# DRILL vs Root Growth

The clearest difference is review sentiment: DRILL at 58% against Root Growth's 15%. DRILL also leads on rating (4.3 vs 4.1) and update cadence (fortnightly vs monthly). Root Growth's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2). On price, ratings volume, ads and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. DRILL sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Root Growth asks for nothing beyond the download.

DRILL holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 4.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1.4K and 1.4K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 58% of DRILL's written reviews are positive against 15% of Root Growth's.

DRILL ships an update fortnightly, Root Growth monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | DRILL | Root Growth |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.3 (1.4K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/drill-intotheearth/id1497637181/reviews)** | [4.1 (1.4K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/root-growth/id1631261035/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1.4K | **1.4K** |
| Positive reviews | **57.8% of reviews** | 14.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 186 MB | 134 MB |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 | **11.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [horanggmaes](https://appshunter.io/developer/1484908629) | [妮 赵](https://appshunter.io/developer/1630650670) |

## What reviewers say

### DRILL

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/drill-intotheearth/id1497637181)

Explore the depths of the earth in this idle game. Dig deeper to uncover what lies beneath, from monsters to hidden underground worlds. Progress passively as you uncover the planet's secrets.

**Highlights:** Idle gameplay, Earth exploration, Uncover secrets, Discover monsters, Underground world discovery

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| VIBRANIUM 10000 | $0.99 | one-time |
| VIBRANIUM 30000 | $1.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great game, very fun
- 👍 Awesome game, kept me occupied for a long time
- 🚀 High quality game

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 UFO glitch, can't use or access it
- 🐛 Screen goes black when scrolling
- 🔍 Can't see money amount on newer iPhones

**Reported bugs**

- UFO glitch - can't access or use it even though it's unlocked
- Screen goes black when scrolling
- Money amount not visible on newer iPhones

**Requested features**

- Add ability to see money amount
- Fix UFO glitch
- Improve scrolling functionality


### Root Growth

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/root-growth/id1631261035)

Guide roots to grow and reach water sources, transforming them into large trees. Expand your reach to conquer entire planets and see how many you can occupy.

**Highlights:** Grow roots strategically, Reach water sources, Develop into large trees, Conquer planets, Expand your territory

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Satisfying gameplay
- 🌳 Cute and relaxing visuals
- 👍 No ads

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💸 Excessive ads and monetization
- 🐛 Laggy performance
- 🕰️ Lack of content and short playtime

**Reported bugs**

- Spelling mistakes in UI
- Inconsistent gameplay mechanics

**Requested features**

- More levels and content
- Option to remove ads for a fee


## Frequently asked questions

### Is DRILL free?

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

### Is Root Growth free?

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

### Which has better reviews, DRILL or Root Growth?

DRILL is rated higher. DRILL averages 4.3 out of 5 from 1.4K ratings, while Root Growth averages 4.1 from 1.4K ratings.

### Do DRILL or Root Growth have ads?

Both DRILL and Root Growth show ads.

### Which is updated more often, DRILL or Root Growth?

DRILL ships an update fortnightly, and Root Growth monthly. Most recently, DRILL was updated on October 29, 2026 and Root Growth on October 27, 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.*