Comparison

Sparrows vs Carticulate

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

Head to head
About

Sparrows

This word puzzle game combines mahjong tile mechanics with spelling challenges. Spell words from letter tiles to earn points, advance through levels, and master various game modes. Enjoy a relaxing or challenging experience with daily goals and power-ups.

Highlights
  • Level progression with star ratings
  • Multiple game modes (Timed, Moves, Puzzle)
  • Score multipliers for strategic play
  • Power-ups to boost scores
  • Daily goals and objectives
  • Relaxing puzzle mode without a timer
Features
Read full description

Sparrows – mahjong tiles meet wordplay! Spell words from letter tiles, earn score multipliers, and conquer challenging puzzles. Advance through levels, earn 1–3 stars, and master increasingly tricky boards. Multiple game modes – Timed, Moves, and Puzzle – keep gameplay fresh and engaging. Key Features: • Level Progression & Star Ratings: Tackle boards and earn 1–3 stars for top performance. • Game Modes: Timed, Moves, and Puzzle for varied challenges. • Score Multipliers: Double and triple letter/word tiles reward strategic play. • Power-Ups: Boost your score and overcome tough boards. • Daily Goals: Complete new objectives each day to stay challenged. • Relaxing, no timer needed – play at your own pace in Puzzle mode. • Plays great on iPhone and iPad. Relax or Compete: Whether you want a calm puzzle session or a fast-paced challenge, Sparrows offers a rewarding word game experience for every player. Download Sparrows Now! Start your wordplay journey, master each board, and enjoy endless mahjong-meets-wordplay fun!

About

Carticulate

Features
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Your favorite MS-DOS license plate word-finding game from the 1980s is back and better than ever, remade for iOS! The rules are as simple as you remember: • The letters on the RIGHT MUST be used, and in the order they appear. • The letters on the LEFT are OPTIONAL, but using them will give you a major bonus based on the number. • "O" is always a letter. • Everyone sees the same plates every day. Puzzle through 12 license plates per day on your Daily Commute, or choose Endless Drive for a nonstop experience where each success increases your remaining time. Now with score-sharing so you can challenge your friends to beat your run! Visit the Archive to play any previous days' commutes in case you missed any. Wait… why does the archive go back to 1974? Didn't this game originally come out in 1985?

Screenshots

Sparrows4 screens
Carticulate4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Carticulate at none against Sparrows's 14. Carticulate also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 5 days vs every 5 weeks). Sparrows's advantage is iOS requirement (15.2 vs 18.0). On price and device support 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

Both are free to download. Sparrows sells 14 one-off in-app purchases. Carticulate asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Sparrows ships an update every 5 weeks, Carticulate every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Sparrows versus Carticulate: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSparrowsCarticulate
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (781 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews58.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings781 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeksEvery 5 days — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.2 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size506 MB102 MB
Age rating4+9+
DeveloperFluffy Dog StudioJ Crowley

Bugs and requests

Sparrows

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Game crashes on launch for some users
  • Word search mode has incorrect timer display
  • Inability to exit certain game modes
  • Shuffling feature sometimes malfunctions
  • Newly unlocked words not recognized

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add option to retry/reset word search puzzles
  • Implement a way to contact developers for missing words
  • Introduce a multiplayer mode to compete with friends
  • Provide more customization options for the UI
  • Improve the algorithm for letter distribution

Carticulate

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

14 purchases

Sparrows

One-time14
  • 2,500 Feathers$0.99
  • 15,000 points$1.99
  • 5,000 points$1.99
Show 11 more
  • Unlock Endless Mode$1.99
  • 5,000 Feathers$1.99
  • Unlock Full Game$2.99
  • 10,000 Feathers$3.49
  • Getting Started$3.99
  • 50,000 points$4.99
  • No Ads (30 Days)$4.99
  • 150,000 points$6.99
  • Now we're talking!$7.99
  • 25,000 Feathers$7.99
  • 100,000 Feathers$23.99
None

Carticulate

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Sparrows free?
Sparrows is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Carticulate free?
Carticulate is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Sparrows or Carticulate have ads?
Sparrows shows ads; Carticulate does not.
Which is updated more often, Sparrows or Carticulate?
Sparrows ships an update every 5 weeks, and Carticulate every 5 days. Most recently, Sparrows was updated on October 30, 2026 and Carticulate on October 25, 2026.

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