Sphero Play vs Hello Loona
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Sphero Play
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.
- Multiple drive modes (joystick, tilt, voice)
- Robot-controlled games
- Block Drive programming
- Sports-themed drive modes
- Voice control
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Drive and play games from ONE app with your Sphero Mini, Sphero 2.0, SPRK, SPRK+, BOLT, and BOLT+. Connect and control your robots with several exciting drive modes, use your robot as a controller to play games, or try out Block Drive for an intro to programming with colorful blocks. Features include: DRIVE MODES Drive your robots several ways with the Sphero Play app. Use the joystick and slingshot controls, tilt your device, or use your voice. Our sports-themed drive modes keep things fun with the ability to swing your device to "golf"*, or flick to "kick" your robot. BLOCK DRIVE PROGRAMMING Learn programming basics by controlling your robot with colorful movement and light blocks. GAMES Use your robot as a controller to shoot your way through space, race your vehicle through a tunnel avoiding obstacles and scoring points, or rotate your ball to destroy a polygon of bricks. Need robots? We know a guy. Visit sphero.com and order today. *This mode is not available on iPads.
Hello Loona
Control and program a robotic pet with this app. Explore various scenarios, perform talents, play games, and connect with other users in the community.
- Robot control
- Programming software
- Talent shows
- Play games
- Community interaction
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Loona APP is a mobile control and programming software developed for Loona robots. Rich robot application scenarios are provided in the application. Users can experience various robot control and functions by connecting robots according to software guidance. The robot can be controlled in the APP to perform talent shows, play small games, and also enter the community to communicate with other users.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Sphero Play at 4.8 against Hello Loona's 4.2. Sphero Play also leads on ratings volume (37K vs 233). Hello Loona's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
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 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Sphero Play has 37K ratings behind it against 233, 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 62% of Hello Loona's.
Sphero Play ships an update every 2 months, Hello Loona every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 17, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Sphero Play | Hello Loona |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (37K ratings) — better | 4.2 (233 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 69.1% of reviews — better | 62.2% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 37K — better | 233 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 5 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 193 MB | 212 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Sphero, Inc. | Beijing KEYi Technology Co., Ltd. |
Customer experience
Sphero Play
Hello Loona
User reviews
Sphero Play
From 37K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Fun and engaging app
- 👍 Great controls and customization
- 🎮 Enjoyable games and activities
- 💡 Compatibility with multiple Sphero products
Room to improve
- 🐛 Occasional connectivity issues
- 🔧 Limited features compared to older apps
- 🔋 Concerns about battery life and durability
Hello Loona
From 233 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🤖 Intelligent AI with ChatGPT integration
- 🎮 Engaging games and interactive features
- 🎨 Creative capabilities like drawing
- 🏃 Autonomous navigation and movement
- 📱 Helpful companion app functionality
Room to improve
- 🐛 Frequent app crashes and bugs
- 📱 Poor app UI/UX design
- 🔌 WiFi connectivity issues
- ⚙️ Clunky robot movements
- 🔋 Fast battery drain
Bugs and requests
Sphero Play
Reported bugs
2 issues- Joystick controls not working as expected
- Alignment issues causing unexpected movement
Requested features
4 requests- 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
Hello Loona
Reported bugs
14 issues- App registration verification code not sending
- Email registration failing
- QR code scanner unable to focus
- WiFi connection timeouts and bad gateway errors
- App forces landscape mode only
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- Keyboard covers registration buttons
- App signs users out unexpectedly
- App requires reinstalling to function
- Server connection timeouts
- Robot wheels not turning after minimal use
- Robot stares at walls instead of following
- Game ball breaks within days
- Charging station malfunction
- Robot making noises when powered off
Requested features
12 requests- More games and interactive content
- Spanish language support
- Turkish language support
- Adult-friendly app interface version
- Camera/photo capture feature
Show 7 moreShow fewer
- Alarm and wake-up scheduling
- Customizable behavior schedules
- Pet interaction capabilities
- Sleep/rest mode functionality
- Improved voice command integration
- Multiple variable types in programming tool
- Landscape mode toggle for app
In-app purchases
Sphero Play
No in-app purchases
Hello Loona
No in-app purchases
