# Upblock vs Microbe Explorer

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Microbe Explorer at none against Upblock's 1. Microbe Explorer also leads on update cadence (every 4 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Upblock sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Microbe Explorer asks for nothing beyond the download.

Upblock ships an update every 2 months, Microbe Explorer every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on June 4, 2026 and May 16, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Upblock | Microbe Explorer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (10 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/upblock-stack-the-blocks/id1590843768/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **10** | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 4 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 107 MB | 126 MB |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 | **11.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Maka Mobile](https://appshunter.io/developer/1583009679) | [Adknown Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1243054661) |

## What reviewers say

### Upblock

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/upblock-stack-the-blocks/id1590843768)

This is a tower-building game where players stack blocks to create the tallest tower possible. It's easy to learn but challenging to master, offering a fun experience for casual gamers looking for a time-killer or offline play.

**Highlights:** Intuitive tap-based stacking gameplay, Build the tallest tower possible, Challenging precision-based mechanics, Designed for all ages, Free to install and play, Offline gameplay support

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Ads | $1.99 | one-time |


### Microbe Explorer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/microbe-explorer/id1636308114)

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Upblock free?

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

### Is Microbe Explorer free?

Microbe Explorer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Upblock or Microbe Explorer have ads?

Both Upblock and Microbe Explorer show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Upblock or Microbe Explorer?

Upblock ships an update every 2 months, and Microbe Explorer every 4 weeks. Most recently, Upblock was updated on June 4, 2026 and Microbe Explorer on May 16, 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.*