# Mahjong West vs SpanThread

The clearest difference is ads: Mahjong West at none against SpanThread's shown. Mahjong West also leads on ratings volume (2.8K vs 1) and iOS requirement (12.4 vs 17.0). SpanThread's advantage is update cadence (daily vs monthly) and rating (5.0 vs 4.6). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Mahjong West sells 12 one-off in-app purchases and SpanThread sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

SpanThread holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Mahjong West has 2.8K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Mahjong West ships an update monthly, SpanThread daily. Both last shipped on October 20, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Mahjong West | SpanThread |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (2.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mahjong-west/id1621264226/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spanthread/id6816379796/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **2.8K** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 57.7% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Daily** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 12 MB | 142 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.4** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Bubble Pop](https://appshunter.io/developer/1746799786) | [Hayden Fuhrer](https://appshunter.io/developer/1840724376) |

## What reviewers say

### Mahjong West

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mahjong-west/id1621264226)

This calming puzzle game helps you relax and relieve stress. Match pairs of tiles to clear the board, offering a variety of layouts with different complexities and designs to suit your preferences.

**Highlights:** Tile matching puzzle, Stress relief, Calming gameplay, Multiple layouts, Varying complexity

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

**In-app purchases (12)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 Shuffle | $0.99 | one-time |
| 1 Extra Time | $0.99 | one-time |
| 1 Hint | $0.99 | one-time |
| 5 Shuffles | $4.99 | one-time |
| 5 Hints | $4.99 | one-time |
| 5 Extra Time | $4.99 | one-time |
| 10 Shuffles | $9.99 | one-time |
| 10 Hints | $9.99 | one-time |
| 10 Extra Time | $9.99 | one-time |
| 25 Shuffles | $24.99 | one-time |
| 25 Extra Time | $24.99 | one-time |
| 25 Hints | $24.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 😊 Relaxing game
- 😊 No glitches or problems
- 😊 Enjoyable to play
- 😊 Challenging gameplay

**What reviewers complain about**

- 😞 Timer issues
- 😞 Lack of instructions
- 😞 Paywalled features
- 😞 Frequent freezing/crashing

**Reported bugs**

- Game freezing and crashing
- Inability to progress without paying

**Requested features**

- Option for leisurely play without timer
- Faster progression of special events
- More player options and customization


### SpanThread

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spanthread/id6816379796)

A vibrant puzzle game where players untangle layered strings by strategically cutting them in the correct order. It offers a variety of game modes, from handcrafted levels to competitive matches, challenging logic and precision.

**Highlights:** 1,000 handcrafted levels, Daily Board challenges, Live Versus matches, Time Attack mode, Perfect Cuts mode, Endless mode, Unlockable themes and sounds

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Ads | $2.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Mahjong West free?

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

### Is SpanThread free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Mahjong West or SpanThread?

SpanThread is rated higher. Mahjong West averages 4.6 out of 5 from 2.8K ratings, while SpanThread averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Mahjong West or SpanThread have ads?

SpanThread shows ads; Mahjong West does not.

### Which is updated more often, Mahjong West or SpanThread?

Mahjong West ships an update monthly, and SpanThread daily. Most recently, Mahjong West was updated on October 20, 2026 and SpanThread on October 20, 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.*