# Squad Alpha vs Popnova

The clearest difference is update cadence: Popnova at daily against Squad Alpha's every 5 weeks. Squad Alpha's advantage is device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Squad Alpha sells 11 one-off in-app purchases and Popnova sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Squad Alpha ships an update every 5 weeks, Popnova daily. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 11, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Squad Alpha | Popnova |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (36K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/squad-alpha-action-shooting/id1571487050/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **36K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 53.9% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Daily** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 902 MB | 5 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [SayGames LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/1551847165) | [BIN WANG](https://appshunter.io/developer/1881032464) |

## 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


### Popnova

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/popnova/id6771827372)

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Ads | $2.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Squad Alpha free?

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

### Is Popnova free?

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

### Do Squad Alpha or Popnova have ads?

Both Squad Alpha and Popnova show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Squad Alpha or Popnova?

Squad Alpha ships an update every 5 weeks, and Popnova daily. Most recently, Squad Alpha was updated on October 21, 2026 and Popnova on October 11, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*