# Mindbug Online vs Balatro

The clearest difference is price: Mindbug Online at Free against Balatro's $9.99. Balatro's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 21) and ratings volume (105K vs 42). On ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Mindbug Online is free to download; Balatro costs $9.99 up front. Mindbug Online sells 21 one-off in-app purchases. Balatro asks for nothing beyond the download.

Balatro holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Balatro has 105K ratings behind it against 42, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 64% of Mindbug Online's written reviews are positive against 81% of Balatro's.

Mindbug Online ships an update every 3 weeks, Balatro every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on September 10, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Mindbug Online | Balatro |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $9.99 |
| Rating | [4.7 (42 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mindbug-online/id1607306032/reviews) | **[5.0 (105K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/balatro/id6502453075/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 42 | **105K** |
| Positive reviews | 63.8% of reviews | **81.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Paid |
| Best chart rank | — | **#2** |
| Size | 1.7 GB | 93 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 13.5 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Kissaki Studios](https://appshunter.io/developer/1607306034) | [Playstack Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1133080356) |

## What reviewers say

### Mindbug Online

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mindbug-online/id1607306032)

Experience a unique and streamlined card battler designed by the creator of Magic: The Gathering. This skill-based dueling game features powerful cards, fast matches, and infinite strategies with a groundbreaking mechanic that lets you control opponent creatures. It's accessible yet deeply challenging, with no pay-to-win elements.

**Highlights:** Streamlined card battler mechanics, Skill-based dueling, Groundbreaking creature control, Fast and intense matches, Infinite strategic possibilities, No pay-to-win

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

**In-app purchases (21)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 300 Gold | $0.99 | one-time |
| 1000 Gold | $2.99 | one-time |
| 500 DNA | $4.99 | one-time |
| Battlefruit Kingdom Set | $8.99 | one-time |
| Beyond Evolution Set | $8.99 | one-time |
| Beyond Eternity Set | $8.99 | one-time |
| Mr Green Reward Path | $8.99 | one-time |
| Mr Pink Season Pass | $8.99 | one-time |
| First Contact Set + Add-On | $8.99 | one-time |
| 5000 Gold | $11.99 | one-time |
| Battlefruit Galaxy + Mindbugs | $12.99 | one-time |
| Mindbug x King of Tokyo Card Set | $12.99 | one-time |
| Battlefruit Kingdom + Mindbugs | $12.99 | one-time |
| Christmas Bundle | $14.99 | one-time |
| FC Set + Mr Green | $14.99 | one-time |
| First Contact Bundle | $14.99 | one-time |
| 2400 DNA | $19.99 | one-time |
| Battlefruit + Both Mindbugs | $22.99 | one-time |
| FC Set + Mr Pink + Mr Green | $22.99 | one-time |
| 20000 Gold | $34.99 | one-time |
| 6000 DNA | $49.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎮 Excellent game
- ⚖️ Balanced gameplay
- 🔍 Depth and strategy
- 💰 Fair monetization
- 🕹️ Enjoyable gameplay

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Bugs and glitches
- 🕰️ Slow animations
- 🤖 Inconsistent AI
- 🔍 Lack of customization
- 🔒 Poor customer support

**Reported bugs**

- Tutorial issues
- Infinite battle loop
- Purchasing issues

**Requested features**

- Ability to pick opponents
- Faster gameplay option
- More customization options


### Balatro

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/balatro/id6502453075)

**Currently charting:** #2 Top Paid · Card, #4 Top Paid · Strategy, #8 Top Paid · Games, #13 Top Paid, #97 Top Grossing · Card, #141 Top Grossing · Strategy (US App Store)

This game blends poker and solitaire mechanics with unique rule-bending twists. Build powerful poker hands, discover game-changing Joker cards, and create exciting combos to defeat challenging Boss Blinds. Explore different decks and game modes for endless replayability.

**Highlights:** Poker and Solitaire hybrid gameplay, Rule-bending mechanics, Collect over 150 unique Joker cards, Create powerful combos, Campaign and challenge modes, Pixel art visuals

**Features:** Game Controller support, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🎮 Addictive gameplay
- 💎 Unique and compelling mechanics
- 👍 Easy to learn, hard to master
- 🎨 Charming pixel art and music
- 💰 Great value for money

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Bugs and save issues
- 🔍 Small text and UI elements
- 🔋 Battery draining
- 🔇 No background music support

**Reported bugs**

- Unlocks and achievements not registering properly
- Crashes and freezes on certain devices
- Joker and card interactions not working as expected

**Requested features**

- Cloud save sync across devices
- Portrait mode option
- Customizable UI and accessibility settings


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Mindbug Online free?

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

### Is Balatro free?

Balatro costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Mindbug Online or Balatro?

Balatro is rated higher. Mindbug Online averages 4.7 out of 5 from 42 ratings, while Balatro averages 5.0 from 105K ratings.

### Do Mindbug Online or Balatro have ads?

Neither Mindbug Online nor Balatro shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Mindbug Online or Balatro?

Mindbug Online ships an update every 3 weeks, and Balatro every 5 days. Most recently, Mindbug Online was updated on September 10, 2026 and Balatro on September 25, 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.*