# Dots & Boxes vs Cloisters

The clearest difference is ads: Cloisters at none against Dots & Boxes's shown. Cloisters also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 8 months). Dots & Boxes's advantage is iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.4). On price, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Dots & Boxes ships an update every 8 months, Cloisters every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 9, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Dots & Boxes | Cloisters |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 8 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Size | 75 MB | 1 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 18.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Jose Morato](https://appshunter.io/developer/1168552173) | [Ben Balcomb](https://appshunter.io/developer/1257569489) |

## What reviewers say

### Dots & Boxes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dots-and-boxes-pegolandia/id1472920744)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Cloisters

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cloisters/id6749488598)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Dots & Boxes free?

Dots & Boxes is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Cloisters free?

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

### Do Dots & Boxes or Cloisters have ads?

Dots & Boxes shows ads; Cloisters does not.

### Which is updated more often, Dots & Boxes or Cloisters?

Dots & Boxes ships an update every 8 months, and Cloisters every 3 weeks. Most recently, Dots & Boxes was updated on October 9, 2026 and Cloisters on October 7, 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.*