# 5 Second Rule vs Taboo

The clearest difference is price: 5 Second Rule at Free against Taboo's $1.99. 5 Second Rule also leads on review sentiment (45% vs 37%). Taboo's advantage is rating (4.9 vs 4.7) and chart position (#2 vs #46). On ratings volume, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

5 Second Rule is free to download; Taboo costs $1.99 up front. 5 Second Rule sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $9.99 per 7 days and Taboo sells 26 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Taboo holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 9.7K and 4.7K respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 45% of 5 Second Rule's written reviews are positive against 37% of Taboo's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

5 Second Rule ships an update every 3 weeks, Taboo monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 28, 2026 and September 26, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | 5 Second Rule | Taboo |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $1.99 |
| Rating | [4.7 (9.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/5-second-rule-group-games/id1441645718/reviews) | **[4.9 (4.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/taboo/id1563932741/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **9.7K** | 4.7K |
| Positive reviews | **45.2% of reviews** | 37.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | #46 | **#2** |
| Size | 28 MB | 272 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Boris Mikic](https://appshunter.io/developer/715048836) | [Marmalade Game Studio Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/988365603) |

## What reviewers say

### 5 Second Rule

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/5-second-rule-group-games/id1441645718)

**Currently charting:** #46 Top Grossing · Word, #57 Top Free · Word, #110 Top Free · Card, #192 Top Grossing · Card (US App Store)

This is a fast-paced party game for groups where players must answer a question with three answers in just five seconds. Fail to answer in time, and face a fun punishment. Includes normal and adult-themed card decks for varied party experiences.

**Highlights:** Answer questions in 5 seconds, Come up with 3 answers, Buzzer timer, Punishments for failure, Normal card deck, Sexy card deck

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Subscription Weekly | $9.99 | per 7 days |

**What reviewers like**

- 🤩 Fun game
- 👍 Great for groups/parties
- 😊 Enjoyable with friends/partner
- 🐶 Cute dog review prompt

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive subscription model ($3/week)
- 🤔 Unclear free trial/subscription details
- ⏱️ Very short time limits (5 seconds)
- 🤨 Some questionable/inappropriate content

**Reported bugs**

- Subscription continues even after app deletion
- Inability to access paid content after subscription
- Crashes and compatibility issues with updates

**Requested features**

- One-time purchase option to unlock all content
- More free content/decks
- Adjustable time limits
- Better subscription management/cancellation


### Taboo

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/taboo/id1563932741)

**Currently charting:** #2 Top Paid · Word, #10 Top Paid · Board, #98 Top Paid · Games, #145 Top Paid, #151 Top Grossing · Word (US App Store)

A word-guessing party game where teams compete to describe words without using forbidden terms. Play remotely with friends via video chat and customize game settings for endless fun.

**Highlights:** Video chat integration, Team-based word guessing, Customizable game settings, Ad-free gameplay, Multiple language support, Themed card decks

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

**In-app purchases (26)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Holiday Thanksgiving Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Fun & Games Sports Mix 3 Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Holiday Halloween Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Fun & Games Sports Mix Pack 1 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Surprise Pack 2 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Festive Fun | $1.99 | one-time |
| Fun & Games Games Mix Pack 1 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Fun & Games Sports Mix Pack 2 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Holiday Christmas Pack | $1.99 | one-time |
| Mystery Mix Pack 1 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Generations Gen Z Pack | $1.99 | one-time |
| Holiday Christmas Pack 2 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Into the wild | $2.99 | one-time |
| Surprise Pack 1 | $2.99 | one-time |
| Food and Nature Bundle | $2.99 | one-time |
| Sports and Celebrity Bundle | $2.99 | one-time |
| Unlock Taboo Premium | $2.99 | one-time |
| Midnight Mix Pack 1 | $2.99 | one-time |
| Midnight Night Out Pack | $2.99 | one-time |
| Midnight Bedroom Pack | $2.99 | one-time |
| Ready to Roast | $6.49 | one-time |
| Celebrity Deck | $6.49 | one-time |
| Sports and Games Pack | $7.99 | one-time |
| Welcome Offer | $9.99 | one-time |
| Midnight Deck | $9.99 | one-time |
| Word Bonanza Bundle | $19.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Fun game
- 🎉 Great for family and friends
- 🥳 Lots of laughter
- 🤩 Easy to play

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤔 Limited number of cards
- 🔁 Repeated cards after a few rounds
- 💰 Need to pay for more cards
- 🤨 Unclear how to add more players

**Reported bugs**

- Game stopped in the middle to ask for payment
- Video chat feature not working
- App not optimized for high refresh rate displays

**Requested features**

- Add more cards in the base version
- Allow customization of game rules
- Implement a stats/history section
- Support more than 2 teams


## Frequently asked questions

### Is 5 Second Rule free?

5 Second Rule is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Taboo free?

Taboo costs $1.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, 5 Second Rule or Taboo?

Taboo is rated higher. 5 Second Rule averages 4.7 out of 5 from 9.7K ratings, while Taboo averages 4.9 from 4.7K ratings.

### Do 5 Second Rule or Taboo have ads?

Neither 5 Second Rule nor Taboo shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, 5 Second Rule or Taboo?

5 Second Rule ships an update every 3 weeks, and Taboo monthly. Most recently, 5 Second Rule was updated on September 28, 2026 and Taboo on September 26, 2026.

### Which is more popular, 5 Second Rule or Taboo?

5 Second Rule currently peaks at #46 in the App Store charts, and Taboo at #2. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*