# SET vs Shells

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Shells at 100% against SET's 60%. Shells also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.6) and update cadence (weekly vs fortnightly). SET's advantage is ratings volume (1.2K vs 22). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. SET sells 10 one-off in-app purchases and Shells sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Shells holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SET has 1.2K ratings behind it against 22, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 60% of SET's written reviews are positive against 100% of Shells's.

SET ships an update fortnightly, Shells weekly. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SET | Shells |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (1.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/set-card-game-and-brain-puzzle/id1506464825/reviews) | **[5.0 (22 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shells-nested-block-puzzle/id6661020395/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1.2K** | 22 |
| Positive reviews | 59.8% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 68 MB | 102 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Liad Zigdon](https://appshunter.io/developer/1450931383) | [arlybird games LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1764665157) |

## What reviewers say

### SET

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/set-card-game-and-brain-puzzle/id1506464825)

Experience a reimagined classic puzzle game with over 16 unique modes and daily challenges. Compete with friends in multiplayer matches and track your progress across devices. Enjoy a visually appealing interface with customizable color palettes.

**Highlights:** 16+ unique game modes, Daily challenges, Multiplayer matches (up to 4 players), Cross-device progress sync, Light and dark mode support, Customizable color palettes

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

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Starter Gems | $0.99 | one-time |
| Halloween | $1.99 | one-time |
| Coins Pack | $1.99 | one-time |
| Remove Ads | $2.99 | one-time |
| Tactical Treasure | $2.99 | one-time |
| Premium Modes | $3.99 | one-time |
| Mode Mastery | $4.99 | one-time |
| Premium | $5.99 | one-time |
| Unlock All Themes | $9.99 | one-time |
| Gem Vault | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Engaging and challenging
- 👍 Fun and addictive gameplay
- 💡 Variety of game modes
- 🚀 Smooth and responsive

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔒 Locked features behind paywall
- 🐛 Glitchy and laggy at times
- 🔒 Revoked access to previously purchased features
- 📢 Intrusive and frequent ads

**Reported bugs**

- Deck mode ending prematurely when no sets are available
- Inconsistent behavior when unlocking new game modes
- Sync and login issues across devices

**Requested features**

- Ability to pause games
- More feedback and hints for users
- Customizable game settings
- Improved multiplayer functionality


### Shells

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shells-nested-block-puzzle/id6661020395)

A geometry puzzle game where you slide blocks into larger shells to rearrange the board and solve challenges. It offers over 360 levels across 8 worlds with a focus on spatial reasoning and problem-solving. Enjoy a relaxing experience with a soothing soundtrack.

**Highlights:** Nested block sliding mechanics, Over 360 original levels, 8 distinct game worlds, Optional hint system, Soothing piano soundtrack, Compact 4x4 grid gameplay

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Small Bundle | $0.99 | one-time |
| Medium Bundle | $1.99 | one-time |
| Large Bundle | $3.99 | one-time |
| Unlimited Bundle | $8.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SET free?

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

### Is Shells free?

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

### Which has better reviews, SET or Shells?

Shells is rated higher. SET averages 4.6 out of 5 from 1.2K ratings, while Shells averages 5.0 from 22 ratings.

### Do SET or Shells have ads?

Both SET and Shells show ads.

### Which is updated more often, SET or Shells?

SET ships an update fortnightly, and Shells weekly. Most recently, SET was updated on November 3, 2026 and Shells on October 30, 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.*