Comparison

Pro vs Dots'n Boxes

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

Head to head
About

Pro

This app offers a unique Sudoku experience with Apple Pencil support for drawing numbers and a step-by-step solver. Create your own puzzles, enjoy Zen mode for focused play, and tackle challenging puzzles from a renowned creator.

Highlights
  • Apple Pencil drawing and input
  • Step-by-step solver with explanations
  • Puzzle author mode for creation
  • Zen mode for distraction-free play
  • Light & Dark mode support
  • Gameplay customization options
  • Includes puzzles by Arto Inkala
Features
Read full description

Pro:Sudoku is a fresh take on the traditional Sudoku game. This doesn't mean this app is just yet another Sudoku app. Pro:Sudoku brings powerful features to make your Sudoku puzzling even more fun and entertaining. Some of the features include: * Support for Apple Pencil: Draw your numbers with Apple Pencil on iPad just like with Pen on Paper. Need to correct a mistake? Just draw an X over the number you want to remove and it will be gone. It's that easy! This feature is powered by handwriting recognition done with on-device intelligence, which means no data is taken anywhere to be processed. Plus you can play with Pro:Sudoku from anywhere, even with no connectivity. You can also input and clear pencil notes in your cells. * Keyboard support: If you prefer to play with keyboard and trackpad on iPad, you can do it with Pro:Sudoku. * Step-by-Step Solver: Got stuck with a puzzle? Pro:Sudoku comes with a solver to help you move ahead. The solver will also explain why that step can be taken, to help you understand advanced solving techniques. (Note that "diabolical"-level techniques are not yet supported.) * Puzzle Author mode: So you can create your own puzzles and share them with friends. * Full undo/redo support, including for changes made by the solver. * Zen mode: Tap on the chevron next to the puzzle board to move the on-screen controls completely out of view. This option lets you focus entirely on your puzzle when playing with Apple Pencil. * Light & Dark: Pro:Sudoku respects your system light/dark setting to make sure your puzzle solving always matches your current environment. * Gameplay Options: Tap on a cell in the puzzle board to have Pro:Sudoku highlight other cells according to your options: You can change whether cells in the same column/row/group, or cells with the same number are highlighted. You can also set whether Pro:Sudoku should highlight mistakes or let you figure them out by yourself. You can also change the color used for numbers drawn in with Apple Pencil or placed with the on-screen controls. * Challenges: Puzzles created by the famous Finnish mathematician and Sudoku puzzle creator Arto Inkala are included with Pro:Sudoku, so you can test your puzzle solving skills against the hardest known puzzles.¹ No Apple Pencil? You can still play with the on-screen controls on iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch, or even mix pencil-drawn strokes and numbers placed with controls on iPad. Pro:Sudoku is under active development and even more exciting features will be unveiled soon. ¹ Arto Inkala's puzzles are used under permission.

About

Dots'n Boxes

Features
Read full description

Dots & Boxes — Simple Rules. Real Strategy. The classic Dots & Boxes game gets a competitive twist. Take turns drawing lines between dots and complete boxes to claim them. But not every box is worth the same — each box has its own point value, making every move a strategic decision. Choose how you play: • Online — Compete against real players in live matches. • 2 Players — Challenge a friend on the same device. • VS AI — Test your strategy against multiple AI difficulty levels. Plan your moves, avoid giving away valuable boxes, build chains, and turn the board to your advantage. Completing a box gives you another move, so one smart play can change the entire match. Features • Fast, turn-based strategy gameplay • Real-time online multiplayer • Multiple AI difficulty levels • Local two-player mode • Different point values for each box • Online leaderboard • Simple rules with plenty of strategic depth Draw lines. Capture boxes. Score more points. Control the board.

Screenshots

Pro4 screens
Dots'n Boxes4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Dots'n Boxes at Free against Pro's $4.99. Dots'n Boxes also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs every 2 months). Pro's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and device support (3 vs 1). On 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

Dots'n Boxes is free to download; Pro costs $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Pro ships an update every 2 months, Dots'n Boxes every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Pro versus Dots'n Boxes: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterProDots'n Boxes
Price$4.99Free — better
Rating3.5 (2 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings2 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaid—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS14.0 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size4 MB29 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBruno Philipe Resende SilvaMurat Erdem Bostancioglu

In-app purchases

None

Pro

No in-app purchases

None

Dots'n Boxes

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Pro free?
Pro costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Dots'n Boxes free?
Dots'n Boxes is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Pro or Dots'n Boxes have ads?
Dots'n Boxes shows ads; Pro does not.
Which is updated more often, Pro or Dots'n Boxes?
Pro ships an update every 2 months, and Dots'n Boxes every 2 days. Most recently, Pro was updated on October 7, 2026 and Dots'n Boxes on September 30, 2026.

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