Comparison

SpellTower vs Sparrows

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

SpellTower

This word game challenges players to find words as tiles rise from the bottom. Strategize to clear columns before they reach the top. Features multiple game modes, bonus tiles, and detailed statistics.

Highlights
  • Rising tile mechanic
  • Multiple game modes
  • Bonus tiles
  • Detailed statistics
  • Game Center leaderboards
  • iCloud Backup
Features
Read full description

The original best-selling mobile word game, reimagined! Pick your words wisely! As you play, more tiles rise from the bottom of the screen! It'll take all of your lexicological wits, and tactical know-how to keep your columns down. If any letters make it to the top row, it's game over. Classic modes Daily Tower, Tower, Puzzle, Rush and Zen are all back and packed with brand new BONUS TILES that double (or more!) word values. Joining them is the brand new Search mode, plus ExPuzzle, Double Puzzle, Bubble Puzzle, and Blitz mode! That’s eleven modes in all! Plus iCloud Backup, Highscores reported for games even while in-progress, detailed statistics for every mode, Game Center leaderboards, and achievements. ————————— It’s pretty wild to be revisiting my first hit game, SpellTower. I can't believe it's almost 10 years since it released. The first iPhones it ran on had a 3.5 inch screen and 320 x 480 resolution! I literally did a double-take at that resolution when I looked it up. A funny part about having a hit game is people talk to you about it. With SpellTower I heard about grandparents playing the game every morning to keep their minds sharp, parents playing it with their kids, expectant mothers playing it to get through morning sickness, and countless sightings of strangers playing it on subways, planes — even elevators. I got into games because I wanted to connect with people in a positive way. I wanted to help people think critically and come away with more than they arrived with. Games felt like a way to do this on a huge scale, but the stories I heard from SpellTower players taught me that games do so much more for people than I ever expected. I’m deeply grateful that SpellTower has been able to be something special for so many people, and I think that’s why so many people have shared it with friends, loved ones, and strangers on elevators. Even though SpellTower is a game I made, it’s really barely mine anymore. The experiences and love I had for the game has been outstripped by its audiences a thousandfold. I thought a lot about all the experiences that people have had with the game when I was designing this new version. I hope it gives everyone who’s loved the game a reason to pick it back up again and share it amongst their friends and family. -zach

About

Sparrows

Engage in a word-spelling puzzle game that combines elements of Mahjong and Scrabble. Earn points by forming words from letter tiles, strategically using score multipliers, and advancing through challenging levels. Multiple game modes offer varied gameplay experiences.

Highlights
  • Level progression with star ratings
  • Multiple game modes (Timed, Moves, Puzzle)
  • Score multipliers on letter/word tiles
  • Power-ups for score boosts
  • Daily goals and objectives
Features
Read full description

Sparrows – mahjong tiles meet wordplay! Spell words from letter tiles, earn score multipliers, and conquer challenging puzzles. Advance through levels, earn 1–3 stars, and master increasingly tricky boards. Multiple game modes – Timed, Moves, and Puzzle – keep gameplay fresh and engaging. Key Features: • Level Progression & Star Ratings: Tackle boards and earn 1–3 stars for top performance. • Game Modes: Timed, Moves, and Puzzle for varied challenges. • Score Multipliers: Double and triple letter/word tiles reward strategic play. • Power-Ups: Boost your score and overcome tough boards. • Daily Goals: Complete new objectives each day to stay challenged. • Relaxing, no timer needed – play at your own pace in Puzzle mode. • Plays great on iPhone and iPad. Relax or Compete: Whether you want a calm puzzle session or a fast-paced challenge, Sparrows offers a rewarding word game experience for every player. Download Sparrows Now! Start your wordplay journey, master each board, and enjoy endless mahjong-meets-wordplay fun!

Screenshots

SpellTower4 screens
Sparrows4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Sparrows at 4.6 against SpellTower's 3.7. Sparrows also leads on review sentiment (58% vs 37%). SpellTower's advantage is update cadence (every 2 days vs every 5 weeks) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.2). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. SpellTower sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Sparrows sells 14 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Sparrows holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 629 and 777 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 37% of SpellTower's written reviews are positive against 58% of Sparrows's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SpellTower ships an update every 2 days, Sparrows every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 19, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
SpellTower versus Sparrows: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSpellTowerSparrows
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.7 (629 ratings)4.6 (777 ratings) — better
Positive reviews37.2% of reviews58.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings629777 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 days — betterEvery 5 weeks
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.0 — better15.2
Further details — not scored
Size138 MB506 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperZach GageFluffy Dog Studio

Customer experience

SpellTower

All ratings629 ratings
Positive62.2%
Neutral11.3%
Negative26.6%
Written reviews199 reviews
Positive37.2%
Neutral19.6%
Negative43.2%

Sparrows

All ratings777 ratings
Positive89.7%
Neutral5.5%
Negative4.8%
Written reviews69 reviews
Positive58.0%
Neutral17.4%
Negative24.6%

User reviews

SpellTower

From 629 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Challenging and fun
  • 🧠 Great brain exercise
  • 🎨 Elegant and well-designed
  • 🕰️ Relaxing gameplay
  • 👍 Addictive and enjoyable

Room to improve

  • 🔍 Dictionary needs updating
  • 🤖 Words not recognized despite being valid
  • 💰 Ads too frequent and intrusive
  • 🔒 Paid version doesn't remove all ads
  • 🤯 Frustrating when game ends unexpectedly

Sparrows

From 777 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🤩 Loads of fun
  • 🧠 Challenging and engaging
  • 🎨 Lovely design and aesthetics
  • 🕰️ Great for short play sessions
  • 🧠 Stimulates the mind

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent crashes and glitches
  • 🤔 Inconsistent word recognition
  • 🤯 Frustrating when game ends unexpectedly
  • 🤖 Questionable dictionary choices
  • 🤷‍♀️ Confusing UI elements

Bugs and requests

SpellTower

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Game freezes or crashes
  • Tutorial gets stuck and can't be skipped
  • Scoring and progress issues
  • Compatibility problems on certain devices

Requested features

5 requests
  • Undo/Redo functionality
  • Adjustable difficulty levels
  • Sync progress across devices
  • Offline gameplay mode
  • More game modes and customization options

Sparrows

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Game crashes on launch for some users
  • Word search mode has incorrect timer display
  • Inability to exit certain game modes
  • Shuffling feature sometimes malfunctions
  • Newly unlocked words not recognized

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add option to retry/reset word search puzzles
  • Implement a way to contact developers for missing words
  • Introduce a multiplayer mode to compete with friends
  • Provide more customization options for the UI
  • Improve the algorithm for letter distribution

In-app purchases

1 purchases

SpellTower

One-time1
  • Full Game Unlock$4.99
14 purchases

Sparrows

One-time14
  • 2,500 Feathers$0.99
  • 15,000 points$1.99
  • 5,000 points$1.99
Show 11 more
  • Unlock Endless Mode$1.99
  • 5,000 Feathers$1.99
  • Unlock Full Game$2.99
  • No Ads (30 Days)$2.99
  • 10,000 Feathers$3.49
  • Getting Started$3.99
  • 50,000 points$4.99
  • 150,000 points$6.99
  • Now we're talking!$7.99
  • 25,000 Feathers$7.99
  • 100,000 Feathers$23.99

Questions

Is SpellTower free?
SpellTower is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Sparrows free?
Sparrows is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, SpellTower or Sparrows?
Sparrows is rated higher. SpellTower averages 3.7 out of 5 from 629 ratings, while Sparrows averages 4.6 from 777 ratings.
Do SpellTower or Sparrows have ads?
Both SpellTower and Sparrows show ads.
Which is updated more often, SpellTower or Sparrows?
SpellTower ships an update every 2 days, and Sparrows every 5 weeks. Most recently, SpellTower was updated on October 19, 2026 and Sparrows on October 16, 2026.

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