# Dots and Boxes vs Mancala Online

The clearest difference is rating: Mancala Online at 4.9 against Dots and Boxes's 3.7. Mancala Online also leads on ratings volume (1.2K vs 23). Dots and Boxes's advantage is review sentiment (47% vs 34%) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Dots and Boxes sells 8 one-off in-app purchases and Mancala Online sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Mancala Online holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Mancala Online has 1.2K ratings behind it against 23, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 47% of Dots and Boxes's written reviews are positive against 34% of Mancala Online's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 22, 2026 and October 20, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Dots and Boxes | Mancala Online |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.7 (23 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dots-and-boxes-multiplayer/id1366169655/reviews) | **[4.9 (1.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mancala-online/id1491332955/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 23 | **1.2K** |
| Positive reviews | **46.7% of reviews** | 34.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 94 MB | 128 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [CodeHound](https://appshunter.io/developer/1173184098) | [DonkeyCat GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/495361562) |

## What reviewers say

### Dots and Boxes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dots-and-boxes-multiplayer/id1366169655)

Engage in a classic pencil-and-paper strategy game with this digital multiplayer version. Connect dots to form squares and outscore your opponents in live online matches, private games with friends, or offline against the computer. Bet on matches and climb the global leaderboard.

**Highlights:** Live online multiplayer, Private matches with friends, Offline AI opponent, Betting and rewards, Live chat with opponents, Global leaderboard, Facebook login

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

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 10000 Coins | $0.99 | one-time |
| 25000 Coins | $1.99 | one-time |
| 50000 Coins | $2.99 | one-time |
| 100K Coins | $3.99 | one-time |
| 250K Coins | $4.99 | one-time |
| 95000 Coins | $4.99 | one-time |
| 750K Coins | $5.99 | one-time |
| Remove Ads | $9.99 | one-time |


### Mancala Online

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mancala-online/id1491332955)

Experience the ancient African board game with this app. Play against AI, friends offline, or players worldwide. Features include real-time chat, leaderboards, and detailed stats to improve your strategy.

**Highlights:** Online multiplayer matches, Offline 'pass and play' mode, AI computer opponents with adjustable difficulty, Real-time chat with opponents, Global leaderboards, Detailed game statistics

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

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Small Credit Package | $0.99 | one-time |
| Small Coin Package | $1.99 | one-time |
| Disable Ads | $2.99 | one-time |
| Pro - 1 month | $3.99 | one-time |
| Medium Credit Package | $4.99 | one-time |
| Medium Coin Package | $5.99 | one-time |
| Pro - 3 months | $6.99 | one-time |
| Large Credit Package | $17.99 | one-time |
| Pro - 12 months | $17.99 | one-time |
| Large Coin Package | $19.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use controls
- 👍 Fun game
- 👍 Great online experience
- 👍 Best mancala app

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent freezing and crashing
- 🔒 Security issues
- 💰 Too many ads
- 🐛 Glitchy gameplay

**Reported bugs**

- Losing connection during games
- Forced losses due to manipulation
- Inconsistent timer behavior

**Requested features**

- Avalanche mode
- Improved matchmaking


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Dots and Boxes free?

Dots and Boxes is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Mancala Online free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Dots and Boxes or Mancala Online?

Mancala Online is rated higher. Dots and Boxes averages 3.7 out of 5 from 23 ratings, while Mancala Online averages 4.9 from 1.2K ratings.

### Do Dots and Boxes or Mancala Online have ads?

Both Dots and Boxes and Mancala Online show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Dots and Boxes or Mancala Online?

Dots and Boxes ships an update every 2 months, and Mancala Online every 2 months. Most recently, Dots and Boxes was updated on October 22, 2026 and Mancala Online on October 20, 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.*