# Squad Alpha vs Candy Gun

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Candy Gun at none against Squad Alpha's 13. Candy Gun also leads on update cadence (daily vs every 5 weeks) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.0). Squad Alpha's advantage is ratings volume (36K vs 4). On price, rating, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Squad Alpha sells 11 one-off in-app purchases. Candy Gun asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Squad Alpha against 4.8 for Candy Gun. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Squad Alpha has 36K ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Squad Alpha ships an update every 5 weeks, Candy Gun daily. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 18, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Squad Alpha | Candy Gun |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (36K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/squad-alpha-action-shooting/id1571487050/reviews) | **[4.8 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/candy-gun/id6466630921/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **36K** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | 54.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Daily** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 902 MB | 229 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **11.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [SayGames LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/1551847165) | [Ela Game](https://appshunter.io/developer/1536955498) |

## What reviewers say

### Squad Alpha

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/squad-alpha-action-shooting/id1571487050)

Engaging top-down shooter with tactical challenges and addictive gameplay. Upgrade guns, collect agents, and conquer over 200 levels with unique bosses. Plan your moves and let the bullets fly in this action-packed adventure.

**Highlights:** Top-down shooting gameplay, Tactical planning and strategy, Upgradeable guns and arsenal, Over 200 unique levels, Collectible elite agents, Multiple boss battles

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

**In-app purchases (11)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekend Deal | $0.99 | one-time |
| Starter Pack | $1.99 | one-time |
| VIP Weekly Membership | $1.99 | one-time |
| Boxes Pack | $2.99 | one-time |
| Handful of Gems | $2.99 | one-time |
| Elite Pass | $4.99 | one-time |
| Soldier's Pick | $4.99 | one-time |
| Weekend Deal | $4.99 | one-time |
| Event Boost | $9.99 | one-time |
| VIP Monthly Membership | $14.99 | one-time |
| Elite Pass Premium | $19.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fun game with polished gameplay
- 👍 Amazing game with no ads
- 🚀 Great gameplay and not many ads
- 👍 Fun and addictive game
- 🚀 Awesome game with great graphics

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Game is full of cheaters
- 💰 Pay to win game
- 🔍 Too many forced ads
- 💰 Money grabber game
- 🐛 Crashes after last update

**Reported bugs**

- Game crashes on loading screen
- Issues with linking to Game Center
- Touch controls stop working randomly

**Requested features**

- Add new character abilities like artillery strike
- Allow weapon fusion to upgrade favorite guns
- Add more boss mechanics and enemy types
- Improve the weapon crafting system
- Implement a multiplayer mode and clan system


### Candy Gun

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/candy-gun/id6466630921)

Aim your weapon at the candy machine, overcoming obstacles with upgraded bullets. This game offers an addictive experience with simple controls, vibrant graphics, and rewarding power-ups.

**Highlights:** Shoot colorful candy bullets, Simple swerve controls, Navigate challenging obstacles, Earn power-ups and rewards, Vibrant graphics and colors

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Squad Alpha free?

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

### Is Candy Gun free?

Candy Gun is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Squad Alpha or Candy Gun?

Candy Gun is rated higher. Squad Alpha averages 4.7 out of 5 from 36K ratings, while Candy Gun averages 4.8 from 4 ratings.

### Do Squad Alpha or Candy Gun have ads?

Both Squad Alpha and Candy Gun show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Squad Alpha or Candy Gun?

Squad Alpha ships an update every 5 weeks, and Candy Gun daily. Most recently, Squad Alpha was updated on September 25, 2026 and Candy Gun on September 18, 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.*