# Taboo vs Spy Detect

Taboo and Spy Detect both sit at 4.9 stars, but that hides the real split: 100% of Spy Detect's written reviews are positive against 37% of Taboo's. Spy Detect also leads on price (Free vs $1.99) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs monthly). Taboo's advantage is ratings volume (4.7K vs 2) and chart position (#2 vs unranked). On rating, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Spy Detect is free to download; Taboo costs $1.99 up front. Taboo sells 26 one-off in-app purchases and Spy Detect sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for Taboo against 5.0 for Spy Detect. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Taboo has 4.7K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 37% of Taboo's written reviews are positive against 100% of Spy Detect's.

Taboo ships an update monthly, Spy Detect every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and July 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Taboo | Spy Detect |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $1.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.9 (4.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/taboo/id1563932741/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spy-detect/id6450989434/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **4.7K** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 37.2% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#2** | — |
| Size | 272 MB | 27 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Marmalade Game Studio Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/988365603) | [Omer Erbalta](https://appshunter.io/developer/1696089537) |

## What reviewers say

### Taboo

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

**Currently charting:** #2 Top Paid · Word, #14 Top Paid · Board, #148 Top Paid · Games, #199 Top Grossing · Word (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 (26)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Holiday Thanksgiving Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Fun & Games Sports Mix 3 Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Holiday Halloween Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Fun & Games Sports Mix Pack 1 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Surprise Pack 2 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Festive Fun | $1.99 | one-time |
| Fun & Games Games Mix Pack 1 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Fun & Games Sports Mix Pack 2 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Holiday Christmas Pack | $1.99 | one-time |
| Mystery Mix Pack 1 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Generations Gen Z Pack | $1.99 | one-time |
| Holiday Christmas Pack 2 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Into the wild | $2.99 | one-time |
| Surprise Pack 1 | $2.99 | one-time |
| Food and Nature Bundle | $2.99 | one-time |
| Sports and Celebrity Bundle | $2.99 | one-time |
| Unlock Taboo Premium | $2.99 | one-time |
| Midnight Mix Pack 1 | $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 |
| Celebrity Deck | $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


### Spy Detect

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spy-detect/id6450989434)

A digital party board game where players try to identify the spy who doesn't know the secret location. The spy wins if they guess the location before time runs out, or if the other players fail to identify them.

**Highlights:** Player name entry, Game duration selection, Role assignment (Spy or Location), Countdown timer, Spy guessing mechanic, Player identification mechanic

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Play Without Ads (Monthly) | $4.99 | per month |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Taboo free?

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

### Is Spy Detect free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Taboo or Spy Detect?

Spy Detect is rated higher. Taboo averages 4.9 out of 5 from 4.7K ratings, while Spy Detect averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do Taboo or Spy Detect have ads?

Neither Taboo nor Spy Detect shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Taboo or Spy Detect?

Taboo ships an update monthly, and Spy Detect every 2 weeks. Most recently, Taboo was updated on September 24, 2026 and Spy Detect on July 21, 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.*