# Itty Bitty Buggy vs Merge Explorer

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Itty Bitty Buggy at none against Merge Explorer's 4. Merge Explorer's advantage is rating (4.1 vs 3.9) and ratings volume (279 vs 21). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Merge Explorer sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Itty Bitty Buggy asks for nothing beyond the download.

Merge Explorer holds the better App Store score, 4.1 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Merge Explorer has 279 ratings behind it against 21, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 44% of Itty Bitty Buggy's written reviews are positive against 46% of Merge Explorer's.

Itty Bitty Buggy ships an update every 3 weeks, Merge Explorer monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Itty Bitty Buggy | Merge Explorer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.9 (21 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/itty-bitty-buggy/id1434010722/reviews) | **[4.1 (279 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/merge-explorer/id1453098606/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 21 | **279** |
| Positive reviews | 44.4% of reviews | **46.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Monthly |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 61 MB | 1.3 GB |
| Requires iOS | 16.4 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Microduino Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1089041394) | [Merge Apps](https://appshunter.io/developer/1253049593) |

## What reviewers say

### Itty Bitty Buggy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/itty-bitty-buggy/id1434010722)

Build and control various shapes for a virtual buggy. Offers five distinct styles and four control gameplay modes for interactive real-world play.

**Highlights:** Build various shapes, Control buggy movement, Five distinct styles, Four control gameplay modes, Interactive real-world play

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Merge Explorer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/merge-explorer/id1453098606)

Explore over 100 interactive science simulations using a smartphone and a Merge Cube. Investigate volcanoes, sharks, the solar system, and more with hands-on activities and quizzes. Ideal for K-8 students learning science at school or home.

**Highlights:** Over 100 science simulations, Interactive Merge Cube experiences, Hands-on learning activities, Built-in quizzes, NGSS-aligned K-8 curriculum, Physical, Life, and Earth/Space Science topics

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Merge EDU Individual | $9.99 | per month |
| Explorer Premium Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Merge EDU Individual | $99.99 | per year |
| Explorer Premium Annual | $99.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy for young students
- 💡 Flexible for lesson needs
- 🔬 Used for research and experiments
- 💡 Introduces new content exploratorily
- 🤩 Engaging and versatile for learning

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive purchase
- 💰 Forced subscription for software
- 💰 Cannot view software before paying
- 💰 Money trap
- 💰 Only for rich people

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on iPad
- App crashes when pressing play
- Camera not working in app
- Black screen when using cube or camera
- VR function broken

**Requested features**

- Make the app free to play
- Add more fun things, not just learning
- Bring back the fun apps (time bomb, block courses)
- Allow users to create their own games for the merge cube
- Add a way to reset quizzes for class sets of devices


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Itty Bitty Buggy free?

Itty Bitty Buggy is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Merge Explorer free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Itty Bitty Buggy or Merge Explorer?

Merge Explorer is rated higher. Itty Bitty Buggy averages 3.9 out of 5 from 21 ratings, while Merge Explorer averages 4.1 from 279 ratings.

### Do Itty Bitty Buggy or Merge Explorer have ads?

Neither Itty Bitty Buggy nor Merge Explorer shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Itty Bitty Buggy or Merge Explorer?

Itty Bitty Buggy ships an update every 3 weeks, and Merge Explorer monthly. Most recently, Itty Bitty Buggy was updated on October 2, 2026 and Merge Explorer on October 12, 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.*