# Upstream Struggle vs JOSLITZ

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Upstream Struggle at none against JOSLITZ's 1. Upstream Struggle also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs every 9 months) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.0). JOSLITZ's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. JOSLITZ sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Upstream Struggle asks for nothing beyond the download.

Upstream Struggle ships an update every 4 days, JOSLITZ every 9 months. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and May 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Upstream Struggle | JOSLITZ |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (9.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/upstream-struggle/id1529926059/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **9.7K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 86.9% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 days** | Every 9 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 37 MB | 3 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Jack LaLonde](https://appshunter.io/developer/1499291451) | [Masayuki Ishizuka](https://appshunter.io/developer/330537039) |

## What reviewers say

### Upstream Struggle

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/upstream-struggle/id1529926059)

Embark on an endless salmon run, swimming upstream to reach home. Dodge a variety of enemies for as long as possible to unlock new fish species and improve your score.

**Highlights:** Endless salmon run gameplay, Dodge enemies, Unlock new fish, High score challenges

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and fun concept
- 🚀 No forced ads
- 💡 Potential for improvements

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Bugs and glitches
- 🔁 Repetitive gameplay
- 🎨 Basic graphics and animations

**Reported bugs**

- Getting stuck in the waterfall at the start
- Crashes and freezes, especially at higher levels
- Issues with the bird/flying obstacle

**Requested features**

- Add more variety to levels and obstacles
- Improve controls and jumping mechanics
- Implement a leaderboard or competitive mode
- Introduce new fish skins and customization options


### JOSLITZ

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/joslitz/id6472687919)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Neon Block | $0.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Upstream Struggle free?

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

### Is JOSLITZ free?

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

### Do Upstream Struggle or JOSLITZ have ads?

Upstream Struggle shows ads; JOSLITZ does not.

### Which is updated more often, Upstream Struggle or JOSLITZ?

Upstream Struggle ships an update every 4 days, and JOSLITZ every 9 months. Most recently, Upstream Struggle was updated on September 25, 2026 and JOSLITZ on May 19, 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.*