# Best Bartender vs POOLS™

The clearest difference is review sentiment: POOLS™ at 80% against Best Bartender's 28%. POOLS™ also leads on rating (4.5 vs 3.6) and ads (none vs shown). Best Bartender's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and chart position (#197 vs unranked). On price and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. POOLS™ sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Best Bartender asks for nothing beyond the download.

POOLS™ holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: POOLS™ has 1.7K ratings behind it against 33, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 28% of Best Bartender's written reviews are positive against 80% of POOLS™'s.

Best Bartender ships an update every 32 months, POOLS™ monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Best Bartender | POOLS™ |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.6 (33 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/best-bartender-mixed-drink/id1261761935/reviews) | **[4.5 (1.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pools/id6670792878/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 33 | **1.7K** |
| Positive reviews | 28.2% of reviews | **79.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 32 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#197** | — |
| Size | 105 MB | 1.9 GB |
| Requires iOS | **10.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** |
| Age rating | 17+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [melanie thomas](https://appshunter.io/developer/775584887) | [Tensori](https://appshunter.io/developer/1767614989) |

## What reviewers say

### Best Bartender

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/best-bartender-mixed-drink/id1261761935)

**Currently charting:** #197 Top Free · Trivia (US App Store)

Step into a virtual saloon and become a master bartender. Mix various spirits, liqueurs, and garnishes to create the perfect cocktail. Be mindful of ratios and ingredients to avoid disastrous concoctions.

**Highlights:** Mix various spirits, Add ice and lemon, Follow drink ratios, Choose from a drink shelf, Experiment with ingredients

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### POOLS™

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pools/id6670792878)

This app offers a slow, reflective, and immersive experience focused on exploration and atmosphere. It evokes feelings of unease and curiosity through its unique environments, inspired by liminal spaces and internet phenomena. Discover changing worlds and subtle narratives without traditional gameplay mechanics.

**Highlights:** Slow, reflective exploration, Atmospheric and immersive environments, Inspired by liminal spaces, Unfolding narrative through exploration, Six distinct chapters, Unique sound design

**Features:** Game Controller support, Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| POOLS: Full Game | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Immersive experience
- 🔒 No ads
- 👍 Incredible attention to detail
- 👍 Realistic graphics and sound
- 👍 Eerie and creepy atmosphere

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Boring after a while
- 🐛 Lack of variety in environments

**Reported bugs**

- Unable to move on iPad Pro
- Glitches reported

**Requested features**

- Expand to different Backrooms-inspired themes
- Add a multiplayer mode
- Introduce more interactive elements (e.g., monsters, items to discover)


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Best Bartender free?

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

### Is POOLS™ free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Best Bartender or POOLS™?

POOLS™ is rated higher. Best Bartender averages 3.6 out of 5 from 33 ratings, while POOLS™ averages 4.5 from 1.7K ratings.

### Do Best Bartender or POOLS™ have ads?

Best Bartender shows ads; POOLS™ does not.

### Which is updated more often, Best Bartender or POOLS™?

Best Bartender ships an update every 32 months, and POOLS™ monthly. Most recently, Best Bartender was updated on October 24, 2026 and POOLS™ on October 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.*