# Buckets! vs Catalyst Chain Reaction

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Buckets! at none against Catalyst Chain Reaction's 1. Buckets! also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (daily vs monthly). Catalyst Chain Reaction's advantage is iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.6). On price, rating and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Catalyst Chain Reaction sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Buckets! asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Buckets! against 5.0 for Catalyst Chain Reaction. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Buckets! has 34 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Buckets! ships an update daily, Catalyst Chain Reaction monthly. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Buckets! | Catalyst Chain Reaction |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (34 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/buckets/id1247700311/reviews) | [5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/catalyst-chain-reaction/id6758815658/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **34** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 95.2% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Daily** | Monthly |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 103 MB | 13 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [justin baron](https://appshunter.io/developer/1247700100) | [Randy Torres](https://appshunter.io/developer/1871953838) |

## What reviewers say

### Buckets!

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/buckets/id1247700311)

A simple yet challenging arcade game where players tap to launch a ball into buckets. It features 11 distinct modes that increase in difficulty, offering unique gameplay mechanics and a daily challenge with global leaderboards.

**Highlights:** Tap to launch ball, 11 unlockable game modes, Daily challenge with global leaderboard, Track accuracy and streaks, Compete on Game Center leaderboards

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Catalyst Chain Reaction

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/catalyst-chain-reaction/id6758815658)

Engage in a fast-paced puzzle game where each tap initiates a chain reaction of exploding circles. Choose from Classic, Zen, or Puzzle modes, each offering unique challenges and gameplay experiences. Progress through levels, track your scores, and enjoy smooth, responsive controls.

**Highlights:** Touch-driven gameplay, Cascading explosions, Classic, Zen, and Puzzle modes, 50 levels per mode, Star-based progression, High score tracking, Smooth visuals and responsive controls

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Ads | $2.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Buckets! free?

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

### Is Catalyst Chain Reaction free?

Catalyst Chain Reaction is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Buckets! or Catalyst Chain Reaction?

Buckets! and Catalyst Chain Reaction are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 34 and 1 ratings respectively.

### Do Buckets! or Catalyst Chain Reaction have ads?

Catalyst Chain Reaction shows ads; Buckets! does not.

### Which is updated more often, Buckets! or Catalyst Chain Reaction?

Buckets! ships an update daily, and Catalyst Chain Reaction monthly. Most recently, Buckets! was updated on October 24, 2026 and Catalyst Chain Reaction on October 24, 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.*