# R2 vs Barbar Alias

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: R2 at none against Barbar Alias's 2. Barbar Alias's advantage is update cadence (every 2 days vs every 4 months). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Barbar Alias sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. R2 asks for nothing beyond the download.

R2 ships an update every 4 months, Barbar Alias every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | R2 | Barbar Alias |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.4 (376 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/r2-d2-droid-control/id1403826626/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **376** | — |
| Positive reviews | 22.6% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 37 MB | 80 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [De Agostini Publishing S.p.A.](https://appshunter.io/developer/446742474) | [Argam Mehrabyan](https://appshunter.io/developer/6805472990) |

## What reviewers say

### R2

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/r2-d2-droid-control/id1403826626)

Control your interactive R2-D2 droid from your smartphone or tablet. Steer the droid, view its camera feed, and activate unique features like its projector and pop-up lightsaber. The droid can also operate autonomously and respond to voice commands.

**Highlights:** Dual mode control (command/AI), Video/still camera with face detection, Holographic message projector, Pop-up lightsaber, Extending arms and manipulator probes, Voice command response

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Works well when functioning properly
- 🎮 Endless features and functionality
- 🔧 Resolves issues with reinstallation
- 📱 Compatible with multiple Apple devices

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App crashes on startup frequently
- 📵 Connection failures to R2-D2 unit
- ⚠️ Not updated for latest iOS versions
- 🔌 WiFi connectivity issues (local and direct modes)
- 💔 Product becomes unusable without working app

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes immediately upon opening
- Unable to connect to R2-D2 via Bluetooth or WiFi
- Local WiFi connection mode not working
- Direct WiFi mode intermittently functional
- iOS 14, 16, 17, 18, 18.1 compatibility issues

**Requested features**

- Update app for iOS 16, 17, 18, and 18.1 compatibility
- Diagnostic feature to check R2-D2 problems
- Volume control option
- Programming/automation functionality
- Controller support (PS2/gamepad)


### Barbar Alias

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/barbar-alias/id6805472988)

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Barbar Alias Premium | $3.99 | per month |
| Barbar Alias Premium | $29.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is R2 free?

R2 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Barbar Alias free?

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

### Do R2 or Barbar Alias have ads?

Neither R2 nor Barbar Alias shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, R2 or Barbar Alias?

R2 ships an update every 4 months, and Barbar Alias every 2 days. Most recently, R2 was updated on October 24, 2026 and Barbar Alias on October 29, 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.*