# The Istrys vs Cube Match 3D

The clearest difference is ads: The Istrys at none against Cube Match 3D's shown. The Istrys also leads on review sentiment (51% vs 25%). Cube Match 3D's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs monthly) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 18.0). On price, rating, ratings volume and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. The Istrys sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $3.99 per month and Cube Match 3D sells 11 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for The Istrys against 4.8 for Cube Match 3D. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 741 and 373 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 51% of The Istrys's written reviews are positive against 25% of Cube Match 3D's.

The Istrys ships an update monthly, Cube Match 3D fortnightly. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | The Istrys | Cube Match 3D |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (741 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-istrys/id1324155284/reviews) | **[4.8 (373 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cube-match-3d-block-master/id1614393827/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **741** | 373 |
| Positive reviews | **50.7% of reviews** | 25.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 148 MB | 203 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Match 2 LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/591937406) | [Dead Pixel](https://appshunter.io/developer/1614393829) |

## What reviewers say

### The Istrys

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-istrys/id1324155284)

Experience a collection of 3D match-2 puzzle games. Enjoy various single-player modes, co-op, and versus play. New puzzles are unlocked with a subscription.

**Highlights:** 3D match-2 puzzle gameplay, 17+ singleplayer modes, Co-op and versus modes, Collection of 40+ puzzles, New puzzles via subscription

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Istrys Plus Subscription. | $3.99 | per month |

**What reviewers like**

- 😊 Relaxing and calming
- 👍 Engaging and addictive gameplay
- 💡 Variety of game modes
- 🧠 Helps with memory and cognition

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤔 Lack of updates and new content
- 🤨 Subscription model not worth it
- 🐛 Orientation issues and app crashes
- 🙅‍♀️ No Apple Pencil support

**Reported bugs**

- App freezing and not loading games
- Broken game modes (e.g. Dinostry)
- Orientation issues after updates

**Requested features**

- Option to purchase games individually
- Ability to see previous scores
- Customizable art styles


### Cube Match 3D

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cube-match-3d-block-master/id1614393827)

Engage in a relaxing 3D tile matching puzzle game. Rotate cubes to find and match three identical objects, clearing levels and boosting your brainpower. Enjoy a vast array of colorful cubes and challenging levels.

**Highlights:** Triple tile matching, 360-degree cube rotation, Variety of colorful 3D blocks, Challenging levels, Offline play, Brain training and logical thinking

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

**In-app purchases (11)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Special Offer 1 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Special Offer 2 | $2.99 | one-time |
| Piggy Bank | $2.99 | one-time |
| Special Offer 3 | $3.99 | one-time |
| Special Offer 4 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Master Bundle | $4.99 | one-time |
| Remove Ads | $4.99 | one-time |
| Special Offer 5 | $5.99 | one-time |
| Gold Bundle 1 | $5.99 | one-time |
| Revive pack 1 | $5.99 | one-time |
| Gold Bundle 2 | $6.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Mindless entertainment
- 🤩 Addictive gameplay
- 💡 No timer requested

**What reviewers complain about**

-  intrusive ads
- 😫 Ads interrupt gameplay
- 💸 Ads force purchase
- 🚫 Ads too frequent
- 📉 Purchase not restored

**Reported bugs**

- Game stopped giving level ups
- Game stopped counting stars
- Purchase not restorable

**Requested features**

- Dark theme for disabilities
- No timer option


## Frequently asked questions

### Is The Istrys free?

The Istrys is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Cube Match 3D free?

Cube Match 3D is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, The Istrys or Cube Match 3D?

Cube Match 3D is rated higher. The Istrys averages 4.7 out of 5 from 741 ratings, while Cube Match 3D averages 4.8 from 373 ratings.

### Do The Istrys or Cube Match 3D have ads?

Cube Match 3D shows ads; The Istrys does not.

### Which is updated more often, The Istrys or Cube Match 3D?

The Istrys ships an update monthly, and Cube Match 3D fortnightly. Most recently, The Istrys was updated on October 24, 2026 and Cube Match 3D on October 24, 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.*