# Sandbox Zombies vs Melon

The clearest difference is ads: Sandbox Zombies at none against Melon's shown. Sandbox Zombies also leads on iOS requirement (8.0 vs 15.0). Melon's advantage is ratings volume (140K vs 324) and rating (4.5 vs 4.3). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Sandbox Zombies sells 2 one-off in-app purchases and Melon sells 26 in-app purchases, starting at $3.49 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Melon holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Melon has 140K ratings behind it against 324, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 84% of Sandbox Zombies's written reviews are positive against 77% of Melon's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Sandbox Zombies ships an update every 11 days, Melon weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 4, 2026 and September 27, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Sandbox Zombies | Melon |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (324 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sandbox-zombies/id1352809693/reviews) | **[4.5 (140K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/melon-sandbox/id1610874732/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 324 | **140K** |
| Positive reviews | **83.5% of reviews** | 76.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 11 days | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#13** |
| Size | 46 MB | 533 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [MOSS RED LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/6788485135) | [Payge Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1653289615) |

## What reviewers say

### Sandbox Zombies

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sandbox-zombies/id1352809693)

Engage in chaotic battle simulations by creating custom levels with diverse units and a vast arsenal. Pit humans against monsters like vampires, werewolves, and ninjas, or combine their abilities for unique combat scenarios. Enjoy a regularly updated, ad-free experience with an optional one-time purchase for the full version.

**Highlights:** Custom level creation, Diverse unit types (humans, monsters, supernatural), Hybrid unit abilities, Wide arsenal of weapons, Silly and unique weapon options, Regular updates, Ad-free experience

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Sandbox Zombies Unlocked | $4.99 | one-time |
| Sandbox Zombies Premium | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fun sandbox experience
- 👍 Variety of units and weapons
- 💡 Potential for great updates
- 👍 Good value for premium version

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and freezing
- 🔇 Lack of sound effects
- 🔒 Premium features locked behind paywall

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes and freezes when playing for extended periods
- Inability to restore premium purchases after reinstallation
- Spawner and control issues when reaching entity limit

**Requested features**

- Add more weapons and units
- Implement unit control and customization
- Increase map size and entity limit
- Introduce destructible terrain and buildings
- Add sound effects and background music


### Melon

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/melon-sandbox/id1610874732)

**Currently charting:** #13 Top Free · Simulation, #83 Top Grossing · Simulation, #104 Top Free · Games (US App Store)

Unleash your creativity in a chaotic sandbox game. Experiment with realistic ragdoll physics, a massive arsenal of weapons, and custom devices to create mayhem. Explore open worlds and build your own playground for destructive fun.

**Highlights:** Realistic ragdoll physics, Massive arsenal of weapons, Custom device creation, Open-world sandbox maps, Brutal experiments, Destructive fun

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

**In-app purchases (26)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Membership - 1 Week | $3.49 | per 7 days |
| Melon Premium 1 Month | $9.99 | per month |
| Pile of Mels | $0.59 | one-time |
| Heap of Mels | $0.99 | one-time |
| First Buy Offer | $0.99 | one-time |
| Bunch of Dices | $4.99 | one-time |
| Bucket of Mels | $4.99 | one-time |
| First Buy Offer | $4.99 | one-time |
| Small Box of SlimeCoins | $4.99 | one-time |
| Small Box of Stars | $4.99 | one-time |
| Small Box of Easter Eggs | $4.99 | one-time |
| Small Box of Clovers | $4.99 | one-time |
| Small Box of Valentines | $5.59 | one-time |
| Small Gifts Box | $5.59 | one-time |
| Barrel of Mels | $9.99 | one-time |
| First Buy Offer | $9.99 | one-time |
| Medium Box of Valentines | $13.99 | one-time |
| Medium Gifts Box | $13.99 | one-time |
| Medium Box of Stars | $14.99 | one-time |
| Medium Box of Easter Eggs | $14.99 | one-time |
| Medium Box of Clovers | $14.99 | one-time |
| Chest of Mels | $19.99 | one-time |
| Big Gifts Box | $24.99 | one-time |
| Cart of Mels | $49.99 | one-time |
| Lot of Mels | $99.99 | one-time |
| Huge Gifts Box | $99.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great mobile alternative to People Playground
- 👍 Lots of creative possibilities
- 🎨 Customizable characters and scenarios
- 💡 Unique fruit/vegetable characters
- 👍 Addictive and fun gameplay

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Bugs with save system and resizing
- 🔍 Limited camera controls
- 🔍 Lack of detailed instructions
- 🔋 Frequent ads interrupting gameplay
- 🔍 Limited character and clothing options

**Reported bugs**

- Saved creations glitching or disappearing
- Resizing issues causing damage to characters
- Ads with no close button, forcing app restart
- Inconsistent character behavior and animations

**Requested features**

- More character options (grapes, bananas, etc.)
- Additional weapons, vehicles, and items
- Ability to create custom maps
- Improved physics and gore effects
- Mod support and customization on iOS


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Sandbox Zombies free?

Sandbox Zombies is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Melon free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Sandbox Zombies or Melon?

Melon is rated higher. Sandbox Zombies averages 4.3 out of 5 from 324 ratings, while Melon averages 4.5 from 140K ratings.

### Do Sandbox Zombies or Melon have ads?

Melon shows ads; Sandbox Zombies does not.

### Which is updated more often, Sandbox Zombies or Melon?

Sandbox Zombies ships an update every 11 days, and Melon weekly. Most recently, Sandbox Zombies was updated on September 4, 2026 and Melon on September 27, 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.*