# Sphero Play vs POWERUP 4.0

The clearest difference is rating: Sphero Play at 4.8 against POWERUP 4.0's 3.8. Sphero Play also leads on monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and ratings volume (37K vs 125). POWERUP 4.0's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Sphero Play has 37K ratings behind it against 125, 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 45% of POWERUP 4.0's.

Sphero Play ships an update every 2 months, POWERUP 4.0 every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Sphero Play | POWERUP 4.0 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (37K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sphero-play/id1280682522/reviews)** | [3.8 (125 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/powerup-40/id1521055394/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **37K** | 125 |
| Positive reviews | **69.2% of reviews** | 45.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 193 MB | 143 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Sphero, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/468699622) | [Tailor Toys LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/740714582) |

## 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


### POWERUP 4.0

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/powerup-40/id1521055394)

Transform paper airplanes into smart, controllable flying machines. Experience smooth, intuitive flight with advanced sensors and dual motors. Master aerobatics, track flight data, and enjoy night flying with optional LEDs.

**Highlights:** On-board flight computer, Gyro and accelerometer sensors, Dual thrust vectoring motors, Auto-looping aerobatics, Real-time flight analytics, Optional LED lights, Wheeled takeoff and landing

**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 POWERUP 4.0 free?

POWERUP 4.0 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Sphero Play or POWERUP 4.0?

Sphero Play is rated higher. Sphero Play averages 4.8 out of 5 from 37K ratings, while POWERUP 4.0 averages 3.8 from 125 ratings.

### Do Sphero Play or POWERUP 4.0 have ads?

Neither Sphero Play nor POWERUP 4.0 shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Sphero Play or POWERUP 4.0?

Sphero Play ships an update every 2 months, and POWERUP 4.0 every 3 weeks. Most recently, Sphero Play was updated on November 1, 2026 and POWERUP 4.0 on October 29, 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.*