# AR Runner vs The Birdcage 2

The clearest difference is rating: The Birdcage 2 at 4.8 against AR Runner's 4.3. The Birdcage 2 also leads on ratings volume (12K vs 210). AR Runner's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 5 days vs every 12 months). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. AR Runner sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and The Birdcage 2 sells 7 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

The Birdcage 2 holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: The Birdcage 2 has 12K ratings behind it against 210, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 83% of AR Runner's written reviews are positive against 63% of The Birdcage 2's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

AR Runner ships an update every 5 days, The Birdcage 2 every 12 months. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 17, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | AR Runner | The Birdcage 2 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (210 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ar-runner/id1275938861/reviews) | **[4.8 (12K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-birdcage-2/id1436282885/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 210 | **12K** |
| Positive reviews | **82.8% of reviews** | 63.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 days** | Every 12 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 66 MB | 239 MB |
| Requires iOS | 11.0 | 11.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Semidome Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/779855685) | [MOBIPLAY OU](https://appshunter.io/developer/563180181) |

## What reviewers say

### AR Runner

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ar-runner/id1275938861)

This augmented reality sports game challenges you to run through virtual checkpoints, set records, and compete globally. Play indoors or outdoors with various game modes and customizable field sizes. It offers an active and inventive way to engage with AR.

**Highlights:** Augmented reality checkpoint running, Global leaderboards, Four distinct game modes, Customizable field sizes and shapes, 60 handcrafted challenges, Photo mode for score sharing

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium | $1.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎮 Innovative AR fitness game concept
- 💪 Effective workout and exercise motivation
- 😄 Fun and entertaining gameplay
- 🆓 No ads in free version
- ⭐ Great replay value and leaderboards

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Ground detection failures
- 🐛 Targets drift and float out of view
- 🐛 App crashes occasionally
- 🐛 Camera permission issues
- 📉 Broken on newer phones despite past functionality

**Reported bugs**

- Ground detection fails to initialize
- Targets drift higher and become unreachable
- App crashes on iPhone 13 Pro and newer devices
- Camera permission not requested properly
- Camera access issues on some devices

**Requested features**

- VR/VR headset compatibility (Google Cardboard support)
- Cross-device multiplayer (connect multiple phones)
- Custom track creation
- Additional game modes and levels
- Video sharing for scores (not just screenshots)


### The Birdcage 2

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-birdcage-2/id1436282885)

Embark on a magical journey as a young sorceress to free imprisoned creatures. Solve challenging puzzles using intuitive touch controls and creative reasoning. Uncover a mysterious story filled with secrets and revelations in a beautifully designed world.

**Highlights:** Face-tracking AR puzzles, Challenging mechanical puzzles, Mysterious sorceress story, Intuitive touch controls, Original soundtrack, Hidden story elements

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

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Ads | $1.99 | one-time |
| Icegon Pack | $1.99 | one-time |
| Dragon Pack | $1.99 | one-time |
| Phoenix Pack | $1.99 | one-time |
| All Gems | $1.99 | one-time |
| Griffin Pack | $1.99 | one-time |
| Creatures Pack | $5.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Challenging and fun puzzles
- 🎨 Beautiful graphics and visuals
- 🧠 Engaging storyline and lore
- 🕹️ Smooth and responsive controls
- 🤖 Interesting magical/fantasy elements

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive for the amount of content
- 🔋 Drains battery quickly
- 🔁 Repetitive puzzle mechanics
- 🤔 Unclear or confusing game mechanics
- 🤷‍♂️ Lack of difficulty progression

**Reported bugs**

- Restore purchases not working
- Face recognition issues with certain puzzles
- Inconsistent performance on older devices

**Requested features**

- More free levels and content
- Ability to reset/restart the game
- Improved battery optimization
- Increased puzzle complexity and challenge
- Additional story and lore expansion


## Frequently asked questions

### Is AR Runner free?

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

### Is The Birdcage 2 free?

The Birdcage 2 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, AR Runner or The Birdcage 2?

The Birdcage 2 is rated higher. AR Runner averages 4.3 out of 5 from 210 ratings, while The Birdcage 2 averages 4.8 from 12K ratings.

### Do AR Runner or The Birdcage 2 have ads?

The Birdcage 2 shows ads; AR Runner does not.

### Which is updated more often, AR Runner or The Birdcage 2?

AR Runner ships an update every 5 days, and The Birdcage 2 every 12 months. Most recently, AR Runner was updated on October 13, 2026 and The Birdcage 2 on October 17, 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.*