# Sandbox XL vs 8Cubes

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: 8Cubes at none against Sandbox XL's 1. 8Cubes also leads on ads (none vs shown) and rating (4.0 vs 3.7). Sandbox XL's advantage is ratings volume (53 vs 4) and review sentiment (61% vs 50%). On price, update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Sandbox XL sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. 8Cubes asks for nothing beyond the download.

8Cubes holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Sandbox XL has 53 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 61% of Sandbox XL's written reviews are positive against 50% of 8Cubes's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Sandbox XL ships an update every 3 weeks, 8Cubes every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Sandbox XL | 8Cubes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.7 (53 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sandbox-xl/id1255983928/reviews) | **[4.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/8cubes-sandbox-builder/id6748587348/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **53** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | **60.7% of reviews** | 50.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 10 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 24 MB | 82 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Raffaele Amuso](https://appshunter.io/developer/912157295) | [Reality Twist GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/408397897) |

## What reviewers say

### Sandbox XL

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sandbox-xl/id1255983928)

Engage in a fun, physics-based sandbox game where you can interact with numerous elements like water, magma, and fire. Simulate natural phenomena to create volcanoes, lakes, and geysers, and enjoy experimenting with the laws of nature.

**Highlights:** Physics-based sandbox gameplay, Interact with water, magma, acid, sand, fire, gunpowder, oil, wood, Create volcanoes, lakes, seas, geysers, Simulate physical phenomena, Experiment with nature's laws

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove ad | $1.99 | one-time |


### 8Cubes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/8cubes-sandbox-builder/id6748587348)

Unleash your creativity in a vibrant 3D sandbox. Build anything from castles to cities using a universe of colorful and special blocks. Enjoy intuitive controls and breathtaking visuals in a game perfect for all ages.

**Highlights:** Limitless 3D world creation, Vast collection of colorful blocks, Special and metallic block types, Intuitive touch controls, Free-build mode, Crisp 3D graphics

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Sandbox XL free?

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

### Is 8Cubes free?

8Cubes is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Sandbox XL or 8Cubes?

8Cubes is rated higher. Sandbox XL averages 3.7 out of 5 from 53 ratings, while 8Cubes averages 4.0 from 4 ratings.

### Do Sandbox XL or 8Cubes have ads?

Sandbox XL shows ads; 8Cubes does not.

### Which is updated more often, Sandbox XL or 8Cubes?

Sandbox XL ships an update every 3 weeks, and 8Cubes every 10 days. Most recently, Sandbox XL was updated on October 23, 2026 and 8Cubes 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.*