# Spades * vs CardGames.io

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: CardGames.io at none against Spades *'s 5. CardGames.io also leads on review sentiment (56% vs 35%) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.6). Spades *'s advantage is chart position (#95 vs unranked) and ratings volume (430K vs 52K). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Spades * sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. CardGames.io asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for Spades * against 4.7 for CardGames.io. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Spades * has 430K ratings behind it against 52K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 35% of Spades *'s written reviews are positive against 56% of CardGames.io's.

Spades * ships an update every 2 months, CardGames.io every 6 weeks. Both last shipped on November 1, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Spades * | CardGames.io |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (430K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spades/id1318181304/reviews) | **[4.7 (52K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cardgamesio/id1496007149/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **430K** | 52K |
| Positive reviews | 34.8% of reviews | **56.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 6 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Best chart rank | **#95** | — |
| Size | 142 MB | 179 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Fiogonia Games](https://appshunter.io/developer/1182341535) | [Raudas Hugbunadur ehf.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1350449658) |

## What reviewers say

### Spades *

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spades/id1318181304)

**Currently charting:** #95 Top Free · Family, #145 Top Grossing · Family, #166 Top Free · Card (US App Store)

Experience the classic Spades card game with an adaptive AI that challenges players of all skill levels. Enjoy stunning graphics, customizable options, and detailed stats tracking. Play for free or enhance your experience with a VIP subscription for ad-free gameplay and exclusive content.

**Highlights:** Adaptive AI opponent, Crisp graphics and sound effects, Customizable cards and backgrounds, Scoreboard and stats tracking, Play with or without Blind Nill, Auto-save and resume

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| VIP Status 1 Week | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| VIP Status 1 Month | $7.99 | per month |
| VIP Status 6 Months | $29.99 | per 6 months |
| VIP Status 1 Year | $49.99 | per year |
| Remove Ads | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🤩 Fun game
- 💪 Challenging gameplay
- 🎨 Enjoyable visuals

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤖 Incompetent partner AI
- 🤯 Inconsistent scoring system
- 🤬 Excessive ads
- 🤔 Unclear game rules and mechanics

**Reported bugs**

- Game crashes or freezes
- Ads interfere with gameplay
- Scoring errors or discrepancies

**Requested features**

- Option to play without a partner
- Ability to customize partner AI difficulty
- In-game tutorial or explanation of scoring
- Offline play mode


### CardGames.io

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cardgamesio/id1496007149)

Enjoy a vast collection of classic card, solitaire, and puzzle games. Play solo or challenge friends in multiplayer modes. Track your statistics and enjoy an enhanced full-screen experience.

**Highlights:** 35+ classic games, Card games: Hearts, Spades, Rummy, Solitaire games: Klondike, FreeCell, Puzzle/Board games: Chess, Checkers, Multiplayer mode, Persistent statistics tracking, Full screen mode

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🎨 Variety of games
- 📚 Clear game instructions
- 🕹️ Smooth gameplay
- 🕰️ Offline playability
- 🎨 Holiday-themed decor

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and freezes
- 🔍 Difficulty closing ads
- 🤖 Biased/cheating computer opponents
- 🔍 Small card sizes on mobile
- 🔍 Cluttered UI on some games

**Reported bugs**

- Cribbage scoring issues
- Backgammon dice rolls favoring computer
- Spades partner bidding problems
- Multiplayer game freezes
- Incorrect card interactions in some games

**Requested features**

- Add more game options (poker, snakes and ladders, etc.)
- Implement undo/redo functionality
- Allow adjustable AI difficulty
- Add a paid ad-free version
- Improve partner AI in team games


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Spades * free?

Spades * is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is CardGames.io free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Spades * or CardGames.io?

CardGames.io is rated higher. Spades * averages 4.6 out of 5 from 430K ratings, while CardGames.io averages 4.7 from 52K ratings.

### Do Spades * or CardGames.io have ads?

Both Spades * and CardGames.io show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Spades * or CardGames.io?

Spades * ships an update every 2 months, and CardGames.io every 6 weeks. Most recently, Spades * was updated on November 1, 2026 and CardGames.io on November 1, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*