# Nine Hex vs Shape Theory

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: Nine Hex at 16.0 against Shape Theory's 18.6. On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Nine Hex sells 6 one-off in-app purchases and Shape Theory sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Nine Hex ships an update every 5 weeks, Shape Theory every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Nine Hex | Shape Theory |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nine-hex/id1615264822/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **1** | — |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 139 MB | 13 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 18.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Shanghai Pulu Network Technology Co., Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1469533027) | [Bulltech](https://appshunter.io/developer/1586482702) |

## What reviewers say

### Nine Hex

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nine-hex/id1615264822)

Engage in a captivating puzzle game where you strategically place hexagonal bricks to fill rows and columns for elimination. Explore three distinct game modes, including classic, limited steps, and power-up enhanced play, offering endless entertainment for all ages.

**Highlights:** Hexagonal brick placement, Row and column elimination, Three unique game modes, Classic, Limit, and Props modes, Super props for enhanced gameplay, Intuitive click-to-fill controls

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

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1000 coins | $0.99 | one-time |
| Remove Ads | $0.99 | one-time |
| 5250 coins | $4.99 | one-time |
| 11000 coins | $9.99 | one-time |
| 34500 coins | $29.99 | one-time |
| 60000 coins | $49.99 | one-time |


### Shape Theory

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shape-theory-brain-puzzles/id6449924079)

Uncover hidden geometric shapes by strategically revealing parts of a concealed form. Deduce the correct shape from a list of suspects to advance through increasingly challenging levels. Compete globally for the top leaderboard spot.

**Highlights:** Shape discovery through limited reveals, Strategic deduction of hidden forms, Progressive difficulty levels, Minimalist, captivating graphics, Global leaderboard competition, Brain teaser and strategy gameplay

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| No Ads For 1 Month | $0.99 | per month |
| No Ads For 1 Year | $4.99 | per year |
| No Ads Forever | $8.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Nine Hex free?

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

### Is Shape Theory free?

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

### Do Nine Hex or Shape Theory have ads?

Both Nine Hex and Shape Theory show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Nine Hex or Shape Theory?

Nine Hex ships an update every 5 weeks, and Shape Theory every 3 weeks. Most recently, Nine Hex was updated on October 16, 2026 and Shape Theory on October 12, 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.*