# Unfoldit vs Shells

The clearest difference is ads: Unfoldit at none against Shells's shown. Unfoldit also leads on ratings volume (606 vs 22). Shells's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 3 weeks). On price, rating, review sentiment and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Unfoldit sells 7 one-off in-app purchases and Shells sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for Unfoldit against 5.0 for Shells. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Unfoldit has 606 ratings behind it against 22, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 98% of Unfoldit's written reviews are positive against 100% of Shells's.

Unfoldit ships an update every 3 weeks, Shells weekly. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Unfoldit | Shells |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.9 (606 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/unfoldit-paper-puzzle-game/id1248922247/reviews) | **[5.0 (22 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shells-nested-block-puzzle/id6661020395/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **606** | 22 |
| Positive reviews | 98.4% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 9 MB | 102 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Erudite Apps LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1457511045) | [arlybird games LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1764665157) |

## What reviewers say

### Unfoldit

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/unfoldit-paper-puzzle-game/id1248922247)

This app offers a unique puzzle experience where you visualize folding paper and predicting where holes will appear. It's designed to sharpen spatial reasoning, memory, and logic skills through over 1,800 levels. Enjoy brain training that fits into your day, with progress tracking and offline play.

**Highlights:** Visualize paper folds and hole punches, 1,885+ handcrafted levels, Hints and step-by-step animations, Strengthen focus and memory, Track stats for accuracy and speed, Offline play, iCloud sync across devices

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Medium Levels | $0.99 | one-time |
| Tiny Hint Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Hard Levels | $1.99 | one-time |
| Expert Levels | $2.99 | one-time |
| Small Hint Pack | $3.99 | one-time |
| Grande Hint Pack | $9.99 | one-time |
| Ream Master Hint Pack | $19.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Solid puzzle game
- 🧠 Challenges spatial reasoning
- 💡 Innovative concept
- 🎨 Beautiful and polished design
- 🕰️ Addictive and engaging

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional confusion with folding steps
- 🤔 May be too challenging for some users

**Reported bugs**

- Difficulty differentiating old and new holes in some levels
- Occasional freezing or crashing on certain devices

**Requested features**

- More advanced/difficult levels
- Ability to track progress and achievements
- Multiplayer or competitive modes


### Shells

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shells-nested-block-puzzle/id6661020395)

A geometry puzzle game where you slide blocks into larger shells to rearrange the board and solve challenges. It offers over 360 levels across 8 worlds with a focus on spatial reasoning and problem-solving. Enjoy a relaxing experience with a soothing soundtrack.

**Highlights:** Nested block sliding mechanics, Over 360 original levels, 8 distinct game worlds, Optional hint system, Soothing piano soundtrack, Compact 4x4 grid gameplay

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Small Bundle | $0.99 | one-time |
| Medium Bundle | $1.99 | one-time |
| Large Bundle | $3.99 | one-time |
| Unlimited Bundle | $8.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Unfoldit free?

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

### Is Shells free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Unfoldit or Shells?

Shells is rated higher. Unfoldit averages 4.9 out of 5 from 606 ratings, while Shells averages 5.0 from 22 ratings.

### Do Unfoldit or Shells have ads?

Shells shows ads; Unfoldit does not.

### Which is updated more often, Unfoldit or Shells?

Unfoldit ships an update every 3 weeks, and Shells weekly. Most recently, Unfoldit was updated on October 24, 2026 and Shells 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.*