Comparison

Orlu vs Popops

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

Head to head
About

Orlu

Guide a character through physics-based puzzles with precise timing and strategy. Master levels by solving them or beating target times, with options for relaxed play or competitive multiplayer. Share replays and learn from solutions.

Highlights
  • Physics-based puzzles
  • Dual play styles (puzzle/time attack)
  • 100+ levels
  • Real-time multiplayer
  • Replay sharing
  • Offline play
  • Universal purchase
Features
Read full description

Do the impossible. Then, do it faster! Guide your orlu through a myriad of mind-bending physics puzzles where strategy, precision and timing are everything, and every millisecond counts. Are you a master strategist finding the perfect path or a speedrunner chasing a world-record time? Use fluid touch controls to navigate hazards, portals, repulsors, and more! Experiment with the environment, time your movements to perfection, and turn obstacles into your personal highway to the endzone! How fast can your brain move in this one more try loop? TRY 30 LEVELS FREE Dive in and test your skills with 30 action-packed levels absolutely free. Ready to unlock the full journey? Choose the path that fits your playstyle: subscribe to access all current and future levels, features, and recurring contests or make a one-time purchase for lifetime unlimited access. The choice is yours! DUAL PLAY STYLES - Solve the Puzzle: Take your time to refine control, experiment with positioning, and discover creative techniques to clear every level. - Beat the Time: Ready for the ultimate test? Enter fast-paced time-attack mode to crush the target times on every level. Optimize your runs and dominate challenges and leaderboards. 100+ LEVELS Short, fast, and built for replay. Every level is easy to pick up but hides a secret: there’s almost always a smarter way to finish. Can you find the perfect route to the endzone? TIME GOALS Those "impossible" time goals? They’re just waiting for you to beat them. As you get a feel for the mechanics, you’ll start seeing the levels differently. Pull off a daring maneuver, shave off a millisecond, and surprise yourself with just how fast you can go! INVINCIBLE MODE When Invincible Mode is activated, your orlu don’t die. Deconstruct the most intimidating levels without the pressure of failing. IGNITE THE RIVALRY Don’t just play, dominate! Launch into real-time multiplayer matches to prove your skills under pressure and unleash custom challenges to see who among your friends is the best. Lock down the leaderboards so your friends never see the top! REPLAYS & SOLUTIONS Have an amazing run? Share the video with your friends in an instant. Stuck on a tricky level? Watch the solution - although we don’t recommend doing that ;) FUN FOR ALL AGES Orlu is easy to pick up and rewarding to master, helping players of all ages sharpen their focus, accuracy, and problem-solving skills. Whether you’re five or ninety-five, it’s the perfect way to level up your brain while having a blast. PREMIUM NATIVE EXPERIENCE - Universal Purchase: Unlock the full game on iPhone, iPad, and Mac with a single subscription or lifetime purchase, and share it with family members through Family Sharing. - Automatic Sync: Pick up exactly where you left off on any device. - Game Controllers, SharePlay, and iMessage stickers included. NO ADS, NO TRACKING We guarantee absolutely no ads, no tracking, and no data collection in-game or on our web properties. OFFLINE Play the full game anywhere, anytime. (Game Center features require internet). INDIE GAME Lit’l Oak is a small indie team committed to a user-first ethical standard and high-fidelity native products. We designed Orlu to challenge and keep you experimenting, adapting and improving in an endless pursuit of the “perfect” run. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Popops

This game challenges your reflexes and focus with fast-paced pixel-popping gameplay. Enjoy mesmerizing visuals and satisfying sounds in a retro arcade-inspired experience. Master increasing difficulty or relax in an infinite Zen Mode.

Highlights
  • Tap pulsating pixels before they fade
  • Increasing difficulty and speed
  • Clean visuals and satisfying sound effects
  • Three chances to miss per game
  • Infinite Zen Mode
  • Brain training and reflex challenges
Features
Read full description

Test your speed, focus, and multitasking in this addictive yet challenging game. Popops combines mesmerizing visuals with lightning-fast gameplay for a unique experience that anyone can pick up, but few can master. It’s a nostalgic nod to retro arcade gaming. Key features: • Tap pulsating pixels before they fade, with increasing difficulty as levels progress • Clean visuals, satisfying sound effects, no ads, and three chances to miss per game • Short levels with increasing pixel count and speed, or an infinite Zen Mode How far can you go? Ideal for reflex challenges or a satisfying, cozy way to pass the time while training your brain.

Screenshots

Orlu4 screens
Popops4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is monetization model: Popops at free against Orlu's paid. Popops also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs every 2 weeks). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Orlu against 5.0 for Popops. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 2 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Orlu ships an update every 2 weeks, Popops every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on September 8, 2026 and September 20, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Orlu versus Popops: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterOrluPopops
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (3 ratings)5.0 (2 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings3 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksEvery 4 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS18.617.2 — better
Further details — not scored
Size158 MB3 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperLit'l OakRitwik Takkar

Customer experience

Orlu

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Popops

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Orlu

No in-app purchases

None

Popops

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Orlu free?
Orlu is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Popops free?
Popops is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Orlu or Popops?
Orlu and Popops are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 3 and 2 ratings respectively.
Do Orlu or Popops have ads?
Neither Orlu nor Popops shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Orlu or Popops?
Orlu ships an update every 2 weeks, and Popops every 4 days. Most recently, Orlu was updated on September 8, 2026 and Popops on September 20, 2026.

Other comparisons