# Zip Printer vs Sphero Play

Zip Printer and Sphero Play both sit at 4.7 stars, but that hides the real split: 69% of Sphero Play's written reviews are positive against 27% of Zip Printer's. Zip Printer's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 2 months) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Zip Printer against 4.8 for Sphero Play. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 33K and 37K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 27% of Zip Printer's written reviews are positive against 69% of Sphero Play's.

Zip Printer ships an update fortnightly, Sphero Play every 2 months. Both last shipped on September 25, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Zip Printer | Sphero Play |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (33K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zip-printer/id1252079118/reviews) | **[4.8 (37K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sphero-play/id1280682522/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 33K | **37K** |
| Positive reviews | 26.6% of reviews | **68.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 92 MB | 193 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [C&A Marketing, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/626227070) | [Sphero, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/468699622) |

## What reviewers say

### Zip Printer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zip-printer/id1252079118)

Edit, print, and share photos directly from your smartphone or tablet. Connect to social media to access and share memories. Customize images with filters and borders before printing.

**Highlights:** Edit photos, Print photos, Share photos, Social media integration, Photo filters, Add borders, Print preview

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 📸 Quick and convenient photo printing
- 💾 Easy to use app
- 🎨 Good photo editing features
- 🔍 Helpful photo browsing and selection

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent app crashes and connectivity issues
- 🔄 Firmware update problems
- 🎨 Inconsistent print quality and color accuracy
- 🔋 Battery life issues
- 🤖 Outdated and buggy app UI

**Reported bugs**

- Printer disconnects during printing
- Collage feature doesn't work properly
- Firmware update gets stuck at 0%
- Photos print with white borders or distortion

**Requested features**

- More customization options for collages and layouts
- Improved photo browsing and organization
- Ability to print from other apps and devices
- Expanded sticker and border options


### Sphero Play

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sphero-play/id1280682522)

Control and play with various Sphero robots using a single application. Explore multiple drive modes, engage in robot-controlled games, and learn basic programming through a block-based interface.

**Highlights:** Multiple drive modes (joystick, tilt, voice), Robot-controlled games, Block Drive programming, Sports-themed drive modes, Voice control

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fun and engaging app
- 👍 Great controls and customization
- 🎮 Enjoyable games and activities
- 💡 Compatibility with multiple Sphero products

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional connectivity issues
- 🔧 Limited features compared to older apps
- 🔋 Concerns about battery life and durability

**Reported bugs**

- Joystick controls not working as expected
- Alignment issues causing unexpected movement

**Requested features**

- More games and activities
- Support for additional Sphero products (e.g. Ollie, BB-8)
- Improved aiming and control precision
- Camera integration to see the Sphero's view


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Zip Printer free?

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

### Is Sphero Play free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Zip Printer or Sphero Play?

Sphero Play is rated higher. Zip Printer averages 4.7 out of 5 from 33K ratings, while Sphero Play averages 4.8 from 37K ratings.

### Do Zip Printer or Sphero Play have ads?

Neither Zip Printer nor Sphero Play shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Zip Printer or Sphero Play?

Zip Printer ships an update fortnightly, and Sphero Play every 2 months. Most recently, Zip Printer was updated on September 25, 2026 and Sphero Play on September 25, 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.*