# 5 Second Rule vs Taboo

The clearest difference is price: 5 Second Rule at Free against Taboo's $1.99. Taboo's advantage is rating (4.9 vs 4.5) and chart position (#2 vs #115). On ratings volume, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

5 Second Rule is free to download; Taboo costs $1.99 up front. 5 Second Rule sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per 7 days and Taboo sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Taboo holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3.2K and 4.7K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 23% of 5 Second Rule's written reviews are positive against 37% of Taboo's.

5 Second Rule ships an update every 6 weeks, Taboo monthly. Both last shipped on November 7, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | 5 Second Rule | Taboo |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $1.99 |
| Rating | [4.5 (3.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/5-second-rule-party-cards/id1532016070/reviews) | **[4.9 (4.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/taboo/id1563932741/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 3.2K | **4.7K** |
| Positive reviews | 22.5% of reviews | **37.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | #115 | **#2** |
| Size | 23 MB | 272 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Kristian Markovic](https://appshunter.io/developer/1322604140) | [Marmalade Game Studio Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/988365603) |

## What reviewers say

### 5 Second Rule

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/5-second-rule-party-cards/id1532016070)

**Currently charting:** #115 Top Grossing · Word, #163 Top Free · Word (US App Store)

This game challenges players to answer questions by providing three responses within a five-second time limit. It's designed to be an engaging icebreaker for parties, suitable for both close friends and new acquaintances. With various question decks, including adult-themed and family-friendly options, it offers hours of entertainment for groups.

**Highlights:** Hundreds of questions, Multiple question decks, Play with 2-16 players, Family-friendly and adult content, Create custom questions, No video ads

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Party Games | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly Subscription | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly Subscription | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| Yearly Subscription | $39.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Fun and entertaining
- 💡 Unique gameplay concept
- 🤩 Engaging for friends and family

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive subscription model
- 🔒 Lack of free play options
- 🤔 Unclear pricing information
- 🙄 Forced to start free trial

**Reported bugs**

- Frequent crashes and freezes
- Compatibility issues on older devices

**Requested features**

- Free version with limited content
- Option to purchase individual card packs
- More variety in question/prompt types


### Taboo

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/taboo/id1563932741)

**Currently charting:** #2 Top Paid · Word, #10 Top Paid · Board, #115 Top Paid · Games, #165 Top Grossing · Word, #180 Top Paid (US App Store)

A word-guessing party game where teams compete to describe words without using forbidden terms. Play remotely with friends via video chat and customize game settings for endless fun.

**Highlights:** Video chat integration, Team-based word guessing, Customizable game settings, Ad-free gameplay, Multiple language support, Themed card decks

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

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Mystery Mix Pack 1 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Generations Gen Z Pack | $1.99 | one-time |
| Unlock Taboo Premium | $2.99 | one-time |
| Midnight Night Out Pack | $2.99 | one-time |
| Midnight Bedroom Pack | $2.99 | one-time |
| Ready to Roast | $6.49 | one-time |
| Sports and Games Pack | $7.99 | one-time |
| Welcome Offer | $9.99 | one-time |
| Midnight Deck | $9.99 | one-time |
| Word Bonanza Bundle | $19.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Fun game
- 🎉 Great for family and friends
- 🥳 Lots of laughter
- 🤩 Easy to play

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤔 Limited number of cards
- 🔁 Repeated cards after a few rounds
- 💰 Need to pay for more cards
- 🤨 Unclear how to add more players

**Reported bugs**

- Game stopped in the middle to ask for payment
- Video chat feature not working
- App not optimized for high refresh rate displays

**Requested features**

- Add more cards in the base version
- Allow customization of game rules
- Implement a stats/history section
- Support more than 2 teams


## Frequently asked questions

### Is 5 Second Rule free?

5 Second Rule is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Taboo free?

Taboo costs $1.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, 5 Second Rule or Taboo?

Taboo is rated higher. 5 Second Rule averages 4.5 out of 5 from 3.2K ratings, while Taboo averages 4.9 from 4.7K ratings.

### Do 5 Second Rule or Taboo have ads?

Neither 5 Second Rule nor Taboo shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, 5 Second Rule or Taboo?

5 Second Rule ships an update every 6 weeks, and Taboo monthly. Most recently, 5 Second Rule was updated on November 7, 2026 and Taboo on November 7, 2026.

### Which is more popular, 5 Second Rule or Taboo?

5 Second Rule currently peaks at #115 in the App Store charts, and Taboo at #2. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*