# Sphero Play vs HoverBots

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Sphero Play at 69% against HoverBots's 0%. Sphero Play also leads on rating (4.8 vs 3.1) and ratings volume (37K vs 29). HoverBots's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

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

Sphero Play holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Sphero Play has 37K ratings behind it against 29, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 69% of Sphero Play's written reviews are positive against 0% of HoverBots's.

Sphero Play ships an update every 2 months, HoverBots every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 17, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Sphero Play | HoverBots |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (37K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sphero-play/id1280682522/reviews)** | [3.1 (29 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hoverbots/id1480544389/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **37K** | 29 |
| Positive reviews | **69.1% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 193 MB | 52 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **11.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Sphero, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/468699622) | [Franckh-Kosmos Verlags GmbH & Co. KG](https://appshunter.io/developer/375309682) |

## What reviewers say

### 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


### HoverBots

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hoverbots/id1480544389)

Build and program two-wheeled robots that balance themselves. Use a Bluetooth-enabled device to control, adjust settings, and create custom programs for your creations. Explore three distinct operational modes for interactive robotic fun.

**Highlights:** Build and program six different robots, Robots balance on two wheels, Remote control via Bluetooth, Adjust balance settings, Three operational modes: Remote Control, Balance Settings, Programming

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Sphero Play free?

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

### Is HoverBots free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Sphero Play or HoverBots?

Sphero Play is rated higher. Sphero Play averages 4.8 out of 5 from 37K ratings, while HoverBots averages 3.1 from 29 ratings.

### Do Sphero Play or HoverBots have ads?

Neither Sphero Play nor HoverBots shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Sphero Play or HoverBots?

Sphero Play ships an update every 2 months, and HoverBots every 3 weeks. Most recently, Sphero Play was updated on October 23, 2026 and HoverBots on October 17, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*