Comparison

Sphero Play vs Red Thunder Remote

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • Multiple drive modes (joystick, tilt, voice)
  • Robot-controlled games
  • Block Drive programming
  • Sports-themed drive modes
  • Voice control
Features
Read full description

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.

About

Red Thunder Remote

This app provides a Bluetooth controller for a specific RC car toy, offering intuitive driving and interactive 'smart reactions'. It allows users to control lights, monitor battery, and customize animations with a Pro upgrade.

Highlights
  • Intuitive touch controls
  • Smart car reactions to events
  • Light and battery control
  • MFi and Bluetooth controller support
  • Customizable animations
  • Animation database export/import
Features
Read full description

Your favorite RC car lost its original app. Red Thunder Remote brings driving, sounds and expressive movements back to compatible Sphero Ultimate Lightning McQueen cars. DRIVE AND INTERACT • Touch steering and throttle controls that follow where your fingers land. • Portrait and landscape layouts, including iPad. • Headlight and taillight controls, battery readings, volume and idle chatter settings. • Automatic reactions to driving, touch, movement and connection events. KEEP McQUEEN READY • Check his software, audio files and animation data from Diagnostics. • Follow a guided restore when an installation needs attention. • Download English restore audio when needed and reuse the verified image later. • Clear power requirements, consent, progress and Wi-Fi prompts during restores. RED THUNDER PRO — ONE-TIME PURCHASE • Drive with a compatible game controller. • Customize animation names, favorites and event reactions. • Build Studio scenes with editable pauses and playlists. • Organize scenes, movies and playlists in Library. • Discover and share community creations, with reporting and creator-blocking controls. • Follow movie reaction schedules in a full-screen player with manual sync controls. Movie video and sound are not included. • Chat with McQueen on supported devices. Conversation text stays on your device unless you choose to share feedback. NO CAR NEARBY? Explore the interface and take the guided tour before connecting compatible hardware. Driving and physical reactions require a car. A compatible Sphero Ultimate Lightning McQueen is required for hardware features. Keep the car plugged in during restores; English audio installation can take 45–75 minutes. The first audio download requires internet. Chat availability depends on the device. Red Thunder Remote is an independent app and is not affiliated with Sphero, Disney or Pixar.

Screenshots

Sphero Play4 screens
Red Thunder Remote4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Sphero Play at none against Red Thunder Remote's 1. Sphero Play also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.4) and ratings volume (37K vs 10). 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Red Thunder Remote sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Sphero Play asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Sphero Play holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Sphero Play has 37K ratings behind it against 10, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 69% of Sphero Play's written reviews are positive against 75% of Red Thunder Remote's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Sphero Play ships an update every 2 months, Red Thunder Remote every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on November 12, 2026 and November 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Sphero Play versus Red Thunder Remote: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSphero PlayRed Thunder Remote
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (37K ratings) — better4.4 (10 ratings)
Positive reviews69.2% of reviews75.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings37K — better10
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 3 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size193 MB84 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSphero, Inc.Caleb Jones

Customer experience

Sphero Play

All ratings36,681 ratings
Positive96.3%
Neutral2.1%
Negative1.7%
Written reviews522 reviews
Positive69.2%
Neutral6.3%
Negative24.5%

Red Thunder Remote

All ratings8 ratings
Positive75.0%
Neutral12.5%
Negative12.5%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive75.0%
Neutral25.0%
Negative0.0%

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

Red Thunder Remote

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Sphero Play

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Red Thunder Remote

One-time1
  • Red Thunder Pro$2.99

Questions

Is Sphero Play free?
Sphero Play is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Red Thunder Remote free?
Red Thunder Remote is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Sphero Play or Red Thunder Remote?
Sphero Play is rated higher. Sphero Play averages 4.8 out of 5 from 37K ratings, while Red Thunder Remote averages 4.4 from 10 ratings.
Do Sphero Play or Red Thunder Remote have ads?
Neither Sphero Play nor Red Thunder Remote shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Sphero Play or Red Thunder Remote?
Sphero Play ships an update every 2 months, and Red Thunder Remote every 3 months. Most recently, Sphero Play was updated on November 12, 2026 and Red Thunder Remote on November 9, 2026.

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