Sphero Play vs Pulse Wave Connect
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.
Pulse Wave Connect
A next-generation social platform for creators and fans to connect through short-form video, live streams, and community spaces. Discover trending content, build your following, and engage with your audience in real-time.
- Short-form video feed
- Live streaming capabilities
- Direct messaging
- Community Spaces
- Creator Dashboard
- Multiple post formats
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PULSE WAVE — Where creators wave and audiences connect. Pulse Wave is the next-generation social platform built for creators and fans who want more. Swipe through a stunning short-form video feed, go live, build your community, and turn your passion into a following. DISCOVER & CREATE • For You, Following, and Trending feeds tuned to what you love • Six ways to post: Videos, Photos, Stories, Text, Duets, and Live • Full-screen, swipe-to-watch video mode • Explore trending hashtags and rising creators CONNECT & COMMUNITY • Real-time direct messaging with photos and voice notes • Community Spaces for your niche, fandom, or crew • Follow creators and join the conversation • React, comment, repost, and save GO LIVE • Stream to your followers with a live viewer count • Live chat and reactions in the moment • Share your stream across multiple communities CREATOR TOOLS • Creator Dashboard: views, likes, reach, and engagement • See your top content and understand your audience • Verified creator badge program SAFE & PRIVATE • Report and block tools on every post and profile • Age verification at sign-up (13+) • Private account mode and parental controls • Delete your account and data anytime Built on a bold, futuristic design with electric blue and purple gradients — Pulse Wave is as beautiful as it is powerful. Start your wave today.
Screenshots
Verdict
Sphero Play and Pulse Wave Connect both sit at 4.8 stars, but that hides the real split: 100% of Pulse Wave Connect's written reviews are positive against 69% of Sphero Play's. Pulse Wave Connect also leads on update cadence (every 5 days vs every 2 months). Sphero Play's advantage is ratings volume (37K vs 1). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases 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.
Pulse Wave Connect 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. Written reviews point the same way: 69% of Sphero Play's written reviews are positive against 100% of Pulse Wave Connect's.
Sphero Play ships an update every 2 months, Pulse Wave Connect every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Sphero Play | Pulse Wave Connect |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (37K ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 69.1% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 37K — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 5 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 15.1 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 193 MB | 50 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Sphero, Inc. | Robert Mitchell |
Customer experience
Sphero Play
Pulse Wave Connect
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
Pulse Wave Connect
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Sphero Play
No in-app purchases
Pulse Wave Connect
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Sphero Play free?
Is Pulse Wave Connect free?
Which has better reviews, Sphero Play or Pulse Wave Connect?
Do Sphero Play or Pulse Wave Connect have ads?
Which is updated more often, Sphero Play or Pulse Wave Connect?
Other comparisons
