# Sphero Play vs Barkware

The clearest difference is ratings volume: Sphero Play at 37K against Barkware's 1. On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

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

Barkware holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Sphero Play has 37K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Sphero Play ships an update every 2 months, Barkware every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Sphero Play | Barkware |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (37K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sphero-play/id1280682522/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/barkware/id6738340079/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **37K** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 69.1% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 5 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 193 MB | 66 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **14.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Sphero, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/468699622) | [BARKWARE LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1780284351) |

## 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


### Barkware

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/barkware/id6738340079)

This app connects to a smart device to enhance your dog's playtime. Customize play modes, lighting, and sound to suit your pet's preferences. Features include quick search and a do not disturb option for quiet times.

**Highlights:** Connect to Barkware devices, Switch between play modes, Customize lighting and sound, Save preferred settings, One Tap Search for device, Do Not Disturb mode

**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 Barkware free?

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

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

Barkware is rated higher. Sphero Play averages 4.8 out of 5 from 37K ratings, while Barkware averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Sphero Play or Barkware have ads?

Neither Sphero Play nor Barkware shows ads.

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

Sphero Play ships an update every 2 months, and Barkware every 5 weeks. Most recently, Sphero Play was updated on October 20, 2026 and Barkware on October 7, 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.*