# Shoot n Merge vs Bubble Drop

Shoot n Merge and Bubble Drop both sit at 4.4 stars, but that hides the real split: 80% of Bubble Drop's written reviews are positive against 13% of Shoot n Merge's. Bubble Drop also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 3 months). Shoot n Merge's advantage is ratings volume (8.9K vs 9). On price, rating, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Shoot n Merge sells 4 one-off in-app purchases and Bubble Drop sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Shoot n Merge holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Shoot n Merge has 8.9K ratings behind it against 9, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 13% of Shoot n Merge's written reviews are positive against 80% of Bubble Drop's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Shoot n Merge ships an update every 3 months, Bubble Drop every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on October 21, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Shoot n Merge | Bubble Drop |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.4 (8.9K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shoot-n-merge/id1347666572/reviews)** | [4.2 (9 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bubble-drop/id1462664202/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **8.9K** | 9 |
| Positive reviews | 13.0% of reviews | **80.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 315 MB | 77 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **9.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Metajoy](https://appshunter.io/developer/1436156282) | [TippyTap](https://appshunter.io/developer/1148221549) |

## What reviewers say

### Shoot n Merge

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shoot-n-merge/id1347666572)

This innovative puzzle game combines number merging, bubble shooting, and match-3 mechanics. Tap to shoot bricks, merge tiles with the same number to achieve higher scores, and challenge your friends. It's easy to learn but offers a challenging experience with no time limits.

**Highlights:** Number merge gameplay, Bubble shooting mechanics, Match-3 elements, Challenge high scores, Play with friends, No time limit

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 100 Coins | $0.99 | one-time |
| Remove Ads | $2.99 | one-time |
| 550 Coins | $4.99 | one-time |
| 1150 Coins | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎮 Fun and addictive gameplay
- 💎 Great puzzle game concept

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤬 Excessive and intrusive ads
- 🛑 Ads that cannot be closed
- ⏱️ Ads interrupting gameplay
- 🔁 Ads causing game resets
- 💰 Difficult to earn in-game currency

**Reported bugs**

- Game freezing or crashing
- Unresponsive controls
- Inconsistent gameplay after updates

**Requested features**

- Option to disable ads for a fee
- Improved ad placement and frequency
- More generous in-game currency rewards


### Bubble Drop

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bubble-drop/id1462664202)

Tap to drop numbered bubbles from a pipe, merging same-colored and numbered bubbles to create larger numbers and score points. Strategically pop sticky bubbles on boss levels by making matches. Achieve massive scores with combos and chain reactions.

**Highlights:** Tap to drop bubbles, Merge same number and color, Beat sticky boss levels, Create combo matches, Score massive points, Chain reaction gameplay

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| No Ads | $2.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Shoot n Merge free?

Shoot n Merge is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Bubble Drop free?

Bubble Drop is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Shoot n Merge or Bubble Drop?

Shoot n Merge is rated higher. Shoot n Merge averages 4.4 out of 5 from 8.9K ratings, while Bubble Drop averages 4.2 from 9 ratings.

### Do Shoot n Merge or Bubble Drop have ads?

Shoot n Merge shows ads; Bubble Drop does not.

### Which is updated more often, Shoot n Merge or Bubble Drop?

Shoot n Merge ships an update every 3 months, and Bubble Drop every 2 weeks. Most recently, Shoot n Merge was updated on October 21, 2026 and Bubble Drop on October 21, 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.*