)

Guide a balloon through challenging gates, where every touch impacts your score. Test your reflexes and precision in this simple yet engaging arcade game.

**Highlights:** Keep balloon airborne, Advance through gates, Score-based gameplay, Simple touch controls

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is The Prison Simulator free?

The Prison Simulator is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Balloon free?

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

### Which has better reviews, The Prison Simulator or Balloon?

Balloon is rated higher. The Prison Simulator averages 4.1 out of 5 from 280 ratings, while Balloon averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

---

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